Rackett @ Brighton Up Bar, 20th Aug

“Rackett really couldn’t be doing any more right. They’ve played and played and played, they’ve quite clearly landed on a musical spot they’re all delighted to be on, and they’re tight, focussed, and in the damn zone. They’re also madder than a box of frogs. Tonight is the single launch, supposedly, but really this is a party to celebrate the end of the beginning, and the beginning of what’s next. The room is packed silly, the band are eye-masked in matching face paint, there’s clambering over speakers and up amps, and it’s a bloody riot of fun and noise. Just about every second has a brutal thumping churn of a rhythm, there are hooks spilling out of every pore and it’s a hoot to be around. Fast becoming my band of the year, it’s a bloody freight train, and it’s smashing through everything. Love it? Hell, I bought the t-shirt. And so will you.”