It is odd that throughout 1993 and ’94 Counting Crows’ debut album was never off my stereo, only for circumstances to intervene, and even hearing Duritz’s voice would bring back painful memories… “3500 miles away and what would you change if you could?” still echoing in my ears. For almost fifteen years I chose not [...]
Tag Archives: Birmingham
Emmure + Chelsea Grin + Attila + Obey The Brave @ Birmingham Academy 2 – 8th April 2013
When a tour comes to town under the moniker, The Mosh Lives Tour, you know that you’re in for a rowdy evening! Tonight’s gig is headlined by New York deathcore merchants, Emmure, who are back in Birmingham a few short months after opening for Parkway Drive at The Ballroom. Academy 2 is packed out with [...]
Biffy Clyro + City & Colour – Birmingham LG Arena – 21st March 2013
It’s taken 18 years but it seems like Biffy Clyro are in danger of becoming the biggest rock band in the UK any day now. With a number one album in the bag, Ayrshire’s finest arrive in Birmingham for the second night of their first arena-filling tour and there is a definite sense of occasion [...]
Justin Bieber + Carly Rae Jepsen + Cody Simpson @ NIA, Birmingham – Thursday 28th February 2013
Pink lighting and a pink mic stand to match, Carly Rae Jepsen, with true pop star prowess, worked the entire stage, singing several tracks from her album ‘Kiss’. Fun absent, Carly joined forces with fellow support act Cody Simpson to perform top five hit ‘Good Time’. Jepsen made it no secret that her aim on [...]
Ben Folds Five @ Birmingham O2 Academy – 3rd December 2012
Until the release of The Sound Of the Life Of The Mind in September it had been a long 13 years since Ben Folds Five released an album, and almost that long since they played live together, so to say their return to a Birmingham stage is highly anticipated may just be understating it a [...]
Rodrigo & Gabriela – HMV Institute, Birmingham – 25th November 2012
If there’s one thing needed on a cold, wet winter’s evening in Birmingham, it’s some duelling acoustic guitars by some incredibly talented Mexican musicians. Luckily, Rodrigo & Gabriela are in town. I first saw Rod & Gab almost a decade ago when they opened for Damien Rice in London and I was blown away by [...]
Alicia Keys – BBC Radio 1Xtra Live @ Birmingham Ballroom – 15th November 2012
By the time I reach the Ballroom at 9.30 pm, having agreed to cover this review at the last minute, the young and beautiful of Birmingham have been kept in an excited state for the previous 2 hours by DJ sets and performances from Miguel and Disclosure, as the final night of a 4-date tour [...]
Savages @ The Rainbow, Birmingham – Tuesday 6th November 2012
There’s been quite a buzz surrounding Savages over the last few months and this is evident from the packed room I entered at The Rainbow in Birmingham on Tuesday night. I first heard their single, Husbands, earlier this year as it was getting some airplay on BBC 6Music and I liked it instantly. Plenty of [...]
The Cribs @ The Assembly, Leamington Spa – Monday 5th November 2012
“Brian May’s playing here t’morra, we should stay over and hang out wi’ Bri.” The Cribs‘ Ryan Jarman, himself the owner of as distinctive a hair style as the poodle-headed legend, seemed genuinely excited at the unlikely prospect of meeting up with his “hero”, to the point of engaging the crowd in the a capella [...]
Lionel Ritchie @ LG Arena, Birmingham – Friday 26th October 2012
The support act for tonight’s performance is Christian singer songwriter, Phillippa Hanna, who takes to the stage armed with just an acoustic guitar. Her act turns out to be very typical and she struggles to hold onto a vast arena’s attention. Acoustic music has to be innovative and passionate for me to be responsive, and [...]
