CityLife

Blood Red Shoes

IT’S a full house for Brighton duo Blood Red Shoes following a six-week break from live shows.

Even with the stage decked out in granny-flat décor (retro-kitsch lamps) it was never going to be a well-to-do affair.

Possibly one of the best-looking bands to emerge from any punk scene err, ever, the now skinny/stripy/fringy indie darlings are also some of the most adored.

It’s a match made in consumer heaven, and according to Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell, it’s a ‘musical democracy’ bred from the DIY shores of Britain’s most famous rock n' roll beach town.

Yet it’s thanks to their unnerving (albeit non-sexual) closeness off stage that grants them such a well-crafted and close knit energy in the spotlight.

Quite rightly, their determination to succeed and their unique brand of grunge pop (yes, they actually do both pretty damn well; distortion, hooks and a whole lot of sweating) has landed them in full respect of the industry, the rags and the fans that can’t get enough, literally.

American fridge

Seen as the Academy 3 stage is roughly as big as an American fridge, a stage invasion from a couple of superfans would be more than a little squashed but when a whole tribe of boys - who for the record need to practice some shapes in front of the mirror before showing them to the world – declare the scene as territory in which to rampage, it’s all a bit hectic.

Despite Laura-Mary’s gasps “I always knew Manchester was mental but…” the shoes don’t seem to mind; they’re more like really cool cousins that started a garage band and just happened to inherit the granny lamps.

Undeterred from any distraction, there are a couple of unnamed tracks amidst the scores of shout-a-long material from their April debut Box Of Secrets. It’s Getting Boring By The Sea is perhaps the show stealer until Say Something, Say Anything reminds you why you and your best friend wanted to double handily bring back riot girl, with style.

Individually they can play, sing and rock their screaming hearts out but it’s the harmonies and fiercely tangible chemistry together that make Blood Red Shoes so mesmerising.

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