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Clutter

Nov 10, 2025 By Nick Roseblade Photography by Nick Roseblade Web Exclusive

Going out on Bonfire Night, not to a firework display always feels a bit weird. As I walked to the station to catch the train to town the air was thick with smoke and the smell of sulphur. As I waited at the platform, with a huge Beaver Moon hanging in the sky, distant booms echoing around it felt more eerie than Halloween did. Luckily, I wasn’t tricked, or treated, on my walk from Brighton station to The Prince Albert. As usual the pub was warm and welcoming downstairs. The hops from the ceiling looked fresh and everything felt right with the world, despite whether it was or not. But I wasn’t here to look at the colour palate inside, I was here for live music so upstairs I went. On the menu tonight was firm favourites M. Woodroe. Swallowtail, who I’d never seen but people have been hyping for a while and Clutter who exploded into my senses about a week before and had been unable to shake since.

The room felt about half full, which was a shame as it was a cracking lineup. The pull of fireworks, and other gigs in town, must have decimated an audience that a day before, or after, might have filled the room a bit more. M. Woodroe were on first. “What a Shame” kicked things off with a slow slice of Velvet Underground-esque drone. Part way through singer Marcy got a second microphone that was running through her guitar pedal board and was channelling her inner Diamanda Galas and just belting it out! It was a glorious, and a perfect, way to start their set. This was followed by new single “Fog of War”. Again, the rhythm section ratcheted up the tension until everything kicked off and we were drenched in feedback and noise. The next two songs slowed it down a bit, “A Veil” and “Julie”, whilst keeping that glorious feeling of unease front and centre. The standout song, as ever, is “Carte Blanche”. Usually, the song is usually broody and menacing, but tonight it was filled with a sparkle that made it pop. It’s still a ferocious banger, but it sizzled in a way I’d never heard before. During their terse, and abrasive, set it was the most comfortable and laidback I’d seen them play. M. Woodroe gets better with each watch. Their songs are filled with passion, emotion and bile against society. Perfect openers tonight.

Up next was Swallowtail. This was the first time I’d seen the band. Which is a shame as this is Swallowtail 2.0. A few months ago, they replaced their bassist and singer. I can’t say whether these changes are for the better, or worse, as I have nothing to compare it to. While they have a good sound. Dense shoegaze guitars. One of the best drummers I’ve ever seen. And a singer with a voice that has the range to go from whispering lilting to full on singer, I wasn’t blown away. The problem is they didn’t seem to have any actual songs. All the songs sounded, pretty much, the same and worked as an exercise in showing how good the individual parts of the band were, but without being catchy. It was a lot of guitar effects propping up ok chord progressions. This feels a bit harsh. They are still a new band, still finding their feet and need time to gel as a cohesive unit. Their best songs of the night were “Haunt” and “Drench”. Here things started to pick up. Singer Lucy Darke’s voice trilled and rose, the guitars soared, and the drums were pounded. Here I started to see what the hype was about, but all too fleeting it passed. And then their set was over. I was filled with mixed feelings. There were bits I liked. The drumming especially and Darke’s voice when it matched the music, but a lot of it felt off. Swallowtail is a work in progress, and I think they’ll make it good and probably make a name for themselves, but at the moment they should probably lock themselves in rehearsal spaces until they have three solid songs that are catchy, melodic or lyrically, and slap. Then start playing gigs like their lives depended on it.

When Clutter took to the stage the room was a bit emptier than when M. Woodroe kicked things off. But it didn’t matter. Everyone there was invested to see one of the most exciting, and fun, bands out there. And they decimated the room. It was a shame that some of the bands didn’t bother to stay for the headliners, despite thanking them for having them on the bill. Clutter opened with “Jesus” which is both a blessing and a curse as it’s my favourite song of theirs. It sounds like what would happen if L7 and early Dandy Warhols made pop-punk fronted by Nico. After “Jesus” singer Emma French said, “We are Clutter and we’re from Stockholm”. It was one of the few times the band addressed the crowd. Recently the sets I’ve enjoyed the most have come from bands who mostly ignore the crowd and just do their job, rather than telling us about the details of their lives and songwriting. Up next was new single “Superstar”. This is another slice of pop-punk excellence, but it’s slightly darker than the opener. There are loads of killer lyrics, but the best is “Why is England always freezing?” On Bonfire Night this lyric had more impact than ever. Halfway through the set bassist/singer Hilda Ander swapped with guitarist/singer Emma French. This gave the set a new dynamic. Hilda thrashed at her guitar and Emma has the best deadeye since 1977. “Geeks” is another absolute banger, opening with the line “This is for the geeks and nerds”. Everyone in the Albert fitted into this category. They were singing to their people, and we appreciated the nod. The set ended with “Brideshead”, before it started Hilda said “This is our last song, it’s from our debut EP. You can play it if you like…”. Delivered in monotone with a deadpan face. It was one of the few times the band spoke to the crowd and it was glorious. “Brideshead” is one of the heavier songs of the set and ending on it made sense. Chugging power chords was the order of the day with catchy lyrics. And then it was over. The lights were on, and it was time to shuffle out in the dark.

On the short train ride home, that smelt of salt and vinegar chips, I thought about the gig. Yes, it was gutting that more people weren’t out, but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the music or the energy the bands put in. I thought about what might happen to Swallowtail. They have the potential to do something good; they just need to harness it. As I walked home a few lone fireworks were still booming overhead. The Beaver Moon was bright, but not as bright as the future for these three awesome bands.