Show Review: Brain Don’t Work No Good, Engines, and Alex, Leave! at the George Tavern, London. October 7th, 2026.
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“Who’s excited for GTA 6?”
October 8th, 2026
Tonight began across the street with loaded fries and too much to talk about. In the empty garden, Anneke and I waited to hear the beginnings of the first set, listed on the bill as Brain Don’t Work No Good. Engines were scheduled to follow before Alex, Leave! to finish the night.
Brain Don’t Work No Good is a two-piece featuring a violinist and a guitarist with a harmonica played their first gig tonight. They come from a full band but created their own project to better showcase violin and plucked guitar parts without fighting through two other guitarists, bass, and drums. This project is so new that, at the time of writing, I am still awaiting an official name. Originating with guitar and lyrics, violin parts are “intuitive and organic”. The George Tavern was named a favorite venue, with a special shoutout to the sound guy.
Engines was also playing their first gig together. Between songs, the audience was questioned “who’s excited about GTA 6?” To which Anneke whispered to me, “The best thing about not being in a relationship is not needing to pretend to care about GTA 6”. The drums are a strong force that breaks through the strings. However, the best part was the bass finishing the last song. In the garden, they described the final song as a mix of two jams. Most songs begin this way with a “loop to jam out” and “stimming each other“. You can see them next month in Brighton. Come out to see Engines tomorrow night at the Old Blue Last (10/09).
As Anneke and I finished talking to Engines, we heard the next band, Alex, Leave!, begin with a melodic build-up as if conjuring something. The set somehow balanced the feeling of impending doom and active combustion at the same time, but in a way that made the floor shake with dancing. At one point, the frontman dropped his guitar and entered the stage to conduct the band. In the garden, I learned that Alex (vocals/guitar) wrote much of the songs and presented them to the rest of the band. Dylan (bass) explained that it makes songwriting “more creative because bare bones are built up” and “together, we come in”. Of playing live, he shared, “having fun is the goal, playing well is second”. Alex, Leave! Fully formed in December, but you can hear their first single from last November here.
After talking to Alex, Leave!, Anneke and I left for our respective Shadwell stations while questioning whether her Halloween party was a wig or no-wig event. For reasons I do not care to know, the tube was packed like sardines in a tin both on the WIndrush and Jubilee Lines. But eventually, I made my way home to write to you with the knowledge that one wig has RSVP’d.
| Keywords: | London | The George | Brain Don't Work No Good | Engine | Alex, Leave! |
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