Dot To Dot 2012: A Festival Preview

Dot to Dot 2012

By Paul Faller

Website / Tickets

It’s arguable that the UK is beginning to suffer from festival fatigue – even big names like Sonisphere have fallen victim to the tough financial climate. With that in mind, city-based festivals are looking like more and more of an attractive proposition, providing the opportunity to pick from a myriad of bands for a fraction of the price of larger events, and with the added bonus that you can worry less about the weather and don’t need to sleep in a tent. Since its inaugural year in 2005, Dot to Dot has expanded from its roots in Nottingham to include dates in Bristol (since 2007) and Manchester (since 2010), establishing itself as an excellent event to catch both up-and-coming bands and more established acts – and this year looks to be no exception. The festival’s three-day stint starts in Bristol on Saturday 2nd June, then the action moves to Nottingham on Sunday 3rd June before finishing up in Manchester on Monday 4th June.

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Amon Tobin, London, O2 Academy Brixton

Amon Tobin

By Nick Cowan

May 12, 2012

Ninja Tune favourite Amon Tobin delivered a second tour of ISAM, an audio-visual spectacular of his most recent album at Brixton Academy on Saturday. On stage, an ominous structure is shrouded in darkness. It’s made up of a collection of large cubes resembling a giant game of Tetris that isn’t going too well. Inside, the homunculus electronic producer/DJ Tobin pushes magic buttons and a kaleidoscope of CGI wizardry is projected onto the cubes in time with the music, rendering far off landscapes, spaceships, vivid colours and other fit-inducing scenes. The awe-struck audience searches for the appropriate response to this sensory overload, some twitch and some dance but they aren’t in the majority. Those familiar with Tobin will know that danceable beats are not offered up easily on ISAM with hip-hop and jazz beats slammed against jerky, droning noise. On top of this there’s a massive cube made of spinning machine parts to watch; most people resign themselves to a humble head nod. … Continue Reading

Perfume Genius, London, St. Pancras Old Church

Perfume Genius

By Russell Warfield

May 14, 2012

Although the clue was definitely in the title, I didn’t expect tonight’s setting to be quite so quaint. Completely un-renovated and seemingly still primarily intended as a place of worship, tonight’s performance takes place in the altar, lit by candles and soft lamps, with a massive, crucified Jesus as the de facto stage backdrop. Opening act Cate le Bon – performing solo acoustic numbers with a rustic Celtic charm – jokingly comments about feeling uncomfortable singing a song with the phrase “oh, Christ!” in such a location, and indeed it’s true to say that the dynamic of the event is unquestionably altered – the faintly stifling conventions of a musty old church causing the murmuring of people to get quieter rather than louder as Hadraes enters, taking the stage to expectant silence rather than welcoming applause. But if you had come for a party or a chit-chat, this was never going to be the gig for you. It’s unexpected and unusual, but St Pancras Old Church is a pitch-perfect setting in which to absorb the music of Perfume Genius – hosting a performance which proves itself more than worthy of its lofty surroundings. … Continue Reading

In Pictures: We Are Augustines, Glasgow, O2 ABC

We Are Augustines – by Julia Stryj

By Julia Stryj

May 10, 2012

When I first heard about We Are Augustines and their tough past as individuals and the struggle towards the end of their previous band Pela, I was instantly amazed by the band’s determination and passion. Their surprisingly uplifting – considering it deals with a lot of the bumps that were on singer Billy McCarthy’s road – debut album Rise Ye Sunken Ships is constantly being listened to. Driving through the never ending rain to Glasgow to see them on their first proper headline tour since the album’s release in the UK, I find out that the support band is on at 19:45. That means a relaxed dinner is replaced by a quick take away as I don’t want to miss My Goodness.

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In Pictures: The Subways, Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms

May 6, 2012

A selection of photos from The Subways’ recent show at Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms. Support on the night came from Royal Republic. All photos taken by Julia Stryj. More of Julia’s work can be found here.

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Savoir Adore, London, The Queen of Hoxton

Savoir Adore

By Matt Churchill (@geetarchurchy)

May 7, 2012

Hailing from Brooklyn, Savoir Adore are in the UK for only the second time in their (relatively) short career. They’re busy cramming five UK dates in to their European tour, which also takes them to Amsterdam and Paris over just eleven days.

Paul Hammer and Deidre Muro, who began working together in 2007 as solo artists, have coerced a likeable and talented trio of musicians to join them and who now provide the backbone of a fully formed quintet. The release of Dreamers, an EP featuring two brand new tracks ‘Dreamers’ and ‘Sea of Gold’ as well as a host of remixes, happily coincides with the tour which kicked off at the cool but sweaty Notting Hill Arts Club earlier this week. The Queen of Hoxton provided a similarly sized, but more open feeling venue for the second night of the tour. … Continue Reading

In Pictures: Bombay Bicycle Club, London, Alexandra Palace

April 28, 2012

A few beautiful snaps from Bombay Bicycle Club’s recent headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace. Support on the night came from Lianne La Havas and Rae Morris. All photos by Alex Kavanagh. More of Alex’s work can be found at http://www.alexkavanagh.com.

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Maps and Atlases, Glasgow, Nice N Sleazy

Maps and Atlases

By Judy Tate

April 19, 2012

Journeying from Chicago, where the band met several years ago, Maps & Atlases tonight find themselves in the packed basement of Glasgow’s Nice N Sleazy. Vocalist and lead guitarist Dave Davison, affixed to the mic, introduces the band, starting with a track from the new album Beware and Be Grateful. ‘Winter’ immediately asserts the band’s math rock melodies and gives the crowd a taste of the intricate instrumental styles ever present in the band’s work. This is the first of only three tracks included in the set from the band’s new album, released just a few days before the gig. The album’s decidedly polished sound and rhythmical layering implies an intense and perpetual writing process but drummer Chris Hainey defines it as a relaxed three session production. This polished sound transfers neatly to the stage, where later in the set the band air catchy track ‘Fever’, the second track on Beware and Be Grateful. It receives a good response from the crowd and the mix of electronic sounds and tinkly guitar work signifies the fresh elements of the new album. Reviews have commented on Beware and Be Grateful’s deviating sound, but Hainey insists the band are used to this reaction when they first release a record and that they don’t intend on making the same record twice. … Continue Reading

THEESatisfaction, London, Madame JoJo’s

THEESatisfaction

By Russell Warfield

April 24, 2012

You’ll have to forgive this review for failing to get beyond the fact that THEESatisfaction – the slinky duo whose recent LP gave a much needed injection of old school spirit and soul into traditionalist black music – play their live shows from a fucking backing tape. In one fell swoop, all the soul is drained from this music – a hollow husk of a laptop in the shadows of where the horn section should be grooving, the bassist grinding, the drummer vibing. It’s immeasurably disappointing to discover that should-be high points like ‘Sweat’ – all peppy horns and gyrating rhythms on record – actually sound more vibrant and alive heard through tinny headphones on the tube than they do in concert, the backing tracks turning into a fuzzy, homogeneous porridge over the house PA. … Continue Reading

Sea of Bees, London, Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen

Sea of Bees

By Nick Levine

April 19, 2012

On the last night of their UK tour, Julie Baenziger and her band are 5,373 miles away from their home town of Sacramento. Outside the venue, London has just experienced a torrential downpour of biblical proportions. This should seem like a foreign environment for Sea Of Bees. However, the show is more akin to a homecoming. … Continue Reading