Music

Razorlight in Brighton

Unless you've spent the last few weeks living in a cave, you can’t fail to have noticed that Razorlight are EVERYWHERE. The skinny-jeaned London four-piece are in full-throttle for the release of a new and much-anticipated album out on Monday, from which fans have already been treated to first top five single, 'In The Morning'.

If you got your TBA invite by text, then you’re in for a real treat. There are 600 of us in the VIP area at the front, mere feet from singer, Johnny Borrell and the rest of the band.

But behind us, and lining the street-level promenade above, are thousands more fans who are happy just to stumble across an A-list band playing such a small, impromptu gig. Local resident, Zoe Ball, introduces Johnny and the boys with the simple words: "You lot are very lucky."

Razorlight exclusive footage

Check out exclusive video from Razorlight's Vodafone TBA gig on Brighton Beach.

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In the two short years since Razorlight burst into the British consciousness and nabbed the number one spot with debut single 'Up All Night', and the album of the same name, they’ve graced the top ten six times, morphed from first-on to headline act at Glastonbury, supported rock royalty including the Who and Oasis (with a Stones tour later this month), and played to a worldwide audience of three billion at Live8.

With that sort of recent track record, the band have a lot to live up to, which they set about doing straight away by kicking off with the new single instead of an old favourite. And ‘In The Morning’s live translation illustrates exactly why Razorlight have a reputation for such electrifying gigs.

"It was my mate's first gig, so I wanted to bring him along. They were absolutely awesome. There was loads of energy in the crowd, especially down the front."
Neil, Watford

"It was pretty rock and roll. Everyone was getting into it and there was a good mix of diehard fans and people just stopping by. We haven't had anything that exciting here for a while."
Anthony, Brighton

"It was a bit of a surprise winning the tickets but it was really nice. I've never seen them live before and they were really, really good."
Deborah, Essex

The band have a lot to live up to… but as if to stick two fingers up to all that, they kick off with the new single instead of an old favourite. And 'In The Morning's live translation illustrates exactly why Razorlight have a reputation for such electrifying gigs.

It also demonstrates precisely how the band have moved on from their first album. Where 'Up All Night' was all about Johnny, who wrote and produced the album, the new material is far more collaborative, with several songs co-written by drummer Andy Burrows and legendary producer, Chris Thomas (Beatles, Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd and Roxy Music) twiddling the knobs.

Three quarters of the way through the song, Johnny, bassist Carl Dalemo and lead guitarist, Björn Ågren, turn their backs on us to worship at the altar of Andy’s kit for an extravagant drum solo, before slowing things right down and turning back for a sexy, slo-mo outro.

Another stand-out performance is 'Bright Lights', where Johnny manages to blend stompy Ian Dury-ish vocals with moments of unadulterated seduction, all to frantic tribal drum beats. And as he sings "She said 'oh go on upstairs/where we can be alone'" it's too much for one female fan: There’s a teasing pause filled with a desperate, adoring cry of "Johnnnn-eeeee!"

A couple of biggies next: 'Golden Touch' is lush, and richer than it’s ever sounded on radio (and Carl's funky bass is delicious), while 'Vice' oozes far more of its NYC 70s punk swagger here than on CD.

Of the new album's tunes, the best-sounding are 'America', a slice of late-60s political ballad with romantic undertones and a punchy chorus that speaks familiar words to a Bush-wary generation, and 'Fall To Pieces', with its Bob Dylan guitars and the addition of an old-fashioned, real piano. But the irresistibly emotional 'LA Waltz' beats them both and hints at the new album's maturity.

By the epic, 12-inch version of final song, 'Somewhere Else', Johhny's vocals are stadium-worthy, soaring magnificently through the sea air. Close your eyes and you could be basking in soundwaves of their headline show at Glastonbury with a crowd of thousands. And yet there’s just a few hundred of us VIPs, unsquashed and close enough to the band to (almost) make eye-contact.

And then – unusual for such a short set – we get two encores! Zoe was right. We are VERY lucky indeed.