LIVE: MONSTER MAGNET – 25/11/2010

– MOHO LIVE, MANCHESTER – Psychedelic riff titans, Monster Magnet, hit Manchester’s MOHO LIVE tonight. As I catch the last two numbers by support, Seventh Void (featuring ex-members of Type O Negative, apparently) I wonder which version of the Magnet we will get tonight, the bloated (in more ways than one) version of the last […]
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – The general consensus among the folks standing in Sound Control tonight is that nobody really knows what to expect from the evening ahead. Due on stage is Matt Berry, known largely for his cult TV acting work, but also someone, it should be remembered, who has released two albums, composed […]

LIVE: MATT BERRY – 24/11/2010

LIVE: JIMMY EAT WORLD – 22/11/2010

– ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER – Bands move on and evolve, it’s an essential component in keeping things fresh for both group and fans alike, but rarely has any outfit hairpinned quite as much as Seattle quintet, Minus The Bear. Long gone are the jerky melodies and mathy rhythms of their ‘High Refined Pirates’ début, replaced […]
– WHITWORTH ART GALLERY, MANCHESTER – The intellectual but cool surroundings of the Whitworth Art Gallery is the ideal place to host the original talents of Gruff Rhys. Front man of Super Furry Animals, Gruff has had a long and varied career; as a testament to his versatility, SFA started life as a techno outfit […]

LIVE: GRUFF RHYS – 22/11/2010

LIVE: THE NEAT – 21/11/2010

– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – Taking to the stage amongst an ear bleeding drone of distortion and feedback, the band storm into insanely catchy track, ‘Ode To Joy’, before their debut single ‘Fruits’ explodes into its short lived and extremely angry little life. Singer, Merrick ‘Mez’ Green puts 100% in every jolt of the body […]
– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – Strawberry-flavoured shortbread? Check. Embroidered tea towels? Check. Folk-rock lyrical masters currently traversing the length and breadth of the UK? Errrm, check. Frightened Rabbit may not be the Scottish borders’ most recognised export, but judging by the Manchester leg of their current UK tour, this may be set to change. The […]

LIVE: FRIGHTENED RABBIT – 21/11/2010

SINGLE REVIEW: The National – Terrible Love

To coincide with the expanded edition of High Violet, The National release the album’s best track, ‘Terrible Love’. Though well-respected, The National have always courted boringness like an enemy they keep too close. But with ‘Terrible Love’ that enemy is thrown into a pit and buried alive, because wow, this track is extraordinary. Cleverly, the guitars […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – The four piece band currently on tour with Born Ruffians play a confident set. Their first few songs drive and push, but they push on in the same way and you start to feel that all the songs sound the same. They do however steal the set back with […]

LIVE: BORN RUFFIANS/YOUNG RIVAL – 20/11/2010

LIVE: BEACH HOUSE/LOWER DENS – 19/11/2010

– MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL, MANCHESTER – Manchester Cathedral is perhaps not the most obvious venue for a ‘rock’ concert but then again Beach House are not an obvious ‘rock’ band, if at all. It’s been quite a year for the Baltimore duo who started the year playing at the 250 capacity Islington Mill and now find […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Finally, I claim a spot on the sofa in the Deaf Institute’s balcony alongside the stage. Vegans support; the singer and guitarist jump energetically about the stage, losing his hat while shouting garage rock in our faces. The drummer is out of my view but makes an impression. They’re […]

LIVE: BATHS – 19/11/2010