Rocket from the Crypt

Headliner: Rocket from the Crypt

Venue: Koko Camden

Date: 6 December 2013

Support: The Computers

So another gig and another new venue this time Koko in Camden, I haven't been here before and have to say its a pretty spectacular venue I guess it was formerly a theatre as it had multiple tiers. The venue still had its traditional look with modern lighting and the biggest disco ball I have ever seen spinning around in the ceiling, I must say this was a very impressive place.

The first band on tonight was The Computers their latest album release this year love triangles hate squares has been one of my favourite albums of the year and I was looking forward to seeing them.

Taking to the stage in matching suits and launching into some good old fashioned rock and roll with the lead singer climbing on things, jumping around, standing on stuff, dancing with audience members through the crowd it seemed to me as if they were possibly trying to hard and were in danger of becoming the blues brothers.

I really like the sound of The Computers and get the idea of what they are trying to do I just think they should try less to fill the stereotypical image and concentrate on the music.

Next up Rocket from the Crypt!

It's been a long while since I've seen Rocket from the Crypt so I was looking forward to this and with a total sell out at Koko I guess plenty of other people were as well.

The venue seemed a bit of a maze to move around so I stood on the balcony to the side of the stage, almost in The same position that Greg from Dillinger Escape Plan jumped off the other week and I couldn't help thinking.... Shit... That's just mental.

Anyway the band took to the stage to chants of speedo, speeeeedo, speeeeedo and rocket, rocket, rocket dressed in the usual identical suits half way through the set launching into middle, on a rope, born in 69 and young livers in a blistering 10minute onslaught.

You know what you get with Rocket from the Crypt and the crowed were loving out, speedo made me chuckle at the start when he said thanks for letting us play this amazing venue, it's like playing on the Muppet show.

Speedos stories and interaction with the crowd was great and after about an hour the set was over.

With the crowd cheering for more they came back for an encore with a twist... They had changed into matching mail order Elvis suits, which in the words of speedo were cut high in the groin.

After an early finish due the usual Friday night discos these venues seem to love these days it was time to head home.

The long journey home was disturbed with inconsiderate people on the train looping about 4 Christmas songs for about 90 minutes, seriously the last thing I want to hear at 1am is noddy holder screaming its Christmas, or feed the world.  If I wasn't so considerate to others they would have got some Dillinger Escape Plan right back at them!

Girls Against Boys

Electric Ballroom camden

3rd December 2013

Way back when in the good old days and all that a couple of bands were very important to me in my musical education, these bands included the usual suspects bands like Fugazi, Black Flag, Husker Du, The Pixies, Minor Threat, Rites of Spring, Dag Nasty and a band called Girls Against Boys.

I first heard about Girls Against Boys from a friend at college and picked up a copy of Venus Luxure No.1 Baby on see through yellow vinyl, from the opening bass line of In Like Flynn and the way it slowly developed until Scott's vocals kicked it was like wow, and I suddenly realised what a great band this was.

The crunching sound of rockets are red still contains one of my favourite lyrics, I'm not crazy...but I'm trying.

I saw them many times in the 90s at some great venues including the sadly now closed Princess Charlotte in Leicester, Sheffield leadmill and once at some place in Nottingham where I seem to remember them playing in almost total darkness supported by another amazing band Brainiac who's time was sadly cut short with death of singer and noise makerTimmy Taylor.

After some great albums some 10years ago they called it a day and I thought that was it, they played a few shows Scott and Alex played in Paramount styles, Eli went on to produce stuff including a cool album from The Soft pack and errr James Blunt.

Anyway I was excited to hear earlier this year they were back and playing a few shows mainly in Europe, I was massively excited to hear of a UK date and booked my ticket as soon as they went on sale.

In the meantime they released and amazing new ep The Ghost List not just because I love the band, but because it's a great sounding record.

Anyway show time!

Since the last time I saw them we have all got a little older I mean it's I guess 20years since I first saw them but music is great for providing and provoking memories and it was a real delight to see these guys again.

Starting off with Tucked in and playing through some classic songs like super fire, go be delighted and learned it the Two Bass attack of GVSB was sounding immense.

Eli was jumping around like a crazy man, a bit of shadow boxing on the stage and I'm still to this day intrigued by the way he puts a bass through a wah pedal and the sound he gets from it.

Half way through the set they played 3 songs off the new ep which sounded great live, let's get killed is one of my favourite tracks of the year.

Ending the hour long set with bulletproof Cupid, in like Flynn, kill the sexplayer, let me come back and rockets are red finally bringing it all to a conclusion.

It was great seeing GVSB performing live again, hopefully this wont be the last time and hopefully the ghost list isn't a farewell release but hey none of us are getting any younger these days.

Next up is another one of my favourite 90s bands Rocket From The Crypt at Koko. A Fugazi reunion now would complete it for me but I'm pretty convinced that will sadly never happen.

Mogwai

Headliner: Mogwai

Venue: cambridge junction 1

Date: 28 November 2013

Support: none

So tonight would be the second time this year that I have seen Mogwai live, the last time was when they performed their Zidane soundtrack in synch with the movie. This time it was a full mogwai performance in the intimate surroundings of the junction in Cambridge.

So tonight was a new venue in a city I have never been to before and my first impressions seemed spot on to the way I envisaged it would be, it seemed to be all cycle lanes, bus lanes, enforcement cameras and crazy cyclists flying all over the place. The venue itself was subtly hidden amongst the corporate elite in a small entertainment complex with the usual subway, tesco, sainsburys, Frankie and Benny's etc. No signage just a couple of bouncers standing outside a door to let you know you had arrived.

Now mogwai are no ordinary band to start with they are an instrumental band, secondly they don't often play live so tonight was a real treat.  The venue was small and we got pretty close to the stage, the amazing thing about seeing Mogwai in such intimate surroundings as that you see every part the individual members play from tiny single notes or keys to the booming chords.

This was really my first time seeing Mogwai playing some of their more well known songs. The version of like Herod towards the end was unbelievable the way it moved from single cymbal hits and soft bass notes and then the crunching BOOM and noise throughout was amazing stuff.

As for the encore starting with new song renumbered and ending with hunted by a freak and mogwai fear satan stunning stuff.

Cerebral ballzy

Headliner: Cerebral Ballzy

Venue: rock city basement

Date: 23 November 2013

Support: Fat White Family, The Amazing Snakeheads

The last time I saw Cerebral Ballzy they played a headlining set that lasted about 15minutes and featured about 20 songs with the support bands playing longer sets. I wasn't imagining much difference this evening.

First up tonight was a band called Fat White Family to be honest they were all over the place, no real identity  or style just seemed a bit of a mess to be honest, not my thing.  In fact I enjoyed the music in between bands more as they were playing the awesome new Future of the Left Album.

Next up The Amazing Snakeheads who obviously thought a lot of themselves for a support band they filled the stage with smoke, turned the lights down had a theme song which seemed a bit over the top for me.  They came on said nothing played for about 30 minutes said nothing and just disappeared.  Saying that I will certainly be checking them out on record, they weren't really what I saw expecting and turned out to be a scottish sounding Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, A really nice Bass driven sound.  I wasn't entirely sure that everyone else in Rock City got it, but I enjoyed their set.

Future of the left had now finished and I heard the amazing bassline at the start of Waiting Room by Fugazi followed by Bulldog Fronts! they were playing the first Fugazi EP, respect to those sorting the music out because this was ace.

Next up Cerebral Ballzy walking straight through the crowd onto the stage and BOOM straight into some fast old school Hardcore.  Second song singing on the bar, third song sat on top of the speaker stack, fifth song were gonna speed this up now, the crowd were loving it with some crazy mosh pit action going on, few songs later this is a song about Skateboarding screamed the singer. Next song this is a song about Skateboarding Fast.  A full set clocking in at just under 30 minutes and Cerebral Ballzy were gone as quick as they came.

Well that was a hectic 4 gigs in 7 days, bit of a rest now well till next week when I see Mogwai again.

Jason Isbell

Headliner: Jason Isbell

Venue: bodega social club Nottingham 

Date: 21 November 2013

Support: Amanda Shires

So after the bright lights and video screens of an arena show it was back to more comfortable surroundings and back to a venue I know well the Bodega Social Club in Nottingham.

Upon arriving at the venue in order to collect my tickets I was met with Eva Spence from the amazing Rolo Tomassi collecting tickets at the door at which point I forgot how to speak instead of saying two tickets to collect under the name of.... It came out as club flob wobble flib or some other form of utter nonsense after this minor complication it was up the stairs and into the bodega which was packed.

Jason Isbells recent album southeastern has been a major surprise for me, amazing county tinged songs with great lyrics and harmonies and I have basically listened to a couple of songs of this album travelling alone and live oak almost on repeat since I got the album.

The support tonight was Amanda Shires recently married to Jason Isbell. Some amazing fiddle playing and some great songs and that southern accent provided a great start to the evening although space was limited as everyone seemed to be hanging around the door and my view was rubbish, at the end of Amanda's set it was time to manoeuvre myself to my usual residence by the mixing desk.

Jason Isbell took to the stage and said something along the lines of I don't have any effects or explosions it's just me, that's it.  Maybe it's the loneliest place to be on stage just you and a guitar but as an audience member it seems sometimes you get a better connection with solo artists than with a band, the music and lyrics seem to resonate more and even though you are in a packed room it can feel they are singing just for you.

Starting of with the aforementioned live oak and going through some great songs like Alabama pines, tour of duty and the amazing travelling alone towards the end and telling some great stories the one about deciding to get drunk and to avoid the risk of drink driving going out and hiding his car so that he wouldn't drink or drive and then being unable to find  it for days made me chuckle.

With Amanda Shires joining Jason on stage to accompany him on many of the songs with her fiddle provided a great sound.

Really enjoyed the show, check him out.

Sigur ros

Headliner: Sigur Ros

Date: 19th November 2013

Venue: Capital FM arena Nottingham

Support: I break horses

Me at an arena show..... Who would have thought eh..

After the house party feel of Sundays Franz Nicolay it was a totally different environment tonight with a gig at an arena, I think the last time I went to an arena show must have been the Arctic Monkeys about 5 years ago I'm much more of a small venue kinda person.

Tonight though I was off to see see Sigur Ros surely everyone knows hoppipola? Arriving at the venue it wasn't the most friendly kind of place with stewards taking your tickets as soon as you walked into the standing area and others positioned in equidistant spaces staring motionless straight at those in the seats, I guess this is what you get with an arena show....

Upon arrival the stage was surrounded by a giant white sheet with only visible shadows of the support band I break horses seemingly projected onto the sheet.

It was all a bit weird, but pretty atmospheric. I break horses were pretty good seemingly part goldfrapp, part grimes and part the knife.

After I break horses it was time for Sigur Ros well after a wait of about 45 minutes it was...the giant white sheet was still in place as the lights went out and you could her the atmospheric noise of Sigur Ros.

Images being projected onto the giant sheet and the screens at the side were showing close ups of the band, pretty epic stuff.

I must admit though after the first couple of songs behind the sheet I was starting to look at the video screens more than the stage area and thinking to myself surely they aren't going to play the entire show behindd a sheet? After about three songs the sheet suddenly dropped revealing Sigur Ros

The light show was amazing and the sound stunning backed by a brass section and a string section blending perfectly with the noise Jonsi was making when playing a les paul with a bow.

Stunning performance, mind blowing in fact I guess arena shows aren't that bad once in a while....

Franz Nicolay

Headliner: Franz Nicolay

Venue: the chameleon Nottingham 

Date: 17 November 2013

Support: Joe Slater, Isaac, The Cut Ups

Disclaimer... this may be a slightly biased review as Franz is one of my favourite musicians.

So the first of a busy week of gigs and tonight was Franz Nicolay. Franz is from Brooklyn NY and has played in some amazing bands namely The Hold Steady and Against Me! But has also produced some amazing solo albums that have made me appreciate different styles of music and instruments along with some amazing lyrics.

Tonight was a new venue The Chameleon cafe bar in Nottingham it was a small venue with a kind of house party vibe, if the walls were covered with more fly posters and stickers etc it would be ace.

First up tonight was Joe Slater and acoustic musician playing songs I guess in a Billy Bragg style, songs with some meaning and a bit of angst thrown in. The music was alright but he had to cut his set short with the I guess was a bit of arm pump a sign he hasn't been playing his guitar enough! I know that feeling.

Next up Isaac, a Nottingham based band fronted by Shankland (big thanks to him for putting on the show) I have seen him a few times around notts supporting various bands playing solo and acoustic and remember him playing a good version of To have and have not the old BIlly Bragg song at a venue I don't really get on with The Maze.  Anyway this was the first time with his band Isaac who were a bit more punky and they showed a lot of promise actually.

Next up The Cut Ups + Franz Nicolay. Tonight was a bit different The Cut Ups would be playing their set with Franz playing keys and then they would play musical band members and The Cut Ups would be the backing band for Franz.

I'm sure I should know more about The Cut Ups and they seemed fairly familiar but I'm not sure how, if that makes sense. Anyway they were pretty good some nice interaction along with some great songs, when you have a song called last night I dreamt I saw fugazi to be honest with me you are already half way there, with the fact that fugazi are possibly the greatest and most important band ever,well in my mind anyway.

After a quick turned around it was time for Franz to take the stage. In my opinion Franz is one of the finest musicians around bringing together different styles of music with an array of instruments including banjo, guitar, keys, accordion. Tonight would be slightly different though as it would be the first time I have seen Franz with a backing band starting of with a blinding version of The Hearts of Boston, the opening track from his latest album Do the struggle. Blasting through a few new songs including one written about Mongolian neo nazis, hardly the greatest starting point for a song but you know with Franz it's gonna work and a few others like Frankie Stubbs tears, Did your broken heart make you who you are and ending with the classic Jeff Penalty about when the dead Kennedy's reformed without jello.

The only complaint I have was no banjo songs! Which ment no version of the cracking migration of the cuckoo.

Anyway Franz is an amazing musician who writes songs that I can totally resonate with and should get far more credit, exposure and reward for his songwriting I for one thought can't wait till the not only the next record but the next show.

Give Franz a chance because he's a cracking musician and song writer.

Dillinger Escape Plan

Headliner: Dillinger Escape Plan
Venue: Rock City Nottingham
Date: 09 November 2013
Support: Maybeshewill, Three Trapped Tigers.

The first time I saw Dillinger Escape Plan I pretty much had a near death experience, never seen something so intense, brutal and well frightening. for some reason tonight would be the third time I had seen them....

First up tonight was maybeshewill and unfortunately with early shows I once again missed the band arriving just in time to see the start of Three Trapped Tigers set I was already aware of these and have a copy of their route one or die album. I was impressed with them and the driving instrumental music, they were very quiet on stage not in sound but with the audience but overall I enjoyed their set.

It was now time for DEP, the build up was intense strobe lighting, haunting music, disturbing images and then BOOM straight into Prancer... HOLY CRAP no holding back with DEP straight in your face absolute insanity when the guitarist Ben Weinman  launches himself about 15ft into the crowd half way through the second song and by the fifth is dangling by one leg from the lighting rig above the stage and still playing his guitar you get the idea of what the show was like.

I must admit to liking the softer (if possible) Dillinger songs like Nothings Funny, One of us is the Killer and Black Bubblegum but the insanity and intensity of the likes of Panasonic Youth and the encore cover of Aphex Twins Come to Daddy and 43% Burnt has to be seen to be believed really.

So I have seen Dillinger Escape Plan 3 times now with only one near death experience encountered, to me that is a massive success.

Future of The left

Headliner: Future of the Left

Venue: Bodega Social Club Nottingham

Date: 08 Nov 2013

Support: The Wytches

Future of Left have to be one of the most underrated bands around with some of the quirkiest, intelligent lyrics you are ever likely to hear and after the genius of their latest album I couldn't wait to see them again.

First up tonight was a band called The Wytches.  I first saw these at Tramlines 2013 in Sheffield and they were on my to watch list so I was delighted to see they were supporting future of the left.

They didn't disappoint either the sound they produce is immense so of the noise coming from the guitar was insane, they may only be a three piece band but they have a sound far bigger than that.

Time for Future of the Left what can you say immense sound, brilliant lyrics, one of the best live bands around, throw in a couple of old Mclusky songs and well you have a great gig nothing else to say really...  well except for the fact they didn't do one of my favourite songs of the new album I mean who wouldn't want to watch a TV Show on the MTV where Kim Kardashian is chased through the woodland by a giant bear wearing a mask that carries the visage of the recently deceased film director Michael Winner?  I mean it's not the bears fault he doesn't qualify for a workplace pension and is angry at Daniel Day Lewis for what he perceives as the lack of action in there will be blood.

Deap Vally

Headliner: Deap Vally
Venue: Rock City Basement
Date: Monday 4 November 2013
Support Acts: Offshore Rivers, Skaters NYC

I first saw Deap Vally in September 2012 upstairs in the Rescue Rooms with about 100 other people, without knowing to much about them they kind of blew me away with the music.  Since then I have seen them already this year and tonight would be another opportunity.

First up tonight was a band called offshore rivers, never heard of them before and to be honest they were pretty boring and didn't really fit the evening with their kind of bland rock with the singer seemingly alternating  between Bob Dylan and Liam Gallagher impressions.  Not that memorable and easily forgotten.

Next up Skaters NYC I was going to go and see these at the Bodega in August but in the end didn't bother they play a kind of Strokes esq indie rock and were pretty good I enjoyed their set especially after the first band although I which they went a bit heavier sometimes.

Time for Deap Vally, 2013 has been a great year for Deap Vally with them seemingly breaking though, releasing a debut album and relentless touring all over the world,they never seem to be not on the road.

The crowd was somewhat bigger than the first time I saw them and they came one and played a blinding set. Something I love about 2 piece bands no messing about, just straight to the point.

Deap Vally continue to grow and so do their audiences as they build on their reputation as a great live band. In my opinion they deserve some time off to plan the next level and get some more songs down, even though the album came out in the middle of the year all the songs seem far to familiar.

Ghostpoet

Headliner: Ghostpoet
Date: 18 October 2013
Venue: Bodega Social Club Nottingham
Support: Mt Wolf

So this would be my second time seeing Ghostpoet this year after the record store day launch party.

One thing you can always guarantee about the Bodega Social Club is they NEVER open the doors at the stated which does trigger the OCD about punctuality in me....  While in the queue I did have to chuckle when   a lad in front was on about seeing Ghostpoet at the Queens Social Club in Sheffield which he described as being "a little smaller than the Bodega" He obviously hasn't been because it's like Wembley stadium compared to the Bodega.

Anyway first up tonight was Mt Wolf, over the past few years music with really big, strong female vocals has become popular think Florence... who I can't stand or more recently London Grammar... who I really am not sure about, I kind of like the music but like by vocals a little more mellow. Mt Wolf follow this theme strong vocals over mellow beats and to be honest I'm not sure I get it all the time. I kind of prefer softer vocals think Marina Topley-Bird on Teardrop by Massive Attack.

Next up Ghostpoet, After seeing Letlive on Monday to Ghostpoet on Friday that is probably about as polar opposite as you are going to get, no crazy crowd surfing or balcony jumping tonight just a collection of chilled out beats and mellow rhymes, while subdued the crowd were appreciative especially towards Survive it singing along to the chorus and cash and carry me home.

Letlive

Headliner: Letlive
Date: 14 October 2013
Venue: Rescue Rooms Nottingham
Support: The American Scene, Night Verses

So once again due to some venues need to take money from drunk students wanting to get obliterated on a Monday Evening after a hard days study, it was another early doors, early finish effort.  As a result after finishing work  and driving over to Nottingham it was to late to see the first band The American Scene.

Next up were Night Verses, I must admit I knew nothing about them before tonight and I seemed to be the only one at points with the crowd singing along, If I was to describe the sound Deftones Esq would be a start  a big powerful sound, with mellow vocals but with the ability to mix it up.  I really enjoyed their set.

Time for the Headliners Letlive.  Their latest release The Blackest Beautiful has been one of my musical highlights of the year Fast, Brutal, Slow, Soulful a stunning piece of work so I was looking forward to the show.

And Letlive didn't disappoint absolute carnage bodies everywhere including that of lead singer Jason Butler who at one point after joining the crowd decided to do this...

Climbing up the back of the venue and walking himself around the balcony and then positioning himself to jump into the waiting crowd.

Letlive were absolutely stunning ending the performance with an encore of the first 3 tracks of Fake History with an amazing version of Renegade 86 to finish things off.

Some bands flourish in the live arena and some hide.  Letlive put it all on the line and are simply amazing.

65daysofstatic

Headliner: 65daysofstatic
Venue: Rescue Rooms Nottingham
Date: 24 Sep 2013
Support: The Physics House Band, Sleepmakeswaves

Tonight it was 65daysofstatic now what do you describe them as Post Rock, Instrumental, math rock or just simply a post rock industrial math rock band.  What ever genre it is some of these bands like explosions in the sky, mogwai etc are massively underrated creating some immense soundscapes with amazing highs and lows in the same song epic stuff.

I don't mind an early curfew on a week night at my age but the one down point to this is that after finishing work, grabbing something to eat and driving over to Nottingham it's often the case that you miss the first support band, arriving at the venue at 19.45 the first band of the night The Physics House Band had been and gone and I missed all their set.

Next up was a band called sleepmakeswaves an Australian post rock band, the first thing that struck me was the bass played with his bald head and big ginger beard looked like the bloke from the guess who game!

Anyway their set was epic and almost destroyed me, dream like soundscapes intertwined with chaos mind blowing stuff, music that sucks you and transports you to another place WOW!

Next up 65daysofstaic I have seen these a few times before but this was the first actual club show and the last time was in a museum! see tramlines post.

Anyway they came on and did what they do best and played for about 80mins before they had to finish up and let the students in.

Most people get put off my instrumental music or post rock music but once you give in it's such a rewarding experience especially live

Walking back to the car you could tell it was student night as we walked past about 4 Romans dressed in togas, a few men in drag and a man dressed as a penguin.... made me look the weird one in my traditional outfit of jeans and a check shirt.

The Front Bottoms

Headliner: The Front Bottoms
Venue: Bodega Social Club Nottingham
Date: 20 Sep 2013
Support: Shankland, Alsion Weiss

So its been a while but plenty of gigs coming up in the next few months but it was of to see The Front Bottoms at the Bodega in Nottingham.

First up tonight was Shankland playing solo acoustic music I have seen him before at one of my least favourite venues The Maze where he seems to be "local" in the league of gentlemen sense. He's ok but not brilliant.

Next up Alison Weiss an artist from New York again playing solo with a guitar I liked her the music and it was backed up with some nice interaction and stories, not totally my style of music and would I go searching out here music in the future? probably not but I enjoyed her set.

The Headliner for the night was The Front Bottoms from New Jersey touring their latest album Talon of the Hawk which I really enjoyed and was in fact their fourth album.

I'm not really sure how you can describe The Front bottoms part Blink 182, part Pavement, part like nothing else. Quirky indie pop punk I guess.

I was really impressed with the crowd they new all the words and were singing along and having a really good time a little bit of crowd surfing and all that.

The Front Bottoms blasted through an hour long set with no time for an encore at the end of the set the crowd were desperate for one more song but alas due to the venue wanting to take the money off a load of drunk students for a Friday night club night the sound man became the most hated man in the venue by denying this request.

Chris Murray The Maze

Headliner: Chris Murray

Venue: The Maze Nottingham

Date: 16 August 2013

Support acts: Nadia Latoya, stuck in 2nd, Ashmore, project o'kane

So another gig this time Chris Murray, a legend in the ska scene and probably the best in the business when it comes acoustic ska to get you bouncing.

This gig was at the maze in Nottingham a venue I have been to a few times in the past. My main gripe infact a rather large one with this venue is that it seems to be a pretty much closed community for bands performing there.

I get the point and the idea that a large proportion of them are all friends and know each other pretty well and that by having a dedicated number of followers/fans/gig goers etc that they are able to put on these sort of shows by guaranteeing a number of heads through the door. BUT and it's a big BUT it seems to me that if you aren't a friend of the family you don't seem to be given much of a chance or an audience.

When one of the family is onstage they all appear, start jumping around, dancing, singing along etc but as soon as they finish they all vanish and some of the support bands seem to perform in front of nobody. Infact in my opinion the two best bands on the support bill last night played in front of an almost empty venue.

Anyway enough moaning and onto the gig.

First up Nadia Latoya 

Big voice, a mixture of soul and reggae made a good impression on me and a great way to start the night.

Next up one of the family bands stuck in 2nd they were ok but not as good as the family made out.

Next up Ashmore, obviously by now the family had done a runner.  Ashmore is an 18 year old musician from Nottingham together with his mate Motomouf beatboxing, what else can you say but wow, this lad is onto something and with the beats laid down by motomouf they were ace especially the version of redemption song at the end of the set which was awesome.  Best artists on the supporting bill tonight and will probably be bigger than anyone else on the bill eventually.

Next up project o'kane led by Liam O'kane big fish small pond springs to mind not a fan but they love him down here even at the end as a supporting band they left instruments, cases, setlists all over the stage that Chris Murray had to move himself, oh and he sounds a little like Miss Piggy when singing.

Chris Murray was next, I have been a fan of Chris Murray for over 10 years since I got hold of a copy of the 4 track adventures of venice shoreline Chris, and have seen him multiple times.  I love music that is raw, uncomplicated, no need for efffects and Chris Murray does this amazingly well.

Playing a set of mainly requests asked before and during the gig he was great however when the headliner doesn't come on till midnight half the crowd are to drunk to notice and the audience dwindles.  having so many artists on the bill and not starting till 9pm leaves it to late for the headliners to take the stage in my opinion.

I am sure they love what they do here and it's great that as a collective people can get together put on and promote their own shows and have a good time etc, I'm not knocking that at all, it's just I wish they would give more time to other artists all seems a bit local.

Mogwai live Zidane a 21st century portrait

Headliner: Mogwai

Venue: Barbican centre london

Date: 26/07/2013

Mogwai don't play live that often so when the chance arises you have to make to effort so it was off to London to see them.

When I first tried to get tickets it said sold out and I was massively disappointed after randomly trying a few days later it appeared some amazing seats were back on sale, so they were quickly booked and plans were made.

A few years ago a film was made about the legendary Zidane it basically focused on him for an entire game and the makers asked mogwai to provide the soundtrack.

The film is effectively a silent movie with mogwai creating a soundtrack to bring the film to life.  The idea of this event was that mogwai would play the soundtrack live, while the film was projected onto a giant screen.

After arriving at the barbican an immense maze of doors, stairs, corridors, weird toilets etc and £2.15 for a bottle of coke! It was time to take our seats.

Our seats were amazing! Row k right in the centre!

Words can't really do this experience justice the film was ace but mogwai were amazing the point during half time in the match was just stunning.

I have not been to a gig before where nobody moved, the crowd were motionless for close to 2hrs completely blown away by the experience.

The way the tension and emotion that was built up towards the climax of the film when Zidane got sent off was.... Well WOW!

After the film had finished mogwai came back on for an encore and finished the night with a sonic assault, so calm, yet intense and beautiful.

I really need to see mogwai again!

Tramlines festival - sheffield various

Tramlines festival

Sheffield (various venues)

Date: 21/07/2013

So this was my 2nd tramlines festival and I was looking forward to seeing some old and new favourites. Similar to dottodot it's loads of different bands playing in various venues throughout the city.

We arrived early, but sadly not early enough to catch kagoule who opened up the second stage at the O2 academy. Last time I went to the academy was to see the legendary jello Biafra!

After arriving we paid to get our wristbands and went to check out what was on and then we started to wander around sheffield to see what we could find.

First of all we headed to the millennium gallery where 65daysofstatic had an instillation, basically it was a set up of a video screen showing google maps, but with a soundtrack played on 16 different speakers. They were gonna play live in the evening so this was put in the diary.

We decided to check out the main stage just as Theme Park were starting, they were terrible, bland indie pop music so not for my taste so we moved on.

After wandering around sheffield we ended up in the Harley never been here before nice little venue, and it has a piece of art by mr penfold on the side. Checked out a band whose name I can't remember  and decided to head back to the academy as some bands we wanted to see where on shortly.

On the way back I spotted this piece of art by the legend that is phlegm a local sheffield artist!

I love phlegms work and the characters that appear in all his pieces. Like this one just off brick lane in London that I snapped last year.

Anyway I digress.....

These sort of festivals to me are about finding new bands that you may not of heard of before, and the first of these were called The Wytches!

After googling them I read an article form the guardian that described them as tapping into the dark side of psychedelia and painting it black! So these were in my to watch list.

  

I really enjoyed their set it was obvious they were I influenced by the grunge scene and but I love that style of music and I was impressed with them musically.

After checking out The Wytches we went upstairs to see another band whose name I can't remember but they played a zeppelin esq blues rock music, they were ok but obviously not that memorable.

Looking at the posters on the wall it was like being transported back to 1993 with upcoming gigs from shed7, happy Mondays, the wonder stuff, PWEI and Jesus jones!

It was back  downstairs and into the main room to check out one of the must see bands wet nuns! I'm a sucker for a 2piece rock band no frills, no messing just straight up rock n roll.

Wet Nuns were awesome and I spent most of the next day listening to them

Massive riffs a plenty.

After milling around for a bit it was time for rolo tomassi!  I have seen these must be 5or6 times now and they never disappoint. The first time singer Eva Spence walks on stage and starts to sing always makes me smile!

They make a right racket but are always entertaining!

After rolo tomassi Dog is Dead were the headliners, but after the disappointment of seeing the lead singer wearing a black flag t-shirt last year and then sound well the exact opposite, I wasn't in a hurry to see them because they are what some might describe as well a bit shit.

While taking part in the mass evacuation after rolo tomassi from the O2 I must have heard 6-7 people agreeing with this fact and the general consensus being that dog is dead are in fact shit.

So after leaving the O2 it was back to the millenium gallery to see 65daysofstatic perform sleepwalk city and wow it was amazing 30 minutes of amazing swirling soundscapes to images projected onto video screens.

This was an amazing experience that is hard to describe but the video screens and sound through 16speakers was an amazing audio visual experience.

You couldn't really follow that so it was time to call it a day.

Until next year!

Tim Barry / Sam Russo

Headliner: Tim Barry
Venue: Firebug Leicester
Date: 30 June 2013
Other Artists: Flav Giorgni /  Sam Russo

I've been waiting for this gig for along time, in fact it turns out I was the first person to buy tickets! Tim Barry is one of my favourite song writers at the minute, while we have totally different lives, it seems like half the time he's writing songs about me.

First up tonight was an artist from Leicester or so it seemed.... called Flav Giorgini.

Never heard of him before and just assumed he was some bloke from Leicester turns out in another life he played in a pop punk band called Squirtgun in the US who had releases on Lookout records and even more amazing they had a song on the Kevin Smith classic Mallrats!!  in fact it played over the opening credits.  Seems he decided to ditch pop punk and get a Phd in Molecular genetics and works at Leicester University, crazy.

Next up Sam Russo.

Feel a bit guilty here because I can't really remember much about Sam Russo except I really enjoyed his set and his stories.

Next up Tim Barry, As I've already said I'm a massive fan of Tim and I wasn't disappointed, such an amazing song writer.  He played loads of songs from his new album mixed in with classics like Dog Bumped.

Moment of the evening for me was Tim's passion for the situation in Richmond VA in relation to his song Prosser's Gabriel, although I loved the lyrical content of the song I didn't have a real understanding of the entire story and since seeing Tim sing and talk about it I have bought a book to find out more about the story.

I love it when musicians get involved with and communicate with the crowd and especially when they ditch the stage and play in the crowd.

This is real music for me, not standing at the back of a massive stadium watching a screen because you can't see the band.  Give me a small room above a pub with a musician singing songs that actually mean something to him every day of the week.

I can't wait till Tim comes back

Deerhoof

Headliner: Deerhoof

Venue: Bodega Social Club Nottingham 

Date: 26 June 2013

Support: Dusty Bible

So it's been a while, this was the first gig since Dot to Dot but I guess that's the way it goes sometimes.

First up tonight was Dusty Bible a crazy Canadian fellow playing Beefheart style blues music, not so much a group, but more bass and drums back up for some crazy guitar work.

I'm not sure if they had much song structure or just finished the songs when the guitarist was bored.

Saying that.... I really enjoyed their set.

Next up Deerhoof, The last time I saw these was at Alexandra palace on the same bill as Dinosaur Jr and The Flaming Lips.  You don't need to be a genius to work out how epic that was!

Anyway Deerhoof are mental none of their songs make any sense... BUT at the same time make total sense.

I really enjoyed their set including the classic Panda, which I was annoying work colleagues with by singing all the next day at work.

Dot to Dot

Dot to Dot Festival
Venue: Nottingham (Various)
Date: 26 May 2013

Dot to Dot Festival is an annual music festival held in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham over alternate days providing 14hrs of live music across various venues and all for £20!!

Arriving in Nottingham we had to walk through a load of cyclists who were taking part in the milk race. most of the city centre was closed off except for a few select crossing points, after trying to find our way out we just managed to make it through a crossing seconds before it was closed otherwise we would have been trapped and forced to miss the music!

Arrived to a buzzing rock city and swapped our tickets for wrist bands and it was off to the red room to see our first band of the day HAWKEYES!!

I have been a fan of Hawkeyes for a few years, in fact before they were called Hawkeyes and went under the alias of Chickenhawk I saw them support Pulled Apart by Horses at the Bodega.

They played a 30 minute set of riff heavy sounds and the song towards the end from the new ep sounds awesome!

After Hawkeyes had blown away the cobwebs we walked through the doors just as KAGOULE were starting their set.

I had never heard of them before but the singer looked like a very young Ian Mackaye from the greatest band ever Fugazi.

I thought they were ace sounded very Codeine Esq but with a heavier sound, loads of fuzz and distortion just what I like!

Next it was back through the doors into the red room for THE BOTS.  I hadn't heard of these before but I guess this what these sort of festivals are good for discovering exciting new bands!  When they came on stage they were a 2piece band, just drums and guitar and the drummer had the biggest Afro I have ever seen!

Found out later the drummer was only 16 and these kids were brothers and man they made a racket, part Bad Brains, part Black Keys, part Minutemen and they were ace!! since getting home I have already bought their back catalogue!

This is what they sound like!

After The Bots it was time for a wander around first stop Bodega, a band called the likely lads were just sound checking and from that sound check I could tell, it wasn't my thing but I guess this what days like this are all about if you don't like it... move on.

A large queue was forming to get inside Brew Dog to see Arse full of Chips, couldn't be bothered wait so it was back to Stealth just as Random Impulse was about to start

Now when a rap/rock crossover goes wrong it's really bad (see Limp Bizkit) but Random Impulse was alright catchy songs, with a good flow to them and a good listen.

Next up was Middle Class Rut, I first heard of them a few years ago with the song New Low which was pretty catchy but hadn't paid much attention to them since.  Tonight however they were ace.

From this angle it looks like the most budget of drum kits possible!

Beer keg and a dustbin lid!  They had a real drum kit hiding around the corner.

I'm not sure why the combination of Sun+Beer makes some blokes wanna rip off their shirts and take part in copious man hugs with each other but they were a few at the front for Middle Class Rut and one of them provided what was to be the funniest moment of the day when he decided somehow launch himself over the crush barrier at the front with nobody near him!  when he didn't get up for a few moments hilarity turned briefly into concern, but when he got up it's funny again.  As Mike Patton once said it's always funny until someone gets hurt and then it's just hilarious!

Middle Class Rut played an ace set of melodic hardcore and I will be looking them up again soon.

Next up was Black Books, now i was supposed to see them last week during the whole Flaming Lips cancellation fiasco.

However this would be the first I would have heard from them.

They were ok, I can see what Wayne Coyne sees in them.

After walking through to the rescue rooms Bears Den were just starting, not really my thing and a bit boring to say the least so it was time for a rest.

Next up was Sam Bradley, had to feel a bit sorry for him to be honest as the room was pretty empty, kinda odd to put a solo acoustic artist on at 10pm.  If they had had an outdoor acoustic stage in the sunshine he would have gone down really well!  some great story telling and some good songs.

Next up was M0, listened to a few tracks before and was pretty excited to see her live.

It was a nice change of pace and was kind of a mix between Lana del Ray and Grimes!

She also seemed as mad as a tree!

I first saw FINDLAY last year playing a free show with Deathrays of Ardilla.  She may be small but can belt out a tune!

She sounded awesome and I can't wait till she gets an album done!

Now the main event Bo Ningen!

I first saw Bo Ningen last year in Derby and they literally blew my mind and reduced my IQ at the same time, they are without doubt one of the best live bands you will ever see! simply incredible

Being Japanese I haven't got a clue what they are singing about, but it doesn't matter, makes no difference what so ever when the bass kicks in on songs like Henkan it's just out of this world.

Bo Ningen where scheduled to play for 45 minutes after 20 they said thanks for coming we have 2 songs left! 25 minutes later they were still playing the last song was simply stunning, called Daikasiei that just goes into a psychedelic chaos for 15mins plus, amazing stuff.

I'm not sure any band can follow Bo Ningen you really have to see them.

Deap Vally were on next, I have seen them a few times before but was knackered and still had to drive home and nothing will beat Bo Ningen so it was time to go home.

Dot to Dot was ace, same time and place next year? I think so just get Bo Ningen to play again!

Nomeansno

Headliner: nomeansno

Venue: The Doghouse Nottingham

Date: 21/05/13

Support: Billy No Mates, kimmy yeah

Another gig, another new venue this time some place called the doghouse, an old social club taken over and used as a venue, not quite as Phoenix nights as the queens social club in sheffield though. But you don't go to many venues that have the full range of monster munch and mr porkys available at the bar.

First up tonight was a band called kimmy yeah from sheffield the singer was wearing a Hot Snakes tshirt the hardcore band featuring the mighty john reis or speedo from rocket from the crypt.  I had high hopes from that, they were ok played a tight set although seemed a little confused on to what sort of band they wanted to be in my opinion.

Next up Billy no mates fronted by Duncan from snuff I say fronted he sings and plays drums so frontman doesn't really work.  Anyway the sound was appalling the microphones kept cutting out, the volume was all over the shop thankfully they seemed to sort it when they blasted out skin deep by one of Duncan's other bands guns n wankers!

Time for nomeansno, now in punk circles they are pretty legendary, been playing music together for well over 30years and once again touring Europe on the wrongnam style tour.

You don't really expect people close to 60 to be able to play a set like they did including a couple of awesome ramones and ending the encore with a blistering version of sheena is a punk rocker.

Favourite track of the night for me was the near 10min song the world wasn't built in a day

The flaming lips or maybe not...

Headliner: The Flaming Lips

Date: 20/05/2013

Venue: Camden Roundhouse

The flaming lips are an amazing live band you get balloons, ticker tape, dancing aliens unfortunately after a two hour drive,parking up, getting on the train I was greeted by the news on twitter that the gig was cancelled! What!!! Yes due to illness the gig had been rescheduled for the 27th late cancellations are always a pain but even more when it's taken two and a half hrs to get to Camden!

Failing to accept this new and he fact that I had just checked in with my Oyster card went to Camden for a wander around saw the news confined at the venue

Having finally accepted the news, it was time to turn around and set off home. Listening to a guy who got a headache and accidentally saves the world in a car driving up the A1 isn't quite the same

Public Service Broadcasting

Headliner: Public Service Broadcasting
Date: 17/05/2013
Venue: Bodega Social Club
Support act: (not a clue)

The idea of a band taking old public information films, sampling them and then soundtracking them may sound odd BUT it works and works well.

I first heard about them from The War room ep with the awesome Spitfire and waltz for george on and have been excited about this gig for a while.

First up was the support band, haven't got a clue what they were called all I know is they packed out the stage had a singer wearing an 80's style coloured visor and playing a flying V and passed out free cakes to the audience.  Other support bands take not free cakes is guaranteed to get you in the good books!

The stage was set for Public Service Broadcasting, video screens stacked up around the venue to look like old school televisions and a massive one at the back of the stage.

PSB are artists of very few words and in fact like to communicate through a soundboard on the computer.

They played some great versions of the likes of Night Mail and Theme from PSB.  My favourites had to be Spitfire and the awesome Signal 30.

They finished the set with the epic Everest and errr the theme from Last of the summer wine

Public Service Broadcasting Teaching the lessons of the past through the music of the future

Savages

Headliner: Savages
Venue: Bodega Social Club Nottingham
Date: 07/05/2013
Support acts: Johnny Hostile

It appears Savages have been causing a bit of a stir for a while but they seemed to have slipped under my radar.

I was first tempted to check them out after hearing the version of Nichijyou singer Jehnny Beth recorded with japanese noise mongers Bo Ningen.  I was then tempted to search them out and checked out the performance of flying to Berlin from jools holland.  After downloading (legally) a few eps I like what I was hearing.

First up tonight was Johnny Hostile, with a name like that you have some expectations to live up to! 1 man a bass guitar a drum machine and shit loads of echo and pretty absorbing to say the least.

Time for savages what can you say hypnotic, absorbing, brutal, intense even when you listen to the debut album tracks like I am here just get inside you heard creating soundscapes that drag you in and and mess you up and live they are no different.

The Bodega was packed and signs on the door said the band would like you to not take photos during the gig, so I have no dodgy iphone photos however who ever took this ignored that sign and recorded it!

This is one band I will be certainly be seeing again, However I don't think it will be in a packed out 250 capacity venue like The Bodega.

And you will know us by the trail of the dead...

Artist: And you will know us the by trail of the dead
Date: 24/04/2013
Venue: Rescue Rooms Nottingham
Support Acts: The Coathangers, Turbowolf

First of all being rubbish at updating my blog, so thought I better get an update done.

The first support band of the night were The Coathangers an all female band from Atlanta and to be honest when they first came on they surprised me, basically because they were off their rockers!

All three members kept swapping instruments and moving around like they were playing musical chairs, after the initial shock I really enjoyed their set.

Next up Turbowolf....  well what can you say about Turbowolf this is something like the 3rd or 4th time I have seen them, you now exactly what you are gonna get with them straight up rock and roll! played hard, played fast.  A rose for the crows is quality song

Turbowolf in my opinion are one of those bands that are actually a better live experience than on record, if people get the chance they should really check them out.

Time for And you will know us by the trail of the dead...

They are one of them bands that have been around for a while and boy can they make a racket!  sadly they only had one drum kit on stage, if they had 2 like they sometimes do live my head may have exploded!

They make a noise that is sometimes mellow sometimes intense and it all blends to make something immense.

Record Store Day 2013

Record Store Day 2013
Date 20 April 2013

I've have been a massive music collector now for over 20 years and I probably, no definitely have more CD's and Vinyl than is healthy. I used to buy all my stuff from The Record Shop in Grantham.  I had a great relationship with Barry the owner at the time, pre internet we used to go through the release lists from the likes of Pinnacle, Southern etc. He would highlight stuff he thought I would like gave me promo items and made sure I got stuff like this:

The UNKLE Psycence fiction survival kit with pop up sleeve, mini vinyl, loads of stickers etc, HMV would never help you out like that.

Anyway times change and the introduction of one stop shop supermarkets selling everything under one roof, Internet shops etc meant that people never used these small town local record shops to buy the latest singles or albums, which were the bread and butter for many of these local shops.

Sadly like many Independent record shops around the country The Record Shop closed down and I was stuck, I then used to go to Selectadisc in Nottingham but that went as well.

Being trapped in a small town with only Asda, Morrisons and Sainsburys selling music I really have no choice anymore but to but online.  Luckily places like Rough Trade and Banquet have great online services.

Anyway record store day... 

This started back in 2007 to celebrate independent record stores and has gone from strength to strength, this year I decided to head to down to London for the second year running so I got on an early train from Lincolnshire and headed down to London.

I wanted to see Frank Turner at Rough Trade so I got down to the old truman brewery just after 09.30, Frank was on at 11 plenty of time...

This was the queue about 10mins after I arrived!

90mins later.... I could see the front door! 

The people that annoy me are what I like to call queue jumping b*stards! I like many others had been standing in line for 90mins yet some people find it acceptable to just walk straight to the front speak to someone they haven't seen in about 5 years and worm their way into the queue!  grrrrr get to the back and wait your turn like everyone else has. (disclaimer...The above photo does not contain queue jumping b*stards)

I made it in just in time to see Frank starting his set!!

I've been a massive Frank Turner since the days of Million Dead and it's always a pleasure to see him live.

The queues inside were as crazy inside as they were outside, I managed to pick some of the things I wanted including this by the legendary Husker Du!

In the chaos and for some unknown reason I also bought a copy of Franks new album even though I have the deluxe version on order from Banquet records, so I now have 2 copies!

I left Rough Trade for the next stage of my record store day journey, off to the vinyl factory!

I am a big fan of American Hardcore bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat, MDC and so on, as a result I wanted to check out the exhibition of 7" from 78-90 with sleeves from the above bands and the likes of Nation of Ulysses, Dead Kennedys etc.

I pretty sure their is some irony in the fact that and exhibition on American Hardcore and Punk bands is being held in the affluent area of South Kensington / Chelsea.

I picked up the rather pricey book with a 7" vinyl containing an interview with Black Flag from 1980.

Next stop Berwick street and Sister Ray records.

It can't just be me but everytime I walk through this area and down Wardour Street I can't help but sing The Jam song!

Berwick Street was heaving, a stage had been set up outside in the sunshine and I arrived just in time to see Steve Mason perform.  Steve was in The Beta Band who in the late 90s released 3 absolutely stunning eps with some amazing tracks needles in my eyes is one of my favourite songs ever!

Infact it made the day even more special that I got to see Steve do Dry the rain live

If you haven't heard Dry the rain, it's a stonewall classic

The queue to get into sister ray records was still pretty epic even half way through the day, next up my second Frank Turner performance of the day!

After Franks set I was knackered after walking around and standing in line (no queue jumping here!) all day that it was off back to Lincolnshire for me.

A lot of people put an immense amount of hard work and organisation into record store day and music fans should be thankful for everything they do, record store day is one of the best days of the year to see how much others care for and believe in the work of independent record shops, labels and artists and long may it continue.

Infact next year I might overnight in London just so I can be part of those standing in line from 6am!