Pete and the Pirates – The Portland Arms, Cambridge, 26/09/07

The Autumn has finally arrived. It’s cold, it’s wet and I’ve had to dig my scarf out from the bottom of the wardrobe before I leave the house. So, it’s with no little difficulty that I drag myself out of my warm and dry house across town to the Portland Arms. I get wet as I trudge through the puddles to the surprisingly welcoming pub.

As I have a beer, which isn’t very nice unfortunately, and wait for the evening to unfurl I’m suddenly wondering if Pete and the Pirates will actually dress up. I’ve failed to do my research sufficiently and I’ve not Googled them to see if there’s any photographic evidence of some sort of costume-fuelled live show. All I have to go on is Everett True’s glowing live review in this months Plan B, comparing them to all the greatest live shows he’s ever seen, and I bet he’s seen some impressive shows.

Things don’t start too well. The drummer for the support act The Umbrella Assassins has left his cymbals at home. Which, even I know, are pretty useful. So, after an hour wait, they weren’t worth it. A mish-mash of garage rock pretensions with classic rock riffs and a bassist who wants to be just like Flea. Oh dear. Well, at least it was all over pretty soon.

Thankfully we weren’t kept waiting for Pete and the Pirates. Five guys shuffle on stage and look the least likely band members in the entire world. The front stage duo of vocalist Tommy Sanders and guitars / backing vocalist Peter Hefferan are tiny, delicate individuals who look like a gust of wind might blow them over. However, as Sanders bellows into the microphone for the opening song, he becomes twice the size.

His vocal yelps and accentuated drawl sound open and honest; you instantly warm and trust this man. The two, and occassionally three, vocal harmonies are tight and uplifting whilst the hand claps, tambourine and “la la la’s” make it feel as though you’re at a party. The band sound tight, their Myspace gig list looks like a road map of the UK, they don’t seem to be having a break between now and Christmas. Their entire 10 song set is jovial and upbeat. In places it might not come across as an entirely fresh take on the whole post-punk scene, but their glittering riffs and crashing drums take unexpected turns. Just when you think you know where a song is going, it shifts and explores a different path. Their repertoire of riffs and jangling guitars impressive, the drummer beating the living daylights out of his kit throughout the set.

The songs themes are all that young men sing and dream about; girls, drinking, girls, sex, girls, love, girls, food and girls. Their lyrics are instantly memorable, full of hooks and smile-inducing couplets: “Hey girl what are you doing in his bed!” and “I got up in such a hurry / I’m still stuck in side my dream!” to name but two. Latest single “Knot” should be huge. Its crashing riffs, three part vocal harmonies and a mid-section that Franz Ferdinand would be proud of, I’m surprised it’s not featured more prominently.

As I left the venue, the rain had stopped and even the wind had died a little. I strolled over to my car with a smile on my face and a thought that I think I’ve found my new favourite band.

Photos courtesy of Phil Day