In truth, Jimmy Webb is a far better raconteur than singer, but dude wrote "Wichita Lineman" so gets a pass for pretty much anything.
Monday, May 07, 2018
KAMASI WASHINGTON (London Roundhouse, 02/05/18)
It's hard to quantify what my "favourite gig" ever would be given I've seen so damn many, but Kamasi Washington at the Roundhouse would be a solid contender. No gimmicks, no fancy light-shows, just 100 minutes of absolutely transcendent, funk-infused jazz courtesy of some of the tightest musicians in the world (including the mighty Shabaka Hutchings making a cameo appearance on "Truth"). The kind of show that knocks the wind out of you and leaves you speechless, because what could you possibly say in the face of such brilliance?
It's hard to quantify what my "favourite gig" ever would be given I've seen so damn many, but Kamasi Washington at the Roundhouse would be a solid contender. No gimmicks, no fancy light-shows, just 100 minutes of absolutely transcendent, funk-infused jazz courtesy of some of the tightest musicians in the world (including the mighty Shabaka Hutchings making a cameo appearance on "Truth"). The kind of show that knocks the wind out of you and leaves you speechless, because what could you possibly say in the face of such brilliance?
OTOBOKE BEAVER (London Scala, 19/04/18)
OTOBOKE BEAVER WE LOVE YOU. And perhaps there's a contingent of balding 50-year old punks who love you a bit *too* much, but nonetheless neither they, or the over-zealous security, could detract from the frenzied whirlwind of garage-rock energy that the Kyoto quartet effortlessly whip up. Stunning.
OTOBOKE BEAVER WE LOVE YOU. And perhaps there's a contingent of balding 50-year old punks who love you a bit *too* much, but nonetheless neither they, or the over-zealous security, could detract from the frenzied whirlwind of garage-rock energy that the Kyoto quartet effortlessly whip up. Stunning.
HOLLY MIRANDA (London The Islington, 18/04/18)
After eight years of waiting, I finally got to catch the highly underrated musician in London, and though on a personal level it was a bit disappointing that she's consigned most of her older work to the setlist graveyard, her latest material is more than strong enough to carry the show.
After eight years of waiting, I finally got to catch the highly underrated musician in London, and though on a personal level it was a bit disappointing that she's consigned most of her older work to the setlist graveyard, her latest material is more than strong enough to carry the show.
MIDORI TAKADA (London Union Chapel, 17/04/18)
Part minimalist percussion set, part avant-garde theatre, part Buddhist ritual- Midori Takada's mesmerising performances draw heavily on traditional Japanese aesthetics, yet incorporate African and American modernist elements to create something compelling and unique. A true one-off.
Part minimalist percussion set, part avant-garde theatre, part Buddhist ritual- Midori Takada's mesmerising performances draw heavily on traditional Japanese aesthetics, yet incorporate African and American modernist elements to create something compelling and unique. A true one-off.
ARCADE FIRE (London Wembley Arena, 11/04/18 - 13/04/18)
It may have seemed like Arcade Fire were down for the count after the much-maligned "Everything Now", but the critical mauling seems to have given the Canadians a most astonishing second wind. The boxing ring staging, the phenomenal lighting, and litany of guest starts (Chrissie Hynde! Jarvis Cocker! Florence! Boy George) proved they can pull off an arena show as well as any band in the world, but it was their unfailing energy and passion that once again reminded me why they were the band that triggered my addiction to live music in the first place. Utterly sublime.
It may have seemed like Arcade Fire were down for the count after the much-maligned "Everything Now", but the critical mauling seems to have given the Canadians a most astonishing second wind. The boxing ring staging, the phenomenal lighting, and litany of guest starts (Chrissie Hynde! Jarvis Cocker! Florence! Boy George) proved they can pull off an arena show as well as any band in the world, but it was their unfailing energy and passion that once again reminded me why they were the band that triggered my addiction to live music in the first place. Utterly sublime.
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND (London Islington Assembly Hall, 10/04/18)
A sincere pleasure to experience a genuine slice of New Orleans in Islington, not least because they brought over living legend Charlie Gabriel (now 85 years old) to lend a little more saxo-mo-phone to their effervescently groovy proceedings. Nice!
A sincere pleasure to experience a genuine slice of New Orleans in Islington, not least because they brought over living legend Charlie Gabriel (now 85 years old) to lend a little more saxo-mo-phone to their effervescently groovy proceedings. Nice!
DAPHNE & CELESTE (London Boston Music Room, 27/03/18)
I ain't got no alibi: I bought tickets to see Daphne and Celeste with actual, real money and it was quite a lot of fun - in an endearing naff sort of way. New material with wonk-pop maestro Max Tundra is inexplicably decent (even if they struggle to replicate it live) and of course, you can't deny the intellectual and compositional genius of "Ooh, Stick You".
I ain't got no alibi: I bought tickets to see Daphne and Celeste with actual, real money and it was quite a lot of fun - in an endearing naff sort of way. New material with wonk-pop maestro Max Tundra is inexplicably decent (even if they struggle to replicate it live) and of course, you can't deny the intellectual and compositional genius of "Ooh, Stick You".
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