Music
Track: Northern American – Modern Phenomena
Ahead of their debut album Modern Phenomena, which drops on May 18th via Heist or Hit Records, Los Angeles quartet Northern American have released a taster in the shape of the albums title track. Its a follow-up to the bands 2013 EP Happiness Hungover, and was recorded at Red Rockets Glare Studio in Santa Monica …
Album Review: Wire – ‘Wire’
As a band Wire are far more accomplished and creative, than to rest their laurels on past glories. Throughout their, almost, 40 year existence, they have constantly produced music that is very much of the here and now. Maybe not so much in the limelight, but their presence has been constant, not exactly underground, more …
Live: Champs – Belgrave Music Hall – Leeds – 8th April 2015
We are big fans of Champs here at Backseat Mafia and loved their recent album ‘VAMALA’ which we reviewed here, one of a multitude of rave reviews for the Isle of Wight duo’s album of exquisitely crafted and gorgeously harmonised pop-folk songs. It really is an album of sheer beauty and if you haven’t yet added …
Live review: LoneLady at the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
I lived in Manchester for the best part of two decades so it was an astonishing experience to be transported by LoneLady right back to Hulme’s crumbling brutalist terraces and forward to the modern Northern powerhouse the city now is. LoneLady – aka Julie Ann Campbell – has created a series of soundscapes that evoke …
Live Review: Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens, Issues – Leeds O2 Academy, 3.4.15
Both Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens boast enthusiastic fanbases to say the least, the tour was sold out months in advance, tickets were even being sold for more than four times the amount of their original price in the few weeks leading up to the shows and the queue for the show in …
Live Review: Young Guns, Liverpool Arts Club, 6.4.15
On the final date of this leg of the Young Guns headline tour, Blitz Kids say their goodbyes as the main and only support band. Their set is a well-chosen collaboration of the biggest choruses in their back catalogue- and being a band who know how to write a big chorus, they have A LOT. …
Track: Brownish Black – Life Lessons
I’m here, stuck in traffic, and yet, with a bit of sunshine outside and the new Brownish Black single Life Lessons, and you know what – life’s all ok here. The Portland based octet started out as a three-piece garage rock band, who have expanded and added a soul edge to their garage roots. Life …
Live Review: Circa Waves, The Leadmill, Sheffield, 10.4.2015
Circa Waves are the kind of new band it’s possible you could have totally missed, but it’s highly probable you’ve heard at least one of their summery, catchy songs being belted out on heavy rotation on Radio 1. Having been together only a couple of years and just releasing their debut album this April, it’s …
Not Forgotten – Mott the Hoople – Mott
Having established themselves in the late 60s as Dylan and Stones infused rockers, Mott the Hoople spent the next few years with a reputation of a storming live act whose studio material failed to capture the magic they routinely produced on stage. After four albums for Island Records in which they explored hard rock, country …
Track: Meesh – Lake/Endings/Glenn
I first came across Meesh last December, attracted in a sort of anti-Mumford and Sons fashion by their self-labelling of their music as anti-folk. Despite this label, their music was a little bit folky, but I loved it nonetheless (see my earlier review). They have just released three new songs, available to download for free, …