LIVE: The Maccabees @ Brixton Academy

The Maccabees are like that lovely fuzzy feeling you get when you’re in love. Their first, Colour It In, was fun, fast and full of youthful bounce, bursting at the seams with track after track of pure indie energy. Whilst their second, Wall Of Arms, is a more mature outing. Their songs immersed in more epic waters, built for bigger things, bigger venues, and a promise that this band are growing from strength to strength. The Maccabees music is quite simply, a joy to behold.

Written by: Matt Hamm | Date: Friday, 09 October 2009

LIVE: Stereophonics - Cardiff Castle - 3rd Oct 2009

Stereophonics, supported by the GLC, set Cardiff Castle jumping this Saturday afternoon when their special, one-off gig finally landed. Cardiff Castle is an unusual venue. It doesn’t seem that big from the outside, but when you pass through the huge, reinforced gates it all gets a bit Tardis. The fairy-tale buildings and battlements can’t help but add something special to a performance inside. It’s also a good job they knew how to build them sturdy back then, otherwise the Phonics and their fans would have done some serious structural damage.

Written by: Saard | Date: Sunday, 04 October 2009

REVIEW: Porcupine Tree - The Incident

It’s difficult to imagine when Steve Wilson actually sleeps. The Porcupine Tree lead singer is not only the driving force behind PT, this year he produced his own solo album, Insurgentes; collaborated in No-Man, an experimental rock outfit; AND writes music with friend Aviv Geffin for their band Blackfield. He is possibly the hardest working man in music.

Written by: Matt Hamm | Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2009

LIVE: Band Of Skulls Rock A Barfly Buzz

It’s been quite a 12 months for the Southampton based Band Of Skulls. Back in November 2008, the 2-boy-one-girl trio were recording under the alias Fleeing New York as virtual unknowns. Veritable virgins of the music industry. Skip to October 2009, and things have changed. They have just released a brilliant, very complete and debut album – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, are touring the country’s coolest venues and, rather more impressively; are featuring on the soundtrack of the Twilight movie franchise second serving New Moon. No mean feat by any standards.

Written by: Matt Hamm | Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Review: Blur at Hyde Park, 2nd July 2009

The scene – Hyde Park, the occasion – the reunion of one of the greatest purveyors of the Britpop era, Blur. After the release of 1999s ‘13’ the band sought to deviate from their alternative roots and began to experiment with hip-hop and African music with minimal guitar which was subsequently highlighted by Graham Coxon’s departure in 2003.

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Friday, 10 July 2009