Brakes - The Well, Leeds, 12/11/2009
by Helen Tipping
published: 1 / 12 / 2009

intro
On the last night of a four date mini tour to promote a new album, Helen Tipping watches Brighton-based rockers Brakes play a good-humoured and exuberant set
Brakes have been touring their 'Rock is Dodelijk' live release for four days in November across the UK. We catch up with them in Leeds at the Well. The band are on good form, in a good mood and happy to be in Leeds for the final night of this mini tour. They get through a good twenty songs, with their usual speed of delivery. Their regular pineapple delivery was a little more low key than usual, with it being passed to a member of the audience rather than thrown. Apparently on the previous tour it hit someone in the head who wasn’t paying attention – serve them right I say, but health and safety has to be considered I guess. A good humoured and happy night was had by all, but Brakes have yet to get the audiences I feel they deserve. By no means a cool band, this is punk rock for the 21st century. Not the serious American style punk, it retains the British humour but takes it forward with a pop sensibility and the occasional serious message wrapped up in an energetic burst of music and lyrics. The photographs that accompany this article were taken by Neil Bailey.
interviews |
Interview (2007) |
![]() |
Sarah Maybank speaks to Brakes' frontman Eamaon Boland about the fiery political nature of his band, his love of touring and the group's plans for its soon-to-be recorded third album |
Interview (2006) |
reviews |
Hey Hey (2009) |
![]() |
Economical, but excellent first single from Brighton group Brakes' forthcoming third album,'Touchdown' |
Touchdown (2009) |
Hold Me in the River (2006) |
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewCathode Ray - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Allan Clarke - Interview
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleVinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Little Simz - Lotus
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
HAIM - I Quit
Pulp - More
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart