London
Live Review: Black Doldrums – The Victoria, London 10.03.2022
Shoegazing? Nope. I can assure you, nobody is looking at the floor tonight. Everyone is transfixed by the concentrated stare of Black Doldrums drummer Sophie Landers. The self-proclaimed goth and “noise conjurer” is a mesmerising sight. Pounding the sticks throughout the Dalston night with bandmate Kevin Gibbard on guitar and main vocal duties and band …
Live Review: Dana Gavanski – The Lexington, London 08.03.2022
I’m afraid the mosh-pit has been cancelled. To the uninitiated the London gig scene may seem hip, cool and above all – dominated by the young and open-minded. Tonight that misconception is laid bare. Here in the city I love, a city I consider to be the global capital of culture, diversity and youthful vibrancy …
Live Review: Puma Blue / Lucy Lu & Uma / Harvey Dweller / Chartreuse – Amsterdam, Bristol, London
Jacob Allen better known as Puma Blue is currently on his North American and EU/UK tour. Backseat Mafia’s Cath Dupuy caught Allen at his Amsterdam, Bristol and London gigs. Lucy Lu & Uma supported in Amsterdam, but then became ill and couldn’t do rest of tour. Puma Blue then had their very own Harvey Dweller …
Live Review: Pale Waves – The Roundhouse, London 27.02.2022
Pale Waves are a firm favourite of Backseat Mafia. Michael Hundertmark caught the band at their Roundhouse gig.
Track Review: October and the Eyes – Spiral
Following the release of her debut EP Dogs and Gods in 2020, New Zealand-born, London-based singer & songwriter October and the Eyes is back with a new single ‘Spiral’, which is out now via KRO Records. October will also be playing a UK tour with Yves Tumor this month. Speaking about the new single, October said “‘Spiral’ is about a problematic friendship …
Live Review: Big Thief – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London 02.03.2022
Looking like they’ve lost their way searching for The Emerald City the four disparate characters on stage tonight are Big Thief. The Brooklyn-based band have actually just blown in from Bristol as they continue their epic European and North American tour. A global trek which, incidentally, is donating 1% of tour income to the climate …
Live Review: Desperate Journalist – Lafayette, King’s Cross 19.02.2022
For a moment the only Desperate Journalist was me – stranded on a lethargic rail-replacement bus somewhere in the Essex hinterland. Like the title of the latest Desperate Journalist album – Maximum Sorrow – I feared disappointment and loss at the thought of missing their headline show. Still, this gig was originally scheduled to coincide with that …
Live Review: Smoke Fairies – Lafayette, King’s Cross 15.02.2022
“So great leaving the house, isn’t it?” declares Katherine Blamire, clearly excited that her and fellow Smoke Fairies friend Jessica Davies are finally back touring. Being back on the road and spending time away from home isn’t without its dangers though. Blamire reveals how she recently reacquainted herself with her cat – “I came back …
Say Psych: Album Review: Los Bitchos – Let The Festivities Begin!
London’s Los Bitchos have finally released their debut LP, aptly titled Let the Festivities Begin! It invokes panthers prowling through a desert, cowgirls swaggering into a saloon and kicking up dust, riding shotgun with a Tarantino heroine. Los Bitchos’ hallucinatory surf-exotica is as evocative as it is playful: the pan-continental group could well be your …
Premiere: Tenacity unveil their perfect visual accompaniment to charismatic charm of single ‘Doubt Me’
Backseat Mafia are thrilled to be officially delivering to you the official video premiere of Doubt Me, the clip which accompanies the latest track from London jazz/pop outfit Tenacity. The group just last week kicked off their exciting debut album journey with the exhilarating, catchy alt-pop anthem, which first premiered on BBC Introducing and is …