LIVE REVIEW: ALICIA F, DESERT VIPERS AND DAFFODILDOS AT THE PIPELINE, BRIGHTON

After recent regular trips to the Hope & Anchor, this week I headed south for my first visit to the Pipeline in Brighton. A spot of parking trouble nearly made me late, but I just had time to catch up with Mannie from Shake Some Acton before the music started. Intimate it may be, but the Pipeline packed the punch of a venue four times its size, setting the scene for a cracking night.

First up were Brighton’s own Daffodildos, a flamboyant, queer punk trio who wasted no time in making their presence felt. Immensely colourful singer and guitarist Emily Flea delivered gritty guitar riffs with bags of energy, backed by the punchy bass of Captain Jax. This was punk rock with something to say, with songs shouting about pride and visibility in a world that can still be a pretty hostile place for anyone who dares to be different. They saved the perfect summary of their message for the closing number, No Pride, delivering the glorious punchline: “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re never gonna disappear.” Loved them.

Next up, Desert Vipers arrived from Valencia with a sound that wouldn’t have felt out of place at a mid-70s hard rock reunion gig. Their fluid blend of bluesy rock and full-blooded hard rock provided a welcome change of pace from the usual punk rock fare served up by Shake Some Acton. They announced their arrival with the mighty Melted Lights, setting the tone with strong riffs and some excellent guitar work from Quique, whose solos were a particular highlight.

There was a definite Led Zeppelin influence running through their sound, so it came as no great surprise when they launched into Communication Breakdown. That said, I never expected to hear that at a Mannie gig! Singer Ana delivered a controlled performance, her lovely melodic vocals providing the perfect counterpoint to the band’s muscular playing. They rounded things off with a marvellous version of Young Man Blues, leaving us with a reminder that there’s plenty of life in a good old-fashioned rock and roll riff.

And a special mention for bassist Francesco, who somehow managed to make it through the entire set while chewing on a toothpick without choking. I’m not sure that’s a recognised rock star technique, but it certainly takes focus.

Finally, it was time for the main attraction of the soirée, Alicia F, from France. Frontwoman Alicia Fiorucci packed an extraordinary amount of musical punch into a relatively small frame, unleashing a high-voltage blast of singalong punk rock and roll that threatened to shake the foundations of the Pipeline. From the moment she roared “One, two, zree, four!”, she had the place in the palm of her hand.

With her band providing a suitably raucous backing, Alicia screamed her way through a heady mix of English and French numbers, delivering one energetic tune after another. This was punk rock and roll in its most infectious form: loud, immediate and impossible to stand still to. The crowd were loving every minute of it, and the compact confines of the Pipeline were soon feeling even smaller as the energy levels rose and the crowdsurfing started.

A fine rendition of the Stooges’ I Wanna Be Your Dog was a definite highlight, but the crowning glory of the evening had to be Alicia’s take on Edith Piaf’s Non, je ne regrette rien. It was a magnificent way to round off a set that had already delivered plenty of thrills.

Three bands, three very different sounds, and one tiny venue that proved more than capable of hosting a mighty night of live music. From Daffodildos’ defiant queer punk, through Desert Vipers’ blues-drenched hard rock, to Alicia F’s high-voltage punk rock and roll, the Pipeline delivered the goods. A cracking night, and a venue I’ll be more than happy to return to.