Imperial Wax / Frank And Beans (live at The Prince Albert)

Brighton
2 June 2019

The Albert‘s one of those venues that feels really empty up to a certain point, when it suddenly becomes a sweatbox. Luckily, Frank And Beans are only playing to gaps where people should be for a song or two. Fall fans (and by God did the crowd look like Fall fans) obviously need to get their time in at the bar to whinge about ale prices (etc).

Frank And Beans are a two piece, guitar and drums, and fall just the other side of clever to “smug twats”. There’s some noisey chicanary, bits of sandpaper through the strings, noisey interludes and compound time signatures over disco beats. Composite and sharp arrangements, and the definite hint that they could be going down the jazz odyssey route, but have steadfastly decided not to be wankers. They’re also wearing decent shoes. They get full support band marks. Northern Ireland via Brighton and here’s hoping they’re playing near you soon, because you’d so enjoy them, I’m sure.

In my review of Imperial Wax‘s record, I was keen not to mention that they were The Fall’s last (and longest-serving) backing band, but I’ve elected not to do that here. Mostly because they are the tightest rock band I’ve seen in roughly forever. Bearing comparison to The Fall. It’s super exciting to see a band that are nominally not playing massive stages and could be considered “a new band”, but have a welter of experience they can throw stagewards.

First thing to note: Imperial Wax’s rhythm section is the hardest looking rhythm section I’ve seen in ages. Kieron Melling bears a striking resemblance to a bunch of my Irish family, the lot who live in the countryside and do actual physical work. Dave “The Eagle” Spurr on bass looks like he’d be as happy with a shovel as a guitar. Or not, given that he’s terrifyingly tight and probably has spent a lot of time playing the bass. The main point of departure from The Fall is that the guitars are a world more expansive, but not so much as to be indulgent. The vocals are nothing like The Fall, and of course it would be terrible to expect that.

We’re whipped through most of the new album, as well as a couple of non-album bits. It’s all pretty ripping and they’re probably at their best when they’re in breakneck rockabilly mode. Though they’re hitting quite a few points on the compass. A mate said it was like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion without Jon Spencer and I’d say that’s pretty cock-on. Doubly so if, like me, you happen to think the least great thing about that band is its singer.

Encores come in the shape of a couple of recent Fall numbers, including an absolutely blinding version of “Auto Chip 2014-2016”, but it’s probably worth noting that this is the only time it’s even worth thinking about the passing of the wise old (belligerent) man. As I say, the audience very much looks like a Fall crowd, which makes sense, but what I’d like to see is a bunch of young fringey kids bouncing about at the front.

So I guess what I’m saying is that you should probably go and see them if you’re not, like, receding, paunchy and smelling of farts.

-Words: Kev Nickells-
-Pictures and video: Agata Urbaniak-