We get compared to Nick Cave a lot …probably because we both sound so miserable. We’re not just aurally close to monsieur Cave; we’re geographically close as well. He’s a resident of Hove, actually.

The latest side project from Nick Cave is Grinderman. The band have been rehearsing down at the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove where they also chose to throw a little warm-up gig for their forthcoming tour. Three quarters of Salter Cane went along to the intimate little gig (I’m sure that the other quarter, Chris, would have been there too had he not been away in Germany).

I wasn’t a particular fan of the Grinderman album but the songs made a lot more sense live. The band came on stage in the somewhat peculiar venue and launched into Depth Charge Ethel. While I was letting the music wash over me, Jessica pointed out that Warren Ellis — no, not that Warren Ellis — was playing a bouzouki.

At first I thought This town ain’t big enough for two rock’n’roll bouzouki players! But after a superb set of Grinderman songs followed by an encore of Bad Seeds songs from the back catalogue, all was forgiven.

But just for the record, we were here first.