The Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster @ ABC2, 30 Dec

 

People have been casting pessimistic predictions in the direction of Brighton's own punkabilly Addam's Family since Andy Huxley did a bunk in 2005. Yet, the fact is, they have never been better than they are now. In a live setting at least.

That's not a reflection on Huxley, just on the remaining members' inclination to progress the music to something a bit more grandiose yet still equal parts camp, sarcastic, morbid and brilliant. Were it not for ABC2's somewhat oddly proportioned interior (wider than it is long) which spreads the crowd thin at the sides and its security's fondness for summary ejections of audience members, this gig would get perfect marks.

The band are sharp, confident and Guy McKnight is inescapably enigmatic. The sound is also surprisingly brilliant given the venue's flawed past, epitomised by set closer Celebrate Your Mother which feels like drag-racing with the Cramps along a cliff edge at night. [Chris Cusack]