Vampire Weekend, Sparkadia @ Audio, Brighton

Dismissed by an Antipodean mate as “fluff Aussie majors put out in time for summer”, Sydney four-piece Sparkadia certainly boast a well buffed pop sheen. But radio-friendly new single ‘Too Much To Do’ and significantly weightier fare like ‘The Plague’ mark them as more than makeweights.

Vampire Weekend inevitably take the night though, with what seems like a supernaturally effortless grasp of how to fashion a hook. ‘Oxford Comma’ and ‘A Punk’ hint at an almost Broadway-esque sense of dramatic poise – this summer’s theirs.

Charlie Ivens

Originally published on the-fly.co.uk

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart @ Buffalo Bar, London

If you’ve ever hankered after a world where it is forever 1987 – where grunge, acid house and even Riot Grrrl never happened – come to a Pains Of Being Pure At Heart gig.

The New York quartet offer an unashamed rerub of C86-esque indie-pop as was carved in stone by The Wedding Present way back when, and crikey they do it well.

‘This Love Is Fucking Right’ and (yes indeed) ‘Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan’ place them assuredly alongside Los Campesinos! as fellow torch-bearers of The New Jangle. Welcome, friends.

Charlie Ivens

Originally published on the-fly.co.uk

Madam @ 12 Bar Club, London

Madam - aka Sukie Smith - looks familiar, and only a post-gig Google browse reveals why: she played Max Branning’s ex in EastEnders!

But it’s the release of her debut album In Case Of Emergency that’s filled the (admittedly pocket-sized) venue to bursting.

Downbeat but intriguing, Sukie and band wade through album highlights ‘Call America’ and ‘Superfast Highway’ like they’re Americana treacle – confidence is a preference, but not always a prerequisite for a decent evening.

Charlie Ivens

Originally published on the-fly.co.uk