LIVE: NENEH CHERRY – 13/02/2019

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Neneh Cherry is the absolute boss. Here she is on stage at the Albert Hall, absolutely killing it in support of her recent Four Tet and 3D (of Massive Attack fame) produced album Broken Politics, an album that has rocketed her to the kind of critical acclaim that came with her seminal […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Tonight’s a rather special night and the Albert Hall is dressed up for the occasion. It’s been 25 years since Portland’s indie rockers The Dandy Warhols burst on to the stage and to celebrate they have embarked on an epic tour and released a new album, Why You So Crazy? Opening proceedings […]

LIVE: THE DANDY WARHOLS / JUNIORE – 31/01/2019

LIVE: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – 25/01/2019

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Ben Gibbard is modest with his ‘between-song’ banter tonight, but at one point the Death Cab frontman tells Manchester that this is their favourite city to play, adding that if that sounds like it’s made up, in this case it really isn’t. I believe him. I would believe him if he told […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- When the Mercury Prize rolled around in 2014, few had anticipated Young Fathers to walk away with the £25k. However, their artful coalition of hip-hop, art-pop and whatever else they fancy have garnered them a sizeable following, enough to suitably pack the beautiful Manchester Albert Hall. The group’s live keyboardist Callum Easter […]

LIVE: YOUNG FATHERS – 23/01/2019

LIVE: MGMT – 17/12/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Back from late 2000s mega success, MGMT provide tonight the Albert Hall mandem a chance to relive honking hot summers of 08-09, FIFA soundtracks and Made In Chelsea “coming next” segments. Braving the Northern chill, I venture to Manchester full of excitement. Although back in the day I didn’t immediately latch on […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- When indie-rock mavericks The Maccabees played their final shows last summer, I did wonder if we’d hear from any of them again. But it was only a matter of months before frontman Orlando Weeks announced a project he’d been working on for quite some time, The Gritterman. Starting life from a song, […]

LIVE: ORLANDO WEEKS – 12/12/2018

LIVE: THE DECEMBERISTS / HOP ALONG – 12/11/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- With their latest release, Bark Your Head Off, Dog, Hop Along have forged a more mature and glossy album compared to their earlier works. They have side-lined their previous DIY and low-fi sounding ethos for a tighter result. The interesting song structures and intertwining melodies have been brought forward in the mix […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Celebrating fifty years of a band’s existence is a rare thing these days, especially one whose releases and activities were closely monitored by the U.S. authorities back in the 1960s and 70s. Despite the fact there’s now only one remaining member left in the band, the rapturous reception guitarist Wayne Kramer receives […]

LIVE: MC5 – 11/11/2018

LIVE: CAR SEAT HEADREST – 07/11/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Will Toledo is a contradiction of a frontman. Arriving on stage tonight he is replete in a pair of MC Hammer style harem pants and dances like a cross between a more loose-limbed Ian Curtis and Mark Corrigan at Rainbow Rhythms. (I encourage you to seek out S2E1 of Peep Show for […]
-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 […]

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