LIVE: BUZZCOCKS – 10/10/2015
Buzzcocks – MANCHESTER ACADEMY, MANCHESTER – I woke up on Sunday morning with ‘Harmony In My Head’ hammering in my head. It’s far from a hangover, it’s such a nice feeling. “Whenever I’m in doubt about the things I do…”. A couple of hours before Buzzcocks’ gig at The Academy in Manchester, I watch an old video on Youtube and I wonder if Steve Diggle still be able to express that kind fury. I get the answer –Yes, indeed!!! by the encore of this... Read More
JOY OF LIVING: A TRIBUTE TO EWAN MACCOLL – LIVE IN MANCHESTER
JOY OF LIVING Ewan MacColl wrote The Young Birds in 1961 in memory of 34 South London schoolboys (including friends of his oldest son, Hamish) who were killed in a plane crash while on a school trip. Ewan is best known for his pivotal role in the British folk revival and his vast catalogue of songs including The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (written for his wife Peggy Seeger), Dirty Old Town and The Manchester Rambler. ‘The Young Birds’ performed by Jack Steadman... Read More
O>L>A ANNOUNCE EP LAUNCH IN SALFORD WAREHOUSE
O>L>A For their EP launch on Saturday October 24th O>L>A are going underground, to a former garage situated in the last outpost of un-gentrified sprawl in Manchester’s city centre overlooked by Strangeways Prison. They’ll be joined by Dialect, the solo moniker of Andrew Hunt, also front man of Liverpool’s Memphis Industries-signed five-piece Outfit. He’ll be collaborating with previous creative partner Thom Isom, Deep Hedonia collective whose work... Read More
LIVE: LOW – 07/10/2015
Low – MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL, MANCHESTER – Tonight’s line-up in the celestial surrounds of Manchester Cathedral would have been on my fantasy gig list as a student in the early 2000s. The crowd tonight reflects that age range – seasoned indie brooders making a twilight trip outdoors for what is an unusually long set in a slightly cold, entirely standing venue – evidently Low is held in high regard by the indie glitterati. It’s good to see supporting... Read More
BOOK: ‘THE TRUTH OF REVOLUTION, BROTHER: AN EXPLORATION OF PUNK PHILOSOPHY’
The Truth of Revolution, Brother: An Exploration of Punk Philosophy WRITTEN BY LISA SOFIANOS, ROBIN RYDE & CHARLIE WATERHOUSE “If punk was an explosion, then is about what’s happened after the dust settled”, says the foreword of ‘The Truth of Revolution, Brother: An Exploration of Punk Philosophy’ (Situation Press, 2014), by Lisa Sofianos, Robin Ryde and Charlie Waterhouse. This beautifully designed book has a hidden treasure within: several influential punks, I... Read More
LIVE: THE PARROTS – 10/10/2015
The Parrots – THE SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – Promoters Strange Days are known for bringing a wide variety of international guitar musicians to Manchester, ranging from solo acoustic folk, to manic garage rock. Tonight, our headliners are Spanish fun-loving surf garage 3-piece, The Parrots. They’ve recently released a split 7″ of covers on Burger Records with Hinds, who chose The Headcoats ‘Davey Crockett’. Soup Kitchen’s basement is an... Read More
LIVE: CHAIKA / THE BEAR AROUND YOUR NECK / JOHN HAYCOCK – 09/10/15
Chaika – THE OLD PINT POT, SALFORD – Curiosity has brought me out tonight. I have little to no knowledge of the bands, whether that makes for an unbiased neutral review or just reveals an incompetent lack of research is up to you. There were two elements that convinced me. The revamp of the Pint Pot being one – the music and look and feel is so much better – and the fact that Sunny Manchester has put the night on. Sunny Manchester is both a label and promoter... Read More
LIVE: JANE WEAVER – 08/10/2015
Jane Weaver – GORILLA, MANCHESTER – Thank you to those who bought The Silver Globe! Jane Weaver merrily says a few songs into the set, her blonde hair half-covering the facial glitter around her eyes. It’s strange to hear an artist thank their audience, in a quite genuine manner, for a purchase made in the age of Apple Music and Spotify. Weaver’s name has definitely reached more ears since the release of her critically acclaimed 2014 album The Silver Globe, one... Read More
The Silent Radio Show 10/10/2015 with Buzzcocks
The Silent Radio Show is a weekly audible version of the North’s best independent music website, SilentRadio.co.uk. Featuring the bands and acts gracing our hand-picked gig guide and hitting the Silent Radio headlines. This week on the show we were delighted to have Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks on the phone while he was making his way to Manchester to play at Manchester Academy 25 years after Buzzcocks were the first band to ever play at the venue. The Silent Radio Show is Live... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW: THE DEAD WEATHER – DODGE AND BURN
Dodge and Burn is Nashville supergroup The Dead Weather’s 3rd album, through Jack White’s own Third Man Records. The band are an amalgamation of Raconteurs, with bassist Jack Lawrence and Queens of The Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertita joining Jack on Drums and The Kills Alison Mosshart on vocals. Any project of Jack’s is guaranteed top billing, and this band is pretty much as cool as a pop act can get. You’ll be hard pressed to find a stronger rock... Read More
