LIVE: THE POGUES – 17/12/2010

– THE APOLLO THEATRE, MANCHESTER – There are not many rules surrounding Christmas songs but there are a few. Namely that Christmas songs (and we’re talking Slade, Mariah Carey and stuff with sleigh bells basically – Low and Sufjan are a grey area) should not be played until, at most, one week before Christmas. Until […]
– THE OLYMPIA, LIVERPOOL – As I write this, on the eve of my birthday, it’s a time for reflection. I’m not talking about some hideous navel gazing, but more on what a great day it’s been. Today I saw my football team win, at home, with only ten men. Tonight in Liverpool Echo and […]

LIVE: ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN – 12/12/2010

LIVE: MODERAT/HUDSON MOHAWKE/JOY ORBISON/BEN KLOCK/MARCEL BETTMAN – 11/12/2010

– THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT, MANCHESTER – Why does the Warehouse Project hate me? I don’t know what I’ve done to offend them, unless giving them lots of money is offensive, and judging by the crowd tonight, and the crowds it has attracted over the last few years, it has certainly raked in its fair share […]
Does anyone who covers ‘Perfect Day’ actually know it’s about heroin? I sometimes wonder. Getting the BBC to adopt this seminal song could be seen as a bizarrely subversive moment. But considering it was used to express the diversity of BBC coverage, and the song’s complex exploration of romantic expression, drug abuse, suppressed homosexuality and […]

SINGLE REVIEW: The Jolly Boys – Perfect Day

ALBUM: Plain White T’s – Wonders of the Younger

You call your band Plain White T’s, you’re asking for trouble. I mean, it’s almost like sticking your head above the parapet and saying, “We’re bland. Bland, bland, bland.” They’ve been around a deceptively long time though – here come Plain White T’s, the band that gave the world the Grammy nominated frat-party anthem ‘Hey […]
– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – The Wedding Present are the latest in a line of classic bands indulging in the late fad for performing their albums in their entirety. Their album of choice is their second: Bizarro, in celebration of its 21st year. The set seems to begin with an encore, starting with ‘Heather’ from […]

LIVE: THE WEDDING PRESENT – 10/12/2010

LIVE: MOON DUO – 10/12/2010

– ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD – Eric Johnson on vocals and guitar places himself to the right hand side of the stage leaving Sanae Yamada to the centre front with her keyboard. The projection on the wall flits about and they both create shadows on the back wall merging with the changing images. I must admit […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Ever since Laura Marling started helping out those Whale and Mumford boys, people seem to have decided folk is now fashionable, so I’ve been wondering when people are going to start paying attention to Moulettes and their theatrical antics. Three lovely ladies and a couple of not too shabby […]

LIVE: MOULETTES – 10/12/2010

LIVE: CHAPEL CLUB/DAVID’S LYRE – 09/12/2010

– ST. PHILIP’S CHURCH, SALFORD – Hell. You wait all this time to go a gig in a church, then two come along at once. After I Am Kloot’s hometown lap of honour at the Cathedral last week, here come Chapel Club for a one-off Christmas special. You wonder what bands are hoping for by […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Starting with Former Bullies; a scruffy sounding band consisting of two guitars and drummer, they play a swift set of songs, all using prolonged feedback and driving guitar rhythms. I think their whole dismissiveness of perfection adds to their set as you see the singer mouthing, “what are you […]

LIVE: TY SEGALL – 09/12/2010