LIVE: EXIT CALM – 01/10/2010
– THE ROADHOUSE, MANCHESTER – If a sign was needed that Exit Calm were gathering a bit of momentum, the crowd that greets me at The Roadhouse is it. It’s certainly a welcome sight – vindication of my faith in this young band from South Yorkshire. The previous time I saw them, I could have walked from the back of the venue up to the front and prodded the lead singer in the chest and no one would have been in my way. This time, I have to fight my through a gang of... Read More
SINGLE REVIEW: DVA (ft. Fatima) – Just Vybe (Soule:Power Mix)
Hot on the heels of his last release, DVA comes through on Hyperdub for round two. ‘Just Vybe (Soul:Power Mix)’ took me by surprise. The track opened to the exact sound of ‘Natty’ (his first outing on Hyperdub), making me think that I’d somehow picked the wrong file or bounced back in time – I was put straight has Fatima’s vocals kicked in at the drop. Soul:power summarises the remix exactly, Fatima’s voice is just that. Strong and soulful, she overpowers the track,... Read More
ALBUM: Violens – Amoral
Whenever you hear of another band from NYC, you have to think, are they really from NYC or have they just relocated there and adopted the NYC brand name because it’s ‘cool’? Violens are one of the latest acts to come out of the city peddling their debut album, Amoral, which is due to be released shortly.Maybe, you think NYC and you think of artiness and aren’t surprised to see the description ‘art-rock’ attached to the trio. Maybe you then think of Sonic Youth... Read More
ALBUM: Badly Drawn Boy – It’s What I’m Thinking Part 1: Photographing Snowflakes
An idiot once said to me: “All the best trilogies come in threes”. I thought about it, and realised the idiot had a point. This came to mind upon hearing what Damon Gough was planning to do next, for the bearded behatted one has cut quite the elusive figure of late. Aside from the soundtrack to the 2009 movie The Fattest Man in Britain, his last studio album was the respectful nod to The Boss, Born in the UK, in 2006. Elusive, mysterious maybe, but perhaps you need... Read More
LIVE: PASSION PIT – 24/10/2009
– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – The realisation crept up on me, and then hit me in the face with all the effeminate power of an 80s disco dandy. It all started when I fell head over heals over head for the original Kate Bush version of Hounds of Love. Then came a dizzying urge to play The Fleetwood Mac hits on repeat and tell all my friends about this peculiar revelation. Something was happening…but what? Finally Passion Pit came along. They became my band of 2009, and... Read More
LIVE: IN THE CITY 2009
– VARIOUS VENUES, MANCHESTER – The infamous In The City crawl is less a series of gigs and more a package tour around the dives and dance floors of Manchester’s hippest hotspots for the price of a couple of dodgy kebabs. PLUS!!! There’s the all-inclusive opportunity to observe some of the most inventive new bands as they burst screaming from obscurity and gob in the face of the big time. There’s The Neat – clearly the most exciting band to come out of Hull... Read More
LIVE: THE UNTHANKS – 20/10/2009
– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Few genuine folkies – singing the songs from their home region, raised on a diet of clog dancing and folk festivals – cross over to the mainstream music and achieve actual kudos. Of course, The Mercury nomination had something to do with Rachel Unthank and the Winterset’s sudden mainstream interest, but this is no flash in the pan – their post-Mercury offering is released to great acclaim and the audience here at the newly refurbished... Read More
LIVE REVIEW: Franz Ferdinand – 16/10/2009
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER- On arrival outside the Ruby Lounge on this busy Saturday lunch time in the city centre, it is strange to see a queue of parents and children waiting for the shutter of the venue to arise. The reason for this is the new child friendly Mrs Boon’s Cakes and Tea Party which is now held every week. Whilst waiting in line you can see bemused looks on the faces of the passing shoppers, as to why so many people would want to take their offspring... Read More
LIVE: GLEN MATLOCK – 15/10/2009
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – “ The last time I was here, I played with the Pistols at Manchester Arena, woo-hoo!” jokes Matlock Tonight’s rare show finds Matlock – still wired and trim at 53 – alone on-stage in front of an audience of just 22 people. Well 25, if you count the sound guy, roadie and glass collector. Where was everybody? Surely anybody who is a fan of the Sex Pistols would want to see Glen Matlock. He is a legendary punk figure who formed... Read More
LIVE: THE SLITS – 12/10/2009
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MACHESTER – Ari Up looked magical, yet slightly kooky as she confidently bounced onto the warmly lit stage. With her eyes blazing beneath a huge shock of dread-locked hair that would make Heather Small weep with envy and wearing figure hugging gold lamé hot pants and tatty bomber jacket, the 50-year-old singer resembled one of those scary bounty hunters from Mad Max. Accompanied by original Slits bass player, Tessa Pollitt and new recruits Hollie... Read More
