By Darren Grayer.
The Courettes are currently the best rock n roll band on the planet. Not convinced? Then let me try and persuade you. Husband and wife duo, Flavia and Martin Couri play a blend of music that perfectly encapsulates explosive garage rock, Girl Group, Wall of Sound, r&b, surf music and doo wop. Imagine The Ronettes jamming with The Sonics and The Ramones at a wild party and you’ll get where their influences lie.
Having travelled from Flavia’s home city of Rio De Janeiro, tonight at The Joiners (29/4/25) sees them not only visit the city for the first time but also play the first night of their latest British tour.
Latest album, The Soul Of The Courettes, certainly showcases the band at their most soulful, with added strings and keyboards compared to earlier efforts. They take to the stage and kick off with opener from that album, You Woo Me, a thumping slice of garage rock delivered straight from the 60s.
The Boy I Love continues in the same tone with its fuzzy guitar riff and relentless drum beat. California is pure sunshine pop that shows a more paisley sound that The Bangles were noted for and perfectly reflects some of the latest material.
Until You’re Mine, taken from 2021s Back In Mono album is Wall Of sound with added Poison Ivy of The Cramps guitar riff. And that rather sums up Flavia Couri: she oozes rock n roll coolness, strutting around the stage without a care in the world, guitar pointing up to the ceiling one minute, and at the crowd the next.
“Southampton, it’s Saturday night, let’s see some misbehaving!” shouts Martin from behind his drum kit. Ok, it’s Tuesday, but there’s very much a party atmosphere starting to build, and it’s absolutely encompassed by the energy being created on stage. As with most great bands, there is a chemistry between the two of them, which you may well expect more so given their relationship, but it makes for fabulous entertainment.
One of last year’s singles, Boom Boom Boom, is more 60s influenced girl group pop including Shangri La’s style spoken verse. This is followed by a triple burst from Back In Mono- Want You Like A Cigarette, Trash Can Honey, and Nighttime are relentless in pace and highlight Danish born Martin’s driving force behind the drum kit.
The band certainly like to see their audience participate in a bit of dancing and encourage the Joiners crowd to step forward and get their feet moving at every opportunity.
Boom Dynamite is garage punk rock at its finest until the band slow the song a little and ask the audience to stoop down, “Are you ready to explode, Joiners?” cries Flavia before erupting into a fuzz riff heavy finale to the song. It’s breathless but top-quality entertainment.
The Courettes close their set with three songs taken from Back In Mono. Misfits And Freaks is dedicated to all those in the audience who consider themselves to be either, which judging by the reaction seems to be most of the room. Set closer and crowd pleaser Hop The Twig starts with the twangiest Duane Eddy riff and builds into a Sonics/ Seeds laden piece of psych driven pop that is too irresistible not to move your body to. But before the song ends, the crowd are beckoned again to come even closer to the stage as it’s time for Flavia to do her trademark surf across them. Still playing guitar, she’s hoisted above the Joiner’s audience for a minute or so before being safely returned to the stage.
A fitting end that sees a rapturous response throughout the room as the duo walk off, but having hinted they might have a couple more songs up their sleeves, an encore becomes inevitable given the appreciation on show.
Those two songs are both taken from the new album and provide a fitting end to a truly wonderful hour and a bit. After a few minutes to draw breath, it’s time to make for the exit.
Flavia’s already made her way to the merch table to chat with those who want to. Behind her the t-shirts on sale bear the words The Fabulous Courettes. I’m not sure if this is down to self confidence or just a bit of showmanship, but one thing is sure, it’s in no way an overstatement. I could roll out any number of superlatives that would in no way over hype the band. Probably the best 15 pounds I’ve ever spent on a Tuesday evening.
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton