Black Sabbath

Headliner: Black Sabbath
Venue: Hyde Park
Date: 4 July 2014
Support: Various

Which ever way you look at it Black Sabbath are legends and their sound was genre defining, today they were playing in Hyde Park to 55000 people.

Today was wan all day thing and it was hot, very hot....  Hyde Park had been transformed into some weird village type place with fake buildings and a massive stage

The Bots

First up today The Bots seen these before two young brothers who make a right racket and they were playing in one of the smaller tented venues.  They were ace one girl seemed to pass out from the heat in their and this was only 2pm.

Soulfly

After The Bots had finished and the need to get some fresh air I caught the end of Soulflys set including a couple of Sepultura covers including Arise and Roots Bloody Roots, bloke in front of me was going absolutely mental during these.

It was still hot and getting even hotter...

Next up on the main stage was Motorhead

Now I've never been a big Motorhead fan and well kind of feel they are band that people seem to have an affinity to without really liking them, I feel they are iconic for their image but not for their music and besides Ace Of Spades I probably couldn't tell you another song.

As you can guess I'm not really a fan and thought they were a bit rubbish, they sounded very dated.

It was still stupidly hot...

Next up

Faith No More

Well what can you say about Faith No More, I think everyone growing up in the 90's and into alternative music probably owned a copy of Angel Dust.

With the stage covered in flowers they came on and launched into Zombie Eaters followed by The Real Thing and Epic before doing my favourite FNM song The gentle art of making enemies, followed by my least favourite FNM song Easy.

Towards the end of the set we were greeted to a brand new song and then they were gone followed by another brand new song for the encore finishing up with We Care a lot.

New songs hopefully means new album and a proper tour.

Soundgarden

Next up Soundgarden who came on stage and announced that they would be playing the iconic Superunknown straight through which obviously would mean no Rusty Cage or Jesus Christ Pose.

Mike McCready from Pearl Jam joined them to play guitar on Superunknown, and that along with the likes of Black Hole Sun, The Day I tried to live and spoonman sounded ace.

I would have kind of just preferred a normal set though to be honest.

Black Sabbath

It was Sabbath time!!

The heat of they day had subsided and the darkness was setting in when Ozzy came over the pa said a few words and then laughed down the mic, as sabbath came on the air raid sirens sounded the big screens flashed images of planes and missiles and then der de...Generals gathered in their masses, just like witches at black masses... it was sabbath time.

playing a few classics on the way and ending with Children of the Grave before returning for the obvious encore of Paranoid with almost everyone in the crowd singing along.

They are getting no younger and their is talk of this possibly being the last ever Black Sabbath show and I'm happy I got to see them.

Mongol Horde

Headliner: Mongol Horde
Venue: Rock City basement
Date: 27th June 2014
Support: Oxygen Thief, Palehorse

A Friday night show at Rock City can only mean one thing, early doors, early finish which means once again I missed the first band apologies to Oxygen thief, but hey I like your new album!

Next up Palehorse and the first set of the night for Ben Dawson on drums former Million Dead drummer playing with both Palehorse and Mongol Horde tonight.

2 Bass Players, 1 Drummer, 2 Vocalists and they made a right racket!

Time for Mongol Horde!!

It's no secret that I'm a massive Frank Turner fan and don't want to go on and on again about but he's one of favourite musicians and when the Mongol Horde project was announced the other year I though the couple of club shows and festivals was all it would be as the man never seems to be off the road long enough.

I was delighted when the album came out it's a monster with genius lyrics and brutal musician ship and was well excited when a show in the basement of Rock City was announced.

Starting off with The Yurt Locker and Winky Face before the a cracking cover of Bulls on Parade.  It was clear to me that Frank was enjoying this side project, Mongol Hordes songs mixed in with a few covers Epic by Faith No More, Weenie Beenie by the Foo Fighters and Refuse/ Resist by as Soulfly, ok we all know it was Sepultura and I think I actually preferred this version to when I saw Soulfly do it earlier in the year at the same venue.

Mongol Horde were awesome sadly this will probably be the only time they tour, but at least I saw them.

Jurassic 5

Headliners: Jurassic 5

Venue: Rock City Nottingham

Date: 24 June 2014

Support: Ugly Duckling

Hard to imagine that it's probably 17-18 years ago that I first heard of Jurassic 5 with the still amazing Concrete Schoolyard, that Ike Turner sample is still one of the best samples ever in my opinion and the song still sounds out as an unbelievable piece of work.

Hard to imagine then that after all that time this would be the first time I would see them live after a hiatus they were back to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

First up Ugly Duckling must admit I didn't really know much about them although the name was familiar they did a great job of getting the crowd hyped for J5.

It was J5 time!!  the stage was set a giant turntable in the middle of the stage Cut Chemist on one side and DJ Nu- mark that alone would be enough for me but throw in the rest of J5 and what a show.

Rapping in perfect sync with each other playing for a good two hours, one of the loudest crowds I have heard at Rock City, J5 smashed it out of the park.

One highlight for me was Cut Chemists version of smoke on the water on a turntable guitar.

The Mouse Outfit

Headliner: The Mouse Outfit
Venue: Bodega Social Club
Date: 12 June 2014
Support: Ashmore

The Mouse Outfit, UK Hip Hop is often both misunderstood and much maligned in favour of overproduced commercial American music of rubbish like Tinie Tempah or Professor Green.  But some artists with lots of talent do come from these shores.  The Mouse Outfit are a multi instrumental live band.

When I first arrived there was nobody in the venue and that worst feeling as a gig goer strikes you.... please don't let me be the only ones here.

When Ashmore started that was almost the case.  I have seen him before and he definitely has some talent, by the end of his set the audience had grown and the set was going down well.

By the time The Mouse Outfit came on the crowd has swelled, they packed out the stage and with Dr Syntax rapping and they were ace, they really got the crowd going and put on an amazing show.

I can see them going down really well at the festivals.

As a closing thought people really should give homegrown music a go instead of just going for the easy option the major label backed, over hyped, media driven stuff they might just enjoy what they find

The Flaming Lips

Headliner: The Flaming Lips

Venue: rock city Nottingham

Date: 29 May 2014

Support: young knives

Going to see the flaming lips live has given me many highs and lows the first time I saw them at Alexandra palace they performed the soft bulletin and it was absolutely amazing the stage, the visuals, Wayne rolling over the crowd in a giant ball, ticker tape, balloons, giant bouncy things hanging from the ceiling, dancing Dorothy's from the wizard of oz absolutely stunning.

Followed by last years failed attempt aster travelling down to London only to find the gig cancelled just as we arrived in London.

I was delighted to hear they were coming to Nottingham even though it would be the capital FM arena... So imagine my delight when it got switched to rock city!

Arrived midway through the young knives set and from what I saw it would be unfair of me to pass to much of a judgement but I enjoyed what I did see.

Time for the flaming lips...

The stage at rock city is probably smaller to what they usually fit on these days but they seemed to have squeezed everything on or around the stage, which was covered in giant tubes and huge screens at the back.

You kind of know what is going to happen at the start of a flaming lips but when the ticket tape starts to fly from the cannons you can't help but smile!

The flaming lips may be a little crazy but wow they are so good live.

Playing some classics like she don't use jelly,yoshimi, race for the prize, The W.A.N.D, and ending the set with waitin for a superman and a spoonful weighs a ton.

Seeing the flaming lips takes you on an amazing journey, but is such a amazing thing that you can't help leaving with the biggest smile ever!

The encore of do you realise and a crazy version of Lucy in the sky with diamonds with silver ticker tape flying everytime the chorus came round was such an amazing experience.

Felt so happy to see the lips in one of favourite venues and when you go home and find ticker tape in your clothes and even in your car the next morning just shows how great it was!

My feet surrounded by a mountain of ticker tape!

If everyone went to see The Flaming Lips the world would be a much happier place!

Chuck ragan

Headliner: chuck ragan and the camaraderie 

Venue: rock city basement

Date:  27 may 2014

Support: billy the kid, Northcote 

I was looking forward to tonight's show as I was a big fan of all the artists.  I've been a big fan of chuck ragan since I first head a flight and a crash some 13 years ago, but obviously now it's acoustic. The revival tour which was founded by chuck ragan is an amazing experience that I have been lucky to witness on two occasions, but tonight was more of a standard gig scenario.

First up tonight was Canada's billy the kid, like a female Ryan Adams excellent soulful music having just signed up with xtra mile I reckon big things lie ahead.  One thing remains elusive thought with billy the kid, I can't find the ep she did with joe from smoke or fire anyway which contains the amazing whiskey!

Next up northcote, saw them for the first time last year with dave hause and he released an amazing self titled album last year in xtra mile. Amazing hooks, great singalong choruses and some great lyrics. A heart performance from northcote.

Next up chuck ragan, what can you say awesome backed with a full band this time including joe Ginsberg and Jon gaunt who also back him on the revival tour.

The songs sounded great with a full band particular those that I haven't heard that way before including tracks like the boat and the trench.

I love this kind of music, I seem to have a connection with the music, the artists and the scene.

Nine inch nails

Headliner: nine inch nails

Venue: capital fm arena

Date:24 may 2014

Support: cold cave

First of all I hate the capital fm arena, infact I hate most arenas far to big, not particularly friendly but when you want to see big bands it's not really an option to see them in smaller venues.

First up tonight was a band called cold cave who to be honest where not really my thing 80s electro a little depeche mode, a little bit well all the same. All the drum loops seemed a little the same, the vocals seemed a little the same not that impressed to be honest they need to mix it up a little and go a bit crystal castles once in a while.

Well time for nine inch nails hard to imagine that pretty hate machine 25 years ago, the sort of stat that makes you feel old.

They came on and started with somewhat damaged and blasted through a few tracks including a trio of songs from the downward spiral march of the pigs, piggy and reptile. Doesn't it make you feel better...

A nice more electronic bit in the middle broke up the set nicely before taking it up a notch with closer,wish before finishing the set with the hand that feeds and ending with head like a hole.

The epic encore started with the day the world went away and finally hurt bringing things to a close.

When you see a band that has been around for so long you always ending up moaning about them not playing you're favourite song, and I'm no different with them not playing something I can never have 

Jon spencer blues explosion

Headliner: Jon spencer blues explosion

Venue: rescue rooms Nottingham

Date: 16/05/14

In the spirit of the blues explosion every so often I will say blues explosion, like it's some nervous blues explosion tick as Jon spencer seemed to mention blues explosion about every three minutes.

I reckon it must be 20 years since I first heard the blues explosion possibly on the word with the excellent Afro but I have never managed to see the blues explosion in all that time, whenever they play the uk it never seems to be anywhere near me at the time.

First thing I noticed was Jon Spencer's skin tight flared leather trousers, they must be part of him because how on earth he managed to get them on "blues explosion" just doesn't seem well possible.

Anyway it was a cracking set including an amazing finale that lasted about 20 "blues explosion" minutes squeezing in Afro towards the end.

Bo ningen

Headliner: bo ningen

Date: 15 may 2014

Venue: bodega social club

I first heard of bo ningen a few years ago when I made a spur of the moment decision to go and see them in derby without actually having heard them or indeed knowing much about them. And well to say I was blow away would have been an understatement absolute carnage a swirling mix of psychedelic noise, absolutely incredible. 

I have of course seen them since then and they have always blown me away and tonight would be no different complete insanity a total wall of noise, fuzz and psychedelic noise.

Absolutely amazing!

Albert Hammond jr

Headliner: Albert Hammond jr

Date: 12 may 14

Venue: bodega social club

The strokes possibly one of the most import pant bands of the last 10 years or so with that garage rock sound driven by Albert Hammond jrs guitar playing.

Tonight was an opportunity to see him in a small venue.

What can you say he's a bit of a legend and while an enjoyable set, well it just waste the strokes. I loved the cover of the buzzcocks ever fallen in love though

Dan le sac vs scroobius pip

Headliner: le sac vs pip

Venue: rescue rooms Nottingham

Date: 3 may 2014

Support: Sarah Williams White

So what a day, before tonight's gig I was celebrating promotion with 30000 other people at at the king power stadium in Leicester.

And to carry on the celebrations I was off to see le sac and pip at the rescue rooms.

First up tonight was Sarah Williams White, pleasant enough but kind of missed something with a band behind her I reckon she could be on to something, but keeping it simple on her own kind of missed a little something.

Time for le sac and pip, what can you say pip seems to be a genuine down to earth musician with a hell of a lot of talent, lyrically he's amazing.

Before and during the show pip kept mentioning that this would possibly be the last tour they made together and it was an honour to be at one of the last shows they will ever do.

Anyway they played a cracking set of old and new stuff and everything the crowd wanted to hear.

Feels sad that this would probably be the last time, but at the same time it's exciting to see what they both do next.

Pulled apart by horses

Headliner: pulled apart by horses

Venue: the musician Leicester

Date: 28 April 2014

Support: the Wytches

Pulled apart by horses eh.... First heard of these about 4possibly 5 years ago when they played a supporting slot for the Bronx at rock city sandwiched in the middle of their two sets one as mariachi El Bronx. Any way that night I had never heard of them but after about 30seconds it was like fuck yeah!!!!!

James brown on guitar pulling some serious shapes and tom the singer soloing on the bar before projectile vomiting into the audience, doesn't sound that well appealing but it was an ace gig!

Anyway they had been away a while and to celebrate their return they were playing a crazy amount of shows with the awesome Wytches in support.

I seem to be becoming a slight stalker of the Wytches having seen them I think 4 possibly 5 times in less than 12 months, but they are ace and make a right racket.

Time for the horses to leave the stable and boy what a return, they were ace ripping through some old favourites like I punched a lion, venom and the awesome hot squash.

Can't wait for the new album, it's already preordered!

NME awards tour

NME awards tour featuring

Interpol

Royal blood

Temples

Circa waves

Venue: rock city Nottingham

Date: 23 March 2014

Short and sweet review

Circa waves: boring, unoriginal and well noting special

Royal blood: second time I have seen them this year and they are ace, big powerful riffs, no messing around just straight to the point I just hope they are not rushed into making a quick release album and that they have time to grow and develop I to something special.

Temples: psychedelic pop music that somewhat fails to live up to expectations.

Interpol: excellent band but a short set I guess because of the line up tonight.

God is an astronaut

Headliner: gos is an astronaut

Venue: rock city Nottingham 

Date: 13 march 2014

First of all I have been totally rubbish at updating this blog so in order to keep it going the next few reviews will be short and sweet and then we will be back up to normal.

Upstairs at rock city tonight were we are scientists and a few years ago I would have been seeing them this evening, unfortunately their last couple of albums have been well rubbish as a result I was going to see god is an astronaut in the basement.

So what did I know about them not a lot to be honest, they are from Ireland and play post rock music.

They were ace, nice soundscapes epic post rock

Drake

Headliner: drake

Venue: capital fm arena Nottingham 

Date: 16/03/2014

Support: the weeknd

So time for a blog update as I got a bit slack on updating so I need to keep this blog going!

The gig tonight was a bit of a culture shock thing for me as I was taking someone to see drake as a favour. I don't really know much about drake other than he's pretty popular and he did that song that sampled the awesome jamie xx vs Gil Scott heron tune which was far better in my opinion. It was also a bit of a culture shock as it cost nearly fifty cough splutter quid for a ticket! I reckon I could manage about 8 gigs for that normally.

Anyway after getting into the venue it was packed and I was shocked about the number of orange people it was like an oompah lumbar convention, just don't get the massive obsession with excessive fake tan.

The support tonight was the weeknd, I first heard of the weeknd when he started releasing his free mixtapes a few years ago and I was probably more looking forward to his show, however with the elaborate stage set up for drake behind a curtain and the weeknd and band wedged onto a corner of the stage I didn't see much but it was ok, would have preferred it in a small venue though.

The best bit was hearing the song professional which samples the amazing emika

Anyway time for drake, as he entered the stage from a lift right at the back the crowd where going crazy, fire effects from the sides of the stage made me check my eyebrows where still intact as I thought they had been melted off. 

Halfway through the set his dj's played about ten of his songs for about 30seconds each which I'm not sure constitutes playing live anyway when this thing started to descend from the roof I didn't know what to think

Rating this kind of accessory on a Dillinger escape plan scale of 1-10 it got a 1 if you don't jump of this then well you're missing a trick.

All we got was drake walking around it for about 15mins saying you over there in the hat I see you etc.

Anyway maybe it's just me but I'm not that comfortable in a venue like this and maybe it's all wasted on me but personally I would rather pay half the ticket price, have no fancy things coming down from the roof or stage set ups including fireworks and just feel a bit closer to the artist.

The Wytches

Headliner: The Wytches

Venue: the chameleon Nottingham

Date: 01 march 14

Support: kagoule,blonde bunny

So here go gig number 7 of 2014!

Tonight was the 3rd time for me seeing the Wytches, I first saw them at tramlines in 2013 when they made a right racket. This time it was at the chameleon in Nottingham a venue with a real house party feeling, it's basically in the attic of some building, with a few rugs and things on the floor and even the remains of a fire place on one side.

Anyway first up kagoule, I have seen them once before and I really like their sound it's kind of intense yet mellow and they sound like a band that should be on dischord records which is a big compliment from my point of view.

The problem with these kind of house party esq shows is that there is no stage, the band are on the same level as you so if you are not right at the front or a giraffe you get to see feck all.

Next up blonde bunny, one word awful next....

The Wytches a three piece band who look fairly innocent but boy can they make a racket. The sound coming from the guitar is crazy, distorted, fuzzy brilliance. Riffs that can rip your face of a plenty. A great band with a great future. Unfortunately they didn't do that cover of ace of base that I saw on YouTube.

Will be seeing them again in a few weeks supporting pulled apart by horses at the musician in Leicester..... Now that is gonna be mental!

Soulfly

Headliner: soulfly

Venue: rock city Nottingham

Date: 28 feb 2014

Support: savage messiah

Well it was time for gig number 6 of 2014 this time soulfly, now this was a kind of out of my comfort zone type of moment for as I may like a multitude of music genres but metal isn't one of them, so seeing soulfly with max cavalera from sepultura was possibly the equivalent of being thrown in at the deep end.

First up tonight was a band called savage messiah it's was a mere 30 seconds after walking into rock city basement that they were all making the "metal sign" i am sure some people might love this but the leather waistcoats and iron maiden tribute band sound really wasn't my thing.

Well it was time for soulfly in a small compact sell out at rock city basement. As I have already said metal isn't my thing and I don't consider it to be heavy either not while Dillinger escape plan are still roaming the earth I'm not sure anything else could be classed as heavy.

Anyway soulfly came on and the crowd were loving it "metal signs" filled the air. I didn't really know many of the songs and which ones i did were old sepultura songs like refuse/resist, territory and roooooots bloooody roooooots as I believe it's pronounced.

And I not sure what hootie and the blowfish did to annoy max (apart from being awful) with the song no, with the lyrics no worship, no bullsh1t, no motherf**kin hootie and the blowfish. Which did make me chuckle.

I not sure what it says about my music taste when well the music from soulfly isn't hard enough or fast enough for me and a bit to slow, give me a DEP show anyway.

No doubting max is a legend in the scene and to be honest it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be

Radkey

Headliner: Radkey

Venue: rock city Nottingham

Date: 25/02/2014

Support: lyger, turbogeist

So gig number 5 of 2014 was here this time Radkey, three brothers from Missouri who I first heard of on jools holland last year when they played out here in my head, part ramones, part bad brains all brilliant so I was buzzin for tonight's show.

First up lyger not much to say really basically because I can't remember they seemed ok at the time though.

Next up turbogeist who contain non other than mick Jagger's son as the frontman and they rocked, and made a surprisingly good racket.

Time for Radkey their set was almost perfection, perfectly in time, perfect vocals and were ace! Even with a bonus cover of digging the grave by faith no more thrown into the mix.

It's obvious these guys are going places and I don't reckon the next show in Nottingham will be as empty as this one.

Royal Blood

Headliner: Royal Blood

Date: 17/02/24

Venue: the musician Leicester

Support: tigercub

So gig number 4 was upon me, this time the much hyped royal blood at a new venue for me the musician in Leicester. The venue was pretty cool unassuming on a quiet back street and this would be a test run for when I see pulled apart by horses here in a couple of months.

First band of the night was tigercub kind of reminded me in about 100 different ways about 100 different indie/alternative bands from the 90s in particular pavement, they were not bad to be honest but I was still not sure if I actually liked them or not and after listening to them on YouTube I'm still not sure now.  

Anyway royal blood....

Royal blood have been massively hyped in the media over the past few months despite having almost zero songs out there for people to buy, including being on the BBC sound of 2014 long list.

Anyway what can you say they only have about 8 songs but they all sound like classics part zeppelin, part soundgarden but some right good heavy riffs.

Certainly ones to watch and will be seeing them again in a few weeks on the nme tour.

And as for seeing PABH in here in a couple of months, it's gonna be a right hot sweaty affair.

Lite + the physics house band

Headliners: lite

Date: 13 February 2014

Venue: the soundhouse Leicester 

Support: the physics house band + a nother

So the third gig in a week and gig number 3 for 2014 this time off to the soundhouse in Leicester to see Japanese band lite. 

The venue tonight was the soundhouse in Leicester a venue that normally gets stupidly hot, and I soon found out why two massive radiators running parallel with the stagehand full whack, crazy...

Anyway the first band of the night came on and I have no idea what they were called. Musically they could all play their instruments well but the vocals were weak and the lyrics naff which kind off made them sound well... Pretty ordinary.

Next up the physics house band, I seem to remember missing them when I saw 65daysofstatic last year while they were setting up I thought richard ayoade from the IT Crowd was playing bass for them, turns out it hasn't him just someone with the same crazy hair.

Any way they were ace played for about 45 mins with only one brief stop about 30mins into the set that was rhythmic, beat driven psychedelic joy. Good band.

Next up Lite, before I got the tickets for tonight's gig I knew nothing about them but saw a flyer around Christmas time in the firebug and saw they were an instrumental math rock band from japan, I love a good random genre, instrumental music and Japanese bands so it seemed like a perfect mix.

Lite were immense! Japanese bands have a tendency to be ridiculously technical and lite were no different, technically brilliant and thoroughly entertaining.  It's a shame they aren't better know over here because they deserve a bigger audience.

Slaves + Pup

Co-headliners: slaves + pup

Date: 10 feb 2014

Venue: bodega Nottingham

Well following on from last weeks arena show it was back to the small and intimate surroundings of the bodega social club in Nottingham.

I didn't know much about either of the bands playing tonight but took a risk on some tickets during the January gig drought. I thought a couple of punky bands on a Monday night for £7 you can't really go wrong.

First up tonight was a band called slaves, dressed up in shirt and ties like they had just left the office and set up what appeared to be a floor tom, a snare and a cymbal along with a single guitar. 

One of the great things about small venue gigs is when you suddenly discover a band that you wonder why you had never heard of them before! Slaves made a right racket, dark punky and especially quirky songs. One of my favourites was where's your car Debbie a story about walking home a girl called Debbie, but being apprehensive about the Bigfoot that is living in the woods in Royal Tunbridge Wells, who would have thought eh.

Anyway slaves were ace! I have since bought the album from their bandcamp site! 

Next up Pup! 

A band from canada recently signed to side one dummy they came on and when they started had a few too many harmonies and ooh oohs for my liking but as they carried on they got a bit faster and heavier and buy the end when they played the only song I knew Reservoir, I was pretty impressed.

I love small intimate gigs like this where you can suddenly discover your new favourite band.

Anyway gig number 2 for 2014 was done and on to the next.

Frank Turner.

Headliner: Frank Turner

Date: 7/2/14

Venue: capital fm arena Nottingham 

Support: beans on toast, flogging Molly 

Well here we gig wise 2014 is off and running, first up Frank Turner!

I make no bones about it and to anyone that knows me I'm a huge frank turner fan.  I have been following him since the million dead days and his progression into acoustic music ran parallel to me discovering acoustic music and falling in love with it.  I have seen him play in small venues, big venues, in record shops, playing on the street and now in an arena! It was listing to Frank that also made me pick up an acoustic guitar for the first time!

I'm not a fan of arena shows too big for me and all that, but I kind of feel proud that Frank is playing these venues proof that hard work pays off, this was franks 1523rd gig. Hard work gets you places. Many musicians can learn something from this.

I know frank has received a lot of grief about moving up to these big venues but as he said its important to him that those people wanting to see him get that opportunity and shifting 10000 tickets for this show proves that the demand is there. 

Opening up tonight for frank was his old mate Jay (great name) aka beansontoast, I reckon he probably knows about six chords and uses these to sing songs about politics, sex, drugs and rock n roll.  I have seen beans before but this time unfortunately I only manged to arrive as he was finishing up his set.  Frank has often said that beans was the man who encouraged him to pick up an acoustic guitar and it sums up the man that he brings him on tours like this.

Next up flogging Molly! I was well into flogging Molly when I went though a bit of a Irish folk punk phase a few years ago with bands like the Dropkick Murphy's, the tossers and of course Flogging Molly so I was delighted when they were announced as the main support!

Starting off with drunken lullabies and requiem for a dying song they played a great singalong set ( for those that know the words) and playing one of my favourites if I ever leave this world alive during their set I was happy that I finally got to see flogging Molly live.

Next up Frank Turner!

Franks set started off with photosynthesis and everyone sitting down and then jumping up in unison to the chorus halfway through followed by plain sailing weather and rocking though a good half a dozen songs in quick succession the crowd where lapping it up, the sing along for glory hallelujah was incredible and the half way through the set he did a great version of Father's Day with a double bass.

Frank pretty much played a few songs off each album during a 90minute set finishing off with long live the queen, recovery and broken piano.

The encore started with the ballad of me and my friends a song with another great singalong moment "and were definitely going to hell... But we'll have all the best stories to tell" concluded with I still believe and four simple words the set was done.

Well first gig of the year done and another frank turner show done, this won't be the last time I see frank live, where next Milton Keynes bowl? Wembley stadium? Or the rescue rooms? Either way I'm sure frank will put on a great show.

Dave hause + Northcote

Headliner: Dave Hause

venue: Bodega Social

Date: 7/12/13

Support: Nothcote

So apologies to dave hause after keeping my blog for an entire year I manged to forget to record my memories of the last gig of the year.

2013 saw some great gigs, some great memories and of course the flaming lips debacle.

So what can I saw about the dave hause show? Well after 2 months probably not a lot to be honest.

Trying to dig into the old memory bank and remember the night, well northcote was the support and an artist who has released a few albums and recently a great self titled release on xtra mile.

Great sing along choruses and from what I remember I really enjoyed his set.

Now dave hause ex loved one and I must admit I was a little disappointed with his second solo album seems a bit over produced and not as raw and natural as his debut.

He went down incredibly well with the crowd singing along to the choruses and enjoying the show.

This has to go down as the worst of all blog entries and as the 2014 gig season starts I better get back on the horse and start updating it regularly with 4 gigs in 10 days to start it off it might get out of hand pretty quick.