in a time when promoters around my (and, i’m guessing, yr) ends are hunkering down on the Hollyoaks/NME indie-as-style demographic like quarter-pound leeches, Brighton’s own Do club - as run by a bunch of my fond friends (well, some are only vague acquaintances, to be quite candid) was a defiant anomaly, scorning graphic design sheen and laboured pseudo-cool humour for homemade flyers and playlists which dug deep and gave all. i suggested they call the night ‘identity quest’. they declined.

this blip aside, a suitably (literally) underground venue was soon commandeered and every two weeks, they’d be dragging everyone from Parts & Labor, Crystal Castles, Channels 3×4, Rolo Tomassi, Gay Against You, and Dynasty Handbag down to their level (see above: basement party). i used to go along in 2006 and wander around in the careful grip of sobriety, a little like a ghost haunting the outer limits of the dancefloor (which would usually look, y’know, fast, intense, lots of pinks and reds) hugging the walls as i negotiated between earnest/idiotic face-to-faces.

i stopped going out entirely, anywhere, at the beginning of 2007 ’cause i decided it was high time to mainline all my scraps and ends of days into long-term writing projects. recently, with my work almost done, i’ve been contemplating my upcoming return to the human race with gentle fear, but likewise excitement.

it doesn’t look like i’ll go down to the Do club again. this Friday’s instalment will be the last, and this brave attempt the latest, to be negated by this town’s endemic apathy, crowded out by an abundance of cynical venues pushing generic, indie-as-nostalgia-rock get-togethers (not for nothing did the Do folk place ‘proper indie’ (= independent) atop their music policy…)

so, yup - if you’re in brighton this weekend consider paying them a visit. but more importantly (’cause Friday will be busy, first and last nights always are) if you live here and want an alternative to the fungal infection of easy options, check what they’re doing next (i’ll keep you posted). if we don’t feed the farther branches, they die. it’s a loss for all of us. so: R.E.S.P.E.C.T. to Stu, Juan, Dan, Sam, Eleanor, Charlotte, James, James, Scott & Ed - and don’t dare be disheartened - The Do was totally a success - just not everyone realised it at the time.

…yr next move, plz?

Posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007by kicking_k