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Take yourselves back to '92, when life, just maybe, was a little more carefree. We have all grown up since then, as part of life's journey - as have these guys - tonight in a rather chilly Christmassy Birmingham, we're here to tune into Evan Dando and The Lemonheads, playing 'It's A Shame About Ray' in its entirety. Plus lots more. |
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It seems that synth legend Gary Numan has become very popular again in recent years and 2011 is no exception. With the release of ‘Dead Son Rising’ the album has received the best reviews for any of his previous albums. |
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The Academy was full to brim with an audience of all ages, from pubs in Twickenham to commercial success with hits “L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N” and “Five Years’ Time” Noah and the Whale have been on a long beautiful journey over the past few years. |
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Well, how the music scene goes through phases. You can be cool. Then incredibly uncool. Then go though a really tough time. And then, by hook and by crook, you’re sneakily cool again – almost übercool when the right (currently) cool people cite you as a musical influence. And so to a Sunday night out in Wolverhampton in the Wulfrun. Here to see the proverbial introvert who’s followed this path over a thirty plus year career. A person who flatly refuses to give up; Mr Gary Webb – better known as industrial techno innovator Gary Numan. |
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Neil Diamond may be seventy, but he proved last night that he can still deliver a good show. The audience were slow to arrive at the LG Arena and for a while I wondered if the arena had made a mistake in booking Diamond for two concerts. But suddenly the hall filled up and virtually every seat was filled. |
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It specifically said on the flyer, ‘Emma Scott Presents...’ Well, I looked high and low at the Hare and couldn’t find her anywhere! A promise more honoured in the breech than the observance, me thinks. Honestly! |
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I arrive just in time for New Riot, an energetic UK ska-punk band who are trying hard to get the crowd warmed up. At one point they divide the crowd for a 'wall of death' only to have no-one move when the track kicked in, leaving a big channel down the centre of the room. It's a shame the crowd were so unresponsive, but it's early on a cold Sunday evening - it'll take more than a bit of shouting. |
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We arrive at the Civic as the support act, Wakey-Wakey, are towards the ends of their set. A five-piece outfit who hail from Brooklyn, their line-up includes a violin and a lead vocalist centre-stage on keyboards. Clearly some talent, and very reminiscent of an early Billy Joel. They are well received by the already full venue, which has full seating in the stalls, quite a novelty for a gig at the Civic. |
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Thunderclap Newman captured the late 60s zeitgeist to perfection with their monster (and only) hit single ‘Something In The Air’, the band being an artistic construct guided by Pete Townsend. This evening saw Mr. Thunderclap, in smart suit and dapper homburg, playing bierkeller keyboards and some decidedly odd (Captain Beefheart?) clarinet flourishes. |
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With trees shedding leaves and skies casting a noticeably darker haze over the Custard Factory, Supersonic rolls into town for its latest instalment, this time casting a notably darker ambience across proceedings. With the festival shunting itself into October this time around, its acts seemingly followed suit into a realm of knowingly bleak approximation. |
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The Academy 2 is shamefully empty for the opening band Lower Than Atlantis probably due to the ridiculously early set time of 6.30pm. It doesn’t seem to bother the band though who take it in their stride playing a relatively tight set hampered only by some not so amazing vocals. The effort they are putting in is evident though and some lively banter goes on between them and the crowd. |
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Post-rock/Electronica/Instrumental, whatever you want to define them as 65DaysOfStatic are here tonight in Birmingham to treat the eager audience to a mind-blowing performance. |
