"Are you ready Art Brut?" - Eddie Argos

Eddie, Art Brut was ready and so was Manhattan. Ready to rock out, perhaps? Yeah, Art Brut were up for that; most of the Mercury Lounge was game as well. One particular fan was even ready to buy the band shots, start a mosh pit, and flip the bird at anyone and everyone. Art Brut's New York debut was raucous, jittery and hilarious.

I say jittery because having seen Art Brut at Maxwell's the previous night it seemed Eddie was a tad less confident with his between-song bits. You certainly can't blame him for a bit of nerves. This was New York after all, jaded and analytical. And despite Art Brut's snide attitude on record, live the band want to connect and engage with their audience. As Heart On A Stick pointed out in its comprehensive review of the show: "Art Brut's not a snark-punk outfit. The music's more than just funny, the band believes in more than swordfish. The songs are good, Argos means what he says."

Behind the cracks about only listening to B-sides, disliking the Velvet Underground, and sipping Hennessy with Morrissey (changed to "sipping Sherry with Brian Ferry", LOL), lies a genuine and embraceable message: Rock out to modern art, but don't forget to create your own. Form a band. Call it Art Brut, Eddie won't care. But otherwise, just be original.

Oh, and have some fun.





Check out more photos from this show on Flickr.