Feb 20

Pulled Apart By Horses @ HMV Institute, Birmingham - 20th February 2012

Pulled Apart By Horses Kylesa are playing at the HMV Institute tonight. They are an amazing, American Stoner-Metal band that have been going for over ten years, have toured the globe tirelessly in that time and have several albums under their belt, the last two of which received glowing critical acclaim. They are performing upstairs tonight, playing the 300-capacity Temple venue. In comparison, Pulled Apart By Horses are a paltry five years old, two albums into their career and already the Leeds 4-piece are commanding silly-big crowds, (near 600 this evening) and are here in Birmingham to play the Library stage of the Institute.


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Feb 12

The War on Drugs + Cloud Control + We Were Evergreen @ Birmingham HMV Institute - 12th February 2012

War On Drugs I'm not one to stay in on a Sunday night. It's a perfectly good night like all the others. So I was pleased to see that the HMV Next Big Thing show was on the traditional day of rest. The 'next big things' in question were The War on Drugs, Cloud Control, and We Were Evergreen. The first two names in that list being two of my favourite new acts of 2011, so I had high hopes that the third could join their ranks. I went to the Temple at HMV Institute to find out.


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Jan 26

Four Year Strong + A Loss For Words + Don Broco @ Birmingham HMV Institute - 26th January 2012

Four Year Strong Tonight’s show is sold-out, no surprise really when the line-up consists of Four Year Strong, pop-punk heroes A Loss For Words and Don Bronco. On arrival to the venue I have a no crowd surfing flyer unceremoniously shoved into my hand and wondered if anyone would actually take any notice of it.


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Jan 21

M83 @ Birmingham HMV Institute – 21st January 2102

thumbnail (1 of 1) Pinning down the sound of M83 (named after a spiral galaxy, Messier 83) is not an easy task. Mostly electronic, Anthony Gonzalez’ influences range from the epicness of Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine to the soundscapes of Sigur Ros and the Cocteau Twins. And yet, Gonzalez’ first musical hero, Jean Michel Jarre, is still very much apparent.


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Mar 10

Watain + Shining @ HMV Institute, 10th March 2011

Watain Talk about an extreme stylistic clash. My last review job was reviewing the high-energy, youthful post hardcore of Your Demise in front of a packed, clean-cut Academy III. Tonight however couldn't have been more of a shift, with both Watain and Shining dwelling in the darkness, providing an eye-raising double-headed mix of depressive Scandinavian black metal and disturbing nihilism.


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Feb 08

Imelda May @ HMV Institute 8th February 2011

Imelda May Pretty busy here at the HMV Institute as we wait for the new emerging talent of Imelda May to appear on stage. Still lovin’ the HMV Institute as a venue - you can clearly see the stage wherever you stand.


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Feb 04

Diamonds @ HMV Institute, 4th February 2011

Diamonds A recent regular on the Birmingham and Midlands gig circuit, this was Diamonds’ first appearance at the new HMV institute. Playing the downstairs back room on a Friday night at 11pm, there was always likely to be a lively atmosphere, and we were not disappointed.


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