– THE STAR & GARTER, MANCHESTER – My new favourite band, sorry Fat White Family, you’re gonna have to share a room! Looking like Angus Young was an only child, frontman James Alex, not to be confused with Brit pop cheese maker of similar name, rallies the ranks with: “Hey we’re Beach Slang from Philadelphia […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – The Maccabees are an all too rare band in this world of chew-them-up-spit-them-out hype blogs; a band who have been allowed to breathe and develop over a number of years and four good to brilliant albums. I dare say such a band wouldn’t be able to exist if they […]
– THE RITZ, MANCHESTER – After a huge year, Slaves return to The Ritz once again and play a stellar show to an enthusiastic Mancunian crowd. With help from cockney punk good guys Wonk Unit and the up and coming Spring King, tonight is set to be a memorable evening of great music in a […]
– THE EAGLE INN, SALFORD – Due to late arrival at the Eagle Inn tonight, Kiran Leonard and band have to set up and soundcheck in front of a sold out and expectant room, and it’s both telling and enlightening to see how this unfolds. The standard soundcheck process tonight is both familiar and yet […]
– THE BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER – Judging by the merchandise for sale at the desk in the concourse outside The Bridgewater Hall’s auditorium tonight, Henry Rollins continues to live by the ‘Search and Destroy’ philosophy that adorns the T-shirts and hoodies. No doubt inspired in part by the song by The Stooges, for Rollins the […]
– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – What a difference a year makes. Or in this case two years. I remember seeing Manchester based quartet Horsebeach in 2013 play to a small crowd in Chorlton opening up for my band at the time and I remember thinking that there was definite promise in their jangly […]
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – It’s been two decades since Orange Goblin swept the nation with their brand of heavy metal mania. Tonight, they’re back in Manchester for what promises to be one hell of a live show. 20 years of Blood, Metal and Beers, the band’s new slogan is already slapped on every second […]
– ST PHILIP’S CHURCH, SALFORD – A Winged Victory For The Sullen (AWVFTS) are described as many things; an ambient/drone/modern classical duo made up of former (or is it dormant?) Stars of the Lid member Adam Wiltzie and pianist/composer Dustin O’Halloran. The music they make is ripe for words like ‘majestic’, ‘gorgeous’, ‘beautiful’, ‘soaring’, ‘wondrous’ and […]
– GULLIVER’S, MANCHESTER – A nearly annual event now, this night is a chance for former Wu Lyf man Francis Lung and others, selected by him, to come together to show us their individual musical gifts just in time for Christmas. Tonight’s feast is far better than your average Christmas dinner though, with indie rock […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Cult hero Jeffrey Lewis returns to Manchester on a bitterly cold and wet night. The disposition he brings with him from across the pond is a warm and welcoming one, just what is needed for what is a restless, majorly male orientated crowd in attendance at The Deaf this […]