The Japanese post-rockers may be a one-trick pony (start off slow, build up glacially, GLORIOUSLY CACOPHONOUS PAY-OFF) but it's a damn good trick nonetheless.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
HORSE LORDS (London Lexington, 14/11/16)
Do you like the idea of Colin Stetson and Deerhoof forming an off-kilter, Can-infused math-rock band? Do you like ridiculous displays of musical and rhythmic proficiency? Do you like fucktons of cowbell? If so, then Baltimore's tremendous Horse Lords might be the band for you.
Do you like the idea of Colin Stetson and Deerhoof forming an off-kilter, Can-infused math-rock band? Do you like ridiculous displays of musical and rhythmic proficiency? Do you like fucktons of cowbell? If so, then Baltimore's tremendous Horse Lords might be the band for you.
PAUL SIMON (London Royal Albert Hall, 08/11/16)
Not going to lie- this wasn't quite the epoch-defining gig I expected to be. But despite the stuffiness of the venue, the mediocrity of the sound-mix and the surfeit of filler, the sheer quantity of stone-cold classics nevertheless made this a gig worth the £75 ticket price. I mean, say what you like about Paul Simon's post-Garfunkel musical output, but The Boxer -> Sound of Silence -> Mrs. Robinson -> Bridge Over Trouble Water is a pretty solid encore by anyone's standards.
Not going to lie- this wasn't quite the epoch-defining gig I expected to be. But despite the stuffiness of the venue, the mediocrity of the sound-mix and the surfeit of filler, the sheer quantity of stone-cold classics nevertheless made this a gig worth the £75 ticket price. I mean, say what you like about Paul Simon's post-Garfunkel musical output, but The Boxer -> Sound of Silence -> Mrs. Robinson -> Bridge Over Trouble Water is a pretty solid encore by anyone's standards.
SPIRITUALIZED (London Barbican, 07/11/16)
There were many goosebump-inducing moments during Spiritualized's celebration of their all-time masterpiece "Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space", but the bit at the end of the title track where the gospel choir properly kicked in really did hit me right in the feels. Some songs felt a little-drawn out, "Electricity" was slightly neutered without the traditional strobe assault and the sheer maximalism of the set did occasionally overwhelm, but on the whole this was a magnificent, life-affirming gig in a week where joy was in particularly short supply.
There were many goosebump-inducing moments during Spiritualized's celebration of their all-time masterpiece "Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space", but the bit at the end of the title track where the gospel choir properly kicked in really did hit me right in the feels. Some songs felt a little-drawn out, "Electricity" was slightly neutered without the traditional strobe assault and the sheer maximalism of the set did occasionally overwhelm, but on the whole this was a magnificent, life-affirming gig in a week where joy was in particularly short supply.
EZRA FURMAN (London Roundhouse, 31/10/16)
Another knock-out show from my favourite queer Jewish rock 'n roll hero. Not the best gig I've ever seen him do, partially due to some unnecessary aggro in the crowd, but even a second-tier Ezra show is a hell of a lot of fun (it was a nice tip to the date to have him carried onto stage in a pastel pink coffin). Fantastic support from Charlotte Church's Pop Dungeon as well, who perform the only mash-up of Destiny's Child and Rage Against The Machine you'll probably ever hear.
Another knock-out show from my favourite queer Jewish rock 'n roll hero. Not the best gig I've ever seen him do, partially due to some unnecessary aggro in the crowd, but even a second-tier Ezra show is a hell of a lot of fun (it was a nice tip to the date to have him carried onto stage in a pastel pink coffin). Fantastic support from Charlotte Church's Pop Dungeon as well, who perform the only mash-up of Destiny's Child and Rage Against The Machine you'll probably ever hear.
XENIA RUBINOS (London Birthdays, 24/10/16)
Being an embittered, tired old troll, it's rare that I'm properly, genuinely blown away by an act these days, but goddamn, Xenia Rubinos is The Real Deal - R&B, Cuban rap and abrasive indie-rock mashed together to create something astoundingly funky, pointedly political and tremendously fun. And that's not to mention Xenia herself, who combines the magnetic charisma of Patti Smith with the dazzling showmanship of Janelle Monae. Without a doubt my gig discovery of the year.
Being an embittered, tired old troll, it's rare that I'm properly, genuinely blown away by an act these days, but goddamn, Xenia Rubinos is The Real Deal - R&B, Cuban rap and abrasive indie-rock mashed together to create something astoundingly funky, pointedly political and tremendously fun. And that's not to mention Xenia herself, who combines the magnetic charisma of Patti Smith with the dazzling showmanship of Janelle Monae. Without a doubt my gig discovery of the year.
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