Words by Cameron Cook
Photos by Abbey Braden

ART BRUT, 6:30PM, STILLWELL STAGE

Cameron says: Art Brut has come a long way since their now-legendary demos first spurted onto the Internet in 2004. From being everyone’s best kept secrets to selling out sizeable venues, there seems to be nothing in the almighty Brut’s path of becoming bonafide rock behemoths. Their Stillwell stage set was staggeringly attended, with devoted fans adamantly screeching every single word. It’s a cliché (to paraphrase their brilliant ode to teenage instability “These Animal Menswe@r”), but AB is the kind of band who will always have quasi-universal appeal, because all of their songs can be related to almost instantly: still pining for the one that got away? “Emily Kane” is for you. Ever dreamt of traveling someplace far, far away? Listen to “Moving to L.A.” Um, can’t get it up? “Rusted Guns of Milan” should ease your shame.

Speaking of “Rusted Gun”, am I the only one noticing that, every time AB come around to the States, the explanatory mid-song breakdown becomes more and more rife with conflicting details? How could the infamous non-fucking have happened both on Valentine’s Day and during Glastonbury 1999? Anyway, the circumstantial plot holes certainly didn’t take away from the impact of the song. “Modern Art” saw band leader Eddie Argos jumping the press barrier and getting down and dirty with the sweaty kids, and when the band finally pulled out their “hit”, “Good Weekend” even the Shoot the Freak dude must have been a converted fan. This is the sort of band that can quickly become a person’s life.