LIVE: AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT – 12/11/2009

– THE RITZ BALLROOM, MANCHESTER – No, not a euphemism for a trouser trump, the name of this band actually refers to a section of the novel White Noise by Don DeLillo. And as such, it underpins the literary intent of the band, and specifically singer Mikel Jollett, himself a writer who was in the […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – BY JASON BOARDMAN Sat pondering the Institute of Joy which is the Finglands boneshaker No. 43 on my way to the Deaf Institute on a cold Monday evening in Manchester (not always the healthiest signifier for a gig), surrounded by the inane crackle of students heading to their next […]

LIVE: MOUNTAIN OF ONE – 09/11/2009

LIVE: BIFFY CLYRO – 07/11/2009

– THE APOLLO THEATRE, MANCHESTER – With one of the city’s typical downpours dousing spirits on this year’s de facto Bonfire Night, it’s down to Atlanta quintet, Manchester Orchestra, to raise them again inside the famous Ardwick theatre. Squeezed tightly to the front of the stage by an enormous black curtain, birthday boy frontman, Andy […]
– MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL, MANCHESTER – Today I realised that in the last 3 days I had completed visits to the only unholy trinity of history’s big businesses. It started with Daniel Johnston at the town hall on Tuesday (political), Grizzly Bear at Manchester cathedral last night (religious), and today I went to Tesco (commercial). Truly […]

LIVE: GRIZZLY BEAR – 04/11/2009

LIVE: DANIEL JOHNSTON – 03/11/2009

– TOWN HALL, MANCHESTER – I come as a complete newby to the eccentric world of Daniel Johnston so you’ll have to forgive me for coming to this show with the eyes of an uninformed fool. I’m going to treat you too like a similar fool, and as a result this review may come across […]
– TOWN HALL, MANCHESTER – Rumour has it that Laura Marling was paid just £200 a show for the honour of supporting Daniel Johnston on his current tour, and this does not even take into account that she is paying for her own crew and transport. I can’t help but feel that one day someone […]

LIVE: LAURA MARLING – 03/11/2009

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 […]
– 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 […]

LIVE: IN THE CITY 2009

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 […]
– 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 […]

LIVE REVIEW: Franz Ferdinand – 16/10/2009