Nov
3
Timber Timbre at Union Chapel 1st Nov ’11
November 3, 2011 | Leave a Comment
You will not see a mosh pit at the Union Chapel. The support act for tonight’s show was “evening hymns” which indicates the true leanings of this wonderful gothic church bang in the middle of Islington. Tones of reverence continued once Timber Timbre took the stage amidst hushed pews and bathed in a soft red […]
Aug
24
We Were Promised JetPacks, In the Pit of the Stomach
August 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Sounding like they’ve plugged their guitars straight into a bunch of Marshall amps with nowt in between We Were Promised Jetpacks’ second album gets off to a rollicking start with Circles and Squares – a plaintive ode to confronting inner demons. The no-frills approach endures throughout with the four-piece making up for an occasional lack […]
Jun
10
Shonen Knife, Free Time
June 10, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Long time fans will be relieved to know lead singer Naoko’s English accent remains unchanged: just the right side of comprehensible but occasionally straying into that weird place where the hard Japanese consonants fade into vowels already mushier than a heartbroken Michael Bolton whereupon it all becomes a glorious balm for the ears. My copy […]
Jan
31
Egyptian Hip Hop, Jan 27th, Bush Hall: review
January 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment
I always wondered what that guy who turned down the Beatles is doing now? Legend has it he scribbled down “Guitar bands aren’t where it’s at” before disappearing off into a career in Mickey Ds. Kraut-rock on acid blurring the lines between on-stage tune ups, occasional grunting and and any normal recognisable song start indicators […]
Apr
1
Goldheart Assembly, ICA, 31st March
April 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The following review appears in the latest edition of London’ premier music ‘zine, London Tour Dates The modern face of British folk-pop fandom is morphing and merging. These days at a gig you’re just as likely to see willowy Goldsmiths students called Francesca supping cocktails as a crusty holding a plastic pint glass, although to […]
Dec
27
PiL, Camden Electric Ballroom, 22nd Dec
December 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment
It’s easy to mock a PiL gig. With an average age of about 41 the demographics on this cold Camden night just about matched the waistlines.
Dec
19
Erland and the Carnival
December 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
The last time I saw folk music in action it was in a central London pizza parlour and the guy was dressed in pointy-hooded green medieval tabard with bells on one ankle and a foot-operated drum on his back. He actually used the words hey-nonny-no in one song.
Oct
27
Juliette Lewis, Shep Bush Empire, 23rd Oct
October 27, 2009 | 1 Comment
Is Juliette Lewis an over-privileged Hollywood star just playing at being a rock star or is she for real?