Live Review
Live Review: Screaming Maldini – The Final Show – Queens Social Club – 05.12.14
And so this was it, the last show for Screaming Maldini. The room was packed with people that came together to give them the send off they deserved with a mix of absolute enthusiasm and tears. Coming onto the stage one by one, each member was greeted with a roar of applause and cheering, Maldini …
Live Review: Kogumaza, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 19.11.2014
Amazingly this was the first time I had got to see Kogumaza live. I have enjoyed them from afar for a long time, but somehow always managed to miss them in the past, so I was very happy to see that they were supporting Hookworms at the launch gig for The Hum album. The …
Live Review: Hookworms, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 19.11.14
I’ve seen Hookworms many times now, and I’ve seen them quite a few times at the always excellent Brudenell; but this felt like something different. This was the launch gig for the band’s second, excellent, album The Hum (you can read my review of it here) which, in my opinion, has cemented the band’s position …
Live Review: Claw Marks – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 27.11.2014
If you got home from work/college/shoplifting that late that you were unable to get down to the Brudenell for the opening act last Thursday, well count your lucky stars. For you were saved the tortuous half hour or so the rest of us had to endure when London’s second most disgusting band turned up. Claw …
Live: The Heartbreaks, Bodega, 28th November 2014
The Heartbreaks are a band who know how to look after you. When I arrived at the Bodega in Nottingham last night, I found drummer Joe Kondras and lead guitarist Ryan Wallace telling staff how important it was they let me in. Great start, boys. The Heartbreaks are the first band I ever fell in …
Live Review: James – First Direct Arena, Leeds 23.11.14
Sunday night saw James arrive in Leeds for the last gig of their 11 date tour. There was a definite buzz in the air. A James gig is always special, but for some reason tonight felt that bit more so. As they took to the stage this was confirmed by guitarist/violinist, Saul “This is our …
Live Review: The Blackout / Yashin / When We Were Wolves – Corporation, Sheffield 6.11.2014
It’s a Thursday night in Sheffield, and the aptly named When We Were Wolves are getting things off to an explosive start on the Blackout’s Wolves tour. Hailing from Wales, the same as tonight’s headliners, these openers are metalcore through and through, and they put the crowd through the wringer complete with an excess of …
Live: The Specials – O2 Leeds Academy 10.11.14
It’s not been heard for a while, but it’s familiar all the same; the chant is ‘Rude boys! Rude boys! Rude boys!’, what with that and the chequered drum kit,it can mean only one thing… The Specials are in town and they’re ready to wind back the clock and have us skanking like its 1979. …
LIVE: JAH WOBBLE’s INVADERS OF THE HEART, Hebden Bridge Trades Club, 7th Nov 2014
It’s been 20 odd years since the last outing of Jah Wobble’s Invaders, with tonight being one of a mere handful of gigs. Originally planned to coincide with a new album of covers and the forthcoming Redux Box Set (now expected in the New Year) they now serve as something of a live prelude to …
Meet: Habitats interview
One band who we fear we may have fallen head over heels with in the last few weeks and months is London quartet, Habitats. If there’s one thing we like to hang our hat on here at Backseat Mafia is tunes (and noisy shit and noodly guitars and time signatures and handclaps, but mainly tunes) …