Field Music, London Scala

Field Music

March 3, 2010

Field Music are avant-pop doyens. That sure sounds pretentious but it’s shorthand for “Field Music should be selling out the Royal Festival Hall but audiences’ attention-spans just aren’t big enough to let that happen”. They sell out the Scala no sweat, which marks the well-deserved success of their comeback record Field Music (Measure), but tonight – while a great platform for their instrument-swapping skills, astounding musicianship and general loveliness – lacks magic. … Continue Reading

Archie Bronson Outfit, London Roxy

February 22, 2010

The casual gentleman, taking an evening on stroll along London’s Borough High Street, would be forgiven for noting the Roxy and passing on by, suspecting it to be both expensive and designed to appeal to those Londoners, whoever they might be, who don’t like pubs.  In fact this is London’s best-concealed cinema where fine films are exhibited to those who can put up with the drink prices.  On a Tuesday evening in late February the screening room is playing host to a high proportion of men in full beards and faded baseball caps, tell-tale signs of something afoot. The Archie Bronson Outfit are back in town equipped, if the rumours could be believed, with an album even better than the particularly tight and rocking Derdang Derdang. … Continue Reading

Shearwater, London Scala

Shearwater

February 25, 2010

The Scala is almost its own death knell for anyone fortunate enough to have seen Shearwater play the Union Chapel in ‘09, where the fluidity and sky-scraping power of their repertoire peaked in a setting so perfect it was as if custom-tailored. The audience sat on pews like a dedicated congregation, the stage spot-lit to maximum effect with every movement and sound microscopically audible. … Continue Reading

Spoon, Amsterdam Paradiso

Spoon

February 18, 2010

If you would look at a photo taken at this gig you might be led to believe that Spoon is a band of middle-aged indie-rockers standing on a stage and simply playing their own instruments to no theatrics at all. I mean, there they are, these men around the forty from Texas, standing there without much ado. They are dressed reasonably sharp, I’ll give them that. No Interpol antics though. However, the venue is almost at full capacity, and it would be absurd if all these people paid 20 euros to see some guys simply play their own instruments, right? Right? Luckily Spoon isn’t just any old indie-rock band. In Amsterdam they give three convincing reasons as to why they are at the head of their class: their oeuvre, their ability to play, and the “secret” theatrics and literary elements to their music. … Continue Reading

Field Music, London Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen

Field Music

January 7, 2010

Field Music are back, in what just happens to be one of the most anticipated gigs I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. Having had new album Field Music (Measure) in my hands for a few months now (review to follow), I’m anticipating this set to be transcendental; after playing its 20 tracks repeatedly for weeks, I certifiedly declared it incredible, amazing, brilliant, superb, astonishing and other such extravagances. … Continue Reading

Frightened Rabbit, Aberdeen Warehouse

Frightened Rabbit

December 2, 2009

Out in that big ol’ world there are a great many bands that split opinions, and here at MG, we’re no exception – to see proof of this just look for the editor’s dissenting opinion in the staff vote on albums of the year. However, perennial favourites Frightened Rabbit are one of the few bands that enjoy near-universal popularity here [Ed - true, see this live review for starters]; and judging by the crowd at The Warehouse, we’re not alone in our love of their Scottish indie-cum-folk.

The impact of the packed venue is not lost on singer Scott Hutchinson, who appears speechless at the scale of the following his band had amassed, during opener ‘The Modern Leper’, and a fact that eventually creates the highlight of the night. The band play the majority of their 2008 album, The Midnight Organ Fight, alongside a couple of tracks from their forthcoming album, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks. However, even with a setlist of respectable length, the set seems short. The feeling of brevity is a by-product of the energy poured into the show by a band that seem, after a year with an impressive tour diary, to have genuinely maintained a sense of excitement when playing their songs. … Continue Reading

Future of the Left – Birmingham Academy 3

Future Of The Left

December 1, 2009

I have a bit of a chequered history with seeing Future of the Left. I first saw them in April last year in Manchester at the Roundhouse where because of the venue’s club night, the band were asked to start and finish early (8 to 9) which didn’t go down too well with the Welsh trio, nor the crowd, some of whom missed virtually the whole set. I was due to see them again late last year but the tour was pulled at the last minute due to ‘recording commitments’ and earlier this year, due to some over officious door staff, I missed half their set at Dot to Dot festival. None of these issues are the band’s fault of course but I can’t help but feel that they owe me. Whether it was owed or not, the debt was paid with a little bit of interest tonight. … Continue Reading

The Dodos, London Scala

The Dodos

November 14, 2009

“HEEEELLLLOOOO LOOONDON!!!” shouts front man Meric Long, as he prances onto the stage in trademark leopard-print leggings and sleeveless vest. NOT REALLY. Shy, retiring and almost certainly bullied at school (“Ooh, I’m really jetlagged,” says Long – NO YOU’RE NOT, YOU’RE SHY), The Dodos (née Dodo Bird) walk onstage at The Scala, staring at the floor, take seats/pick up guitars, and launch into an frenetic rendition of a song that I still don’t know the name of. It’s off Visiter alright, just buy the album. Yes, they do bear a teensy bit of resemblance to Animal Collective – there’s some background yelping and both bands have a very keen grasp of the components of a song (both in terms of individual instruments and song structure), but where they lack some of the inventiveness of Panda Bear, Geologist and don’t care, they excel in melody and build up. They also probably don’t have ADHD. … Continue Reading

Peggy Seeger/Norma & Mike Waterson/Martin Carthy, London Blackheath Halls

Peggy Seeger

November 13, 2009

The support act outshines the star here so completely that this is a gig of two halves.

Reclusive Mike Waterson’s rare appearance, in baggy jumper and cloth cap, holds us spellbound with ballads, tales and rhymes of fishing and dockers and lads loving lasses. Martin and Norma (his sister and brother-in-law) chime in with ancient and modern folk. They sing sad songs to remember their dead sister Lal, the troubled singer- songwriter. Norma sings a calypso from Montserrat, where the black slaves rejoice when their sister dies but sing dirges whenever another new baby is born into bondage. … Continue Reading

Muse – London O2 Arena

Matt Bellamy, Muse

October 13, 2009

Few things fit together as well as Matt Bellamy does with his guitar, but he proves that he can rock the piano just as well.

When Muse take the stage on the second and final night of their sold-out London O2 shows, an eager roar of applause sprouts from a crowd that can’t even begin to predict how remarkably epic and comprehensive a set they are about to witness.

So many bands are guilty of diluting their live performances with a heavy flow of tracks from their latest albums, to encourage slacking fans to purchase the CD. While Muse play the majority of their newest album, The Resistance, they do, on the other hand, give fans a treat with a slew of favourites from previous albums. With the likes of ‘Plug In Baby’, ‘Supermassive Black Hole’, ‘Hysteria’, and ‘New Born’ performed, the audience has no reason for disappointment.

Perhaps most pleasantly shocking is ‘Cave’ off of the band’s 1999 debut album Showbiz. A rarity at their concerts, this rendition reflects the band’s recent incorporation of orchestral sounds to their music. … Continue Reading