Gig Review: No More Apologies

Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern, at Brighton Freebutt, September 8th 2009

A few years ago, Kate Fox, a social anthropologist, undertook an experiment to find out more about the English. She spent several days in train stations, shopping centres, and public places, bumping into people. She deliberately gave people a bit of a barge. Eighty percent of those she bumped into said "sorry". That's Englishness.

We English have a fear of direct confrontation and have to pacify immediately. We also have a terrible fear that EVERYTHING might be our fault. I guess she didn't choose pubs, clubs or extremely drunk people for her research. That's a different story. The English without their inhibitions. We won't go there today.

"Sorry" he said, as I arrived by bicycle and he happened to cross my path.

"Sorry" he said, as he stood on the thin stairs coming down, when I wanted to go up.

"That's the second time I've said sorry to you isn't it? Tonight: no more apologies."

What difference does it make? It makes all the difference.

No need for apologies, but I have to love him for them. Darren Hayman is the epitome of Englishness.

I am a rabid fan his two most recent albums, 'Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern' and 'Pram Town'. They knock the socks off Hefner. How delighted was I that they played so many tracks off Pram Town, only recently released? I was absolutely over the moon. The songs are so brilliant, that even after one or two listens they have the familiarity of old favourites. In my mind, I sang along with the emotional intensity of a music junky. I was shooting up.

Then the Hefner tracks, for the fans that collect b-sides. I accept their place and it was fun.

The final track, 'When the Angels Play Their Drum Machines', gave me earworm for two weeks. It was bloody marvellous. When a portion of a song repeats within one's mind, it can be as irritating as fuck, but sometimes it's the zest of life itself.

'Let me, let you, let me down again.'

Perfect.

Fabpants Recommends:
A little bit of ear worm.

Download MP3: Hefner - When the Angels Play Their Drum Machines (courtesy of epitonic.com)