LIVE: IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE / AADAE – 15/03/2019
Ibibio Sound Machine -YES, MANCHESTER- London’s own afro-funk party known as Ibibio Sound Machine have gained a passionate following from all walks of life, young and old. A likely reasoning is the way they sew West-African dance and funk music with the hyper-animated electro-punk heard over at labels like DFA Records. Tonight, they play at Yes in Manchester – a compact but intimate venue perfect for anyone looking to bring people together – bringing their new album,... Read More
LIVE: SELF ESTEEM – 14/03/2019
Self Esteem -YES, MANCHESTER- Self Esteem is the new solo project of former Slow Club member Rebecca Taylor, a band which I know very little about so that’s all the info you’re getting about them from me. Having never been a fan of said band, I came to Self Esteem on the back of hearing the wonderful ‘The Best’ on the radio (for younger readers, radio is like a Spotify playlist but someone talks between the music) and instantly falling in love with it, assuming Self Esteem... Read More
LIVE: WOMAN’S HOUR – 14/03/2019
Woman’s Hour -GULLIVERS, MANCHESTER- Formed in 2011 and named after the news and culture show on BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour is made up of siblings Fiona and William Burgess and synth player Josh Hunnisett. Their 2014 debut album Conversations was received well by critics, receiving strong reviews across the board, but since that debut release, there has been a long gap in their music with 5 years in the making of the difficult second album. I became a fan of this band after... Read More
LIVE: SABA – 13/03/2019
Saba -ACADEMY 3, MANCHESTER- Holding a crowd’s attention when you’re in a band, have some instruments, or massive screens and choreography behind you in an arena is hard enough (i.e Drake’s ridiculous ‘whole stage as an HD screen’ set up), but holding a crowd’s attention with nothing but yourself and a DJ in the background building beats is something else. Doing this on your first full UK tour in small venues when you’re a 24 year old rapper from Chicago is something... Read More
LIVE: TINFOILS / CHUPA CABRA / PAGANS S.O.H. / BLANKETMAN – 07/03/2019
Tinfoils -THE PEER HAT, MANCHESTER- Blanketman Entering the all too familiar Peer Hat basement, I learn this evening has something memorable and exclusive for all spectators present; acting on instinct, I forsake my typical rule of live reviews (to the detriment of my cellular battery). Taking the front compartment in this limited edition anthology packaging, Blanketman ease in with a familiar number (forgot the name) and once again demonstrate their strong, yet unpretentious... Read More
LIVE: SNAPPED ANKLES / CHARLOTTE CANNON – 06/03/2019
Snapped Ankles -DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER- Charlotte Cannon Deciding early on to remain seated in the school gymnasium-type ‘bench zone’ gives me a chance to observe the rather theatrical lightning setup, in conjunction with the gaudy, oversized disco ball looming over the growing audience (imagine the impact). It actually provides a rather fitting backdrop for the opening act; a singular performer equipped with but a synthesiser, vocals and/or a piano backing track. Her... Read More
LIVE: BAS / AUDIO PUSH / LUTE – 06/03/2019
Bas -GORILLA, MANCHESTER- Bas is a New York-raised rapper and disciple of the Dreamville hip-hop troupe, and his fellow teammate J.I.D recently said that collectively, they are striving to go toe-to-toe with Top Dawg Entertainment, the front-running label in the genre this decade. The statement makes sense, especially considering how well the match-ups align: Dreamville head J Cole is of course pitted against Kendrick Lamar, Ari Lennox pairs with SZA as their respective groups’... Read More
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN NEW VIDEO: ‘THE TRUCE OF TWILIGHT’ DIRECTED BY PAUL SIMONON
A new video for The Truce of Twilight – the second track taken from The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s acclaimed album Merrie Land is here. Directed by bassist Paul Simonon, the performance video was shot simultaneously on three iPhones in West London. The Good, The Bad & The Queen will headline the sold-out 6 Music Festival 2019 in Liverpool on 30th March. And following a run of acclaimed sold-out shows late last year, the band will return for an extended run of... Read More
LIVE: SHE PWR (ILL / WITCH FEVER / JULIA BARDO) – 08/03/2019
ILL -DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER- For the celebration of International Women’s Day, Gorilla and The Deaf Institute have come together for SHE PWR, an event to celebrate women artists of every kind: visual arts, spoken word and music. The Deaf Institute welcomes four bands/artists on stage tonight: ILL, WITCH FEVER, Current Mood Girl (who I missed, unfortunately) and Julia Bardo. This line-up really covers it all from noisy post-punk to soft 60’s inspired pop. Julia Bardo, one... Read More
LIVE: CALVA LOUISE / KID KAPICHI – 06/03/2019
Calva Louise @ Night People (photo: Georgina Hull) -NIGHT PEOPLE, MANCHESTER- So when I rock up at Night People, Manchester, a venue filled with character, I find myself mildly disappointed by trying-too-hard-to-be-angsty, slightly pretentious, Radiohead wannabe support band Sugarstone, (who, I strongly believe are clinging onto the ‘moody band who haven’t slept in years’ bandwagon just for the trend of it) showing no sign of even a slither of passion on stage. However,... Read More
