THE COURETTES + THEE DERELIQUE – DALTONS, BRIGHTON 6.9.26
One of the most hard working bands on the European rock scene, The Courettes (note no “G”) out of Aalborg in Denmark, have the reputation of delivering full-speed energetic performances and have played in at least 15 countries around Europe and Brazil. They have been on the case for over a decade now and have released a string of real quality albums. The first of these being the aptly titled ‘Here Are The Courettes’ which came out in 2015, and the excellent cover artwork laid down their foundations for their image and sound. The album artwork was a pastiche of those 1960’s albums and EP’s that those of that generation would have had in their collection – “Play this record loud – Max Volume” indeed! It was simply worth buying for the black and white imaged cover alone, with the quality music being a bonus!
Two years later a 10” live record ‘Alive From Tambourine Studios’ (which are in Sweden) dropped on beige green vinyl, and was followed the following year by another true garage rocker ‘We Are The Courettes’. In 2020, despite the pandemic, the band kept the wheels turning and impressively made 25 concerts in Denmark, Germany, France and Norway, showing their never ending lust, dedication and seriousness towards their career. Flavia Couri (vocals/guitar) and Martin Couri (vocals/drums) reportedly met while Martin was touring in Brazil, bonding over their shared love for music and 60’s culture, before relocating to Denmark and getting married.
The Courettes, who are sometimes known as The Fabulous Courettes, have shared the stage with artists like The Damned, The Sonics, The Pretty Things, Holly Golightly, The Bellrays, Jon Spencer, B52 ́s, Stray Cats, Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Gang of Four, Weezer, Franz Ferdinand and more. In a nutshell The Courettes is an explosive Danish and Brazilian rock band who is praised by the coolest music magazines around the world!
In the same year (2020) the band signed with legendary British label Damaged Goods Records, putting them on the same roster as top international rock icons like Buzzcocks, Manic Street Preachers, Atari Teenage Riot, New Bomb Turks, Amyl and the Sniffers, Billy Childish, Captain Sensible and many others. Their first single by Damaged Goods ‘Want You! Like A Cigarette’ was released in red vinyl and got airplay at BBC 6 Radio and spins at P6Beat and P4 in Denmark, and the first pressing of the 7” vinyl was sold out in two weeks.
Spring 2021 saw a brand new orange vinyl single, ‘Hop The Twig’, which is an exciting blend of garage, surf, 60s girlie pop and riot grrrl attitude and again got fantastic reviews. This then appeared on their top quality ‘Back In Mono’ album, which arguably contains some of their very best material. The following year there was still a buzz with the release and so the 8 track ‘Back In Mono (B-Sides & Outtakes)’ kept the ball rolling. 2024 saw the release of their ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ long player on dull white vinyl. Last year was a downtime on the releases on account of the couple endlessly touring, and so far this year it’s been quiet as well, but fear not Courettes fans as something is coming in November!
The Courettes are currently on a 20 date tour which this evening witnesses the husband and wife duo on Brighton Beach by the Pier at Daltons and in days time they will again be near the sea when they rock on up at The Piper in St. Leonards. Tickets for all shows are available from HERE.
This evening we are rewarded an 18 tune set which commences with an intro tape as the duo take to Daltons stage at 9:14pm. Martin is wearing his trademark black trousers, black shirt, black jacket and black hat. Vocalist Flavia is wearing her trademark black and white boots and black dress with white circles, she also had her black and white bag with her too as she arrived. It’s a good look! Surprisingly despite being a compact venue it hasn’t quite sold out. But the punters present certainly have a great time rocking their bodies or tapping their feet to the beat, as The King Of Denmark and The Girl From Ipanema, conjure up that Saturday night atmosphere, despite it being a Sunday evening!
They open with ‘You Woo Me’ from 2024’s ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album. This is a catchy, infectious tune with repetitive vocals that made it easy for the crowd to sing along, regardless of their familiarity with the band. There’s cleverness in their material as many of their tunes really feel like golden oldies although they are actually new compositions, thus there’s clever songwriting and beats going on here!
The Danish-Brasilian duo are incredibly talented, both musically and as performers. Martin effortlessly charming the crowd and Flavia captivating the audience with her energy and playful charisma. The Courettes are a well oiled machine, but you wouldn’t expect any less from an outfit that has performed so many concerts across the globe!
They dive right into ‘The Boy I Love’ from 2023’s ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album, and this has a few nods to ‘The Loco-Motion’ by Little Eva, which was also a mega-smash for a certain diminutive Australian in 1988. Tune three is ‘California’ off of ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’, this track carried a distinct The Beach Boys-esque pop spirit, delivering sunny, buoyant sounds and pure fun. The song’s breakdown featured soft, isolated vocals before the duo launched back into the upbeat rhythm. ‘Until You’re Mine’ from 2021’s ‘Back In Mono’ record came next and this offered a darker, more cinematic sound, at times evoking the moody feel of a Bond film score. A heavier, slower guitar riff paired with hypnotic; rhythmic drums created a spellbinding atmosphere that lingered in the room.
At around this point Flavia swaps her guitars around and the new one seems to offer a totally different sound, like that found in Cowboy Westerns. Despite being a duo, The Courettes aren’t the Ramones of their ilk, as I learn throughout their performance that if you care to listen carefully, their material latches onto a number of differing genres, be it with a rockabilly vibe, or even sounding like The Shangri-Las. But the longer the set went on the more intense and heavier the tunes became. After ‘Boom Boom Boom’ from ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ and ‘Trash Can Honey’ from 2021’s ‘Back In Mono’ album, the crowd get more involved and offer up handclaps for ‘Want You! Like A Cigarette’ from 2023’s ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album. After which we get ‘Night Time (The Boy Of Mine)’ from 2023’s ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album, and then ‘Tough Like That’ from 2023 ‘Back In Mono B-Sides & Outtakes’ record, where around this point Flavia rocked out into the crowd, throwing punchy, shouty vocals over the lively beat, which further got the punters involved.
‘Better Without You’ from ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ is next and is a real rocker which was gratefully received. ‘Boom! Dynamite’ from ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ was up next and this really got the crowd clapping along. I noted that Martin was using a tambourine to hit his drum which was a clever way of utilizing two instruments at the same time. Meanwhile part way through this track Flavia requests that everyone in the room crouch down and virtually everyone obliged, then a few seconds later we all jumped up again. This track is a fabulous slice of pure rock ‘n’ roll, and Flavia wasn’t done yet as she climbed atop a couple of the floor speakers. Martin’s drumming here was the most intense thus far. Flavia then dedicates ‘Misfits & Freaks’ from ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ to those in society who are marginalized.
We next get the first of two currently unreleased tracks, this being ‘Killer Kiss’ which will be seeing the light of day this November. It’s a slower tune and is quite like the aforementioned Shangri-Las. After ‘Won’t Let You Go’ from ‘Back In Mono’, we get ‘Hop The Twig’ from ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’, with its killer guitar riffs! This is worthy of inclusion on any compilation rock ‘n’ roll album – ‘Now That’s What I Call Rock ‘N’ Roll’ compilers take note! The set came to a climax here as somehow Flavia managed to orchestrate the crowd so that they moved closer together and shoulder to shoulder and then were able to hoist her aloft whilst she merrily played her guitar! A pure set highlight and the perfect way to end their main set.
Flavia vacates the stage. Martin stays put and encourages the punters to call his wife back. We do just that and she returns sporting a hat, which only lasts on her head for the single tune, this being ‘Keep Dancing’ from ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’. To me, this doesn’t actually sound like any of the other tunes tonight, but does remind me of the UK hits by American singer, television writer and actress Rachel Sweet, namely ‘B-A-B-Y’ (1978) and ‘Everlasting Love’ (1981). Flavia informs us that they are intending to return to Brighton next year, which was greeted by cheers.
Their penultimate offering is ‘Shake!’ from ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ and by now, everyone in the crowd is “shaking” along, and the pair are visibly having equal fun rocking out. They decide to end on their second newbie. This is called ‘F*ck You’s And Heartbreaks’ and I don’t why but I was thinking that this would be a great anti Christmas song and so should be released accordingly. This will be a future Courettes classic with its easy to learn repeated title. And that was our lot. A number of fans headed behind the stage in order to dutifully purchase their selected merch.
Tickets for their Thursday 10th September gig in St. Leonards at The Piper can be snapped up HERE.
The Courettes:
Flavia Couri – lead vocals and guitar
Martin Couri – drums, tambourine and vocals
The Courettes setlist:
(Intro tape)
‘You Woo Me’ (from 2024 ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘The Boy I Love’ (from 2023 ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘California’ (from 2024 ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Until You’re Mine’ (from 2021 ‘Back In Mono’ album)
‘Boom Boom Boom’ (from 2024 ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Trash Can Honey’ (from 2021 ‘Back In Mono’ album)
‘Want You! Like A Cigarette’ (from 2023 ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Night Time (The Boy Of Mine)’ (from 2023 ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Tough Like That’ (from 2023 ‘Back In Mono B-Sides & Outtakes’ album)
‘Better Without You’ (from 2024 ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Boom! Dynamite’ (from 2023 ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Misfits & Freaks’ (from 2023 ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘Killer Kiss’ (forthcoming November 2026 release)
‘Won’t Let You Go’ (from 2021 ‘Back In Mono’ album)
‘Hop The Twig’ (from 2023 ‘Boom! Dynamite – An introduction To The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
(encore)
‘Keep Dancing’ (from 2024 ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
(encore)
‘Shake!’ (from 2024 ‘The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes’ album)
‘F*ck You’s And Heartbreaks’ (new and unreleased)
(Outro tape)
Support this evening is provided by Thee Derelique, a five-piece featuring former members of bands from the Brighton scene of a few years back, namely Channel D, Lolita Storm, The FKB, and Coast To Coast. This evening’s lineup features the attractive Spex (lead vocals), Jim (Italian Eko guitar/vocals), Andy (Nord Electro keys/vocals), Ian who is seated and on Captain Morgan duty (bass) and pork pie hat connoisseur and premiere stool adjuster extraordinaire Will (drums).
On 28th August 2023 they dropped their debut release which featured three tracks under the banner of ‘Don’t Make Any Noise’ EP, these being ‘Feeling Inside’, ‘Happy Now’ and ‘See The Light’. It’s a compact release which comes in at a running time at a smidge under eight and a half minutes – check them out HERE. This year witnessed the release of its follow-up ‘Soul Of The City’ EP, which contains said tune as well as ‘Winning Hand’ and ‘Look Me In The Eye’ – listen HERE.
Here is an outfit that blends lively 1960s garage-punk feel with a serious hint of new wave, whilst having tremendous fun delivering it to us, especially stixman Will Moore, who makes light of having to adjust his stool a few times throughout their 33 minute 11 track set, which ran from 8:15pm to 8:48pm.
The quintet are sandwiched to one side of the already compact stage on account of The Courettes drumkit already being set up on the other side, which is ideal for a speedy turnaround. Thee Derelique are using their own kit, and thankfully they all manage not to barge each other on any occasions during their set. They are dressed for business and are virtually all clad in black. Vocalist Spex is looking resplendent in her striking red hair, matching red lipstick, blue eyeliner, black beret and black top and trousers along with raised Dr. Martens.
They kick off with the unreleased ‘Summertime’ with its swinging Hammond Organ sounding keys which gives it that wonderful retro sound. It’s an enjoyable rockin’ start! This is followed by ‘Conspiracy’ which is another top-tapping number. The sole cut from 2023’s ‘Don’t Make Any Noise’ EP, comes next, this being ‘Feeling Inside’ which initially benefits from some guitar strumming which reminds me of Buzzcocks, and then Spex repeated vocals kick in and the tune has a punky edge.
I would suggest that Thee Derelique also offer up a sound not too far off X-Ray Spex but without the saxophone, but this is being emulated when required by Andy on the Nord Electro. Vocally Spex does sound like Poly Styrene which is a positive, but then again the clue’s sitting there in her name! Their sound is arguably not out and out punk but heading towards post punk. I personally think that it’s great that a local outfit is playing live sets that sound like this.
After the yet to be recorded ‘Gresham Street’ the quintet perform the first of two cuts from their recent EP which came out on 25th April, the selection being ‘Winning Hand’, and after which they play another unrecorded tune, which is called ‘Monsters’. My favourite track from their performance comes up next with the arrival of ‘Annabel’. This has a quirky pop quality, and the pumping riff and organ remind me of Elvis Costello’s band The Attractions. It starts with the line “I got a text from Annabel” which seems a very modern statement when compared to their sound when texts weren’t even dreamt of. The tune starts slowly and cautiously until half way through it doubles its pace…“You’re So Beautiful Annabel”.
After the second cut from the new EP, this being ‘Look Me In The Eye’, they get to their penultimate offering, the unusually titled ‘Teenage Banana’ which benefits from a rockabilly beat and it shuffles along nicely – I wonder what the tune is about?. They sign off with ‘Get Back I’m Evil’ which has the feel as though it’s a Sham 69 offering. To be honest, they aren’t a mega proficient band, but they are certainly having fun with what they are doing and, I for one, I would be more than happy to see Thee Dereilique playing live again!
Thee Derelique:
Spex – lead vocals
Jim – guitar, vocals
Andy – keyboards, vocals
Ian – bass
Will – drums
Thee Derelique setlist:
‘Summertime’ (unreleased)
‘Conspiracy’ (unreleased)
‘Feeling Inside’ (from 2023 ‘Don’t Make Any Noise’ EP)
‘Gresham Street’ (unreleased)
‘Winning Hand’ (from 2026 ‘Soul Of The City’ EP)
‘Monsters’ (unreleased)
‘Annabel’ (unreleased)
‘If I Knew’ (unreleased)
‘Look Me In The Eye’ (from 2026 ‘Soul Of The City’ EP)
‘Teenage Banana’ (unreleased)
‘Get Back I’m Evil’ (unreleased)
More on Thee Derelique HERE.
