TUMMYACHE + HUMAN INTEREST + NOT RICHARD & HER MAJESTY + ISM – THE HOPE & RUIN, BRIGHTON 29.1.26
Tonight we headed off to The Hope & Ruin on Queens Road in Brighton in order to catch the latest instalment of Hidden Herd presents new music night. This evening we were treated to four sets from Tummyache, Human Interest, Not Richard & Her Majesty and ism.
Let’s find out what went down…
First up was Brighton-based alt art-rock four-piece ‘ISM,’ who took the stage without immediate introduction. Opening with an extended, low, and atmospheric intro, their lead focused a steely gaze onto the gathering audience. My immediate first impressions of lead vocalist Tyra were that the delivery and tone were reminiscent of Savages era Jenny Beth mixed with the slower-paced steaminess of some of the tracks from ‘Warpaint.’ The clarity and confidence of Tyra’s lengthy pauses employed throughout the set, blended to form a mesmerising stage presence. Waiting until the end of the first track to introduce the band, Tyra confirmed that, “We believe that ‘ISM’ can be anything and everything not at the same time, but on the same day.” Continuing, she confirmed that they had decided to dress as “Law and Order,’” attired as lawyers and judges, and that “If you judge us, we’ll judge you right back.”
The second track reaffirmed Tyra’s vocal range, edge of unpredictability and self-assured stage presence. The third track, one of Tyra’s “…favourites to sing…” ‘My Life Left Me For Another Woman’ released as a single by the band in 2025, is a “…song about feeling absolutely hopeless as a woman.” Switching from confrontation to introspection, this was a far softer, touching side of the group, which again made ample use of expertly handled pauses. As they played into the next track, Tyra introduced the rest of the band, taking the time to let everyone know that it was the drummer’s first night playing with them. You would never have known that the four-piece sounded like they had played together for years. It was at this point that Tyra decided to double-bluff the audience. Lulling them into a false sense of security by telling them to take a seat on the floor for a bedtime ballad before interacting with everyone.
The track itself proved to be anything but gentle, delivering a reprimand not to trust strangers. ‘Inevitable Ending,’ released at the end of last year, was gentle, featuring a lulling bassline and beautiful harmonies. While the title may have been a little on the nose for a final track, it was the perfect way to close the set.
ISM:
Tyra Tvedte Kristoffersen – lead vocals
Matt Jones – guitarist
Sophie Evans – bass
Izzy – drums
ISM setlist:
‘Going Mad’ (unreleased)
‘Anymore’ (unreleased)
‘My Life Left Me For Another Woman’ (a 2025 single)
‘Notorious Plants’ (a 2025 single)
‘Inevitable Ending’ (a 2025 single)
Cutting through the calm left from the end of the last set, the next act exploded onto the stage. Not Richard & Her Majesty are a sumptuous visual delight. (Not) Richard has previously played with local luminaries ‘Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, UNKLE, and The Duke Spirit, yet manage to depart from their trademark sound entirely. The Brighton-based five-piece fuse punk, late 60s pop, and glam rock to create a frenetic and surprisingly joyous live experience. Why surprising? The lyrical content overshares vigorously about personal, professional, sexual and gender ruin. Far from wallowing in a dirge, the band revels in the exuberant contrast of 60s sunshine pop.
Their appearance on stage was as abrupt as it was refreshing, something new and dazzling, and yet at times reassuringly familiar. Opening with ‘Something Savoury’ dripping with uplifting instrumentals and undiluted California sunshine, it was an upbeat opener to a fast-paced, exuberant set. Met with rapturous applause, the band won the audience over from the start.
‘Everything Explodes’ ventured into rockabilly before pivoting into classic glam rock all over a Burundi beat backbone.
Interaction from Fownes was expert but minimal, keeping the audience engaged while letting the music do the heavy lifting. The current single, ‘My Twink Death,’ was a double-time whirlwind of 60s feel-good, garage punk, and blistering synth, giving pause between the tracks from last year’s EP. The next track’s opening lyric “I like to make love to damaged people” drew a wry chuckle from more than a few people in the audience. Several unreleased tracks followed in quick succession, drawing yet more enthusiastic applause. Pulling the set back to last year’s EP, the band slammed into ‘My Mess,’ a genuine foot-tapper.
Fownes dedicated the last track to the rest of the line-up, inserting a sly punchline. ‘Bogus,’ the final track from last year’s EP. It weaves into the kind of crowd-pleaser that will resonate with every audience that hears it, a pure pleasure from start to finish.
