Live Review
Live: Confidence Man/A. Swayze and the Ghosts/King Stingray – Dark Mofo Festival 2021
I’m not sure I can remember such a brilliant triple line up in one night without attending a full blown musical festival. Three bands just about removed the roof of the Odeon Theatre in Hobart and I left with a rictus grin I couldn’t remove for hours. Actually, it’s still there. Confidence Man and A. …
Live: Gavin Bryars and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra perform ‘Jesus’ Blood Never Fails Me Yet’ – Dark Mofo Festival 2021
Dark Mofo has been through an abyss, assailed at all sides by a potent cocktail of challenges stemming from its prescient cancellation last year due to COVID, missteps on the way to curating a challenging agenda this year, the virtual ban on overseas tourists and the ever present threat of lockdowns domestically (in fact one …
Live: The Electorate and Key Out collectively shimmer and shine at the Golden Barley Hotel
Both Key Out and The Electorate produced magnificent albums last year – ‘Anthropomorphia‘ and ‘You Don’t Have Time To Stay Lost‘ respectively made my list of best antipodean releases for 2020 and were shining examples of exemplary songwriting and impeccable musicianship. After 18 months of musical deprivation dry of live gigs, when I saw these …
Live review: Squid, Falmouth, May 18th: who finer to bring us back to the live experience?
FOUR hundred and forty-seven days. Yep, I counted; or rather some natty piece of online calculator software did. Fessin’ up: maths was never my strong point. Anyhow, that long since my last gig; 447 days. Maybe the longest time in my adult life. Yes, I recall the last time in great detail; do you? We …
Live review: Haiku Hands give joyous riot of a performance in Brisbane
Riotous dance-pop outfit Haiku Hands are in the midst of an Australian mini-tour, the eclectic foursome gusting their way through Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne like a fierce whirlwind. Backseat Mafia were excited to catch last night’s Brisbane show, where the group delivered a rousing spectacle of wicked choreography and fierce, outspoken anthems about art, fashion, …
Live Review: Alex Maas, Bastrop, Texas
Levitation have been savours during this pandemic. Offering escape and salvation through the means of live sets beamed into our homes, they’ve been a wonderful form of entertainment in a world where four walls have become the norm. From the sandstorm desert driller of a set from Oh Sees to the cosmic UFO space sounds …
Livestream review: Frank Turner & Emily Barker ‘s Overdrive – An Evening Of Duets
It’s Thursday evening, April the 8th. Every day has suddenly felt like a month in itself, as we near the end of a year-long disconnection from the world. I feel the need to say this because : we need live music back. We need to share that magic created instantaneously when performers grace the stage, …
Live Review: Guildhall Jazz Orchestra with Ivo Neame
Earlier this month, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Jazz Orchestra presented a programme of pianist, composer and Guildhall professor Ivo Neame’s original Big Band compositions and arrangements, including his newly composed suite The Rise of the Lizard People. The livestream was recorded at Milton Court. Music is the the universal heart of all things …
Live review: The Snuts, Stirling Castle: a five-star, live-streamed show
THE SNUTS’ performance at Stirling Castle on March 26th was more than just a live stream, it was a work of art demonstrating everything the band stand for – marvellous guitar riffs, timeless vocals and Scotland. As the timer counted down and The Snuts teased their entrance on the live chat, I felt a familiar …
Live Review: Black Country, New Road at the Southbank Centre
BC, NR’s performance at London’s Southbank Centre was as much of a dense and vivid visual spectacle as it was an aural one: the album’s entirety given new life in a gorgeous live setting, whilst newer tracks were also displayed beautifully.