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The Godfathers
Hope and Ruin, Brighton
“I WON'T take this any more, this is war,” The Godfathers' impeccable don Peter Coyne thunders.
It's a blistering opening statement of intent and a packed crowd erupts as the band deliver a tight, sharp and near-perfect sound right from the off.
Over a glorious rhythm section, guitarist Steve Crittall glides around the stage riffing, soloing and performing like this is the most important gig of his life. Cause I Said So surfs waves of chord changes that have the crowd singing along before a gloriously anthemic Big Bad Beautiful Noise makes everyone “feel so alive tonight.”
Title track of their last stunning LP, it's a reminder of just how many truly great songs they've released in a career spanning over three decades. No fancy nonsense, this classic rock'n'roll incorporating everything from the MC5, Ramones, Stones, Kinks and Johnny Cash. Intelligent lyrics highlight a great political attitude as well.
“Here’s some Brighton rock for you. Suck on this, it’s got the Godfathers stamped right through it,” says Coyne as he launches into If I Only Had Time. Till My Heart Stops Beating is a personal statement of their intention to carry on, as Coyne declares that they are “ready to rumble” off on another European tour.
The band fire up a gem from 1989, Halfway Paralysed, before a moment of reflection with One Good Reason, a masterclass in varying the pace of what turns out to be a great gig. Riding the waves of emotion unleashed by an old favourite or an obscure B-side, they never let up and the crowd get with Coyne’s deadpan charm. “We love Brighton,” he says, “very bohemian. Lovely. Seagulls. Fish and chips. All that shit.”
The pace is relentless as they run through Obsession, Walking Talking Johnny Cash Blues, How Low Is Low, Miss That Girl and Unreal World before a barnstorming Defibrillator. A rollercoaster ride of accessible, quality tunes continues with I Can’t Sleep Tonight, When Am I Coming Down, I’m Unsatisfied, She Gives Me Love and the brilliant This Damn Nation and I Want Everything.
They're cheered back for encores Let’s Get Higher, Paranoid and the ultimate working-class anthem Birth School Work Death.
Great.
Touring until December 9, details: godfathers.uk.com
