Django Django, Glasgow, O2 ABC

By Kenny McMurtrie

October 25, 2012

Never has it been so safe to travel to Glasgow from Edinburgh for a gig, it would seem. Gone are the exciting days of potentially missing the last train home if you stayed on to demand an encore, as you’re lucky if gigs go on past ten o’clock now. All rather un-rock‘n’roll, but the heady mix of rampant capitalism and council curfews, at least in the larger venues, looks to be neutering the experience. Who cares though? Last night was too cold to be shuffling about the town if you were too late to get to Queen Street Station and those that have never had to rush off early won’t miss what they’ve not known. Still, it doesn’t half make gigs less of an event. … Continue Reading

The Third Degree, London, Floridita

By Matthew Jones

September 20, 2012

It is something of a cliché to say that great musicians sound unimaginably greater live. Stevie Wonder and Geno Washington are some personal proofs of this general rule. When I first heard The Third Degree’s northern-soul take on Duffy’s ‘Mercy’, I wanted to see them live immediately. Although I did not expect this virtually unknown band to top the big names, as an originally one-off collective that impressed enough to become part of Tri-Sound’s mission to “bring back ‘real’ music,” I eagerly awaited seeing them live. But my wish finally having been granted by their Acid Jazz (the band’s new label) EP launch, I am sad to discover that great musicians can also be much smaller in person. … Continue Reading

Jens Lekman, London, Hackney Empire

By Nick Levine

September 20, 2012

The plush, and notably seated surroundings of the Hackney Empire, the location for this evening’s performance, indicate that Jens Lekman has broken out of the indie pop realm and has become part of the wider singer songwriter establishment. For the occasion Lekman is flanked by a four piece band consisting of a bassist, piano player and violinist. All are decked out in matching Persil white sneakers, with Lekman going for the ultra geeky combo of suit and baseball cap.

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El-P, London, Scala

By Russell Warfield

September 12, 2012

Earlier this year, during the should-be triumphant week of the release of his long awaited (and frankly stunning) Cancer 4 Cure LP, El-P sadly had to cancel a string of European shows, owing to the sudden loss of a loved one. Just a few months later, and El-P is back in the UK, honouring the gigs he missed – and, not that I’d want to claim any sort of serious insight into Meline’s state of mind, it really did feel like El-P was riding a cathartic high during his set tonight. Wide eyed and giddy throughout, with a restless sense of physical energy, Meline explodes across the stage, displaying a sincerely genuine sense of thankfulness towards the audience and, more bluntly, seeming that he was having a fucking brilliant time. No drugs, he confirms, a little alcohol, he concedes, but he was clearly riding the most exhilarating wave of ecstatic release, even becoming so intoxicated off his own atmosphere to completely ignore the British smoking ban. … Continue Reading

Bestival 2012: A Festival Review

By Sam Cleeve

August 6th-10th, 2012

Bestival 2012 was one of polarities. For every joyous, life-affirming Stevie Wonder headline set, there was Borgore around the corner blasting the most depraved bass noises possible. For every beautiful art installation or on-site roller-disco (truth), an absolute throng of people in between you and your destination. What can’t be faulted is the booking – this year’s Bestival genuinely offered an unparalleled summer line-up, one that pitted soul legends against sweeping icelandic cinematic explorations, all the while staying faithful to its electronic and dance music roots (it was, by time we were off site, a luxury just to sit somewhere in absence of bass). … Continue Reading

Grimes, London, Heaven

By Russell Warfield

September 6, 2012

People debate the merits of Grimes’ live show – as with so many artists plying a similar craft – completely independently of her actually playing a single note on stage. Creating music she once misguidedly (read: irritatingly) described as being ‘post-internet’, built from loops, drum machines, and vocal filters, plenty of people are swift to deride Grimes’ live performances as being ‘just pressing buttons’, or ‘karaoke’ simply in principle, let alone once faced with the reality of what some attendees took to be a string of amateurish and disappointingly short sets over the past year. Whether or not these accusations have actually touched a nerve, Grimes comes armed with more than her sequencers tonight – using a pulverising light show, confetti, balloons and even a set-long pole dance routine to enhance the sense of occasion of a set which could all too easily fall victim to criticisms of being little more than the-record-but-louder. … Continue Reading

Mark Lanegan Band, HMV Picture House, Edinburgh

By Steve Mcgillivray

August 29, 2012

It’s been a while since I last saw Mark Lanegan. Back then he was still the front man of US rock band Screaming Trees and was playing Glasgow’s Garage in support of their album Dust. Some 16 years later I’m looking forward to seeing Mark Lanegan perform again, this time in the guise of singer with the Mark Lanegan Band. Judging by the average age of the audience tonight, I’m not alone in being familiar with him in his role as Screaming Trees’ lead singer. The oldies like me definitely outnumber the younger audience members, but many will be familiar with Lanegan from his work with The Gutter Twins, Soulsavers, The Twilight Singers, Queens of the Stone Age and also with ex-Belle & Sebastian chanteuse Isobel Campbell. Strangely enough, one of the people I was at the Screaming Trees gig with was a former band mate of Isobel Campbell’s. … Continue Reading

Green Man 2012: A Festival Review

By Russell Warfield

August 17th-19th, 2012

Green Man 2012 might have been the year when the festival completely transcended my abilities of articulation. At the very least, I’m not going to be able to say anything desperately fresh about it, so let’s start at the most tiredly clichéd, lowest common denominator: we arrived in deluges of rain. Nestled into the crevice of the everlastingly gorgeous Black Mountain range, there have been years when I’ve actually, after grimacing at the swelling Usk on the periphery of the campsite, feared for Green Man’s cancellation. But not only was this year bringing the heavens down with as much Old Testament sadism as I’ve ever seen (or felt), it was the first time I’ve had the misfortune of actually having to put my tent up in that shit. But, in spite of this, it also just so happened to mark the beginning of the best Green Man Festival I’ve been to yet. … Continue Reading

Theme Park, London, Birthdays

By David Atkinson

August 13, 2012

It wasn’t quite the usual crowd of painfully hip locals at Dalston’s new favourite basement gig space Birthdays this Monday. Some of those jostling for a good view of the stage had obviously made the pilgrimage to see their new favourite band Theme Park play their sold out launch show for new single ‘Jamaica.’

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Boardmasters 2012: A Festival Review

By Charlotte Gay

August 8th-12th, 2012

Those who took advantage of the festival’s helicopter rides must have had a blissful view of the sun beaming down on the tops of Newquay’s Watergate Bay—the musical home of Boardmasters 2012. Back for its 31^st annual music, surf and skate festival, the Great British summertime happily disregarded its usual drizzly weather for those flocking to the ever popular event. … Continue Reading