Frenzy of gigs in the last few weeks. I'm a little bit meh about clubs at the moment but live bands and lager in plastic I cannot get enough of. In addition to the foursome below I also have tickets to see M83, Howling Bells, Morrissey (twice), Esser and, best of all, All Tomorrow’s Parties at Minehead Butlins. The line-up is a complete wet dream, regard: Breeders, Shellac, Gang Of Four (screeeam!), Throwing Muses, Tricky, Foals, Holy Fuck, Bon Iver, CSS, Teenage Fanclub, Yann Tiersen and Deerhunter. I mean, amaze. Plus it’s a complete elderly person’s festival, meaning you stay in a chalet, everything’s indoors, there are restaurants on site, all the pool facilities there for you to use, no rain, no mud, no mess. Smashing. I am thirty-one now after all.
So a quick rundown of the bands who’ve flashed their stuff for me of late …
Of Montreal @ Club Academy
It will be a while before I see a gig as fun and exciting as this I'm sure. The usual epic setlist from Athens’ almost-finest accompanied by the ever-weirder ‘rabbit rabbit’ stage dramas, costume changes and general art happenings to back the genre defying twitchy glam disco mess of OM’s music. Really a mind-changing event for anyone on the brink of falling in love with Kevin Barnes, he of the 1970s footballler’s name (at least that’s what it always makes me think of). A classic Manchester weeknight event at which the crowd decided to get totally wrecked and go for it so the whole place was a complete party. Totally on top of their game, shocked that they’re playing venues this small really.
La Roux @ Contort Yourself, Roadhouse
Cheer up love. She’s far too cool to smile, but, well, she just is that cool. In unsuitable so-gross-it’s-ace knitwear, the ginger princess from Brixton wooed a shit-faced room full of people who’d had their dancing interrupted but she seemed to convert most of them. I cannot leave the flat these days without playing ‘Quicksand’ or ‘In For The Kill'. Time will tell if she can muster a whole album of similar gems or if something else is up her batwing sleeves. I think some filthy collaborations are in order.
Asboi Seksu @ Roadhouse
Dreamy huge wall of guitar noise stuff but interspersed with crystally smoky fragile teardrop tunes too. Yuki Chikudate I think is one of the coolest people in music just now. Adorable. Impressive overall but maybe not the right venue for them. They’re still relatively obscure but since shoegaze seems to be having a minor renaissance (I know!) and it’s a tag that seems to follow them then big things may yet follow. Perfect to listen to in the comfort of your home under headphones and blankets though. Plus they’re on One Little Indian over here. (I know!)
Late Of The Pier @ Union
When I saw Wire recently I was the youngest audience member by about fifteen years. Tonight I am the oldest by about the same. I shit you not, the kids love this band. Not much to play apart from the album (“We’ve run out of songs, can you hang on while we write some more?”) but it’s a fine album and 'Bathroom Gurgle' slays me every time, even tonight when it’s cruelly interrupted by a blown fuse. They pick up where they left off and nobody cares. a jot Now that’s a tune. If I was rich these boys would be my party band every time.
Go on, I'll chuck in a Spotify sampler for you too ...
So a quick rundown of the bands who’ve flashed their stuff for me of late …
Of Montreal @ Club Academy
It will be a while before I see a gig as fun and exciting as this I'm sure. The usual epic setlist from Athens’ almost-finest accompanied by the ever-weirder ‘rabbit rabbit’ stage dramas, costume changes and general art happenings to back the genre defying twitchy glam disco mess of OM’s music. Really a mind-changing event for anyone on the brink of falling in love with Kevin Barnes, he of the 1970s footballler’s name (at least that’s what it always makes me think of). A classic Manchester weeknight event at which the crowd decided to get totally wrecked and go for it so the whole place was a complete party. Totally on top of their game, shocked that they’re playing venues this small really.
La Roux @ Contort Yourself, Roadhouse
Cheer up love. She’s far too cool to smile, but, well, she just is that cool. In unsuitable so-gross-it’s-ace knitwear, the ginger princess from Brixton wooed a shit-faced room full of people who’d had their dancing interrupted but she seemed to convert most of them. I cannot leave the flat these days without playing ‘Quicksand’ or ‘In For The Kill'. Time will tell if she can muster a whole album of similar gems or if something else is up her batwing sleeves. I think some filthy collaborations are in order.
Asboi Seksu @ Roadhouse
Dreamy huge wall of guitar noise stuff but interspersed with crystally smoky fragile teardrop tunes too. Yuki Chikudate I think is one of the coolest people in music just now. Adorable. Impressive overall but maybe not the right venue for them. They’re still relatively obscure but since shoegaze seems to be having a minor renaissance (I know!) and it’s a tag that seems to follow them then big things may yet follow. Perfect to listen to in the comfort of your home under headphones and blankets though. Plus they’re on One Little Indian over here. (I know!)
Late Of The Pier @ Union
When I saw Wire recently I was the youngest audience member by about fifteen years. Tonight I am the oldest by about the same. I shit you not, the kids love this band. Not much to play apart from the album (“We’ve run out of songs, can you hang on while we write some more?”) but it’s a fine album and 'Bathroom Gurgle' slays me every time, even tonight when it’s cruelly interrupted by a blown fuse. They pick up where they left off and nobody cares. a jot Now that’s a tune. If I was rich these boys would be my party band every time.
Go on, I'll chuck in a Spotify sampler for you too ...
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