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 [...]
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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 [...]
The Sword + Lonely Kamel @ Wolverhampton Slade Rooms – 6th January 2013
After a quiet period for gigs over Christmas and New Year, it’s good blow those cobwebs away and to to start the 2013 gig season off with something loud, epic and nonsense-free. And tonight, Wolverhampton gets not one, but two bands who rise to the occasionally perfectly. Tonight’s main support, Lonely Kamel, are playing their [...]
ATP Curated By The National – Pontins, Camber Sands – 8th/9th December 2012
All Tomorrow’s Parties is not your typical music festival. No muddy fields, no stupid hats (well, maybe a couple) and no particularly well-known headliners. Plus, no worries about rain. ATP is back at its spiritual home of Pontins (yes, that Pontins!) in Camber Sands on England’s south coast, which means all the artists will be [...]
Kathleen Edwards + Peter Bruntnell @ Bush Hall, London – 6th December 2012
Canadian singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards has slowly but surely been building a reputation as one of the most consistently impressive artists of the past decade, helped along nicely by last year’s Bon Iver-produced Voyageur album, and she’s over on our shores for three stripped back shows, concluding with an appearance at All Tomorrow’s Parties, curated by [...]
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 [...]
The Bronx @ The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent – Tuesday 13th November 2012
If straight-up, no-nonsense, immensely enjoyable punk rock sounds like a good way to spend a few hours on a Tuesday evening, then you can’t go far wrong with the boys from The Bronx. Who, by the way, are from California! The band are on UK shores for an all-too-brief tour which misses most of the [...]
Gojira @ Manchester Academy 2 – 7th November 2012
Let’s start this review with a bold statement… In my honest opinion, Gojira are currently the best metal band on the planet. Big words, I know, but each time they release an album, and especially every time I witness their live performances, my belief in that statement only grows stronger. Tonight, in Manchester, the French [...]
Korn @ Birmingham Academy – 26th March 2012
There were two types of fans at the O2 Academy in Birmingham tonight – the die-hard alternative metal heads who were waiting for Korn‘s classic hits and the Nu-Metal heads who don’t know what to do with themselves now nu-metal is out of fashion. So, what Korn do, they work with big dance music acts, [...]
