Getdown Services @ Brudenell: Review

“It is not often an artist can insult the prowess of a Yorkshire crowd, and get away with it”

Words by Cameron Whittaker

“We’re taking you to a place called Minehead tonight,” Josh Law pledges into the mic. Like many others in the crowd, I had never heard of Minehead – a small coastal town in Somerset – prior to Getdown Services‘ intimate gig at Brudenell Social Club. Leaving the venue, I knew this town would be imprinted in my mind forever. Duo Josh Law, and Ben Sadler, are the founding, and only members of a project which exists somewhere between a band, and a stand up comedy act. Sprouting ruffled locks, nondescript t-shirts, and shorts, the pair are clearly not too bothered about a glamorous onstage appearance. In a pantomime-like atmosphere, we are constantly reminded to cheer when one (or both) shout,“we are from Minehead!” While they do not take themselves too seriously, their music is anything but unserious. 

Both Josh and Ben share vocal duties, the former using his guitar to reconstruct chords, melodies, and solos live. With no drummer or bassist, much of the sound comes from a sampler, deployed to play stem loops and drum sequences. The group’s sound is quite difficult to pin down, mainly consisting of alternative rock and post-punk grittiness, but they are not afraid to experiment, effortlessly moving between songs rooted in bluesy guitar rhythms to groovier dance tracks with disco synths. While their hit track Dog Dribble (which some of you may have seen as a Glastonbury highlight this summer) was a roaring success, tracks Head Down For The Conversation, and I Wish It Didn’t Bother Me, really cut through, with punchy down to earth lyrics about the relatable, mundane moments in all our lives. 

The real allure of the band is their live performance; it is not just another gig but a show. Lighthearted banter about Yorkshire crowds not being good enough served as a smart way to entice a crowd early. Thereafter, spectators kept their hands in the air and were encouraged to swing them from side to side or place their thumbs upwards, as if they were Commodus deciding Russell Crowe’s fate in Gladiator. Perhaps the show was best summed up by the track Eat Quiche, Sleep, Repeat – which was of course preceded by a quiche eating competition. It is not often an artist can insult the prowess of a Yorkshire crowd, and get away with it; but the cheeky, carefree presence of the Minehead duo allows them to build an easy connection with those that were lucky enough to purchase a ticket. 

If repetition is the best way to consolidate long-term memories, Getdown Services has harnessed this power to its extreme. While their eclectic discography was thoroughly enjoyable on the day, it is the personality of the pair that will stick in your mind long after the guitars are unplugged from their amps, the bar is shuttered, and the lights are switched out in the room. 

Getdown Services are next playing in the UK in 2026, tickets for shows can be purchased through their website.