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Waiting in the day and recording at night, Christina Perri is the unlikely star to entertain the temple at the HMV institute tonight. The Philadelphian singer-songwriter shot to fame in 2010 with piano ballad “Jar Of Hearts.” Once used on “So You Think You Can Dance” it saw more than 100 000 downloads in just 2 weeks. |
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“Read all about it” Stephen Manderson is back like he never left. Promoting his highly successful album “At Your Inconvenience” after massive chart filler “Alive Til Im Dead” the professor was back and in his prime. Chart topping English rappers are no longer the rarity they once were. But Professor Green has got the talent and the commercial success to contend in the grime scene. |
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Having been hustled and bustled from one queue to the next outside the LG ARENA I arrived just in time to hear the last half of the Heart Wrenching Pixie Lott's opening rendition of ‘Mama Do’. |
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To another refined gig at the wonderful Symphony Hall - a celebration of the recordings from 35 years ago - so for the third time in less than a week I’m transported to ’76, tonight it’s to Peter Frampton showcasing ‘The Frampton Comes Alive’ 35th Anniversary Tour. |
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Support for the evening comes from Leicester band We Three And The Death Rattle. A three-piece consisting of a guitarist, drummer and a lead vocalist (armed with a theremin). This band wear their influences...literally. Sporting a George Jones baseball hat (from the official country star George Jones' website) the guitarist and co offer up their Midlands take on the country/blues inspired music that has illuminated the masses for as long as we care to remember. |
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Exploding onto the stage, playing a white violin and wearing a dress that sparkles beyond compare, Dolly Parton has the energy of a twenty year old and the desire to entertain. Launching into Walking On Sunshine, this petite lady covers the width of the stage with effortless ease, drawing every one of the audience into her unique bubble of Dolly world and that is one joyous place to be. |
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Edinburgh, July/August 1968. I’m fourteen years old. The Soviets invade Czechoslovakia, Cream’s ‘Wheels of Fire’ Toad drum-solo is proscribed by The Hague Convention for being a crime against Humanity and CBS release the definitive album sampler ‘The Rock Machine Turns You On’. And then, and on pain of death if I leave finger-marks or scratch it, my elder brother allows me to listen Simon & Garfunkle’s ‘Bookends’. It saved the life of a child. |
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“Last train to Rowley Regis” There is this friend of mine called John. He is very passionate about his music and travels all over the country via the cheapest means possible, criss-crossing the land trying to cram in as much as he can. He has a network of friends who look after him and you can never be sure when he will turn up next. You are probably wondering what I'm going on about and what this has to do with the review. The point is that as was announced by Kip Berman from the stage my mate John “has been to more Pains.... gigs in the UK than anyone else”!. |
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Just after this gig our photographer posted on a well-known social networking site that this performance by Kasabian had restored his faith in the band. I know exactly what he means. |
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And so to the first night of two acts in succession I’m lucky to review. Much in common - punk upstarts, started in the 70‘s, done over (or not) by Malcolm McClaren, reinvented themselves and back out on tour (again) after a decade and a half. |
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Tonight, as the que snakes all around the venue and down the streets of Digbeth, it’s obvious what most are here for. The return of Panic! At The Disco to UK shores. |
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Initially, we were down to review Japanese Voyeurs as headliners but this being the Rock Sounds Exposure Tour there wasn’t any particular pecking order at this comfortably full, pleasantly ego free event. Nevertheless, the JVs stamped their mark indelibly during the second of four sets, more of whom later. |
