Gallery
Live Review: Halestorm / Nothing More / Wilson – O2 Academy Leeds 05.03.2015
Wilson would definitely win the award for the oddest yet greatest entrance of the night. Vocalist Chad Nicefield enters the staged dressed as an oversized toy solider wielding a marching band bass drum with “Fuckery” taped across the front, simultaneously leaving the audience confused and intrigued. Chad’s curdling vocals, reminiscent of a mixture between Jason …
Live Review: In This Moment – Leeds Beckett University – 01.03.2015
Looking like lost characters from the Mass Effect videogame franchise, openers Starset intertwine rock heavy riffs with hard hitting electronics. The roaring choruses of Carnivore and My Demons prove the band are much more than just looking the part. At the head of the stage, vocalist Dustin Bates is pushing the boundaries of future technology using what can only …
Live Review: Wire – Unity Works, Wakefield 20.02.2015, plus gallery
I see plenty of live gigs, but I was especially excited about the prospect of seeing Wire in Wakefield last Friday. For starters, it’s been a while since I’d visited Unity Hall, (or Unity Works , as its now known) in Wakefield. Infact it’s been almost 30 years since I last made my way upstairs …
Live Review: Inspiral Carpets – Leadmill, Sheffield 6.12.14
The haircuts were considerably shorter, and maybe the clobber was a few sizes bigger than ‘back in the day’, but with the amount of Adidas trainees, Italian sportswear and sun hats been worn in the queue outside the Leadmill, it wouldn’t have taken a genius to deduce that one of the legends of the Madchester …
Live Review: Screaming Maldini – The Final Show – Queens Social Club – 05.12.14
And so this was it, the last show for Screaming Maldini. The room was packed with people that came together to give them the send off they deserved with a mix of absolute enthusiasm and tears. Coming onto the stage one by one, each member was greeted with a roar of applause and cheering, Maldini …
Live Review: Kogumaza, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 19.11.2014
Amazingly this was the first time I had got to see Kogumaza live. I have enjoyed them from afar for a long time, but somehow always managed to miss them in the past, so I was very happy to see that they were supporting Hookworms at the launch gig for The Hum album. The …
Live Review: Hookworms, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 19.11.14
I’ve seen Hookworms many times now, and I’ve seen them quite a few times at the always excellent Brudenell; but this felt like something different. This was the launch gig for the band’s second, excellent, album The Hum (you can read my review of it here) which, in my opinion, has cemented the band’s position …
Live: The Heartbreaks, Bodega, 28th November 2014
The Heartbreaks are a band who know how to look after you. When I arrived at the Bodega in Nottingham last night, I found drummer Joe Kondras and lead guitarist Ryan Wallace telling staff how important it was they let me in. Great start, boys. The Heartbreaks are the first band I ever fell in …
Live Review: James – First Direct Arena, Leeds 23.11.14
Sunday night saw James arrive in Leeds for the last gig of their 11 date tour. There was a definite buzz in the air. A James gig is always special, but for some reason tonight felt that bit more so. As they took to the stage this was confirmed by guitarist/violinist, Saul “This is our …
Live Review: Lola Colt / Bird – Hebden Bridge Trades Club 24.10.2014 plus gallery
Is it true to say you can’t get too much of a good thing? Not sure. But one thing is for sure, Lola Colt are a good thing and at Backseat Mafia we certainly can’t get too much of them. Friday night finds us at The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge. Tucked away down a side …