The Brighton Centre Reviews

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The Brighton Centre
Kings Road , Brighton , East Sussex

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These reviews are the subjective opinion of our users and do not represent the opinions of brightonlife.com. Whilst we make every effort to moderate them we can not guarantee their accuracy.

Ross And Rachel Ross And Rachel gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Stereophonics

The phonics at their best.....kelly jones was amazing, the crowd were totally interactive and probably the best we`ve seen them.

Reviewed 17 Dec 2008

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Chris Chris gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Kings Of Leon

One of the best gigs i have ever been to! Absolute carnage on the dance floor, great atmosphere a 2 hour long set of pretty much all their best tunes. The perfromance was brilliant definately the best band currently for their music and there live gigs.

Also never been to the Brighton Centre before, rally good venue i thought. You can get really close to theband (if you push) and the sound was excellent.

Will without a doubt being seeing them at the next opportunity...amazing!

Reviewed 2 Dec 2008

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Dara Dara gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 3/5

Steven Coogan

One of the important tenets I have learnt in life is to go into every situation with the lowest possible level of expectation. That way you can never fail to be pleasantly surprised went you don’t die/get ripped off/have a miserable time.

It was with this glass half empty philosophy that I went to Friday night’s show at the Brighton Centre with a sense of trepidation. The reviews for Steve Coogan’s latest show (his first live gigs in 10 years) had been...well...frankly awful. Stories of people walking out, duff jokes and poorly rehearsed material abounded. I really wasn’t hoping for much despite Alan Partridge being one of my comedy heroes. In fact I was just hoping Coogan didn’t artistically murder Partridge with a final ill-conceived cash-in.

Mercifully, Partridge is as hilarious as ever and whilst Coogan’s other less successful characters aren’t great they are just about tolerable. Not a ringing endorsement I agree but think of it as having to eat your sprouts before you are allowed any desert.

To be fair Coogan has upped his game (no doubt reeling from the poor reviews), honed the material and learnt his lines after being on the road for a couple of months now. For £32.50 a pop I should bloody well hope so.

So let’s get through the sprouts.

First of all Pauline Calf. Coogan as a sluty Lily Savage. Despite a promising musical intro extolling the virtues of the Marriot hotel chain (he has gone upmarket since the Linton travel tavern) the set descended into a lazy selection of nob and fanny innuendos which might have been funny in 1983. “Funniest” one I can remember after Pauline recounts a story of her being knocked down by car

Passerby: “How many fingers have I got up”
Pauline: “ You dirty bastard I was unconscious”

I think you get the drift. There are some funny moments but it all seems a bit dated.

Then comes Tommy Saxondale a middle aged, middle England ex-roadie prone to anecdotes about touring with Def Leppard et al. I resolutely watched the whole series when it came out on BBC2 last year. Not because I particularly liked but because I was desperate to see something resembling Partridge’s comedy gold. Live he is just as tired and disappointing. He lectures us on the dangers of drug use whilst showing amusing pictures of strung out characters on an overhead projector. He finishes up with an uneccesary lame song. Forgettable and hopefully, like Partridge, he doesn’t get a second series. The shit.

Then we get Duncan Thickett one of Coogan’s oldest characters, a wacky 80’s T.V presenter in the mould of Timmy Mallett. I actually thought this was quite amusing as at least Thickett is intentionally meant to be unfunny and ludicrous. Still it really is music hall stuff and the kind of thing you might have seen on Britain’s Got Talent. Coogan is a talented writer, actor and performer and frankly much better than this.

Things improve when last of the warm up acts Paul Calf rolls onto the stage. The work shy Manc scrounger who is the closest Coogan comes to the comedic ease of Partridge. He comes on in a electric wheel-chair he starts by sending up Stephen Hawking with a robot voice. Now this is more like it. He does quite a funny song about gypsies (some nice harmonies with his backing singers ) and leads up nicely to the main event.

It must be hard for an actor/comedian to create a character so brilliant and perfectly formed that the rest of their career is spent either being pigeon-holed or desperately trying to recreate that alchemy through inferior characters. Partridge is the golden albatross that hangs around Coogan’s neck despite his success in breaking into Hollywood.

Partridge is now life coach with his revolutionary “Forward Solutions” programme which has helped the likes of Ross Kemp (there is a running gags through the whole show taking the piss out of him, Coogan must have had a run in), Ainsley Harriot and Vanessa Feltz reach the top of their game. As author of “Bouncing Back” Partridge as motivational speaker is a logical progression. This new angle just gives Partridge room to do what he does best i.e. unintentionally making himself look a complete and utter dick i.e. he manages to get into a kerfuffle over penis enlargement ad whilst interviewing his guests.

I was in stitches from beginning to end of the segment and I was happy to see Partridge back on form. Partridge then performs a play about Sir Thomas Moore (don’t ask) which isn’t quite so good.

We then finish off with Coogan playing himself and blowing a tongue-in -cheek raspberry at the press depiction of him as a drug taking womaniser (“largely untrue” according to Coogan) with a catchy crude musical finale which I won’t spoil (Charlie Uniform November Tango).

Let’s face it we all wanted 3 full courses of Partridge but I guess like most indulgences I guess it is always best to be left wanting more.

Reviewed 23 Nov 2008

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Jodie-maee Jodie-maee gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Mighty Boosh

Wow. Wow wow wow. It was absolutely amazing, sooo funny :D.

Reviewed 16 Nov 2008

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Andy Cross Andy Cross gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Mighty Boosh

Mighty Boosh was brilliant. Went on the 14th November at the Brighton Centre and I can't really say anything except it was great. I have to admit it did start slow and did take a while to warm up and get the good bits but when they did it was very funny. The only bad thing about the whole night was the cost of the programmes. £12!! They were nowhere near worth that much and that was the worst thing! But apart from that it was really good and I would reccommend it to anyone. Oh no Old Gregg though that wasn't good.

Reviewed 15 Nov 2008

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Spang Spang gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Mighty Boosh

Well I wasn't sure what to expect, after seeing the Boosh live at the Dome in Feb 2006. That performance was good, fun even, but the sets were cheap, and the show was a virtual carbon copy of the pilot Boosh episode "Tundra", which I had seen so many times, that I found it slightly disappointing. The music at that performance was all on tape/CD too.

Fast forward to Wednesday 12th November 2008 - again I wasn't sure what to expect, especially in a bigger venue, and with the Boosh being more popular (if not more mainstream "straight" comedy), I expected less intimacy between the Boosh / crowd...

...How wrong was I!!! Absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Big shiny sets, lighting, costumes, story line etc - and the Music was FANTASTIC - Imagine that old green cockney psycho The Hitcher, along with a full skeletal freak band, singing about his favourite East End food - Eels! If you've seen series 3 - you'll know this song - very pschedelic and weird....

..Well imagine this song spread over 10 minute - starting in a Madness style ska stylee, moving onto to Heavy Dub, then Dubstep, then funky trippy House. The light show and sound were phenomenal..

The same band, but dressed as "Nanas" did a Thrash Metal version of "Nanageddon" along with Black Magic imagery and Black/Red lighting - followed up by "I did a **** on your Mum" where all the Nanas started pogoing like Punks. The audience went wild and security could not keep the people in their seats! - Dave (the guy who plays Bollo) has a fantastic rock voice and complements Vince Noir/Noel Fielding excellently.

Other highlight included Bollo and Naboo - all pimped up since their sojourn in South Central LA, Bob Fossil and his Dance lessons, Tony Harrison on a sofa and loads more .

There was even an after party at the Ocean Rooms, with Robots in Disguise (The Goth Girls from "Nanageddon" episode and also Kraftwork Orange from "Electro" episode) playing a live set, complete with dancing robots, then downstairs to DJ sets from Vince/Noel, Bollo/Dave and Naboo/Michael. ...

...Apparently Howard was tired and needed his sleep!

The Mighty Boosh are back again at the Brighton Centre this Saturday - Try not to miss!

ps... this is not just for younger "weird" kids - I turned 41 on the same day... there was a real mix of people - many dresed up as their favourite characters - reminiscent of the Rocky Horror Show...

Reviewed 14 Nov 2008

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Maggie Macfadden Maggie Macfadden gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Leonard Cohen’s

Leonard Cohen performed at Glasgow's Armadillo Thursday 6th November, a night to remember. He skipped on stage to the delight of the audience and gave the most wonderful concert I have ever attended.The set was elegant , classy and simple.The musicians and singers were Class A acts and Leonard Cohen , himself , a legend in our time, sang and spoke for over 3 hours, charming the audience with his elegance and class. A true gentleman.

The performance was eveything I expected and more......... It was a once in a lifetime performance and we may not see this again.Leonard appeared to be re-born, his voice, NOT mellowed with age but so strong, his words still so apt 40 years on.He held the audience in his hand, without effort and sang, sang,sang....... The musicians each individually were wondeful and the Webb Sisters and Sharon Robinson simply divine.
Leonard Cohen in his 70's , truly magnificent.The audience sat in silence, clearly enthralled by his words and music, the applause wonderful, he came back again and again, clearly enjoying himself,,,,What else to say????

Reviewed 7 Nov 2008

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Kath Kath gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Michael Bolton

Just seen Michael Bolton in Sheffield.Venue was full of appreciative fans who loved his 1hour 50 minute set.A good mixture of old and new songs along with a few from his swing album and a superb rendition of Nessum Dorma. He had the crowd eating out of his hand and up on their feet dancing and clapping.His backing band are excellent and his singing ,as usual, was fantastic.Can't wait till he comes back again.I will certainly be there.

Reviewed 23 Oct 2008

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John Dowsett John Dowsett gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Stephen Stills At The Brighton Centre

A stunning concert in all respects, The quality of his voice and guitar during the acoustic set had to be seen and heard to be believed, the hightlight being a heart stopping peformance of suite judy blue eyes which ended the set with a deserved standing ovation .

The 2nd set was an all electric with his guitar playing up there with Duane Allman, Clapton and Hendrix with a wonderful finale of Bluebird, for what it's worth and an encore of Love the one your with affair.

He certaintly rolled back the years.

Reviewed 11 Oct 2008

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Andrew Riggs Andrew Riggs gave The Brighton Centre a rating of 5/5

Stephen Stills At The Brighton Centre

Stephen Stills opened the UK leg of his brief tour in Brighton last night, I last saw Stephen with Crosby & Nash a few years ago and at that time he looked over weight and his voice had deteriorated from the heights of the late 60s/early 70s peak.

So it was good to see Stephen looking healthy after his prostrate cancer scare earlier this year, he’s lost some weight (as he told the audience his special diet ELF ‘eat less food’) and his voice sounded much better tonight.

In my opinion some of Stephen’s work ranks alongside the very best of American music in the last 40 years from his early work with Buffalo Springfield (For What It’s Worth, Bluebird, Rock ‘n Roll Woman) followed by his outings with his mates CSN (Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Helplessly Hoping), CSNY (Carry On, 4 +20), plus his first two solo records the first of which is a stone cold classic.

But it has to be the majestic double Manassas record from 1972 that stands up as his finest hour and is seen today as a template of Americana music. A dazzling record spread over four sides (vinyl) with Stills showing his ability to play, sing and write country, rock, blues, bluegrass and folk. I hear and read many of the accolades placed at Gram Parsons door but Stephen Stills contribution overshadows by GP by a country mile.

Of course we know now he would never scale those peaks again as egos, drink and drugs took their toll. But when you see & hear Stephen play guitar (electric & acoustic) you realise what an under rated guitarist Stills is,

The show tonight is split into two parts acoustic and electric with the band featuring Joe Vitale (drums) and Kenny Passarreli (bass). The first segment opened with Helplessly Hoping with Stephen showing that his voice can reach some of the heights from his halcyon days, also included in the set were Change Partners and a moving Daylight Again/ Find The Cost of Freedom, one of the best anti-war songs ever written. ‘Find the of freedom buried in the ground’. The finale for the acoustic set was a superb version of Suite Judy Blue Eyes; ‘wooden’ music at it’s very best.

The electric set showed why Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton & Neil Young sparred with Stephen in the early 70s, in fact I understand Graham Nash has uncovered an unreleased record with Hendrix & Stills which is planned for a release in 2009 – Graham Nash is also working on a Stills box set.

Covering electric versions of BS, CSN & solo Stills sings the set was brilliant with Stills looking comfortable with the band and at ease with the audience and perhaps more importantly with himself.

The evening finished with a rather embarrassing ‘audience’ participation of ‘Love the One You’re With’. It was great to Stephen back live and in good shape.

Reviewed 11 Oct 2008

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