Event Reviews

  The Mars Chronicles and Klone were the first two bands of the night. To be honest neither really were my cup of tea. While both were both technically good bands, they lacked that ‘umph’, or something remarkable. Some sections were either too generic or a bit maidenly – that …

The night kicked off with American alternative rock band American Fangs.  They kick off the night with lots of energy and noise.  Quite early on in their short set, the singer jumped down off the stage, climbed the barrier and jumped into the audience.  He then made his way through …

There hasn’t been as much controversy about a Download headliner since My Chemical Romance topped the bill in 2007; even Feeder and The Offspring got better receptions in 2005 and 2008. But with a new album that reached #1 in both the UK and the US and a near-sold out …

With the grey clouds broiling overhead heralding the true onset of a wet Belfast winter, and even the hardiest of ‘fleg’ protestors scurrying for the comfort of the gluhwein tents in the nearby Christmas Market to which they so vehemently object, the the most diehard warriors from the city’s metal …

First up tonight were King King, a blues rock band who have won the Best band award at the British Blues awards two years running – impressive stuff for a band that has only been around for a few years.  Taking to the stage in Kilts, they make it clear …

A cold Friday at the end of November finds me back in the Cathouse in Glasgow for the UK leg of Michael Monroe’s Horn’s and Halo’s world tour, but the temperature doesn’t matter when for my money you have one of the best front men in the rock scene at …

Tonight’s gig was supposed to be headlined by Bristolian gore merchants Amputated, but unfortunately the brakes on their hired tour bus failed as they travelled to meet the ferry, and therefore the band were forced to cancel a gig for the first time in their 11 year history.  Nevertheless, promoter …

Arrived at Sound Control for a promising night of metal mayhem. Doors supposedly at 7pm, hence arrival time 7:10pm to find the shutters down. After a couple of walks round the block and about 30 minutes stood trying to shelter from the rain, someone finally got round to telling the …

Opening the bill for two bands of the quality of tonight’s ‘co-headliners’ was never going to be an easy task, but LA veteran newcomers Venrez did their task with aplomb and confidence – perhaps buoyed by vocalist Stephen Berez’s earlier sampling of the finest whiskey ever distilled, Black Bush. Despite …

Pixies have always been a niche band, despite several major artists claiming them as influential to their music (Nirvana and Radiohead to name but two.) Having been a fan since an NME flexidisc in 1987, throughout the years I have been following Black Francis et al I have never come …

Todays gig was slightly unusual for me.  No it’s not the fact it was held in a small venue in Holland so required a long journey to get there – no, the strange part was the time.  Instead of a 7pm start and late finish, this was billed as a …

Tonight was my second time in a week seeing Beth Hart and support act Martin Harley.  Once again the night kicked off with Martin Harley, a singer/songwriter who performs solo.  He sits and plays a lap guitar while singing.  He’s got a very good voice and his guitar playing is …

Tonight’s gig was one I’d been really looking forward to since I first listened to the band’s single “Boo hoo hoo”.  More recently I’ve been listening to their forthcoming album (also called Boo Hoo Hoo) which has just been released in Germany and comes out in the UK in January.  …

The night opened with Solemn Promise, a local hardcore band.  Most of the band are fairly static as they play, but Dan Hodgkins on vocals never stands still for more than a second or two.  The band tell the crowd that the songs they’re playing tonight are all from their …

Tonight’s gig at the historic Roundhouse was to be a true music legend – Peter Frampton. The former Humble Pie singer/guitarist has had a long successful solo career, but somehow I’ve never quite got round to seeing him in concert until tonight. Tonight there’s no support act just Peter Frampton …

The night kicked off with Martin Harley, a singer/songwriter who performs solo.  He sits and plays a lap guitar while singing.  He’s supported beth Hart in the past, and listening to his set tonight, it’s clear why she’s invited him back to play on some of the dates on her …

Carrying on a recent trend for me, tonight was another night where I was really more familiar with the support acts than the headliner.  Having seen Maple Run once before and RSJ, well, just a few times, I knew tonight was going to be a good night.  Though I was …

To say tickets are as rare as Willy Wonka golden tickets is an understatement as The Temperance Movement are currently on the 2nd leg of their current UK tour,selling out venues up and down the country. Tonight they have just played their 100th gig this year at the Club Academy …

The cavernous Odyssey Arena – built more for ice hockey and other sporting activities than gigs – is curtained off about two-thirds of the way down its length, indicating that tonight’s gig might be suffering the effects of booking two arena shows within 100 miles of each in two cities …

Damnation Festival encompasses a great deal of underground bands, with a variety of acts from around the world playing crust, grind, doom, thrash, extreme metal, to even, this year with Shining, (not the extreme, grotesque, blood everywhere on stage, black metal band) but the band that involves black jazz into …