They don't serve the people, but Dan Boeckner sure does. A scintillating solo set covering a two-decade career of hoarse-voiced indie-rock genius. (Plus, I only had to travel to Hackney for this, in contrast to 5000 miles for Sunset Rubdown...)
Another one off the bucket list, and my word, they really were something. Sure, a standing venue would have been more fitting, but Lonnie Jordan and his gang could bring the funk to a Lib Dem regional conference.
This Japanese duo (plus rotating drummer) are probably my favourite live discovery of 2024 so far, featuring everything from ambient flute meanderings to earth-sundering psych wigouts. Blisteringly good.
A big voice in a very small venue- a charming set from this veteran of the Swedish indie scene.
Joanna Sternberg was the epitome of charm even in a rainstorm, The Last Dinner Party were justifiably triumphant, The National sad-dadded their way even into my cold, stony heart, and PULP were, well, PULP, but all in all this wasn't a vintage Primavera. Even if you ignore Saturday's near-Biblical downfall, the fact Justice got cancelled due to organiser incompetence was unforgivable, Mitski's set was Disneyfied nonsense, PJ Harvey still hasn't clicked with me and there just wasn't enough big-name talent to support a three-day festival. Hotel was great though!
The 2015 Barbican performance of this programme (FF's XIII, IX, VIII and V) was one of my all-time favourite orchestral concerts ever, so it was a pelasure to experience it again courtesy of the mighty City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and piano virtuoso Mischa Cheung. Great cameo too from the ever-charismatic Ben Starr, AKA Clive from XVI. It's been a good year to be a British Uematsu fan!
I've had my ups and downs with Annie Clark over the last seventeen years, but this was St Vincent at her imperious, sublime best. Rock shows often sound underwhelming at the RAH, but this easily transcended the limitations of the venue, and the arrangements, staging and even movement of the band were meticulously executed with such peerless style. "Krokodil", "Marrow" and "Los Ageless" were worth the price of admission alone, quite frankly.
A short, sweet preview of new album "Someday, Now". Not much else to say about this one, really!
London's best outdoor festival returns once more with a smorgasbord of indie-rock delights. Particularly enjoyed the angular grooves of The Itch (born from the ruins of the excellent Regressive Left), Crack Cloud side-project Mock Media and fiery Atlanta hardcore punks Upchuck, and every festival should end with a shambolic Talking Heads cover session featuring Charlotte Adigery, Bolis Pupil, Faux Real, Special Interest, Model/Actriz, Los Bitchos, Lynks, The New Eves, BODEGA, Tapir!, Fraulein, Lambrini Girls, Sorry and many others.
The alt-rock legends play their first "classic line-up" gig since 2010, and it's in a 400 capacity venue in West London. I'll be honest- I went along more out of curiosity than genuine fandom but they rocked my stupid face off. (Shame a few weeks later Perry lamped Dave Navarro in the face, but that's rock 'n roll for you).
Another blistering post-punk-pop explosion from the Basque four-piece. A bit on the quiet side audience-wise, but those who did attend really put in the effort to keep the energy high.
I regret to inform you that last night I was obliterated at a sub-atomic level by a Tokyo psych band. I had a good run.
Yeah, we all saw your aurora pics on Instagram, but this was the only truly jaw-dropping cosmic phenomena of note I choose to acknowledge.
Eighteen years ago, the first real "gig friend" I ever had (a German
named Kay) introduced me to the Scottish melancholia of Camera Obscura,
and my appreciation of them has but deepened over the years. The tragic
and far-too-young passing of keyboardist Carey Lander meant they've been
quiet for a long while, but their first London show in many years
(indeed, in the same venue I first saw them in 2007) was everything I
could have wanted- ace new songs, and a load of old favourites too.
An *immense* show from the Beirut-based shoegazers- coruscating yet deeply melodic, like a righteously furious Blonde Redhead. More of this, please!
If this is what the End Times sound like, count me in! One commentator accurately described 'Reborn' as sounding like "sunrise over Hell"; other moments made "O Fortuna" sound twee in comparison. An (un)holy triumph.
Not many acts could persuade me to drag myself to the Shacklewell on a schoolnight, but this was Nick Thornburn's first UK jaunt in over ten years. Top-tier ramshackle indie-pop, featuring two Unicorns songs, a Lisa O'Neill cover and the epic "Swans" - it was like 2008 never ended.
The revolution will not be televised, but it may well involve a robot drummer. Pro-worker, anti-The Man folk anthems FROM THE FUTURE, communicated via the medium of humanoids that bear no resemblance to brilliant Canadian oddballs The Burning Hell.
"Only For Tonight" was my lockdown jam, so it was fantastic to finally hear it performed tonight in less apocalyptic circumstances. Awesome funk guitar from Michael Rault too. Musical sunshine.
This genre-hopping four-piece really impressed opening for En Attendant Ana last year, and tonight was no less enjoyable. Eclectic but accessible.
