LIVE: ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE – 07/11/2011

– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Where to start? Hmm, a bit of background to set the scene on tonights ‘happening’ would probably help. Wikipedia helpfully informs me that Acid Mothers Temple is “a psychedelic rock band, the core of which formed in 1995” So far, so good, but there appear to be a myriad […]
– CLUB ACADEMY, MANCHESTER – Of the 4AD bands that lit up the late 8o’s and 90’s most people would cite the Pixies as the main draw. Myself, I loved the Throwing Muses. The dual vocals of Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly swirled around angular guitars with a melodic sensibility about their work. Donelly left the […]

LIVE: THROWING MUSES – 06/11/2011

LIVE: TWIN SISTER – 07/11/2011

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – It seems I’ll be spending half of November at The Deaf Institute, their gig list for this month is right up my street and hopefully, by December, the bar staff will all come to know what I drink. Wot God Forgot have brought together the 3 performers tonight, all […]
– ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER – Manchester Academy has seen its fair share of great music but on tonight it witness’ musical history in the making. With teeth- rotting talent shows hijacking our beloved television screens on a Saturday night it is great to see a real bona fide band returning to show all of those […]

LIVE: MAGAZINE – 04/11/2011

LIVE: I AM BLACKBIRD – 04/11/2011

– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER –  As I walk down into the dusky basement of the Soup Kitchen I can feel the goodwill in the room. It’s been nearly six months since I Am Blackbird have played in their hometown and, by the looks of it, their loyal local following have missed them. After a self-imposed […]
– THE BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER – Entering the Bridgewater Hall expectations feel high for James performing with Orchestra Of The Swan and The Manchester Consort Choir. Hang on is that someone actually wearing a (non-ironic) dickie bow? This isn’t James’ usual venue of choice; a sign at the bar confirms this: “Please refrain from leaving […]

LIVE: JAMES – 01/11/2011

LIVE: ALICE COOPER/NEW YORK DOLLS – 30/10/2011

– THE APOLLO, MANCHESTER – It’s a gloomy Sunday evening in Manchester, but for the hundreds of fans queuing at the O2 Apollo, who’ve waited over a year for this night to arrive, they couldn’t be happier. Following last year’s outstanding Halloween gigs at London’s Roundhouse, Alice Cooper finally brings his Halloween Night Of Fear […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Oklahoma five piece Other Lives have arrived in Manchester once more in what frontman Jesse Tabish describes as ‘one of his favourite places to play’. Promoters Now Wave and Hey Manchester have worked together on this one, spoiling the close to capacity crowd with the bonus of an extended support […]

LIVE: OTHER LIVES & YOUNG GALAXY – 30/10/2011

LIVE: THE HYMEK MANOEUVRE – 28/10/2011 (with free download)

– LLOYDS HOTEL, MANCHESTER – Lesson one on how to light up a place – get The Hymek Manoeuvre playing live. The last time I saw them they were playing at Beech Road Music Festival to upwards of 4000 people, spreading their feel good sounds from a large stage across a full field of mainly […]
– MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL, MANCHESTER – What more is there to say about Elbow? Their story has been so well covered it has rendered itself redundant. There’s something so Hollywood, something hopelessly romantic about their rise to fame and fortune. Their long tête-à-tête with obscurity, the band that make it with their make or break album, […]

LIVE: Elbow – 27/10/2011