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Tonight is an early start by most gig standards, the first band, Triggerfinger, take to the stage at 7.10 and having never heard of them before, impress. A three piece who remind me of Screaming Blue Messiahs, they play hard and fast and despite being suited and booted certainly crank out some powerful stuff. |
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Tonight, out in a bitterly cold Birmingham, we should be in for a festive treat. In the lovely HMV Institute with a band who refuses to go away and have created their very own special independent path - Marillion as part of their handful of UK dates for their Christmas Tour 2011. |
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Well, here we are in an Indian Summer. Hottest October day on record. So just the day to go to an intimate, excruciatingly hot, gig in a small bar venue in Wolves. Welcome to the Slade Rooms. Welcome to the band that made indie rock and roll just great fun with some great pop songs and just great downright straight ‘come and party with us lot” gigs. Welcome everyone ‘cos, with new album in tow, tonight Terrorvision are in town. |
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After a day of hype, intrigue, media spin, hackgate and custard pies, tonight we get to see two members of a truly alternative and infuencial band on their side project. Celebrating the 30 years since they decided to play away from home, welcome to “Birminham” (pronounced without the ‘g”) all the way from New York City, The Tom Tom Club. No Phantom Fan Flingers present. |
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Tinchy Stryder, Wretch 32, Her majesty and the wolves, Soundgirl , Talay Riley, Six D and Oh My were in Leamington Spa at the acute setting of The Assembly. A great idea from “Future Hits Live” as the intimate setting provided a great atmosphere with big stars for a reasonable amount of money. The show had variation and introduced new and well known acts to the mainly young audience. A great idea and overall a great night! |
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James Taylor, the award winning 63 year old was in Birmingham, an old destination that he and his band visited many years ago. James Taylor, the troublemaker from the 70s charmed the audience from the moment he stepped on stage with his jokes and stories. His stories consisted of memories and the inspiration behind each song on his two part set and made the audience feel as if James Taylor was an old friend. |
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No supports, no frills, no big production, just riffs, posing, pouting and a PA system louder than you can imagine. |
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"I look at The Robin as my spiritual home" Joanne Shaw Taylor, Wednesbury born and now Detroit resident kicked off her UK tour at the Robin 2 to a packed venue and nothing was going to upset the remarkable singer and guitarist tonight. |
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Tonight it’s to the teeny Academy 3 to see three potential new upstarts of the indie rock scene, Twin Atlantic supported by Fighting with Wire and Spy Catcher. To a young crowd, and the odd parent, in a VERY warm cosy room. |
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With five acts, and a pre-11 o’clock curfew, all credit due to the four support bands: The Heist, Little Wing, Lakota Sioux and Flatline Stereo respectively, for adhering to the essential stage-craft etiquette of keeping to their set-list time slots. Their youthful exuberance, admirably supported by families young and old (excellent inclusive door policy, Academy!), was reflected in their breathless determination to give it their all. |
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Tonight it’s down to the 02 Academy for The Man of the Moment - breakthrough multi-award winning artist Tinie Tempah. The big break came after a stunning performance at the Wireless Festival in 2009, with his debut single ‘Pass-Out’ UK Number 1 for two consecutive weeks and his debut album ‘Disc-Overy’ straight in at Number 1 in October 2010. |
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You can’t help but like Bad Apes; a three piece punk rock band from Wolverhampton. Maybe they are a little loose around the edges musically and often seem unfocused, but what they lack in technical skill, they more than make up for with youthful exuberance, energy and joy in performance. |
