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Dec 04, 2024 By Andy Robbins Photography by Andy Robbins Web Exclusive

With Storm Bert whipping up the rain and squalling over Brighton beach, descending the stairs into Dust feels like seeking refuge from the tempestuous weather outside.

The abundance of waterproof jackets amongst those gathered in the basement venue hardly screams style in a party city, but needs to be on such a grotty evening.

Thankfully Desperate Journalist can be relied upon to stop the night turning into something resembling a Mountain Warehouse sales conference.

It’s not hard to trace the London-based four piece’s musical lineage. The Smiths, The Cure, R.E.M., Suede, Siouxie and the Banshees – there are echoes of all of these and more across their dependably brilliant studio output. But rather than plagiarise those that laid the foundations, Desperate Journalist have consistently added to that formidable cannon during a decade in which they’ve released five albums (as well as the fantastic Live at JT Soar) that will very likely sound just as vital in another 10, 20 or 30 years.

Having such a healthy back catalogue must make it tricky though, when you’ve only got an hour to cover as much ground as possible, while showcasing latest record No Hero to both fresh and familiar ears.

Unsurprisingly new songs feature heavily in the setlist which kicks off with “Adah”, which sandwiches the feverish “Why Are You So Boring?” with the glorious “Afraid”. The band’s recent single starts with guitarist Rob Hardy’s staccato guitar riff before Jo Bevan’s soaring voice sees the chorus explode in Technicolor. It’s a perfect example of how the band’s ambition has steered their sound into new territory, without losing the essence that makes their characteristic take on post-punk so recognisable.

It goes without saying that without decent tunes they’d be little more than an artist’s impression of a Rough Trade focus group. But after seeing a recent trend for groups taking to the stage in tatty jogging bottoms, it shouldn’t be overlooked how much of a difference it makes that they actually look like a band. Maybe it harks back to a pre-social media age when our favourite bands had a different air and some mystery about them. It’s clearly something recognised by Fierce Panda boss Simon Williams, who signed the band up to his legendary label that has released records

Returning to their set, Simon Drowner’s driving bass riff at the start of “Fault” provides one of this evening’s highlights, along with “Control” which is the only song aired tonight from their self-titled debut album). If there’s one song that captures the ambition in Desperate Journalist’s current sound though, it’s “Unsympathetic Parts 1 and 2”. Hardy dances across his pedalboard, guided through the darkness of the dimly lit stage by the flickering LEDs, like cat’s eyes on a gloomy motorway. The motorik drama of Part 1 builds the tension and drama, before the sudden gear change of echoing dreaminess in Part 2.

“Be Kind” and a soaring “Satellite” round off the night in style. These are songs that might once have catapulted Desperate Journalist onto bigger stages. The music industry today is a different beast than it was 30 years ago though and it feels like they’re the right band, but at the wrong time. It’s a bittersweet circumstance, but hopefully Desperate Journalist’s big story might yet be about to break.