BEST FRIENDS FOREVER (London Old Blue Last, 25/07/11)



Shambolic, good-natured and thoroughly entertaining anti-folk courtesy of two Minnesotan mentalists, whose wit and enthusiasm more than makes up for any minor deficiencies in actual musical talent.

(Photo: Odhran O'Donoghue (of the amazing Wears The Trousers))

TWO GALLANTS (London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, 19/07/11)



Review: HERE

(Photo: Anika Mottershaw/The Line of Best Fit)

BJORK (Manchester Campfield Market Hall, 16/07/11)



The previous Bjork show I went to was the best gig of my life. This show was, sadly, the third best gig of the week. The “Biophilia” set-up is a triumph of invention and innovation, but bassy sound, amelodic and challenging new material and the alienating effects of a stage ‘in the round’ made this a much less engaging and immersive experience than I’d hoped for. A show more to be admired than enjoyed, although they did have LIGHTNING ARCING OUT OF GIANT SPEAKER-THINGS WHICH WAS PRETTY SWEET.

(Photo: Can You 'Ear Me)

YNDI HALDA (London Lexington, 15/07/11)



Review: HERE

RAINDOGS REVISITED (London Barbican, 13/07/11)



Kinda suspected this tribute to Tom Waits’ seminal album would be a pretty mixed bag, and I certainly wasn’t wrong. Camille O’ Sullivan’s eccentric cabaret and St. Vincent’s fuzzed-up rawness worked a treat, but the rest of the acts veered from poor imitations to over-zany quirkiness. Can’t stand the Tiger Lillies either, which made their contributions a chore to sit through.

(Photo: Anika Mottershaw)

CONGOTRONICS VS ROCKERS (London Barbican, 12/07/11)



Review: HERE

(Photo: Robocod)

PULP (London Hyde Park, 03/07/11)



They played Mis-Shapes. THAT IS ALL. <3 <3 <3 <3

(Also enjoyed the mad granny diva posturings of Grace Jones, the OTT showmanship of the Hives and the euphonium gypsy-folk dance party of Devotchka. Didn’t approve of TVOTR’s appalling sound mix though.)

(Photo: NME)

ARCADE FIRE (London Hyde Park, 30/06/11)



Not a classic AF show by any means. Setlist was average, although the unusual running order (Wake Up as the second track!) was a bit of a treat. The fact most of the show was in daylight seriously impacted on the atmosphere, and the crowd where I was standing were really passive and unenthusiastic. Enjoyable enough, but Warsaw was considerably better.

Also, tried to give Mumford and Sons the benefit of the doubt, but they were utter bollocks. True, their session musicians delivered some nice brass flourishes but at the end of they day, they've only got one song and it ain't a particularly good one. And as one of my friends pointed out- Marcus sure does look a bit like Nick Griffin.

(Photo: Lickmybattery)

ARCADE FIRE (Warsaw Torwar, 24/06/11)



Despite taking place in a soulless, half-sold, alcohol-free stadium, this turned out to be my favourite show of the Suburbs tour so far. The Polish crowd were great – receptive but not aggressive - and the band put 100% into the entire performance. Particularly dug the extended version of Modern Man, with its 80’s-tastic electro-synth outro; would appreciate more of this in Album 4.

PATRICK WOLF (London Garage, 20/06/11)



Too many screaming fangirls and overwrought love songs for my tastes, but worth it just for the glorious guilty pleasure that is “Magic Position.”

(Photo: John Gleeson)

BORIS (University of London, 19/06/11)



Review: HERE

(Photo: Matt Brown)

tUnE-YaRdS (London Scala 08/06/11)



Review: HERE

(Photo: David Emery)

MONO (London Koko 07/06/11)



Review: HERE

(Photo: Kristian James)