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The Pipettes
Brighton, The Freebutt
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Article
written by Alan M
Oct 10, 2007.
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Tis a wonderful thing the internet. Normally, subscribing to an email gig alerts service only ever guarantees years of misery and heartache, as every new message is neither from a friend or future love, but a sorry misplaced ‘heads up’ for an upcoming Natasha Bedingfield gig. So I was overwhelmed with a mixture of astonishment and giddy joy when I was alerted that the wonderful Pipettes were to play a ‘secret’ gig at The Freebutt in Brighton.
The Freebutt has recently been revamped – by the folk that run the Joiners Arms in Southampton – and god help us for it wasn’t a minute too soon. The old place was shocking. Sure, if you liked going home stinking of piss, never having heard a discernable note from the atrocious PA, then this was the place for you. Thankfully it has been transformed into an intimate, 150 capacity purpose-built music venue, with a proper sound system. Early indications suggest it’s been money well spent.
Tonight’s gig was a warm up for the band’s upcoming North American tour, where they will be promoting the US release of their album. The audience comprised two distinct camps. There was the hard core Pipettes – some had journeyed from mainland Europe – who knew all the dance moves and wore pin badges to express their devotion. Innocently they asked one of my pals if “she was one of the Pipettes’ mothers”? For these teenage fans, it really was a ‘school night’. Later I found out they had been obsessively updating the fans forum with live pictures from the gig via their phones. How times have changed?
The rest of the punters were fans like myself; enchanted by the group’s sassy, sexy and smart pop songs and sharing a penchant for the style and girl group traditions the band evoke.
As a cheeky subliminal sartorial ploy to woo their forthcoming American fans, the boys in the backing band – The Cassettes - took to the stage resplendent in their grey US college tank tops; everyone a dead ringer for ‘Happy Day’s’ Richie Cunningham. The Pipettes didn’t disappoint, decked out in polka dot.
Unlike Ant and Dec – who for contractual reasons never swap positions – the girls are not restrained by such legality and delighted the crowd by moving around after each song and proceeded to laugh, bump into each other, handclap, and sing and dance all the way through most of the album and assorted ‘B’ sides. The choreography is not slick but that is part of their charm and nobody cares. When Gwenno remarks she is “smelly and sweaty” there is no flunky on hand to mop her brow. We just admire her honesty and self deprecation. The band are having a great time tonight and the audience love them even more for it. A great sense of camaraderie and loyalty between the girls is there for all to see as they poke fun out of one another between songs; trust me these girls will never sell out to become Diana Ross and the Pipettes. We are treated to a couple of newer songs ‘By My Side’ and ‘Baby Don’t Leave Me’ and the band encore with ‘Pull Shapes’ and the anthemic ‘We Are The Pipettes’.
The evening has been a triumph and as I head for the door I notice the girls and boys are signing set lists and CD’s for their fans. They seem genuinely touched that people have made the effort to see them and want to repay that loyalty. Rumours on the fan’s forum suggest that the band need a successful American tour to keep their record company sweet. This band deserves your support; you’ll miss ‘em when they are gone.
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