Rock
Meet: The Scaffold’s Mike McCartney on the reissue of the McGough & McGear album
Most novelty number ones are rubbish but a notable exception to this rule is The Scaffold’s flower power classic Lily The Pink which still raises a happy smile five decades on. The Scaffold’s nucleus of comedian John Gorman, poet Roger McGough and songwriter Mike McGear emerged from the fertile early 1960s Liverpool theatre scene before …
Live : Cadillac Three, Birmingham Institute 04.02.16
The Cadillac Three visit Birmingham in the midst of a steady stream of major country gigs at the Institute, in the last few months, this venue has also played host to the Band Perry, Kacey Musgraves and Hunter Hayes. Country is clearly a popular draw too, almost a sell out. Later, the Cadillac 3 will claim …
Album Review: All Them Witches – Dying Surfer Meets His Maker
With their new long player ‘Dying Surfer Meets His Maker’, Nashville four piece All Them Witches have stepped up to be everything their almost legendary live sets suggest. Mining the likes of early Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and the like, they’ve imposed their own brand of hard/slacker-rock, tripped out psych-blues on that template, and decorate …
See: Wolfmother reveal video for Victorious
Grammy winning Oz rockers Wolfmother are building up to the release of their new album Victorious, with the release of a new video for the title track. Shot in Los Angeles and directed by Brother Willis (Beirut), it’s about, at least according to vocalist/guitarist Andrew Stockdale “a girl who’s held hostage by evil alien folk, …
News: The Mission announce 30th anniversary tour
Something memorable happened on January 20th 1986 at the intimate Alice in Winderland club in London. I don’t know how many people were there to witness it, but so began the career of legendary goth rockers The Mission. Now, 30 years on, the band have just announced their most extensive and ambitious tour since their …
NEWS: Bring Me The Horizon Announce Arena Shows
Bring Me The Horizon have enjoyed nothing short of a meteoric rise. Their fifth studio album That’s The Spirit reached far more commercial realms than any of their previous offerings, resulting in a world-wide tour, as well as sales of over 450,000 on the album- which has now gone Gold here in the UK. Last …
Feature: David Bowie (1947 – 2016), In Loving Memory
At the time of writing it has been a week since the death of David Bowie was announced. During that time there have been countless tributes, often from the most unlikely of places, which mark him out as one of the most significant figures of our time. It is impossible to imagine what Western culture …
Album Review: David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’ – A Post-Script
Around a week ago I had the enviable task of reviewing the ‘Blackstar’ album (hey, it’s what we do and I got lucky – see below for original review). Like everyone, aside from the man himself (and his closest circle), I had no idea I was reviewing David Bowie’s parting address to the world. On …
Feature: Best of 2015: Backseat Mafia staffers pick their favourite gig photos from 2015
Before we start looking forward to 2016 and all that they may bring, Backseat Mafia’s live photographers have been taking a look back at the gigs we covered in 2015 and choosing their own personal favourite photos… STEVE BARNES – DESPERATE JOURNALIST One of our bands of the year, caught them at Crystal Bar during …
Track: Vampires Everywhere – Black Betty
It’s been a wait, but finally Los Angeles rockers Vampires Everywhere have dropped some new music, their first since 2012, in the shape of Black Betty. It comes ahead of their forthcoming album ‘Ritual’, due out in the new year. As vocalist Michael Vampire explains,”This song is special to me because it represents a part …