LIVE: STRANGE WAVES III (UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA / DEERHUNTER / BLACK LIPS / SAM EVIAN) – 26/05/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- This is the third time music promoters Now Wave and Strange Days have brought their pysch rock night to Manchester and the line up certainly doesn’t disappoint, Despite the blistering bank holiday sun outside, the first act, Boy Azooga, must have had a pretty sizeable crowd because by the time I get […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- With the room still lit up by the sunlight, I arrive at Manchester’s Albert Hall about five minutes before tonight’s support act Du Blonde is due to begin. I’ve been aware of both Du Blonde and tonight’s headliner Ezra Furman for a few years now without ever making the leap to see […]

LIVE: EZRA FURMAN / DU BLONDE – 27/05/2018

LIVE: KAMASI WASHINGTON – 04/05/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- “Jazz is like a telescope, and a lot of other music is like a microscope,” speaks Los Angeles-born saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who since the age of three has been an obsessive practicing musician, and with 34-years of experience now behind him, can site Kendrick Lamar and Ryan Adams as collaborators while still […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Is there a word for that thing the Church does where they re-write the life of a Saint retrospectively? As in, St. Patrick probably was actually a really great guy, but he probably didn’t drive all the snakes out of Ireland. St. David (my namesake) probably did actually love leeks, but probably […]

LIVE: MEXRRISSEY – 27/04/2018

MEXRRISSEY TO PLAY HOMETOWN GIG (SORT OF)

Love Morrissey? Hate his terrible opinions and attitudes? Don’t fancy seeing him live, but think a tribute act might be a bit naff? What if I told you there was another way? Mexrrissey might be the band for you. It’s a simple concept – they play Morrissey songs, but they’re from Mexico City. Irish blood, […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Dinosaur Jr., a band who were probably knocking about when Jesus and John the Baptist were dunking people in the river like rich tea in PG, have completely blown away this Manchester crowd and I’m fucking chuffed for everyone involved. Finally entering the building, after downing our cans of shitty rum and […]

LIVE: DINOSAUR JR. – 24/03/2018

LIVE: TUNE-YARDS – 16/03/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- “I don’t think I’m a Goth, I like pastel shades too much…and GAP tops. I do like Depeche Mode though. Does that count?” These musings came from me, bored at work, before the Tune-Yards gig last Friday. I love Tune-Yards. Their music is spiritual without being annoying and anthemic, without being cheesy. […]
Tune-Yards started 2018 with a bang, that bang being the new album I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life. Thematically, the twelve new songs tackle race, politics, intersectional feminism and environmental prophecies head on but is probably Tune-Yards’ most immediate and upbeat record yet – this is music to dance to! Bandleader Merrill […]

TUNE-YARDS – MANCHESTER SHOW TICKETS GIVEAWAY

LIVE: OH SEES / ONCE & FUTURE BAND / MALE GAZE / FLAT WORMS / KELLEY STOLTZ – 01/03/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- It’s an intensely grim evening in Manchester tonight, but despite that fans are out in force, descending on the Albert Hall for Castlemania: a Castle Face Records showcase event offering five live bands. Opening we have Kelley Stoltz, current San Francisco resident who has been releasing music since 1999 and has been […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Certain bands have an air of anticipation affixed to their name. You don’t always expect glitzy, show-stopping stunts but you know you’re going to be in for a treat in some way. Mogwai is one such band. Having graced the prog-rock scene for well over two decades, their two nights at Manchester’s […]

LIVE: MOGWAI / BEAK / MUGSTAR – 04/02/2018