SPIRITUALIZED (London Barbican, 26/03/25)

Can't knock the sound quality or staging, but this showcase of J.Spaceman's dense slowcore simply wasn't my cup of tea. That said, "The Electric Mainline" to "Good Times" did stir my withered, dark soul, and you can't go wrong with the epic cacoophony of "Cop Shoot Cop".

WHY? (London EartH, 25/03/25)

HOW has it been so long since Yoni Wolf and his alt-hip-hop collective last visited the UK? WHEN I first saw them circa 2008, there were fewer shirts or grey hairs, but WHAT hasn't changed is the dazzling instrumental work, Yoni's fusion of the mundane, crude, surreal and beautifully insightful and some frankly banging tunes. WHICH is to say, they're a band WHO I always have time for - [Enough of that, Ed.]

MELIN MELYN (Leeds Brudenell Social Club, 24/03/25)

Probably the most Welsh thing I've ever experienced (laudatory), wherein our oddball heroes - and a Dutch wizard - saved a mill from greedy developers via the medium of quirky psych-folk.

ANNA ERHARD (London Bush Hall, 21/03/25)

I too was once forced to attend a Blue Man Group show against my better judgement, so I really connected with the subject matter on display tonight. Dangerously catchy, acutely observational indie-pop.

RED SNAPPER (London Rich Mix, 20/03/25)

Another tremendous show from one of the grooviest bands this country has ever produced, now celebrating their 30th anniversary. Funk, trip-hop, dub, acid jazz, psychedelia, afrobeat: no genre is out-of-scope for these four phenomenal instrumentalists, as long as they can make you dance to it.

MERCURY REV (London Islington Assembly Hall, 19/03/25)

Jonathan, Grasshopper and co. at their most hippy-dippy, elongating songs, covering Vangelis and generally aiming for synth-washed blissfulness rather than brevity. And it generally worked, though stadium rock drumming threatened to overwhelm the otherwise zen-like vibes. Lots of Deserters' Songs to sate the casuals, but my highlight was the new-to-me "Ancient Love", which was a perfect centerpiece for this good, if frustrating set.

DEVOTCHKA (London Islington Assembly Hall, 12/03/25)

From dark country ballads to gypsy-punk knees-ups, the Colorado four-piece brought their rambunctious cabaret back to London after a 7 year absence and it was absolute magic. I mean, how often do you get to see a sousaphone in action, let alone covered in fairy lights? And that double bass sure did reverberate through the Assembly Hall's ominously springy floor...

LOS BITCHOS (London 100 Club, 10/03/25)

A weirdly muted gig by the Cumbrian psych quartet, which never kicked into gear despite their considerable talent.

POM POKO (London Garage, 08/03/25)

Deerhoofian noise-pop from the always entertaining Norwegian four-piece. Set closer "If U Want Me 2 Stay" was an absolute banger!

THE HOLD STEADY (London Electric Ballroom, 07/03/25)

These days I'm usually stood halfway back under the aircon rather than in the thick of the moshpit, but I'll never turn down a chance to spend the 2nd weekend of March in the company of the magnificent gentlemen from Minneapolis. Craig Finn's wild gesticulating! Franz Nicolay imbibing 3 Berningers of wine before the encore even hits! My inevitable "Sequestered In Memphis"-induced voice loss! For we are all (WE! ARE! ALL!)...The Hold Steady.

MAN/WOMAN/CHAINSAW (London Barbican, 02/03/25)

A cromulent Sunday afternoon showcasing The Youth (Folly Group, Man/Woman/Chainsaw; Pem) and the musical sounds they generate. The irony that the front row consisted entirely of middle-aged men was noted.

MATTIEL (London Social, 22/02/25)

I've been a fan of Atlanta's Mattiel for a while now, so when I heard she'd announced a last-minute daytime show in a tiny underground bar off Oxford Circus, it would have been rude not to. A pleasant, stripped down showcase of her synth-led indie-pop.

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND (London Grace, 21/02/25)

Shara Nova: shredder of guitars, wearer of sparkly things, purloiner of hats, evangelist for Sinead O'Connor and singer of utmost distinction. It's great to have her back.

HAMISH HAWK (London Koko, 16/02/25)

A supremely punchy set from the eloquent Scottish songsmith, whose decision to add emotional catharsis to his baroque lyrical style has markedly raised his game as a musician and a performer.

JUSTICE (London Alexandra Palace, 11/02/25)

The formula wore a bit thin by the end, but when the legendary French electro duo were good, they were monstrously so. Vincent Lerisson's award-winning lighting rig was every bit as awe-inspiring as its reputation suggests - one might suggest it carried the show almost as much as Gaspard et Xavier.

ORCHESTRE TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP (London Brixton Hootenanny, 02/02/25)

The high-energy Swiss ensemble are one of my favourite live discoveries of recent years, and this Sunday night set was a masterclass of multi-instrumental exuberance.

TEETH OF THE SEA (London Institute of Contemporary Arts, 23/01/25)

It's fitting that this band takes their name from the French title for "Jaws", as they're as intense as having your head slowly crushed by a great white. One song featured the puzzling refrain "WHY DID YOU F*** MY WASHING MACHINE?!", which is a sure sign of quality.

HUMAN PYRAMIDS (London Lexington, 19/01/25)

I once described the Scottish collective as "The Penguin Cafe Orchestra abducted by a math-rock cult" but there's also hints of Fang Island and the Earlies which is to say, they're bloody awesome. I still can't work out how 16 people managed to fit on the tiny Lexington stage, let alone 26 when the choir joined them.

FRANZ FERDINAND (Kingston Pryzm, 09/01/25)

An angular, (dark of a) matinee set of from the ever-sprightly Scots. A bit "new album" focused for my tastes, but they're a guaranteed good time.