What a joy it was to be out and about listening to live music once again. Hastings is a town that always had a large amount of live music going on and as we approach the end of Covid-19 restrictions it looks as though it will again. So on a wet and windy Thursday night I ventured out and about with my DJ colleague, and local music expert, Andy Gunton.
So the venue last night was the re-vamped Brass Monkey, now known as The Brass. Sporting a new and better positioned stage, a professional lighting rig and a new sound system it looks every part “a venue” and last night’s roster of artists underlines that fact.
Whilst the main attraction was Hayley Savage and her band there was support from young singer songwriters and an Americana style band. Kicking off the night was an acoustic set from Bellza Moore, a young lady who writes her own soulful material and was well supported and received by the Brass crowd. With just her voice and her guitar she got things off to a entertaining start.
Next Up Snake Eats Boy with an acoustic set that once again drew in the receptive crowd with what his Soundcloud page describes as sad music for happy people. Snake Easts Boy seems to have thrived during lockdown with a plethoria of new music in his repertoire. Once again just a man and his guitar kept things moving.
The new stage was about to get more crowded with the first band of the night taking to it, the well known Equatorial Group. Their set produced some great Americana/Roots type music which on occasions seemed to channel a Fleetwood Mac feel and on one song I was convinced I was listening to something from the David Crosby catalogue. This was a hugely enjoyable set, delivered in a professional way, and I’m sure that their next outing on 1 April at the Jenny Lind will see the place packed.
Top of the bill tonight was Hayley Savage and her band. Her music is very much in the country/folk vein and her soulful voice sometimes tells dark stories of struggle and anguish. Her voice has a quality which instantly stops conversations in the room, you are compelled to listen as she weaves her stories through her songs. Hayley’s band is spot on and the two female backing singers add wonderful three part harmonies to the performance. It is clear that she and her band are extremely pleased to be back in front of a live audience once again.
All in all an excellent evening from start to finish and a really good way to dive back into the local music pool. I was extremely impressed with the upgrades to the venue and look forward to more enjoyable sessions there.
Tony Davis
18 February 2022