LIVE: BEN FOLDS – 24/02/2011

– THE APOLLO THEATRE, MANCHESTER – I heard Ben Folds’ Five’s ‘Underground’ on Mark Radcliffe’s Radio1 show back in 1995, but I’ve heard virtually nothing in the interim – during which Folds has ditched the Five, and worked with a variety of musicians, including Regina Spektor, Elton John and Rufus Wainwright. This tour showcases his […]
– MOHO LIVE, MANCHESTER – How does one even begin to describe a Les Savy Fav gig? Tonight will be the fourth time I’ve seen the Brooklyn quintet in less than three years and each time I’ve been left astounded, amazed and bewildered. Lead singer Tim Harrington is like the devil’s own instrument of chaos […]

LIVE: LES SAVY FAV – 24/02/2011

LIVE: GLASSER/SAMPHA – 21/02/2011

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – I’m delusional.  I haven’t reached the stage where I’m walking out in front of buses saying “it’s ok, I’m Jesus, I can reverse time”, or some such jive, but I’m beginning to do and say things that are almost as bad.  Before tonight’s gig at the Deaf Institute, I […]
– THE ROADHOUSE, MANCHESTER – Before going out to see Toddla T on Saturday night I am reading a newspaper article about the rise in the number of fried chicken shops in Britain and the causes for this seemingly unstoppable growth in popularity for a few sinewy pieces of deep- fried meat. One of the […]

LIVE: TODDLA T – 19/02/2011

LIVE: TEETH OF THE SEA (SUPPORTING BRITISH SEA POWER) – 15/02/2011

– THE RITZ BALLROOM, MANCHESTER – Teeth of the Sea’s show starts with a very odd sample, which sounds like a Transformer repeating the phrase “Egg Roaming”. Then it gets weirder. Frankie Goes to Hollywood is the most normal thing I can compare with, and one song sounds like Alice in Chains’ ‘Iron Gland’. When […]
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – Joan Wasser arrives in Manchester tonight in support of her latest release ‘The Deep Field,’ a record that cements further her reputation as soul diva for the hipster generation. She appears on stage like a vision, clad in a black leather jump suit accompanied by band members Tyler Wood and […]

LIVE: JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN – 09/02/2011

LIVE: LULU AND THE LAMPSHADES – 08/02/2011

– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Lulu and the Lampshades are made up of members, Luisa, Heloise, Jemma and Dan. There appears to be much talk of their happy and bright musical jaunts that have been arranged in some cut and paste fashion leaving a slap dash smile on your face. They appear to […]
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – When Kurt Cobain first drawled on MTV Unplugged that he was going to play Jesus Don’t Want me for a Sunbeam ‘The Vaseline’s way’ I was intrigued to know more. Judging by their name alone I am fan and if an icon such as Kurt Cobain favours them then they […]

LIVE: THE VASELINES – 05/02/2011

LIVE: NME AWARDS TOUR 2011 – 04/02/2011

– CRYSTAL CASTLES, MAGNETIC MAN, EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, THE VACCINES – – ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER – Everyone loves to hate the NME, and let’s face it they make it easy. From lumping disparate bands together and falsely calling it a scene to overhyping them and having a superiority complex that could rival Liam “Lennon was right. […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – The Ruby Lounge is a force to be reckoned with. With their recent run of stellar line-ups and having undergone drastic refurbishments, the much-loved underground haunt is quickly establishing itself as one of Manchester’s finest live venues. It’s a bit of a letdown then, that the view tonight through […]

LIVE: AZURE RAY – 03/02/2011