Live Review
The Besnard Lakes LIVE @ Brudenell Social Club 26.05.17
The Besnard Lakes are out on tour, as they usually are when not immersed in flora and fauna finding inspiration, or conjuring songcraft in their hometown of Montreal, Canada to add to their canon. Theirs is an expansive aural and visual experience, inclusive of myriad influences and styles. A hedonistic concoction of sweet and bitter …
LIVE: Slam Dunk Festival North, Millenium Square, Leeds, 28/5/2017
Ever since moving the Leeds date of Slam Dunk Festival to Millenium Square and the surrounding area, the festival organisers have set the bar high. This year is set to be no different, featuring some of the crowning jewels of the rock, pop punk and metal scene. Taking to the main stage in an unexpectedly …
Live Review: The Cribs – Leeds First Direct Arena 20/05/2017
What’s better than a hometown band playing a hometown arena show? Pulled Apart By Horses dominate the stage early on. With I Punched A Lion In The Throat having the biggest impact early on, the anarchic punk rock vibes pack a huge punch. There isn’t a huge crowd down yet but the few numbers that …
Swans – Plug, Sheffield 21.05.2017
So this is it for the current incarnation of Swans. Back in 2010 they rode into a world that was replete with some quite dreary Americana and blew it apart. (OK, I’m talking about my world, but you know…) Not without irony, given Michael Gira’s role with Angels of Light and Young God records. My …
Maarja Nuut – Rich Mix, London 16.05.2017
To label Maarja Nuut an Estonian folk singer and fiddler would be to hugely understate what she does and might even miss the point entirely. There’s no doubt the tunes and bluntly dark folk tales of her homeland are at the heart of her performance but there’s all manner of other musical layers, especially when accompanied …
Live Review: The Underground Lovers, Northcote Social Club 12.05.17 Plus Gallery
Deep in the heartland of the (apparently) hipsterville suburb of Northcote in Melbourne and the hometown of the Underground Lovers: there couldn’t be a better place to witness the launch of the band’s second phase second album, “Staring at You Staring at Me” (reviewed by Backseat Mafia here). From the very start, it felt like …
British Sea Power – The Church, Leeds 07.04.2017
It’s odd how often you find yourself justifying liking British Sea Power. Some will roll their eyes at you and cite that they’re too odd and ‘pretentious’ – with their weird venues, stage set ups and arty side projects. Others will sigh heavily and declare them meat and potatoes indie rockers, or rail at the …
Live Review: Counterfeit, Manchester Academy 3, 19.04.17
Counterfeit have only been a band for just under two years. Having released an EP and just recently, their debut full length album, they’re making remarkable progress in their scene. Tonight, it’s the turn of Manchester’s Academy 3 to witness what they have to offer, after the release of their album, in the new phase …
Live Review: PINS – Broadcast Glasgow 14.4.2017 Plus Gallery
PINS made a Good Friday great by bringing their captivating live show to a sold-out Broadcast. It’s been another exciting twelve months in the world of Manchester five-piece PINS. This time last year they were releasing the 10″ single ‘Trouble’ for Record Store Day. Since then they’ve released a new EP – the phenomenal ‘Bad …
Live Review: The All Seeing Hand at Schmørgåsbaag, Hobart, Sunday, 23 April 2017
In the early evening on a Sunday at the very edge of the world, a fitting place to witness an extraordinary performance from New Zealand band The All Seeing Hand. I had already recently noted the remarkable level of talent coming out of New Zealand in my recent review of Fazerdaze, and The All Seeing …