indie live review
The Jesus and Mary Chain – The Foundry, Sheffield 25.09.2017
I’d been a bit reluctant to head out and see the Mary Chain. Bad experiences with other heroes from the 80s stumbling on unnecessarily with nothing new to offer (and nothing much old either) had put me off. But when Damage and Joy came out, wiser and more trustworthy folk attested to its quality, so …
Live Review: Weirdwolf / The Claxbys / The Last Hearts, Scunthorpe Cafe Indie 14/7/2017
Spontaneity can be a risk, and a risk is something that bands – aside from those belonging to the highest, top-billing, festival-headlining echelons – aren’t always willing to take. But a triptych of Scunthorpe talent threw caution to the wind and announced an impromptu, DIY pop-up gig at Café Indie, with less than a week’s …
Live Review: Trembling Bells, Regather Works, Sheffield 05.07.2017 plus Gallery
It’s been an odd and unsettling few months to be in this country. Through it all though the thought that the likes of the Trembling Bells couldn’t come from anywhere else has come as a comforting thought. that mix of folk, psychedelia, whimsy and a bit of a fighting edge speaks of much of the …
The Besnard Lakes LIVE @ Brudenell Social Club 26.05.17
The Besnard Lakes are out on tour, as they usually are when not immersed in flora and fauna finding inspiration, or conjuring songcraft in their hometown of Montreal, Canada to add to their canon. Theirs is an expansive aural and visual experience, inclusive of myriad influences and styles. A hedonistic concoction of sweet and bitter …
Live Review: The Underground Lovers, Northcote Social Club 12.05.17 Plus Gallery
Deep in the heartland of the (apparently) hipsterville suburb of Northcote in Melbourne and the hometown of the Underground Lovers: there couldn’t be a better place to witness the launch of the band’s second phase second album, “Staring at You Staring at Me” (reviewed by Backseat Mafia here). From the very start, it felt like …
British Sea Power – The Church, Leeds 07.04.2017
It’s odd how often you find yourself justifying liking British Sea Power. Some will roll their eyes at you and cite that they’re too odd and ‘pretentious’ – with their weird venues, stage set ups and arty side projects. Others will sigh heavily and declare them meat and potatoes indie rockers, or rail at the …
Live Review: PINS – Broadcast Glasgow 14.4.2017 Plus Gallery
PINS made a Good Friday great by bringing their captivating live show to a sold-out Broadcast. It’s been another exciting twelve months in the world of Manchester five-piece PINS. This time last year they were releasing the 10″ single ‘Trouble’ for Record Store Day. Since then they’ve released a new EP – the phenomenal ‘Bad …
Live Review: The All Seeing Hand at Schmørgåsbaag, Hobart, Sunday, 23 April 2017
In the early evening on a Sunday at the very edge of the world, a fitting place to witness an extraordinary performance from New Zealand band The All Seeing Hand. I had already recently noted the remarkable level of talent coming out of New Zealand in my recent review of Fazerdaze, and The All Seeing …
Live Review: Desperate Journalist – Nice N Sleazy Glasgow 31.3.2017 Plus Gallery
Exhilarating, epic and exceptional – Desperate Journalist enthral with a grown up, but still fierce, performance at Glasgow’s Nice N Sleazy. After local band Life Model have dragged the crowd away from the bar and down into the cosy basement with their 90s brit/dream pop swagger, Desperate Journalist emerge and waste no time jumping into …
Mark Eitzel – The Greystones, Sheffield
It’s a terrific thing that one of the best songwriters and most heartfelt singers of the last four decades can come and play the back room of a local pub. Much as he’s sticking to the water this evening, it’s hardly an incongruous venue for Mark Eitzel though – so many of the characters in …