I never thought my first gig of 2012 would be a death metal show but I’m always open to new music so it was off to the Birmingham Academy to see The Black Dahlia Murder supported by Skeletonwitch and Fleshgod Apocalypse. As far as extreme band names go Fleshgod Apocalyse will be somewhere up the [...]
The Dirty Old Folkers Present – Cinderella @ Hare & Hounds, 22nd December 2011
Blundering yet ever more confused in to the second decade of the third millennium we can, at least, allow ourselves a moment or two of sage reflection. Given that, Dave -’You’re all in this shit together’- Cameron’s emasculated poodle Brit grit spirit saw both cheese-eating surrender monkey Johnny Frog and the Euro-porn gluttonous Krauts given [...]
The Wonder Stuff & The Levellers @ Birmingham Academy 15th December 2011
The O2 is sold out for local boys, The Wonder Stuff tonight, here to perform their album “Never Loved Elvis” on the 20th Anniversary of its release (well June 2011 would be..) on the Polydor label. But first up are The Levellers in support mode. The show is almost a re-run of the March 26th [...]
Marillion + Tin Spirits @ HMV Institute, 13th December 2011
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. Support tonight comes [...]
Example @ Birmingham Academy, 10th December 2011
Another full venue marks the popularity of 29 year old Elliot Greaves, the rapper who couldn’t rap from Fulham was back with two sell out national tours and an arena tour next year. Elliott wants to “Give the people what they want” and it seems what the people want is uplifting rave music, which is [...]
The Lemonheads + Meredith Sheldon + Nile Marr @ Birmingham Academy 2, 10th December 2011
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’ [...]
Ocean Colour Scene @ Civic Hall Wolverhampton, 9th December 2011
It was nostalgia that brought me here tonight and I’m sure I wasn’t alone in that. A chance to see Ocean Colour Scene play their 1996 album ‘Moseley Shoals’ could not be missed and I hoped I wouldn’t be disappointed. Having spent my teens in the Brit Pop era, I wondered whether tonight would live [...]
Professor Green and Labrinth @ Birmingham Academy, 9th December 2011
“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 I’m 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 [...]
Gary Numan @ Assembly Hall, Leamington Spa, 7th December 2011
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. Gary has also picked up two awards this year Mojo magazine awarded him the ‘Inspiration’ [...]
Kasabian @ Birmingham NIA, 6th December 2011
The NIA is possibly one of the worse venues to drive to, and given the pre-Christmas traffic slightly worse than normal. The nearby multi-story car-park is also inadequate for the size of the venue, but having located a space the charges are also custom made for punter rip-off. It seems you can have 3 hours [...]














