THE HOOSIERS + HUNNYBUZZ – CHALK, BRIGHTON 16.10.26
“It turns out a pop band from the noughties can change the world”, The Hoosiers frontman Irwin Sparkes states midway through their set, the latest in a series of self-deprecating comments. The band seem all too aware they’re breakfast radio music: think The Kooks or The Feeling. The easy, inoffensive pop that soundtracked your pre-walk-to-school Cheerios, beloved by most under-10s in the late 00s. A drunk crowd concurs — The Hoosiers have landed as a nostalgia act, but at least they know it.
With a new album to plug in ‘Compassion’, one might wonder why The Hoosiers are releasing music almost 20 years on from their debut, ‘The Trick To Life.’ By the time they arrive on stage in matching uniforms of Canadian tuxedos, I can already feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. However, as they open with the frothy bounce of the vulnerable ‘Sleeping With The Light On’, it’s clear their latest album has resonated with most fans. ‘Lonely Together’ is pure power-pop while ‘Making A Monster’ is spacey syncopation – leaning further into Metronomy alt-pop and brass than expected. In a move usually reserved for a big finish, Sparkes darts into the crowd and ends up arm-in-arm with possibly the drunkest person in the room.
Despite a clear focus on the present day, time is made for the hits. The jaunty classic ‘Worried About Ray’ is aired surprisingly early, earning the first singalong of the night. Keeping up the audience participation, a cover of ‘Pink Pony Club’ is screamed back by an audience game for Saturday-night karaoke, and slightly relieved to hear another track they know. ‘A Sadness Runs Through Him’ balances its lyrical melancholy with a staccatoed ska-style upstroke for a brisk track that tries to mask its pain.
After a slower cut, ‘Bumpy Ride’ is largely spoken over by an audience impatient for familiarity. Fortunately, the theatrical swing of ‘Cops And Robbers’ follows, bookended with lyrics from Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ to enhance the 00s nostalgia. One of the most striking things throughout the night is how remarkably Sparkes’ vocals have held up, still sounding as youthful as he did on their debut.
Running through even more obligatory recent-album tracks, the keytar-carried ‘So High’ stretches the crowd’s goodwill to its absolute limit, creating queues at the bar for the plodding ‘Permission To Rest’, which is at least followed by a comedically timed break to retune. Sensing the increasing disconnect as they hurtle toward a conclusion, drummer Alan Sharland asks, “One more? It’s a good one, I promise” before a cover of ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ starts so subdued it could practically be a church choir. Fortunately, it swells into maniacal harmonies befitting the original.
Threaded in the main set are constant teases from Sparkes, acknowledging the demand for ‘Goodbye Mr A.’ With rattles and stomps demanding them back for an encore, the band oblige. After the punchy brass of ‘Compassion’, Sparkes leaps back into the crowd for the shimmering ‘Don’t Hang Your Head.’ This time, he poses for selfies and downs drinks handed to him while their guitar tech gradually reels his cable back in, treating him like a particularly extroverted fish. “Brighton! You spoil us,” he beams, before announcing, “This is not farewell. It’s goodbye”, to finally allow the staccato pep of ‘Goodbye Mr A’ to break free. Closing their set with a doo-wop, power-pop singalong proves one thing: sometimes we all need to feel like a kid again.
As the band dance round the stage to Lionel Richie’s ‘All Night Long (All Night)’, I can’t help but smile a bit. Their set is camp; it’s kitsch and mercifully doesn’t take itself seriously. While The Hoosiers seem all too happy to poke fun at themselves, their strength lies in one unequivocal truth: nostalgia goggles sell. Is their music life-changing? No. Is the live experience essential? Also no. The self-awareness is the key part: they know what they are and they’re here to have fun, whether you like them or not. There’s something respectably infectious in that. Not all music needs to change the world, or push the medium forward. The Hoosiers are the cheap ramen that reminds you of your time at uni, or the poorly-aged film you grew up with that you’ll always have a soft spot for. Perhaps most importantly, they’re a reminder that not everything needs to be judged or torn into for being dated to a very specific timeframe – sometimes you can suspend your critical mind and just take the music for what it is.
The Hoosiers:
Irwin Sparkes – vocals, guitar
Alan Sharland – drums
Paul Frith – keys, synth, trumpet
Leighton Allen – bass
The Hoosiers setlist:
‘Sleeping With The Light On’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Lonely Together’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Making A Monster’ (from 2023 ‘Confidence’ album)
‘Choices’ (from 2010 ‘The Illusion Of Safety’ album)
‘Worried About Ray’ (from 2007 ‘The Trick To Life’ album)
‘Man From The Magazine’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Pink Pony Club’ (Chappell Roan cover)
‘Automatic Glow’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘A Sadness Runs Through Him’ (from 2007 ‘The Trick To Life’ album)
‘Bumpy Ride’ (from 2010 ‘The Illusion Of Safety’ album)
‘Multiply’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Cops And Robbers’ (from 2007 ‘The Trick To Life’ album)
‘So High’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Permission To Rest’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Jigsaw Heart’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ (Billy Joel Cover)
‘Compassion’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Don’t Hang Your Head’ (from 2026 ‘Compassion’ album)
‘Worst Case Scenario’ (from 2007 ‘The Trick To Life’ album)
‘Goodbye Mr A’ (from 2007 ‘The Trick To Life’ album)
Support came from Hunnybuzz who are a Bristol-based indie-pop quartet known for their vibrant fusion of melancholic melodies and upbeat energy. Formed in 2020 at BIMM Bristol, the band consists of Lydia Read (vocals), Rowan Barfoot (guitar), Ewan Base (bass), and Billy Pedrick (drums). Their sound draws from influences like Wolf Alice, Beach Bunny, and Taylor Swift, blending surf-rock rhythms with candid lyricism. Notable tracks include ‘Not Your Place’, ‘Now I Can Get Over You’, and ‘Chess Game’. Their EPs, ‘Welcome To Our Garden’ and ‘Pulling Roots’, showcase their evolving artistry and emotional depth.
Find them HERE on Spotify
