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Baltimore’s Animal Collective are a quirky prospect either brilliantly eccentric or pretentious. This Brighton show was equally divisive. Forging a psychedelic electronic sound not dissimilar to the great Holy F*ck, AC stretched formerly short and sweet anti-folk numbers to epic, innovative dance tracks.
This worked well in creating a thoroughly unique, at times compelling. Where they failed was in less inspiring moments between cataclysmic, ecstatic highpoints, alienating a crowd eager to dance with slow-burn glitchey noodling.
Frustrating (but then again, AC regularly are) hints at greatness were left brief and wasted. A sensual encounter seemingly going nowhere fast.
Concorde, 15 January
3/5
Nick Aldwinckle

It may be a Tuesday in mid-January and it may be darn cold, but that’s not going to stop newish Brighton band Wide Eyed Order from warming the hearts of all who witnessed their joyous set, alongside the excellent funk band Malarki. WEO are a nine-piece made up of acoustic guitars, percussion, flute, trumpet, bass and drums, and two distinct lead vocalists who swap lead duties but who also enjoy the harmony back-up of much of the rest of the band.
Fusing a blend of upbeat acoustic roots, folks and blues with occasional flourishes of ska, eastern European rhythms and mariachi, the band look like they might keel over with the unwieldy nature of it all, but their dynamic and melody-infused songs never stray far from the point nor get lost in self-indulgence.
It was quite an, er, eye-opener, and hopefully many others will get to witness this very promising band in the near future.
Latest Music Bar, 13 January
4/5
Julie Andrews

Victoria Nangle says variety is indeed the spice of life – and the best way to find a good laugh

There are a many ways to make someone laugh – not even including telling your grandma you want to be treated like a grown-up in your thirties. However, there are only a few formats for delivering this funny to the general public from a stage. In the same way that many say there are only five true stories and that all the others are simply re-interpretations, there aren’t that many ways of setting up a comedy night. But imaginative minds are working on this.
The first and most well-known of these formats is a compere, two support acts and a headliner. Generally with an interval between each act. This is used up and down the country and across the globe. It’s where most professional comics live, and the only place up from here is playing solo theatre shows and moving to Hollywood to sell your bicycle and learn how to ride your soul. Or something like that.
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Seth Green talks about his role in Sex Drive playing Amish farmer Ezekiel

Your character’s very sardonic. You must have enjoyed playing him
He takes a certain joy in being an pain, so I think it was less about me trying to keep from laughing as much as letting that come through.
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