Mumford & Sons
October 9, 2010
It’s safe to say that Mumford & Sons helped reinvent folk music and successfully brought the genre back into mainstream attention. Tonight, London’s Hammersmith Apollo is filled to capacity (for the second night in a row) with fans of all ages, as the band return to their hometown for one last UK show before touring the US and then heading to the recording studio to work on a new album. … Continue Reading
Sublime With Rome
October 8, 2010
Sublime were a huge band in America in the early ‘90s, or at least amongst the uni-aged stoner crowd (which is a rather large demographic there). So it’s no surprise that tonight, Shepherd’s Bush Empire is full of dreadlocked punters, or that the aroma of certain illegal substances spreads over the crowd in a cloud of smoke. … Continue Reading
October 6, 2010
of Montreal
OK Go are largely known for their bizarre, complex music videos that spread across the web like wildfire. Many critics claim the band’s videos even outshine their music, rendering them a one-trick-pony act. Now, I personally enjoy their music, but the point is that people like to bash a band for sticking with a particular aspect of their art that works.
Similarly, of Montreal have garnered a great deal of attention for their flashy, over-the-top, seemingly acid-inspired live shows. Being from the States originally, I’ve seen my fair share of these outlandish shows. Last time I went to see the band, I left Boston’s Paradise venue covered in a combination of fake blood, shaving cream, feathers and glitter. Now that’s a good night. … Continue Reading
Placebo
September 28, 2010
Disclaimer: Placebo are my favourite band, as anyone who has ever met me likely knows.
That being said, going to see them live is always a treat. And this being about the tenth live show I’ve been to of theirs, there are a lot of expectations to be met. While their music is ace and their lyrics are mind-blowingly brilliant, the thing about Placebo is that you don’t actually have to like their music to enjoy them live. Brian Molko and co. have so much energy on stage that permeates their set, and their sound is so tight, that even the most anti-Placebo punter has to admit that they sound good.
Bestival 2010
September 9-12, 2010
Torrential downpour – check. Amazing line-up – check. Four days of live music, booze, fairground rides and overpriced food – check. Bestival is pretty much like any other UK summertime music festival, only transplanted onto an isolated island and surrounded by magic meadows and a castle in the sky. And the 2010 fancy dress theme of “fantasy” means unicorns, fairies, Oompa Loompas and Smurfs are just about as common to spot as empty, crumpled cups on the ground. … Continue Reading
of Montreal - False Priest
After hearing the single ‘Coquet Coquette’, an early version of ‘Hydra Fancies’, and a televised performance of ‘Sex Karma’, we knew False Priest would be a great album. And after seeing the album artwork, we knew it would be a colourful and bizarre concoction of genius. Now that we’ve listened to False Priest in its entirety, we can safely say that this Athens, Georgia-based, modern-day glam band’s 10th full-length studio album is worth all of the hype it’s been receiving. With cameos from Janelle Monae and Solange Knowles, a baffling hodgepodge of lyrics and the soulful falsetto of Kevin Barnes, this is one album we just can’t seem to turn off. … Continue Reading
Sonisphere Festival
July 30-August 1, 2010
For a festival that’s only two years old, Sonisphere UK 2010 has been a success in almost every way. The traveling European music festival made a stop at Knebworth, England this past weekend, treating 55,000 rock and metal music fans to some of the biggest, baddest names in rock’n’roll history, including Iggy and the Stooges, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Rammstein and other influential rockers. … Continue Reading
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of the Soul
It’s been a tumultuous journey for the release of Dark Night of the Soul, the second and final collaborative effort from Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse. After a lengthy legal battle with EMI and a deliberate Internet leak from the artists themselves, the album is finally available, more than one year after the initial release date. … Continue Reading
June 22, 2010
Vampires are the latest craze to strike the entertainment industry, so it’s only natural that they have now infiltrated the music business. Hunter S. Thompson famously called the music industry a “cruel and shallow money trench” for “thieves” and “pimps”, but today it’s being portrayed as a home to thirsty bloodsuckers. … Continue Reading
Broken Bells
From June 11th – 21st, singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson is directing a series of concerts at Southbank Centre‘s riverside venues. Included in the series are Loudon Wainwright III (with Richard Thompson), Elvis Costello and Broken Bells (with Lone Wolf).
For the full line-up, go to meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk.
You can also download a free track from Broken Bells here.
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