On Friday night, SHATTERJAPAN joined hundreds to witness post-punk veterans PUBLIC IMAGE LTD. (PiL) at Shibuya AX in Tokyo. To open the show, lead singer John Lydon (of SEX PISTOLS fame) walked out onto the stage, arms open in triumph to the fervent applause of the crowd. The band played a hearty two-hour set – a feat easily attained by a band boasting 9 albums – and the crowd didn’t hesitate to show their appreciation during their most popular tracks, wholeheartedly joining in for the likes of “This is not a love song,” “Public Image” and “Disappointed.” Continue reading PiL get passions raging in Tokyo →

SKUNK ANANSIE is one of those bands that you just know is going to deliver live. There’s no doubt in my mind that what we’re about to witness will be mind-blowing – a complete demolition of this humbled Manchester venue. Even security is beaming from ear to ear, spouting personal memories of Skin and her crew, eyes gleaming in anticipation.

Surprisingly, the show is not sold out, but the venue is loaded with die-hard SA fans, and the atmosphere is electric. Continue reading SKUNK ANANSIE demolish Manchester Academy →

POLICA’s sell-out show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire (part of their current world tour) can be best described as atmospheric. But, this is not the sort of show that has the audience chanting along with the lyrics, or even developing the usual over-excitement of a sold-out gig – instead, this Minneapolis-based unit is sending 2000 people into a trance-like state, drifting and swaying to lead singer Channy Leaneagh’s soaring vocal acrobatics, Chris Bierden’s phenomenal bass grooves and the multiple rhythmic layers created by the band’s two drummers. Continue reading POLICA hypnotises London →

REPUBLICA is back. Sinking into the leather sofas in the games room of the vast Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, we chat with lead singer Saffron and keyboardist Tim Dorney about how the industry has evolved since the band’s explosion onto the scene in the 1990s, punctuated by hit songs “Ready To Go” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous” from their successful eponymous 1996 debut album. Very much the iconically edgy power frontwoman of the time, Saffron oozes a charisma and grace impossible to manufacture Continue reading Essential REPUBLICA →

Crammed into the somewhat fragrant Ritz in central Manchester on a windswept Thursday night, the crowds are at maximum excitement levels even before the room fills up. Given the sell-out line-up this evening however, you could hardly blame them.

LAURA MVULA is up first, tonight flanked by a flurry of musicians, including a cellist and a harp player. Her presence follows the very recent release of her debut LP “Sing to the Moon” which has been attracting a lot of attention throughout the music press. Continue reading LAURA MVULA and JESSIE WARE: power voices of 2013 →

There’s a buzz in the air as the wintery winds blow through Manchester’s Northern Quarter, because Toronto’s LINDI ORTEGA is in town and ready to take on the Soup Kitchen crowds on a Monday night. Taking refuge from the cold in the café upstairs, I meet Lindi who is utterly charming and surprisingly laid back for someone preparing to take to the stage in a couple of hours. Continue reading LINDI ORTEGA: Nashville’s most exciting Canadian import →

Almost 20 years after their formation in Reykjavik in 1994, SIGUR ROS‘ current tour finds the band in something of a transitional phase. It follows the beautiful yet somewhat untourable album “Valtari” and precedes the recently announced 7th LP (provisionally known simply as “SR7”) – this of course holds the intoxicating promise of new material being played here at Manchester’s packed O2 Apollo. Continue reading SIGUR ROS bewitch Manchester →

Originally the brainchild of Adele Emmas, and having gone through some transitions, BIRD is now graced with a comfortable landing thanks to the addition of Sian Williams, creating this highly synchronized pairing. The duo, who have recently supported the likes of PINS and Tim Burgess, tonight find themselves in Manchester’s charming Castle Hotel, halfway through a 15-date headline tour.

It’s an eager crowd that greets the trio (the band are tonight blessed with additional drum support) onto the tiny stage, following able support from folk-singer Rachel Hillary. Continue reading BIRD cast spells over The Castle crowds →

It’s Monday night and it’s absolutely freezing in Manchester city centre. Under these conditions, you’ve got to have a good reason to venture out of the house. The Ruby Lounge has spun an excellent trick to lure people out of their homes and brave the cold climes. As temperatures drop outside, a congregation of heat-seeking worshippers of cool music collects downstairs at the famed venue.

Several photographers are waiting at the stage for this band who popped up on the BBC’s Sound of 2013, eventually finishing fifth, and who has since been gathering buzz Continue reading Manchester congregates to launch CHVRCHES headline tour →

Waiting a long time for a headline band to come onstage is never ideal for the band or the crowds.  We’re here at the pit barrier of Manchester’s Academy 2, moments before EVERYTHING EVERYTHING are about to come on, and have just been informed that the sound desk needs replacing. Ensues 30 or so minutes of soundchecking, with whooping and jeering from the crowd, as the guy checking the mics gets a round of applause and cheers after each successfully checked mic, eventually cracking up into laughter. Lucky for the band, this is Manchester on a Friday night and people are in good spirits. Continue reading Manchester is left waiting for EVERYTHING EVERYTHING →

Canadian rock outfit JAPANDROIDS returned to Japan last week, delivering a solid performance at WWW in Shibuya on Monday much to the delight of their loyal Japanese fanbase. The band’s current headlining tour through Japan is certainly a step up from the midday slot at Fuji Rock Festival they played last year. Members Dave (drums) and Brian (guitar) are touring on their second album, Celebration Rock, a record which has garnered the boys worldwide acclaim. Continue reading JAPANDROIDS rock the Shibuya stage →

Last Sunday saw London-based punk-rockers COMANECHI and BO NINGEN make an impressive return to Japan, with intense headlining performances at STYLE BAND TOKYO, an event held at Club Asia in Shibuya. Supported by four worthy Japanese punk and post-rock groups, this show was one not to be missed for fans of all things punk and hardcore. Continue reading BO NINGEN and COMANECHI smash Tokyo →

I’ve been eager to see Manchester-based band EVERYTHING EVERYTHING live for a while, and London’s Heaven is a great venue to hold them for my first time. Having come to love them mostly from their debut album “Man Alive,” I am intrigued to see if the live version lives up to the recorded one. Continue reading There’s something about EVERYTHING EVERYTHING… →

How many saxophonists can you name without having to google them? I’ve got Johnny Dankworth, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Courtney Pine, Branford Marsalis, Clarence Clemons, Tim Cappello and… Kenny G (*shivers*). These days, saxophonists are not exactly household names – I only know some of the more obscure players because they play with other artists I admire.

So what do they all have in common? They are all male, except for Kenny G, who we all know as a space alien sent here to ruin music for all of humanity. Continue reading YOLANDA BROWN reminds Soho that she’s one of the greats →

On this particular weekend, The Bury Met is playing host to the annual Big Whistle Festival, which Scottish musician RACHEL SERMANNI seems absolutely tickled to be part of (Never have I seen quite so many whistles in one place…).  Here, at her sold-out afternoon show at the Studio Theatre, we’re all nice and cosy, seated on something akin to plastic garden furniture, away from the chilly conditions outside the venue.  Snuggled into the mood-lit room, and with an impromptu whistle jam session taking place in the bar outside, the setup makes me think that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have more folk festivals like this in the North during the winter months. Continue reading RACHEL SERMANNI – Under mountains and under our skin →