LIVE REVIEW: Bill Callahan – 06/05/2011

– CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH, MANCHESTER – The queue for Manchester’s Central Methodist Church stretches all the way down Oldham Street to Piccadilly Gardens, and consists of people of all ages and backgrounds, all braving the sporadic sudden downpours in anticipation of spending an evening in the company of one of the most widely revered and […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – I wasn’t too sure what to expect this evening at the Deaf Institute. I get the impression that the point of Psychedelic Horseshit’s lo-fi pop, or ‘shitgaze’ as the band has pleasantly christened it, is that the music is more important than the presentation. Recording most of their records […]

LIVE REVIEW: Psychedelic Horseshit – 05/05/2011

LIVE REVIEW: I Am Kloot – 04/05/2011

– THE LOWRY THEATRE, SALFORD – So there I am at The Lowry Theatre in an all seated auditorium wondering how good a gig can be in such plush settings. A grand, cinematic sound sweeps in and Kloot enter to an appreciative, albeit theatre crowd, welcome. There’s the three maestros themselves plus backing musicians: guitar, […]
– THE NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Sombre and introspective, Man Made cuts a lonely figure on the Night & Day’s stage. The nameless troubadour radiates his glumness through the venue like a black hole gobbles light, chopping away at his guitar from the elbow and mercilessly zapping any remnants of joy from the […]

LIVE REVIEW: Fight Like Apes – 05/05/2011

LIVE REVIEW: Noah and the Whale – 03/05/2011

– THE RITZ BALLROOM, MANCHESTER – I like Noah and The Whale but during this virtuoso display at Manchester’s Ritz, I decide I don’t like their crowd. The five piece don’t set a foot wrong all night: every harmony, hook and holler is flawless. But they’ve attracted seemingly serious types who aren’t interested in letting […]
– CHAPEL STREET, SALFORD – Silent Radio believes just one person covering SFTOC is quite simply just not enough, so this year we send two of our finest to take in Salford’s Chapel Street all day non-stop music event. Review #1: It’s not often that everything stops for the sake of creativity in Salford and the city […]

LIVE REVIEW: Sounds From The Other City #1 – 01/05/2011

LIVE REVIEW: Sounds From The Other City 2011 #2 – 01/05/2011

– CHAPEL STREET, SALFORD – Silent Radio believes just one person covering SFTOC is quite simply just not enough, so this year we send two of our finest to take in Salford’s Chapel Street all day non-stop music event. Review #2: Deaf To Van Gogh’s ear proved an attractive first foray into Sounds From The Other City’s […]
– The Deaf Institute, Manchester – Timber Timbre (that’s one ending in an ‘er’ followed by one ending in an ‘re’ – how Pan-Atlantic of them) are spooky. And spooky is ostensibly really rather cool these days. Unlike say, Zola Jesus, whose Kate-Bush-meets-Lady-Haversham schtick one suspects extends beyond her on stage repertoire,  Timber Timbre seem […]

LIVE REVIEW: Timber Timbre – 28/04/2011

LIVE REVIEW: Best Coast – 26/04/2011

– Club Academy, Manchester – It’s easy to tell with one quick sweep of the room whether you’re at a major gig in Manchester. Major as in must-see, not large, as the city’s musical elite are a fussy, discerning lot. Tonight’s gig, however, has earned their full approval and the regular faces are out in […]
– MOHO LIVE, MANCHESTER –  Me:  “Hi, I’m on the presslist” Mr Charlie Big Potatoes: “No you’re not” Me:  “Could you just check?” Mr Charlie Big Potatoes: “All the press are in and I didn’t put you down.  I’m the promoter.  I run the show” Me (a bit flustered, showing him my phone):  “But look, […]

LIVE REVIEW: GZA – 22/04/2011