Saxon - O2 Academy, Bristol - Tuesday 19th April 2011 (Live Review)

So according to record and concert sale figures released only a few weeks ago, reports were released leading to some news that the age or rock was fading. Some media swines even declared that rock was dead. The fools!

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Earth - Scala, London - Tuesday 12th April 2011 (Live Review)

A band whose current sound conjures up images of an unusually tranquil wild west doesn’t particularly sound like a band primed to fill London’s 800 capacity Scala but then Earth have never been what they sound. Over the twenty years guitarist Dylan Carlson has overseen his project they have veered from primal drone to elegant soundscape. Latest record 'Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I' is one of the year’s most calming and meditative releases thus far. Its hour long running time is entirely composed around delicately picked guitar figures, sombre cello and a restrained rhythm section.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Jaga Jazzist - Scala, London – Wednesday 30th March 2011 (Live Review) 

It’s hard to know how to describe a Jaga Jazzist live show. Perhaps the best place to start is with the obvious, what is up there on stage. The stage at the Scala is not small by any stretch of the imagination and yet it is full to bursting with all sorts of instruments. There’s a vibraphone at the front next to the drum kit, several banks of keyboards and synthesizers and a double bass tucked away at the back. This is not to mention the various guitars, brass and woodwind instruments that appear during the course of the show. The nine people onstage are thus restricted in terms of space in which to move but this does not stop them from putting on one of the finest shows one could possibly wish to see.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 04 April 2011

Kyuss Lives! – London HMV Forum – Saturday 2nd April 2011 (Live Review)

“I fucking love my life,” yells the lead vocalist with German doom metallers Burden. Why? Because he’s spent the past three weeks touring with reformed rockers Kyuss Lives. That’s right – Kyuss Lives, as the original stoner band have chosen to re-christen themselves for this reunion tour without co-founder Josh Homme. A controversial decision, maybe. But apparently an acceptable one, judging by the dense crowd packed into the sold-out Kentish Town Forum. Many may argue that Kyuss merely represented a minor introduction to Homme’s colossal musical career. However, no one seems to have mentioned that to tonight’s audience, who are singing their hearts out to almost every tune played by the remaining three original members – John Garcia, Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 04 April 2011

The Answering Machine - Bull & Gate, Kentish Town - 25/03/11 (Live Review)

For those that haven’t yet stepped into the Bull & Gate in London’s Kentish Town, the venue is a relative haven for music fans, holding up a torch for local venues by hosting top quality acts almost every night of the week. The Club Fandango gig nights are an equally impressive institution, and over the last ten years the organisers havebrought future stadium-fillers to their intimate venues, picking up on early vibes from the likes of Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and Guillemots, to name a few.

Written by: James Conlon | Date: Wednesday, 30 March 2011

McFly - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - Tuesday 22nd March 2011 (Live Review)

The seven year old boy sat next to me is hugging the chair in front of him, staring at the stage with eyes like saucers. The crowd is a strange mix of excited children, fluffy-haired fledgling indie boys and what seems like several thousand twelve year old girls wearing bunny ears. They turn the dark arena into a carpet of brightly lit mobile phone screens, poised for the moment that McFly finally bound onto the stage like four toddlers in the grip of a sugar rush.

Written by: Victoria O'Hagan | Date: Friday, 25 March 2011

Elbow - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff – Wednesday 23rd March 2011 (Live Review)

It’s a big step up from the last time I watched Elbow play a set to around 1,000 people back when ‘One Day Like This’ was still a hidden secret for Elbow fans. The latest stop on their first ever arena tour was Cardiff’s cavernous Motorpoint Arena (formerly CIA) and I entered with one main question. Would the charm and intimacy of their live performances be able to translate to an arena? Turns out I had nothing to worry about.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Thursday, 24 March 2011

The Decemberists - HMV Hammersmith Apollo - 16/03/11 (Live Review)

The HMV Hammersmith Apollo is by no means an intimate venue. With a large ground floor and an extended seating gallery upstairs, the place is primed for some of the biggest acts in modern music (Katy Perry was set to take up a three-night residency at the venue the night after the show). However, as The Decemberists announced their arrival with the first acoustic twangs of their set, there was something about the band’s inviting rustic melodies that seemed to subvert logic, making the whole occasion feel strangely intimate.

Written by: James Conlon | Date: Wednesday, 23 March 2011

Submotion Orchestra - Mint Lounge, Manchester - Monday 14th March 2011 (Live Review)

I had the pleasure of going to see a band called Submotion Orchestra last Monday (14th March) at the Mint Lounge in the centre of Manchester. Having listened to them earlier on Soundcloud I was expecting a mostly electronic act, so I was pleasantly surprised to walk into the venue and see an array of instruments set up, including a drum-kit, various percussion, a bass guitar...you get the picture.

Written by: Jonathan Cockburn | Date: Monday, 21 March 2011

The Wombats - Solus, Cardiff University - Thursday 17th March 2011 (Live Review)

It’s been a long time waiting for fans of The Wombats. Following an exhausting tour schedule for their hit debut album ‘A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation’ in 2007 the band, and particularly chief song writer Matthew Murphy struggled to adjust to life off the road. Four years on and the follow up, ‘This Modern Glitch’, is nearly ready for release with this tour set up to promote it.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Friday, 18 March 2011

Skint & Demoralised - The Hop, Wakefield - 4th March 2011 (Live Review)

It may be a far cry from Glastonbury and Leeds fest, but for Skint and Demoralised, tonight’s headline slot at their local live venue means a lot.  You can tell by the way front man Matt Abbott is pacing back and forth. 

Written by: Sally Atlass | Date: Monday, 14 March 2011

The Decemberists - O2 Academy, Bristol - 8th March 2011 (Live Review)

In 2007, The Decemberists were forced to cancel their Bristol gig – and the remainder of their UK tour – due to frontman Colin Meloy’s tonsillitis. Since then, their visits to the country have been sporadic and limited almost exclusively to a couple of nights in London. A rammed-to-the-gills O2 Academy came to see if the long wait was worthwhile.

Written by: Rich Skyrme | Date: Monday, 14 March 2011

Edwyn Collins - Shepherds Bush Empire, London - Wednesday 16th February (Live Review)

London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire is set out like a theatre; red velvet cushioned seats, a black box stage and a subdued, rather mature audience. Not the norm for an NME Awards Tour gig, but nor is tonight’s performance.

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Tuesday, 08 March 2011

My Chemical Romance Planetary (GO!) Video Shoot - Islington Academy, London - 24/02/11 (Live Review)

Walk into a shopping centre, make a left and there you’ll find the entrance of the Islington Academy. It’s hard to envisage that you’re on your way to see My Chemical Romance. Yes, that would be the same My Chemical Romance who picked up two NME awards the previous night; the same My Chemical Romance who just rounded off their latest UK tour – playing to thousands of fans in arenas nationwide. Now here they are, playing in an 800 capacity venue. However, this is no normal show. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 03 March 2011

Janelle Monae - O2 Academy, Bristol - Thursday 24th February (Live Review)

As musical concepts go, it’s one the Lords of Prog from the 1970s themselves would be proud of; in a far-flung, Fritz Lang inspired future one being, the Archandroid, stands as a semi-messianic figure between the conflict of man and machine. Seeing what is to come and the divisive future that awaits us all, she opens a tunnel through time and sends a message to her gene-ancestor to spread a simple ethos: dance, or die.

Written by: Rich Skyrme | Date: Tuesday, 01 March 2011

Foo Fighters at NME Awards Big Gig - Wembley Arena - 25/02/2011 (Live Review)

Wembley Arena was the venue for the conclusion to the weeks’ festivities based around the Shockwaves NME Awards, the headline act being the long awaited return of maybe the biggest rock band in the World right now, Foo Fighters.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 28 February 2011

Black Label Society - Colston Hall, Bristol - 23rd February 2011 (Live Review)

If you went outside about 9:00pm (GMT) yesterday evening wherever in the world you may have been, looked up and listened carefully into the still of the night, you would've heard one of the planet's most stunning spectacles! Black Label Society live on stage!

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 24 February 2011

Anathema - Scala, London - 17th February 2011 (Live Review)

The word ‘triumphant’ is one that is probably used too often across the live review spectrum. Sometimes however there really isn’t any other word to describe what one has just witnessed and, in the case of this show, it really is the only word to accurately sum up a performance by a band that has reached a somewhat unexpected peak over twenty years after their original formation. After the critical acclaim that was (rightly) awarded to last year’s “We’re Here Because We’re Here” album, Anathema decided to book their highest profile UK tour to date with the culmination of said tour arriving at the 1200 capacity Scala.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 21 February 2011

My Chemical Romance - SECC, Glasgow - 15th February 2011 (Live Review)

The SECC was alight with colour on the afternoon of February 15th as Killjoys roamed the halls in leathers, running around with toy guns and embodying the concept of being in California 2019. They are here for one band: My Chemical Romance.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 21 February 2011

Thin Lizzy - Waterfront Hall, Belfast - February 16th 2011 (Live Review)

Despite changing personnel about as often as Spinal Tap, band fall outs, bust-ups and the untimely passing of members, Thin Lizzy remain one of the best bands the world has ever seen. Long gone are the days when Lynott would prowl the stage in leather trousers stomping to Downey’s drum and flanked by Gorham and ‘Robbo,’ but this new line up have the power to transport the audience back to the band’s heyday. For those lucky enough to have seen the original Thin Lizzy it’s a return to their youth, and for those too young to have experienced Lynott et al it’s a unique chance to see (at least some of) their idols play their favourite songs live.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Thursday, 17 February 2011

A Day To Remember - Brixton Academy, London - February 5th 2011 (Live Review)

Tonight it's fair to say that this rising post-hardcore/pop-punk quintet from Florida have played their cards wisely with the song selection of this set list. Despite this being the promotional tour of their latest release 'What Separates Me From You' the band have gone for a fair spread of the entire back catalogue to suit both hardcore fans and those like myself seeing this band for the first time. Not to give the impression that the crowd here tonight isn't as dedicated as humanly possible. Every lyric from tracks old and new, hit or album track that Jeremy (lead vocals) offers is met with the sound of nearly 5 thousand mouths shouting it back at him. Clearly ADTR are a band that since 2005 has slowly become something of a cult phenomenon, in England at least, achieving this from years of stressful but triumphant touring around fan bases from The US to Australia to spots at major festivals in Europe.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Thursday, 17 February 2011

Shockwaves NME Awards Tour – Bristol O2 Academy, 15th February 2011 (Live Review)

As this year’s Shockwaves NME Awards Tour nears its completion at London’s Brixton O2 Academy this weekend, what has arguably become one of the coolest events on the musical calendar makes its latest stop-off in Bristol to bring the most up-to-date selection of hot, young talent to the South West. This time around, the supercool array of music comes from Canadian electro-punk duo Crystal Castles, dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man and experimental indie-rockers Everything Everything.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Hospitality Cardiff (Live Review) - 05/02/11

Hospitality is arguably the most anticipated and widely spread drum and bass nights that hits Cardiff, and it had been a whole year since the last time Hospital Record’s arsenal of dnb assassins came down and assaulted the decks of the Students Union.

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Murderdolls – Exeter Lemon Grove – 14th February 2011 (Live Review)

“Is anyone here in love?” Murderdolls’ Wednesday 13 asks the crowd at tonight’s Valentine’s Day show in Exeter on the last night of the band’s UK tour. Going by the response to his enquiry, apparently not. Who, after all, would take the one they love to a concert by Hollywood horror-punkers the Murderdolls for a romantic evening out? “Does anyone here really hate someone that they used to be in love with?” the frontman continues. On this occasion, the response is unsurprisingly more positive, providing a fitting introduction to the track ‘Blood Stained Valentine’.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Dodgy - Building 21, Barnsley - February 11th 2011 (Live Review)

Being a child of the ‘90’s, I was incredibly excited when it was announced Dodgy would be playing the opening night of Building 21, a warehouse style venue just to the south of Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Written by: Sally Atlass | Date: Monday, 14 February 2011

James Blake - Borderline, London - February 4th 2011 (Live Review)

Compere and XFM new music guru, John Kennedy, introduces tonight’s sold out gig as ‘The Hottest Ticket in Town’ – as if we didn’t already know. The Borderline in London rarely sees a crowd as busy as tonight; everyone is restless and the anticipation in the room is unmistakable.

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Wednesday, 09 February 2011

Band Of Horses - Academy, Manchester - February 1st 2011 (Live Review)

Another album and an upgrade in venue for Seattle's alt-country residents, Band of Horses. 2 years ago, I was present to see Band of Horses at a sparsely populated, somewhat flat outing on the Cease to Begin tour at Manchester's Academy 3. Judging from the more mature audience populating the sold-out 2,300 capacity Academy 1, last year's 'Infinite Arms' has garnered a new breed of punter to the BOH cause.

Written by: Mark Booth | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011

The Walkmen - Central Methodist Hall, Manchester - January 20th 2011 (Live Review)

And so to Manchester on freezing cold January night, to the Central Methodist Hall. A return visit for the American quintet on their tour in support of last year’s fantastic 'Lisbon', their slow-burning fifth album. 

Written by: Jonathan Russell | Date: Tuesday, 25 January 2011

The Walkmen - Trinity Centre, Bristol - January 21st 2011 (Live Review)

As anyone who attends gigs in Bristol knows, the sign you’re at the hottest ticket in the city is whether ‘Big Jeff’ is stood at the stage ready to rock out. It was immediately a good sign then to spot Jeff and his blond curls waiting patiently, stage centre on entering Bristol’s Trinity.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 24 January 2011

Two Wounded Birds - The Social, Little Portland Street, London - January 11th 2011 (Live Review)

It may still be January, but summer made a brief appearance at The Social last night for the monthly ‘Huw Stephens Introducing’ gig. Just when you thought you’d heard the last of wanting to ‘go surfing’, Two Wounded Birds are bringing beach style surf-rock back with force this year.

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Black Country Communion - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton - December 29th 2010 (Live Review)

Wednesday 29th December saw the black country play host to yet another home-grown collective, following in the steps of rock titans such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, the appropriately named supergroup Black Country Communion were in town to play a special show at their spiritual home.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 06 January 2011

The Xcerts - Barfly, Camden, London - December 8th 2010 (Live Review)

Having produced one of the most torturously brilliant records of 2010 in “Scatterbrain”, Aberdeen/Brighton trio The Xcerts have taken to the road and the last of their English dates for the year is here at the Barfly where a solid crowd has turned up to celebrate the trio’s excellent year.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 20 December 2010

Frightened Rabbit - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - December 1st 2010 (Live Review)

Scottish quintet Frightened Rabbit might have been forgiven for calling tonight’s gig off, although as they tell the crowd the English are making a big fuss out of nothing. The band kick off with ‘Things’, the lead track of their new album, ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’. The song builds from meaningless noise into the kind of indie-rock song that the band do best.

Written by: Matthew Williamson | Date: Monday, 20 December 2010

You Me At Six - Hammersmith Apollo, London - December 16th 2010 (Live Review)

You Me at Six have come a long way since the release of ‘Save it for the Bedroom’ in 2007. I can still remember the strange looks I got in HMV when I asked for that record, but three years later the band seem to be everywhere.

Written by: Siobhan Hattersley | Date: Monday, 20 December 2010

Bullet For My Valentine - CIA, Cardiff - December 11th 2010 (Live Review)

Im a man who has never really moved on from the denim and leather clad new wave of British Heavy Metal. Ye olde British heavy metal bands such as Maiden, Saxon and Priest are very rarely left off the iPod playlist. I wasnt really sure what to expect from my December 11th visit to Cardiff's International Arena to see a “new” heavy metal band in the shape of Bullet For My Valentine. My first impressions after hearing the name of the band began with me muttering the words, in proper old man style, 'jesus christ, not another shitty nu-metal collective', however, after “googling them” and seeing hearing their stuff, how much further from the truth could I have gotten! Bullet For My Valentine are at the forefront of the second wave, scratch that, TIDAL wave, of British Heavy Metal bands.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 16 December 2010

The Boy Least Likely To - The Railway, Winchester - 11th December 2010 (Live Review)

My biggest bug bear with live music at the moment is that you don’t generally get value for money. That was never an issue with ‘The Boy Least Likely To’ with a whopping four different bands performing for a bargain £7.50 per ticket if bought in advance.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Thursday, 16 December 2010

Status Quo - CIA, Cardiff - December 10th 2010 (Live Review)

I went along to see the Quo thinking to myself, “What am I doing,” I was surrounded by denim jackets and waistcoats, mullets and inflatable guitars… this has to be more suited to my Dad! However I found myself tapping my feet, clapping my hands and even singing along to the likes of 'Caroline', 'Down Down' & 'Rockin' All Over The World'.

Written by: Matthew Batte | Date: Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Airbourne - O2 Academy, Birmingham - December 10th 2010 (Live Review)

A crisp winter night in the UK's second city Birmingham looks set to heat up fast as Aussie-rocking, AC/DC weaned four-piece Airbourne roll into town and explode onto the O2 Academy.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Neurosis - Koko, Camden, London - December 6th 2010 (Live Review)

There is no doubting that Neurosis are one of the most important and influential metal bands to have ever graced the world with their presence. Their extreme brand of aural terrorism is never going to garner mass appeal but that doesn’t stop the band from attracting a large audience to Camden’s Koko on a cold December Monday night. The band attract a diverse crowd, from obvious metalheads to people who look like they rarely attend gigs of a mainstream persuasion, let alone one with as defiantly underground a headliner as Neurosis. Perhaps this gives a good reflection of the level of respect the band has amongst different sections of the musical community, even if they are the average music fan’s worst nightmare.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 14 December 2010

The National - Brixton Academy, London - December 1st 2010 (Live Review)

Sometimes a band produces a record of such obvious quality that they cannot help but turn from underground heroes to mainstream breakthrough act of the year. Sadly such occurrences are rare but that probably makes it all the more satisfying when they do happen. Thus it is incredibly satisfying to see The National having gone, in the space of just a few months, from playing Camden’s Electric Ballroom to three nights at Brixton Academy, via the Royal Albert Hall. This rise has not come totally out of the blue. The last three albums produced by the Brooklyn based quintet have been nothing short of classic records. Each showcases songs built around the powerful baritone of frontman Matt Berninger and his tortured lyrics. Although 2005’s ‘Alligator’ and 2007’s ‘Boxer’ were both critically well received they sold modestly and it was not until this year’s ‘High Violet’ that the band truly made their breakthrough; the record reached #5 on both sides of the Atlantic. Having toured practically all year in support of the new record, the band’s European tour reaches its apex at what is probably the most legendary London venue still standing.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 10 December 2010

Leftfield - O2 Academy, Bristol - December 2nd 2010 (Live Review)

On arriving at Bristol O2 the first thing that struck me was the queue – it was one of the longest I’ve seen for a gig in years! It wasn’t long however, before I was past the friendly door-staff and inside. The foyer felt a little cramped with all the people waiting for friends to make it in and the bars were absolutely rammed but the atmosphere amongst the crowd was good-natured and very, very expectant. At this point there was only one thing to do – grab a beer and head inside, so I did!

Written by: Andy Droid | Date: Friday, 10 December 2010

Athlete - HMV Forum, London - November 20th 2010 (Live Review)

Athlete have never really broken into the heart of the British music scene, though it’s not for the want of trying. 2010 sees their 11th year as a band. The band released the Singles collection back in September, and tonight sees them play all of the CD, plus a few more off their four albums.

Written by: Matthew Williamson | Date: Monday, 06 December 2010

Squeeze - Hexagon, Reading - November 15th 2010 (Live Review)

1974 saw Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, Jools Holland and Paul Gunn form the band that was to become known as Squeeze. Although never becoming a permanent feature of 70s/80s music they had numerous songs in the top 50. Today they’re playing to a sold out crowd at The Hexagon in Reading.

Written by: Matthew Williamson | Date: Monday, 06 December 2010

Biffy Clyro - Pavillions, Plymouth - December 1st 2010 (Live Review)

It may have taken longer than they would have hoped to get there but there can be little question that Biffy Clyro are now firmly members of the upper echelon of the UK rock scene. Having struggled to receive sufficient radio airplay during their first three albums between 2002-2004 they have always had an energy about their live shows which created a solid base of fans which gradually grew with each tour. Now, following the commercial success of 2007’s ‘Puzzle’ and last years Mercury nominated ‘Only Revolutions’, Biffy Clyro are part of the nations consciousness and they are currently in the midst of their first headlining arena tour.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 06 December 2010

Paloma Faith - HMV Forum, London - December 1st 2010 (Live Review)

Hackney-born Paloma Faith has been slowly gaining recognition since the release of her debut album, ‘Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful’ in September 2009. With guest slots on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and 5 singles released from her debut, she’s easily become a bit of a household name.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Friday, 03 December 2010

Paul Weller - International Arena, Cardiff - November 27th 2010 (Live Review)

2010 has been quite a year for Paul Weller with latest album ‘Wake Up The Nation’ earning him rave reviews as well as a Mercury Music Prize nomination and now a UK wide arena tour to close out the year in style.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 29 November 2010

We Are Scientists (Acoustic Set) - Village Underground, London - November 18th 2010 (Live Review)

Familiar with seeing the Village Underground rammed with sweat riddled revelers, it’s was a novel feeling to wonder straight to the front of the polite onlookers for We Are Scientists’ acoustic set during an UnLtd event last Thursday.

Written by: Nick Hewitt | Date: Monday, 29 November 2010

And So I Watch You From Afar - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - November 24th 2010 (Live Review)

If, for some reason, you want the skin ripped from your skull or you want your internal organs to spontaneously explode I would fully recommend seeing And So I Watch You From Afar live to fulfil your rather obscure fetish! These guys may not have any lyrics but they have more stage presence than any band I’ve ever experienced live. Running around like headless chickens, getting right into the crowd and pushing each other around like they’re about to start an onstage scrap (all, may I add whilst paying note for note perfectly).

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Monday, 29 November 2010

Paramore - O2 Arena, London - November 13th 2010 (Live Review)

It's been six years since Tennessee pop-punkers Paramore were formed, and over 7 million album and singles sales later, they've been given this moment - sold out shows at London's O2 Arena - the biggest shows they've played as a headline band.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Chiddy Bang - Kings College Students Union, London - November 6th 2010 (Live Review)

Saturday 6th November saw one of America’s hottest artists descend onto the Kings College London Student union with a vast array of fans coming to enjoy what was a fantastic show. Whether it be American fans who have known him for the past couple of years or the English fans who have followed him since his breakthrough into the UK charts with ‘Opposite of Adults’, they all came out to support a very talented duo.

Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Thursday, 11 November 2010