ALBUM: CALVIN JOHNSON – A WONDERFUL BEAST

Calvin Johnson for many is the definition of U.S. indie, with his musical projects from Beat Happening in the early 1980s, Halo Benders and Dub Narcotic Sound System in the 1990s, a vast array of solo albums and collaborations, plus being the founder of the legendary indie label,  K Records,  in Olympia, Washington.  Apparently Kurt […]
-GORILLA, MANCHESTER- Gorilla seems to be the place I go to watch Villagers. Tonight’s gig is their third time there and it’ll be the third time I’ve seen them there, without seeing them anywhere else in the meantime. My journey to the venue takes me passed Manchester Arena, where U2 are preparing to play a […]

LIVE: VILLAGERS – 19/10/2018

LIVE: STEADY HOLIDAY / MALENA ZAVALA – 17/10/2018

-CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- The support at Castle Hotel tonight is the terrific Malena Zavala, playing without the usual full band at her back. The solo performance works wonderfully as her delicate voice drifts over a delicate touch to the guitar. It has a sweet 80’s prom feel to the sound, a serene start to the […]
-YES, MANCHESTER- With their tickets booked for their first ever US tour, Boy Azooga spend one of their last nights in the U.K. at Yes Club in Manchester. It has been a hectic year for Davey Newington and the lads, releasing their debut album 1, 2, Kung Fu! only a matter of months ago, attracting enough […]

LIVE: BOY AZOOGA – 12/10/2018

LIVE: LOW / KATHRYN JOSEPH – 16/10/2018

-MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL- Low are back once again in the majestic surrounding of Manchester Cathedral to promote their latest album, Double Negative. It is an album which has divided their loyal fan base due to the songs within being immersed in layers of static noise, drones and pulsating beats, which at times threaten to drown out […]
-GORILLA, MANCHESTER- Half way through proceedings – a sweaty, sleazy gorgeous romp of a night – and Brian Christinzio takes off his lounge lizard jacket to reveal a T-shirt with the slogan ‘I’m in a weird place now’. You and me both, mate. You want to try standing here by the stage, as a geographically […]

LIVE: BC CAMPLIGHT – 10/10/2018

LIVE: THE CORAL / SHE DREW THE GUN – 14/10/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Arms flailing, dancing in a world of her own, going up to complete strangers and putting her face inches away from theirs, the woman in front of us is on a mission. Why do I always attract them? Harmless enough, but clearly off her rocker on whatever Saturday night substances have been […]
-RNCM, MANCHESTER- Either in his own name or as Sun Kil Moon, I count that Mark Kozelek has released ten albums since 2015’s Universal Themes, although I’m not here tonight because I have listened to any of them. Before the release of …Themes I wrote a review of the previewed song ‘Ali/Spinks 2’ in which […]

LIVE: MARK KOZELEK – 12/10/2018

LIVE: THE SHE STREET BAND – 11/10/2018

-ARTS CLUB, LIVERPOOL- I’ve made the trip 30 miles west from Manchester to catch The She Street Band at the Arts Club, the interior of which sometimes recalls a miniature Ritz. Gigging only since last year, the band describes itself as the world’s first and only all-female Bruce Springsteen cover band. I go back a […]
-NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER- As I make my way to the venue in the relative warmth of a freak 21 degree Manchester evening, coming straight after a run of cold nights, I’m not entirely sure if I’m off to see a solo artist with the surname Allum, or a group of people who are […]

LIVE: ANNABEL ALLUM / VINYL STAIRCASE / ANNA McLUCKIE – 10/10/2018