Fruitbat? Fireworks on stage? Dirty, political, indie-punk pop?

If that means anything to you, you were probably there in the early Nineties, spilling your pint and moshing to the Unstoppable Sex Machine that was Carter USM.

In Carter, Jim Bob had 14 top 40 singles, one number one album and played more than 800 gigs all over the world as lead singer of the band.

His life may be less frantic since their split in 1997, but he is still as idealistic as ever. He just doesn't shout as much.

"I've always had the same basic ideals," says Jim Bob, currently touring his latest solo release, a concept album entitled School.

"They seem quite obvious really," he continues. "People should be able to get on with each other, war is wrong, racism and homophobia are wrong. But they keep going on.

"If somebody gets killed and I hear about it on the news, it bothers me. I can't just turn over and watch EastEnders."

So Jim Bob is still passionately making music, collaborating and performing live. The high point of Carter USM feels like a lifetime ago and he doesn't miss those days at all.

"It got quite depressing towards the end," he says. "The last record deal we signed was purely to pay the bills. We didn't make any money out of it. Maybe people are more sussed now. But in a way it was fun not knowing."

While there is something contrived about a lot of indie bands in 2006, ("everybody seems to have been to college and studied the music business," he observes) there are a couple of recent bands he does approve of, such as The Libertines and Babyshambles. "They are not polished at all. It's exciting when you see a band live where anything can happen. Somebody might die. I like it when you see there's a danger."

In their day, Carter had a lot to say too. "We liked to put on a big show. We weren't like other bands who ambled on stage hiding behind their fringes. We wanted to run on stage."

But just because he's older, don't expect a yawn-fest on Thursday. "I've mellowed a bit," says Jim Bob, "but not much. It will be rowdy for an acoustic gig."

Support comes from Brighton musician Chris T-T.

Starts 9pm. Tickets cost £9. Call 01273 674100