The Dualers – Road To Wembley Tour
The Dualers are a 9-piece Jamaican Rhythm & Blues band from South-East London. They first hit the headlines when their single ‘Kiss on the Lips’ entered in to the UK charts at number 21 despite no industry or professional backing, the follow-up single ‘Truly Madly’ featured in full on the Hollywood blockbuster Fools Gold. Their success continued …
Jake Bugg – O2 Victoria Warehouse 18/03/2022
I love Jake Bugg. There, I’ve said it, put it down in black and white for all to see. He was the first artist, that my then 5 year old son, showed an interest in and requested I bought him a CD. I liked the fact that it was Jake’s lyrics that drew him in …
News: The Psychedelic Furs Return!
31 years after their last album, and 2 years since its release, The Furs finally get to deliver Made of Rain, to an awaiting UK audience, when their tour finally kicks off in Nottingham on 2nd April at Rock City. The album fits very neatly in their repertoire, with their trademark sound not dulled by …
Altered Images – Manchester Academy 3 02/03/2022
In 1982, a skinny 19-year-old stood outside Hatfield Polytechnic, trying to get someone to sign him into the Student Union bar, so he could see the band with whom he had become obsessed. Perhaps, more accurately their lead singer, a similar aged Scottish girl, called Clare. Nobody signed him in and heartbroken, he never got …
Half Man Half Biscuit – O2 Ritz Manchester
28th Jan 2022 It’s date night for me and the current Mrs Callen and I’ve promised her a top night out on the town, to celebrate our first night out in 3 months. For many taking your loving spouse to a Half Man Half Biscuit gig on a Friday night, would have them reaching for …
Millie Manders & The Shutup
The band bring their infectious blend of Ska & Punk to a venue near you in March & April, when they’re tour support for the legendary US Ska Punkers Less Than Jake. For many, due to lockdown, it will be their first chance to hear tracks from 2020’s Long Player “Telling Truths, Breaking Ties” played …
Album Review: Silverbacks – Archive Material
Every so often a country, city or a scene throws up a couple of acts, that has the A&R men scrambling for their company credit cards, an A-Z (usually a motoring atlas that features places outside of London) and a glint in their eye. In the past it’s been Wales, Seattle, New York, Glasgow, Bristol, …
IDLES – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester 29/01/2022
A complete contrast to last night’s Half Man Half Biscuit gig, where the moshpit was populated by Blue Badge holders, hoping that the DWP weren’t watching and waiting to take away their disability payments. As Idles have got more popular, so their fan base has broadened. With this increase, they seem to attract more than …
Live Review: Eagles Of Death Metal – O2 Ritz Manchester 5.12.2021
There’s a perceived wisdom with us Brits, that Americans don’t get irony. This is of course not true. It shows up in whipsmart network comedies like Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm, they just don’t use it as much socially as us. We use it to tease our friends. We’ve weaponised the use of sarcasm as …
Live Review: Shame – O2 Ritz, Manchester 24.11.2021 plus gallery
Scene in the Steen household at the end of another day at the coal face. “Hi dear, did you slay the masses again with your angular post punk tunes”? Charlie: Yep! And did you crowd surf amongst your adoring fans? Charlie: Yes, I did! And did you get your top off on stage again? Charlie: …