Stanley Brinks review
This Stanley Brinks live review is of a gig performed for the a recording of the Simple Folk radio show in September 2007.
Stanley Brinks is the moniker of Herman Dune band member Andre, who no longer plays live with that band, despite writing and recording albums with them. He prefers to play simple live shows as Stanley Brinks, and tonight was one such show. This was an invite only gig held in Brighton and hosted by Dillon from the Simple Folk radio show which is broadcast on local radio station Radio Reverb. Each couple of weeks Dillon invites some friends and people involved in the local scene along to watch 2 full length sets which are recorded and then edited for broadcast on the show. Support tonight came from the superb local artist Birdengine.
Amongst those invited this evening was Everett True, creator of Plan B magazine and one time friend of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love (legend has it he introduced the two of them). He left before the first band came on for some reason, and sadly missed a great night. In an interview with Herman Dune, conducted by Everett True himself (in his living room no less) for Plan B magazine, the band explain how Andre still currently is involved with the band, but has no interest in performing live with them, as he prefers a stripped down sound and they like playing as a full band. Apparently he is now more at home playing for people in Berlin squats. Excellent!
Andre’s music combines a lo-fi sound with humorous and intelligent lyrics that cover a range of topics including Germans, a lack of confidence with a girl and trees in the garden. One track, simply called Stanley Brinks, seems to be autobiographical, describing his time at university, playing in a band and then going solo. If you like artists such as Iron and Wine and Mark Eitzel (American Music Club) and then this is for you. If you like Herman Dune, don’t expect more of the same. He plays with only his guitar and the musical arrangements are sparse. Most of the musical content comes from the tunes he sings, and the guitar need not be there at all. Very few artists have this ability and his voice is strong and soothing so this in no way is a bad thing. Indeed, its the lyrics where the real meat of the performance lies, they are often very poignant and amusing, lots of laughs filled the room this evening. In fact, tonight felt less like a gig and more like a poetry reading albeit a sung one.
As an individual Andre seems very headstrong and determined (he’s French), he’s not the sort of guy you would want to argue with. When he asks for a few requests (apparently as a joke) he answers one request for (presumably) a Herman Dune song with a ‘no f***ing way’, it seems he wants to make it quite clear he’s a solo artist now (and apparently he forget all those songs anyway). He does however treat us to a requested cover of Small Town Boy by Jimmy Sommerville rather bizarrely. Smoking a cigarette to illustrate one track was also on the cards, either in defiance of our new laws or because he didn’t realise.
If you find Stanley Briggs passing through a cafe or venue in your town pop down, but make sure you get a seat.
Check out the Stanley Brinks myspace to hear some of his music.
If you want to see gigs like this keep an eye on our gigs in Brighton page, it lists all essential gigs and is updated weekly.
The show can be heard on the Simply Folk radio show on Radio Reverb on the 10th of October at 6PM.
For a taste of Herman Dune try the latest album
Giant.
