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Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Submotion Orchestra

Submotion Orchestra - The Wardrobe, Leeds - 14th March 2012 (Live Review)

Don’t shout about it but Submotion Orchestra could be on their way to the big time. Their take on ‘live dubstep’ has been winning them plaudits since the release of their first EP and with shows like this it is easy to see why they are getting plenty of praise.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 28 March 2012

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Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Los Campesinos!

Los Campesinos! - Electric Ballroom, London - 22nd March 2012 (Live Review)

Los Campesinos! have slowly been building a name for themselves, and tonight sees them headline the infamous Electric Ballroom. The octet’s newest album, 'Hello Sadness', is widely regarded as a band maturing, and although that may have alienated some of the band’s fans from earlier albums there’s still no shortage of people wanting to see the group.

Written by: Matthew Williamson | Date: Tuesday, 27 March 2012

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Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Takedown Festival

Takedown Festival - Southampton University - 18th March 2012 (Live Review)

After a year’s break Takedown Festival has moved to Southampton University to allow it to be bigger, and better – Even the suns out to welcome it. There’s already a healthy amount of people around when we arrive, half an hour into the afternoon.

Written by: Matthew Williamson | Date: Tuesday, 27 March 2012

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Monday, 26 March 2012
Roddy Woomble

Roddy Woomble - The Duchess, York - 13th March 2012 (Live Review)

Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble has been furrowing an alternative path into folk music for a number of years now. Thus it is no surprise that, with Idlewild currently on hiatus, Woomble is devoting plenty of time to his solo work. Last year’s full-length 'The Impossible Song & Other Songs' was a delicately poised collection of joyous indie folk tunes and Woomble has since spent much of his time on the road to promote it, prompting another visit to York tonight.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 26 March 2012

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Thursday, 22 March 2012
InMe

InMe - Fibbers, York - 10th March 2012 (Live Review)

I made my feelings on InMe clear in my recent review of their fifth full-length album, 'The Pride'. Yet, amongst my mix of apathy and grudging admiration there remained a question. InMe have something of a reputation as a band that can impress on the live circuit. Indeed their live performances can be credited for their mini-resurgence in recent times. On a tour as wide-ranging as this one though, there are a mammoth thirty-five dates, it seems surprising that they can pull a fairly substantial (by York standards at least) crowd into Fibbers this evening. At least half of those gathered near the stage appear to be InMe die-hards and one cannot help but wonder how many shows they will attend on a large scale tour such as this.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 22 March 2012

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Thursday, 22 March 2012
Earth

Earth - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - 9th March 2012 (Live Review)

Arriving on the back of the sumptuous 'Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II', Earth have managed to pack out the Brudenell despite their slightly marmite-y reputation as a live act. Dylan Carlson’s drone pioneers may have mellowed considerably in recent years but it is noticeable that a major portion of this crowd seem to be from a metal background. Whatever one says about them, it is certainly the case that Earth are a band that can attract a diverse fanbase.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 22 March 2012

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Monday, 19 March 2012
Wild Beasts

Wild Beasts - Coal Exchange, Cardiff - 16th March 2012 (Live Review)

Despite living in Cardiff for nearly three years, I have never had the pleasure of going to the Coal Exchange, a venue located in Cardiff Bay that is just perfect for the Wild Beasts. The Kendal four-piece arrived in Cardiff as part of their UK tour ready to captivate the quite sizable audience in this wonderful setting.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Monday, 19 March 2012

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Thursday, 15 March 2012
Protest The Hero

Protest The Hero - Club Academy, Manchester - 7th March 2012 (Live Review)

Out of all the metal bills that will take to UK stages this year, this one might just be the strangest. The return of Protest the Hero to these shores on a proper headline tour has been anticipated for some time but that they should turn up with support from this bunch was rather more unexpected. Uneven Structure are the least surprising choice with their atmospheric djent metal. Blood Command and Long Distance Calling, meanwhile, are bringing the punk and the post-rock to Manchester to join the prog metal oddities that are this evening’s headliners.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 15 March 2012

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Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Toy Horses

Toy Horses - Ten Feet Tall, Cardiff - 6th March 2012 (Live Review)

Step-dads, eh? If they’re not hogging the remote control and sleeping with your mum, they’re rocking out on a ukulele whilst you’re trying to sing about lost love.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Wednesday, 14 March 2012

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Tuesday, 13 March 2012
The Milk

The Milk - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - 12th March 2012 (Live Review)

Cardiff was graced last night with the glowing presence of a truly phenomenal band – The Milk.

Written by: Chris 'PJ' Martin | Date: Tuesday, 13 March 2012

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Monday, 12 March 2012
Protest The Hero

Protest The Hero - Cardiff University - 2nd March 2012 (Live Review)

Having breezed their way through the “difficult third album” Last year in March with the critically acclaimed Scurrilous, The Canadian tech metal cult heroes have returned to embark on their first UK tour since 2009. In all fairness to them though, they deserve credit for the way they tore Sonisphere’s third stage a new one back in July, but tonight, as front man Rody Walker informs us, is the 5 piece’s “First show in Wales… I think ever!”

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Monday, 12 March 2012

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Monday, 05 March 2012
Grouplove

Grouplove - Relentless Garage, London - 28th February 2012 (Live Review)

The sold-out venue was beginning to fill as the dark undertones of Kanye West’s 'Monster' filled the room. The nature of their walk on track was a stark contrast to opening number ‘Don't Say Oh Well.’ The track, taken from their self-title EP, oozed happiness like a kid in a sweet shop and got the already hot venue bouncing. Not to lose momentum the 5-piece followed up with ‘Lovely Cup’ complete with harmonious backing vocals from Hannah Hooper. The wails of joy from the entire crowd during the chorus’ as they attempted to keep up with the vocal performance of energetic frontman Christian Zucconi, just emphasised the popularity of the band. The crowd participation carried on as the surprisingly in time clapping opened third song of the night ‘Itchin' On A Photograph.’ The opening track from their debut album got a great reception as the joyous tones of Grouplove had now engulfed everyone in attendance, with Zucconi and Hooper especially putting in everything they had.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Monday, 05 March 2012

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Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Rodrigo Y Gabriela

Rodrigo Y Gabriela & C.U.B.A. - Brixton Academy, London - 24th February 2012 (Live Review)

Rodrigo, in a rare moment separated from his acoustic guitar, grabs hold of the microphone with both hands and addresses the crowd directly ‘We first got together with these guys about a year ago’ he says gesturing back to the band (C.U.B.A) behind him, ‘We met when we were on tour, and decided to do an album together. We had been touring for ages, so we thought we would release the album, and then we could have a rest’. To those that have heard ‘Area 52’, the idea of taking a break from touring after its completion may seem a bizarre notion. A notion perhaps akin to taking a break from eating after baking a huge delicious cake, or deciding take a break from running for your life in terror after covering yourself in raw meat and breaking into a lion enclosure. Made up of previously released R&G material reworked with 13 piece Cuban orchestra C.U.B.A., Area 52 was made to be played live. Obviously this dawned on Rodrigo and Gabriela at some point between then and now; as they are on stage at the Brixton Academy standing in front of a sellout audience.

Written by: Tim Cox | Date: Wednesday, 29 February 2012

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Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes - The Boston Arms, London - 24th February 2012 (Live Review)

Twitter has gone mad, every music journalist and radio presenter worth his salt is raving about them, and they’ve landed in the UK for a three night residency at The Boston Arms in Tufnell Park.

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Tuesday, 28 February 2012

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Thursday, 23 February 2012
The Twilight Sad

The Twilight Sad - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - 16th February 2012 (Live Review)

The Twilight Sad are one of those bands that, despite being one of the finest British bands to emerge in many a year, are just never going to be everyone’s idea of a good time. Admittedly this is a band that have built their career out of making records largely reliant on the emotional power of despair, but still one cannot hope that such depressing tendencies should not prevent them growing in stature over the years to come. Certainly the full house here at The Brudenell tonight, even if it’s not a particularly large venue, is an encouraging sign.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 23 February 2012

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Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Benjamin Francis Leftwich - The Globe, Cardiff - 20th February 2012 (Live Review)

Anyone who wasn’t already convinced that singer songwriters are well and truly back in fashion need only have scanned the faces of a capacity crowd at Cardiff’s The Globe to get final confirmation. A sea of expectant young faces, resembling a gathering at the Student Union, crowded into one of the better small venues the Welsh capital has to offer, queuing half way down the street to get a good spot.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2012

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Monday, 20 February 2012
Brand New

Brand New – Camden Roundhouse, London – 11th February 2012 (Live Review)

There are not many bands in the world like Brand New. Their last record, 2009’s 'Daisy', may have been a record founded on short, sharp shocks but it still led to them headlining Wembley Arena in January 2010. They may have done pretty much nothing in the interceding years, including their deliberate avoidance of the media, but that has not meant that their legions of loyal fans have disappeared and forgotten about them. Tickets for this date sold out so quickly that, within a couple of hours, a second date at the venue had been confirmed. All across the UK, fans have desperately scrabbled to get into shows on the band’s first full UK tour for at least three years, depending on what you class as a ‘full tour’.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 20 February 2012

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Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys - Barrowlands, Glasgow - 6th February 2012 (Live Review)

It’s a fair point to say that the Dropkick Murphys return to Scotland around every two years, so when they do come it’s going to be a long-awaited and highly anticipated evening. This alone would justify their sold out show at the Barrowlands (aside from the reason ‘well, it’s the Dropkick Murphys’), yet the announcement of New Jersey’s very own Bouncing Souls as support caused one last surge of ticket sales, et voila, Scotland had a sell-out.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 15 February 2012

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Monday, 13 February 2012
The Treatment

The Treatment - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - 7th February 2012 (Live Review)

The Treatment are one of the latest bands to create hype within the rock and metal contingent. Hailing from Cambridge, although to hear them you'd think it was LA's Sunset Strip, the hard-rocking five-piece unashamedly draw their influences from the league of Classic Rock giants. We're talking the big guns of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy, KISS, Def Leppard and Guns n’ Roses here, all of which are instantly recognised within the energetic tracks that brought to life a dingy Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff last Tuesday, 7th February.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Monday, 13 February 2012

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Monday, 13 February 2012
Justice

Justice - Brixton Academy, London - 10th February 2012 (Live Review)

In the Beginning there was nothing but darkness. Then came Justice, who opened with ‘Genesis’; a solitary crucifix lights up the Academy, from high above Justice survey the crowd, and it is good. For French dance duo Justice, subtlety or controversy has never been much of a concern. They talk the talk, and tonight they crank up the volume, pick up the crowd and don’t let them go. The hour and a half that follows proves their borderline messianic complex to be entirely justified.

Written by: Tim Cox | Date: Monday, 13 February 2012

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Tuesday, 07 February 2012
Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy - St David's Hall, Cardiff - 1st February 2012 (Live Review)

An ageing Cardiff crowd eagerly awaited the latest reincarnation of legendary Irish rockers Thin Lizzy last Wednesday, 1st February. Needless to say they weren't disappointed with a show that saw the boys back in town for a breathtaking performance at St David's Hall.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Tuesday, 07 February 2012

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Monday, 06 February 2012
Olly Murs

Olly Murs - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - 1st February 2012 (Live Review)

“Olly Olly Olly, Oi, Oi, Oi!” And there you have it - the union of X Factor runner up Olly Murs and the capital city of Wales, summed up in a lairy chant.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Monday, 06 February 2012

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Thursday, 02 February 2012
Howler

Howler & Zulu Winter (Q Now Concert) - XOYO, London - 26th January 2012 (Live Review)

A fantastic opportunity arose last week via a Q Now Session; the gig put on by Q offered two great ‘bands for 2012’ to showcase their material live on the XOYO stage in London. Zulu Winter and Howler were two of the bands on the three-band bill, which also included singer songwriter Man Made.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Thursday, 02 February 2012

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Thursday, 26 January 2012
The Maccabees

The Maccabees - Koko, London - 24th January 2012 (Live Review)

As part of MTV’s Brand New for 2012 this gig had massive potential. It was a chance to see one of the finest British bands of this generation, The Maccabees as well as two up and coming artists in support. Before arriving at the venue, rumours were flying around that one of these up and coming artists had cancelled their appearance, upon arrival, these rumours were confirmed. The artist was Lana del Rey, the American singer who has been subject to all kinds of attention ahead of the release of her debut album ‘Born to Die’. The ‘Video Games’ singer had pulled out “due to illness” and in a notice that was put up outside Koko in London went on to apologise to “all her fans”. This was a bitterly disappointed pill to swallow as the over-hyped del Rey was all set to perform in the UK since she performed a short tour in November last year. Coming off the back of a heavily criticised performance on Saturday Night Live and a controversial first UK radio interview, this would have been a fantastic opportunity for music fans to judge the obviously talented singer on her performance.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Thursday, 26 January 2012

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Tuesday, 24 January 2012
The Classic Rock Show

The Classic Rock Show - St David's Hall, Cardiff - 18th January 2012 (Live Review)

A virtuoso band of fine musicians helped rock away the January blues in Cardiff last Wednesday, 18th January, as The Classic Rock Show stopped in the Welsh Capital for an outstanding performance of selected tracks from the ten best selling rock albums of all time.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Tuesday, 24 January 2012

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Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Lower Than Atlantis

Lower Than Atlantis - Cardiff University - 21st January 2012 (Live Review)

Watford punk rockers Lower than Atlantis get off to cracking start in Cardiff beginning their first nationwide headline tour, and did we mention that every date on the campaign has sold out?!

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Tuesday, 24 January 2012

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Monday, 23 January 2012
Loadstar

Aperture Presents: Loadstar + MC Texas - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - 20th January 2012 (Live Review)

It’s been a while since I’ve written an Aperture review, but a night as big as Friday deserves to be documented on the internet for all to see – so those who went can look back and reminisce, and those who didn’t can find out just what they missed when they made the foolish decision to stay in.

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Monday, 23 January 2012

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Friday, 20 January 2012
Asking Alexandria

Asking Alexandria & Blessthefall - Rock City, Nottingham - 16th January 2012 (Live Review)

I arrived at Rock City at 5pm, two hours before doors were due to open to the general public. My reason: to interview the two highest billed bands (Check here for the Blessthefall and Asking Alexandria interviews). Everyone else’s reason: their pure excitement in anticipation for the show. The queue was buzzing with impatience. Almost everyone you looked at was wearing an Asking Alexandria shirt (or one of the other three bands performing). Their admiration and support was unquestionable.

Written by: Marcus Colley | Date: Friday, 20 January 2012

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Wednesday, 18 January 2012
All Time Low

All Time Low - O2 Academy, Glasgow - 13th January 2012 (Live Review)

Since forming in Baltimore 9 years ago All Time Low have slowly but surely risen through the ranks of aspiring pop-punk bands to come out on top. After joining Interscope records and releasing their first album 'Dirty Work' with the label it was clear they had improved musically but the question was if their live show would follow suit. Any prior doubts of their ability were soon put to rest.

Written by: Emma Robertson | Date: Wednesday, 18 January 2012

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Monday, 16 January 2012
Maybeshewill

Maybeshewill – Sumo, Leicester - 16th December 2011 (Live Review)

Instrumentalists Maybeshewill have had, by all accounts, a pretty good 2011. They have completed numerous tours, always to acclaim from fans and critics alike, and released arguably their most complete record to date in “I Was Here for a Moment, Then I Was Gone”. It is therefore not surprising that they have chosen to end the year in a celebratory manner, in the form of two shows featuring the aforementioned third album in full complete with live strings.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 16 January 2012

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Tuesday, 03 January 2012
Rock Sound Riot

Rock Sound Riot Tour 2011 - Cardiff University - 11th December 2011 (Live Review)

It’s the penultimate night of Every Time I Die’s Rock Sound Magazine endorsed tour and as is the custom with any big brand sponsored tour, the line-up is outrageously impressive. Solidarity and camaraderie within the hard core punk scene is usually a common place but going and sticking Every Time I Die, Trash Talk, Defeater and Spycatcher, all bands with a good relationship as it is, all on one bill really does take the biscuit.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Tuesday, 03 January 2012

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Thursday, 22 December 2011
The Pineapple Thief

The Pineapple Thief - Fibbers, York - 7th December 2011 (Live Review)

The Pineapple Thief can be brilliant at times. Frontman Bruce Soord is capable of writing some utterly superb songs when the mood takes him. 2010’s “Someone here is Missing” was probably his finest collection of songs to date and this show at York’s (in)famous Fibbers is the start of one final jaunt around the UK to promote that record.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 22 December 2011

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Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Amplifier

Amplifier & Mojo Fury - The Duchess, York - 6th December 2011 (Live Review)

There really is no end to how disappointing the British music buying public can be. After over a decade in the game, and with one of the finest double albums the world has ever seen just behind them in “The Octopus”, Amplifier are still touring the UK’s small clubs. There really is no justice.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 20 December 2011

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Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Whitesnake

Whitesnake - Newport Centre, Newport - 7th December 2011 (Live Review)

I have never seen Whitesnake live. They are a band that have been on my “live list” for quite a while now. Having heard both good and bad comments about the band, I walked into South Wales' Newport Centre last week, Wednesday 7th December, not knowing what to expect from a live show. Being a big fan of their recorded material, however, I was looking forward to a full-on rock show as well as seeing the man, the legend, David Coverdale.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Wednesday, 14 December 2011

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Monday, 05 December 2011
Little Barrie

Little Barrie – The Louisiana, Bristol – 1st December 2011 (Live Review)

If you’ve never heard of The Louisiana in Bristol then your first impression is also an education. The pub is adorned with framed posters showing off a who’s who of some of the last decades most influential bands boasting the likes of Kings Of Leon, The White Stripes, The Strokes, Coldplay and many, many more who spent a night of their musical apprenticeship performing in the upstairs gig room.

Written by: David Ball | Date: Monday, 05 December 2011

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Monday, 05 December 2011
Exit Ten

Exit Ten – Fibbers, York – 29th November 2011 (Live Review)

It’s been a while since the UK has had Exit Ten gracing its roads on a full tour. The three year wait for the second album by the Reading quintet has seemed far longer, especially in the absence of their dependably excellent live shows. Thankfully, with new album “Give Me Infinity” to promote, the band are back on stage and in fine fettle as they prove here tonight.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 05 December 2011

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Monday, 05 December 2011
Textures

Textures & The Ocean – Academy 3, Manchester – 27th November 2011 (Live Review)

Sadly even the arrival of two of Europe’s most acclaimed metal acts hasn’t quite stirred Manchester’s metal populous to fill up Academy 3 on this chilly Sunday evening. Neither of these bands are regular headliners in this country and sadly it is hard to see how they will become so if metal fans don’t even bother for a show that brings them both together. The smallest Academy venue, this half-full show is desperately disappointing.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 05 December 2011

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Thursday, 01 December 2011
Pure Reason Revolution

Pure Reason Revolution – King Tuts, Glasgow - 28th November 2011 (Live Review)

Pure Reason Revolution, or PRR, were a remarkably unique band considering the British musical climate. Whilst the transatlantic influence of the Strokes has stimulated a rise in “post-punk” acts – I won't give you names because you've already got plenty in your head – PRR carved their own way. I say were, of course, as this Glasgow show was the band's penultimate show before splitting; yet another example of a UK band finishing before the mainstream got a whiff (or maybe that is wishful thinking).

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 01 December 2011

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Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Wednesday 13

Wednesday 13 - Garage, Glasgow - 27th November 2011 (Live Review)

For fans of Wednesday 13, there’s no real lack of ways to revel in his music. If he’s not recording for one band, he’s touring with another. Famed for his work in bands from Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 to Bourbon Crow and Gunfire 76, the Murderdolls frontman was set to delight fans on his recent UK solo tour with quite the line-up in tow.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 30 November 2011

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Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Wild Beasts

Wild Beasts - Anson Rooms, Bristol - 19th November 2011 (Live Review)

Leaning towards the artier side of the indie scale are tonight’s headliners, the Cumbrian four piece Wild Beasts. But despite my instant attempt to pigeon-hole the band’s sound, I can assure with some sincerity that this a band with a genuinely unique sound with all their own subtleties of quirkiness and song craft.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Tuesday, 29 November 2011

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Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Deadmau5

Deadmau5 - Millband Tower, London - 28th November 2011 (Live Review)

Never before has the iconic architecture of London been used in such an innovative manner, until the world class producer and disc jockey Deadmau5 came to town.

Written by: Adam Holden | Date: Tuesday, 29 November 2011

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Monday, 28 November 2011
Alter Bridge

Alter Bridge & Black Stone Cherry - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - 23rd November 2011 (Live Review)

Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena provided the stage for a co-headline performance from US rockers Black Stone Cherry and Alter Bridge Wednesday night, 23rd November. Supported by Canada's Theory Of A Deadman, who in my opinion deserved more time than they were allocated, the two headline bands delivered sensational sets, albeit a few problems with Alter Bridge's sound.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Monday, 28 November 2011

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Thursday, 24 November 2011
Smashing Pumpkins

Smashing Pumpkins - O2 Brixton Academy, London - 16th November 2011 (Live Review)

A man has a tactical chunder. Armed with an empty pint glass, he finds a quiet corner, empties his stomach into said receptacle, not spilling a drop. It’s all very neat and in a way, civilised. At least in as much as anyone who drinks so much they can’t get to bathroom in time to vomit can be civilised. But, he’s not used to it anymore. Once he was ‘alternative’. Not for him the British staid music scene with all the nonsense that came with the pre-Britpop years (at least Britpop brought fun, musical, guitar-based nonsense). He was looking across the pond to bands that meant something, that spoke to him and his angsty, black-clothing-clad, teenage years: like Nirvana and the Smashing Pumpkins. Which is why he’s here, in Brixton, watching the band of his youth and reliving his (and indeed our) youth. Unfortunately, as with beer, it’s never quite as good second time around.

Written by: Alex Mead | Date: Thursday, 24 November 2011

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Thursday, 24 November 2011
Neon Indian

Neon Indian - The Cooler, Bristol - 19th November 2011 (Live Review)

The Cooler is a venue that can quite often be found a quarter full with uncomfortable teenagers, despite the fact that it often puts on really great bands you’d imagine hordes of people would be travelling from all over to see. After arriving early for Neon Indian, seeing that regular scene and gliding towards the stage, it was a pleasant surprise to find myself in a completely packed room by the time the band walked on.

Written by: Ellen Davies | Date: Thursday, 24 November 2011

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Monday, 21 November 2011
Hawk Eyes

Hawk Eyes/Turbowolf/The James Cleaver Quintet – Cockpit 3, Leeds – 15th November 2011 (Live Review)

What do you get when you chuck three of Britain’s finest up and coming noisemongers in a room little bigger than many a kitchen? The answer should be pure anarchy and craziness. Admittedly in Leeds this evening it is a slightly restrained variation of both that prevails, but take nothing away from the unbridled adrenaline rush that these three bands can provide.  

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

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Thursday, 17 November 2011
The Good The Bad and The Queen

The Good The Bad & The Queen - Coronet, London - 10th November 2011 (Live Review)

The Coronet has seen a few name changes in its time, but as a landmark of London’s musical and theatrical history, it’s a fitting venue for the Good the Bad and the Queen to play the album Damon Albarn described as a song cycle and mystery play about London. And with the theme of the flood hanging over those songs, who better to celebrate the arrival in London of the Rainbow Warrior III, and the 40th anniversary of Greenpeace.

Written by: Gareth Padfield | Date: Thursday, 17 November 2011

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Thursday, 10 November 2011
Sub Zero

Aperture Presents: Sub Zero (Playaz) - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - 4th November (Live Review)

Last Friday, Aperture got see a whole different crowd, vibe and style of drum and bass that it hadn’t seen for a long time – the loved and loathed genre of Jump Up made it’s long overdue return to the top floor of Clwb Ifor Bach for the first time for at least a million years.

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Thursday, 10 November 2011

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Thursday, 10 November 2011
Supersonic

Supersonic 2011 – The Custard Factory, Birmingham – 21st-23rd October 2011 (Live Review)

Set amongst the slightly bleak, yet somehow endearing industrial greyness of Birmingham and spread across a series of what look like slightly unsettling, derelict warehouses, Supersonic has consistently proved an absolute must on the calendar of any self-respecting muso since 2003, and with a line-up this year boasting doom metal, experimental noise, drone, psychedelic rock and avant-garde music in equal measure, this year is indeed business as usual.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 10 November 2011

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Thursday, 10 November 2011
Damnation Festival

Damnation Festival - Leeds University - 5th November 2011 (Live Review)

An undoubted highlight of the UK metal calendar, this year’s Damnation Festival may have had its concerns over ticket sales at times but has managed to pull out all the stops yet again. With a diverse (but wickedly heavy) line-up spread across three packed stages, Damnation has managed to outdo arguably all of its, previously excellent, line-ups.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 10 November 2011

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Thursday, 10 November 2011
Cut Copy

Cut Copy - Camden Roundhouse, London - 27th October 2011 (Live Review)

It’s always an utter treat to witness a live show in a venue as classy and visually stunning as the Roundhouse in Camden. Although the place itself is now a grade II-listed building, it’s in many ways quite fitting that the now rejuvenated structure and it's extremely modern interior are tonight playing host to a band that effortlessly pay tribute to and reinvigorate certain aspects of musical history whilst constantly looking forward to bring the future even closer.

Written by: Jack Pudwell | Date: Thursday, 10 November 2011

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