The story of this show practically writes itself tonight. Rage Against The Machine take to the stage to make true on their promise of a free show if they defeated the X-Factor juggernaut for the Christmas No.1 spot. Meanwhile Simon Cowell, the antichrist to the 40,000 vociferous music fans present here on a muggy London night, is taking to the BAFTA awards stage, receiving plaudits for his contribution to television. Despite Rage telling us otherwise, perhaps we didn’t make history at all? Continue reading Live Review: Rage Against The Machine @ Finsbury Park, London→
My dad is with me tonight. There’s got be something to be said for a gig that can attract both a 21 year old student and a near 50 (sorry dad) rocker. I’m not too sure who it reflects on the worst – myself, the old man, or the bands squeezing onto the Underworld’s legendary stage. Continue reading Live Review: Russian Circles/Earthless @ Underworld, London→
Live Review:Mono Venue: Scala, London Date: 15/03/10
It would seem that Mono have grown quite attached to the Scala. Returning to the UK for another stint in support of last year’s Hymn to the Immortal Wind, the band appears settled amongst the smart surroundings of what used to be an old cinema that has had its own turbulent story. In a way, the history of the venue and Mono’s music is a perfect relationship, the Scala’s dramatic past seemingly the perfect fit to Mono’s cinematic music that leaves so much to the imagination. Continue reading Live Review: Mono @ Scala, London→
Note: The following review is from the evening show. Photos were taken at the matinee show.
Dillinger Escape Plan are one of the best bands in the world right now. Anyone who guffaws at such a claim clearly wasn’t in the tight confines of the Camden Barfly, Friday the 12th of February. Like generals preparing for war, Dillinger Escape Plan had set a strategy for this, their only UK show on a criminally short European run. The battleground (and it is no exaggeration to call it that tonight) is a space no larger than your average living room; the soldiers are plenty, with tickets selling out within moments of release; and the munitions are the devastating songs that DEP have got in their arsenal. Was someone looking for WMD’s a few years ago? Found ‘em. Continue reading Live Review: Dillinger Escape Plan @ Camden Barfly, London→
“What the fuck do you say to 500 people?” is the question on Vessels guitarist Peter Wright’s lips as the band break their vocal silence and take time to introduce themselves to the throng of observers gathered in Heaven tonight. If they feel out of their depth, then the Leeds band are doing an extremely capable job of hiding it. Continue reading Live Review: Oceansize/And So I Watch You From Afar/Vessels @ Heaven, London→
Arriving literally just in time to see Irish lads Wounds open tonight’s show, I’d be lying if I was surprised by just how great their performance was. Playing to a half full Barfly audience who are full of trepidation and standing right at the back of the room, the band seemingly took the audience’s fears and exacerbated them mercilessly. Within seconds of their opening salvo of ragged riffs, guitarist James Coogan is in the middle of the room, throwing his instrument and limbs all over the place. It’s not long before his brother and vocalist Aiden has joined him, the two bounding around the space like jacked-up kangaroos, getting in the faces of the perplexed audience. Continue reading Live Review: Japanese Voyeurs/Sharks/Wounds @ Barfly, London→
Probably the biggest arena show of the year so far, it would be difficult to fathom a better line-up for those in their early twenties. After all, all three bands on the bill tonight have grown and matured side-by-side with their audiences, soundtracking a decade of trials and tribulations, of fumbling advances and broken hearts, and of faith and doubt. Continue reading Live Review: Brand New/Glassjaw/Thrice→
The museum for the musical musings of Michael Copus
The Only Thing I Know For Sure 