Breaking News: Chris Chopping leaves flat...

...and returns with a tatty music review of his own creation. Here you go:
Brakes, The Point, Cardiff, 29/11/06

A small but enthusiastic crowd braved the drizzle last Tuesday to watch Brakes play the first night of their UK tour at The Point. First they had to contend with Tinydancers, who littered the stage with pointless props, sent their singer into the crowd waving a bag of rubbish and pulled off the biggest surprise of the night by actually being half decent. The band had a full, rich sound and demonstrated a way with a tune and some chunky dynamics that set them apart from so many scratchy, half baked, hook free support acts.

The headliners were on electric form, mixing sprightly country rock and vein bulging pop-punk behind lead-singer Eamon Hamiltons vicious yelps. With several tunes clocking in at under a minute Brakes play most of their two albums and throw in a Camper Van Beethoven cover for good measure. The brevity is refreshing and nothing outstays its welcome but some songs seem to clatter to a halt just as the band are hitting their stride, leading the audience wondering if maybe a second verse would've been a good idea? Set highlights include the aggressively witty Heard About Your Band and Cheney, which gets played twice in a row.

At their most tuneful-Cease and Desist, NY Pie-the band recalls the energy and chiming melodicism of Ticket to Ride Era Beatles and as such they mean little to the twenty first century pop zeitgeist. Still, Brakes reassure that a traditional four piece rock band can still create a buzz and send you out into the cold night with a dopey grin on your face.