The Streets/Brother at Leeds Academy, February 24
As one band grows stale it’s hard to not get caught up on the scrappy, ambitious new flame. Tonight as The Streets play their last ever gigs half of the audience stand attentively waiting for Slough’s Brother. Using the Happy Mondays aesthetic, each song contains a complimentary “ooh” and “ahh” only to be joined by … Read more
My Chemical Romance at Nottingham Arena, February 19
After surpassing their emo expectancy, My Chemical Romance are now stuck between worlds of teenage angst and rock pop. With Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco recovering, MCR have launched full throttle into a world of anthemic chorus’ and pink hair dye. Opener ‘Na Na Na’ brings boyband chanting and aggressive slogans to … Read more
Bright Eyes at Rock City, Nottingham, February 9
After a few questionable performances, that John Peel rant and a rather public breakdown, Conor Oberst’s indie credentials have been suffering of late. But with four years of silence, The People’s Key has brought a new lease of life to the lacklustre three piece. Tonight emerging clean cut Oberst brings the raucous crowd to a … Read more
The Crave at the Corporation, Sheffield, February 7
As a bunch of pretty boys growing up in a world of Motley Crue and Guns n’ Roses, The Crave wear their influences on their sleeves. Unfortunately tonight- among the bad hair and tattoos the band resemble Bon Jovi . Earlier in the night Tiger Please manage to satisfy the small cluster of fans with … Read more
The Vaselines at the Leadmill, Sheffield, January 26
The Vaselines split up in 1989- before the release of their debut album, receiving a huge accolade from Kurt Cobain and gaining a legion of twee fans across the universe. Now, 22 years on Frances and Eugene have a lot of making up to do. Tonight fans have travelled across the world to witness this … Read more
You Me At Six, The Blackout, Set Your Goals at the Dome, Doncaster, December 10
Tomorrow this leisure centre will be full of screaming girls supporting Louis Tomlinson of One Direction through the X Factor final. Tonight girls are screaming their lungs out- but for an entirely different reason. You Me At Six reach teens in a different way and tonight leaves them fainting, screaming and jumping on every … Read more
Wolf Gang at Sheffield University Students Union, November 18
With their woolly jumpers, softly spoken intros and summery melodies, Wolf Gang appear be taking their influences from Vampire Weekend. Dabbling in synths and driven with guitar melodies, there’s nothing to separate the trio from every other band in the country. With their forgettable melodies the group lacks any real personality as each member jostles … Read more
Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem at Magna, Rotherham, November 13
As LCD Soundsystem announce their last album and Magna Science Centre (Rotherham) reveal a council bail out, tonight feels like a last hurrah for both venue and band. Most are here for a boozing night out , yet LCD are capable of producing sounds way beyond a clubnight. Layer after layer of fusion washes the … Read more
Dinosaur Pile-Up at The Plug, Sheffield, October 16
With bands jumping on the grunge bandwagon it’s easy to toss this musical development aside as a passing trend. As teenagers still worship the corpse of Kurt Cobain it’s clear there’s a market for flannel shirts, Doc Martens and possibly, Dinosaur Pile-Up. With chugging guitars, blasting chorus’ and growling vocals, DPU scream teenage angst so … Read more
of Montreal at Manchester Academy Two, October 5
With of Montreal’s new release, False Priest falling under the radar, it’s comforting to know the avant-garde group’s set is anything but understated. Brandishing outlandish costumes, bizarre extras and garish video projections, of Montreal’s performance is a cross between experimental art and a seventies disco. Pig heads, gas masks, bizarre clothed creatures and Michael Jackson … Read more
