Blood Red Shoes play Komedia – 05.03.10

It had been two years since I first witnessed them playing live and I felt eager to see what had become of one of Brighton’s lesser known success stories. In the time it had taken for them to get back on Komedia’s stage they had been round the world with their punk grunge noise. With their new album ‘Fire Like This’ released at the end of last month they were back on a European tour to showcase their new tracks to the masses.

To anounce the start of their set strobe lights flashed, bouncing around the ample venue, and with the release of mostly teenage screams they took to the stage and threw themselves into their first album’s ‘Doesn’t Matter Much’. Laura, looking predictably gorgeous, had a fan blowing at her face, making her hair flow into the air, a classic sexy effect, that no doubt doubled up as a cooling aid, whilst many a man drooled at not only her naturally beautiful appearance but also her ability to play the guitar so brilliantly whilst offering pitch perfect vocals.

Steven with his slightly out grown hair style thrashed around on the drums, through the movement he sang, an ability I still find so impressive. Initially I felt that their vocals were drowned out by the drums and guitar but as they reached their third track, and my personal favourite ‘I Wish I Was Someone Better’ the levels seemed perfect and I felt my adoration for this incredible act cement. On many occassions Laura closed the gap between them by walking over to Steven on the drums, with such a big stage and only the two of them they were set far apart, it is clear that the success they have seen since 2008 hasn’t impacted on their incredible connection or natural unmanufactured presence.

‘It’s Getting Boring By The Sea’ a track all about Brighton had a fantastic reaction, a clear favourite that saw the 14+ crowd liven, the mosh pit infront of me swirling around, young girls wrapping their arms around each other as they screamed out the lyrics to one of Blood Red Shoes best known tracks.

‘Count Me Out’, which deploys quiet-loud dynamics, and ‘Light It Up’ proved a great introduction to their second album. I tried hard to distingish the differences between this gig and that of the one played two years previous, when they were releasing their debut album ‘Box of Secrets’. To me they were as great then as they are now, a world tour may have seen Steven pick up new tricks, with his drumming more complex and creative, and their vocals may now be rock solid with harmonies that hit you deep inside, but their charm, tallent and ability to produce punk rock that has the same kick as a band boasting double the members continues.

Written by Lily Worth