Reviews
review: Four Year Strong & Don Broco at The Wedgewood Rooms
Over the last few years Four Year Strong have been crafting a reputation for themselves with their high energy levels and impassioned vocal interaction; inspiring an audience of millions worldwide. After releasing their third album ‘in some way, shape or form’, they head back to our shores on their biggest UK headline tour to date. [...]
review: The Maccabees, Given To The Wild
Brighton formed The Maccabees‘ third album, Given To The Wild, begins with a dream-like intro before flowing into Child and Feel to Follow, the latter in particular is an exceptional song. Ayla sounds like the X-Files theme tune and now I’ve associated this it will be impossible for me not to have images of spaceships in my [...]
review: The Southern Sessions ft Huw Olesker, Count Drachma and Anja McCloskey
The Southern Sessions run by Tom Armstrong carries the ethos that ‘There is a larger musical space outside the cities than inside them’, and he makes a very valid point. Too often bands flock to London attempting to find fame and fortune, leaving behind their dedicated local fan base. At a time when venues are closing down [...]
review: King Charles at Club NME, Portsmouth
Lists, lists and more lists, this time of year is full of them. Lists telling you who you need to hear, what albums (most of which are still unrecorded) will change your life, un-booked gig’s you will have to be at and countless lists of bands with slightly quirky names who are guaranteed to be [...]
review: Stir of Echoes demo
It looks like its still early days for Stir of Echoes on the demo front so we cannot really critique them thoroughly. Their vocals are hard to judge with rough recording but seem to have spirit. As ever with newly formed artists there is promise. It’s difficult to carve a niche in the overgrowing mass [...]
Review: Anja McCloskey’s single launch at The Bent Brief
Anja McClosky’s single launch was a very civilised affair. There were all manner of fine fancy cakes and sophisticated banter. Local jazz hideout, The Bent Brief, was packed to the rafters, the audience crammed in and totally focussed on the live music, with some of the regular drinkers around the corner peering around from the [...]
New Free Music Evening in Winchester – Chance to Perform for Acoustic Acts
It’s less than two years since a small group came together to bring the best of folk music to the city. Since then the Winchester Folk Club has hosted some truly memorable performances by top artists such as Martin Simpson and Chris Wood, as well as exciting new performers like Lucy Ward. For the Spring [...]
review: Frank Turner- The Second Three Years
This is the second collection of offcuts Frank Turner has released; preserving 22 tracks which might have otherwise slipped out of view in my hard drive b-sides slushpile. I chatted to Frank before 2008′s ‘The First Three Years‘ was released and he was eager to point out that these musical anthologies are a way of [...]
review: The Novatones – Begging At The Bunhouse EP
The first song from The Novatones Begging At The Bunhouse EP literally blasted out of my speakers; it has been a while since I heard a band so loud. It brought back memories. Novatones are in essence a youthful band. I could still taste their last gig at The Hobbit back in September 2011 for [...]
review: Montage Populaire EP
Montage Populaire make me jig around the room like a string puppet. Yeah, that’s right. My strings were all tangled by the time the barnstorming ‘Nothing Serious‘ EP was over. Title track ‘Sharpening Knives‘ sets off at a fair pace- just between walking and jogging, I would say, while ‘Separate Frames‘ stops and starts like [...]
review: Friendly Fires at Southampton Guildhall
Despite it being featured in a number of ‘album of the year’ lists this year, Friendly Fires’ second album Pala seemed to be an effortless repeat of their début until it’s played live… Chad Valley was the first support. Brushing away the winter chill with his shimmering summer synths, Hugo Manuel’s playful pop dance beats also erased [...]
Review: Delays, Oresteia and Seán McGowan at The Brook
It’s the night before Christmas (well, nearly) and the faithful masses are gathering in the city of Southampton to witness what is rapidly becoming an annual tradition – Delays playing a festive hometown gig. Tonight’s lucky venue is The Brook, a great place to watch live music, with excellent acoustics, plus exceptionally helpful and accommodating [...]
Review: Hansel and Gretel at The Berry Theatre
If you are planning on taking the children to a Christmas show this festive season, make sure you take them to Hansel and Gretel at The Berry Theatre in Hedge End, near Southampton. Not only will you be saving a few ££’s, you are also guaranteed to be going home with very happy children, especially if [...]
Review: Peter Pan at The Mayflower Theatre
The stunning sets, sumptuous costumes, flying acrobatics, Smee’s cheesy jokes and a sprinkling of fairy dust make Peter Pan the perfect treat for the whole family this Christmas.
review: Gary Numan at Southampton Guildhall
As I entered the Guildhall from the cold winter chill I had a sneaking suspicion that as I was below the age of 40 I would be in a minority. I was pleasantly surprised to see that, although a considerable proportion of the populace present will have seen Gary Numan in his early years, there [...]
Review: Seán McGowan’s EP Launch at The Joiners
Sean McGowan and Dean Paul provide an exceptionally passionate performance at a packed out Joiners Arms.. It was a tad quiet when I arrived at The Joiners; this made me nervous for the lads as I wished badly for this to be an amazing night for them. I reminded myself that I was terribly keen…who [...]
Review: Against Me! and Crazy Arm at The Talking Heads
Closing Southampton’s premier punk themed festival WTFEST, the audience turned up in great anticipation for Against Me! Florida’s finest punk rock outfit. We find the band in the middle of an extensive European headlining tour and main support for Frank Turner on his latest UK Tour. The band are no strangers to supporting big acts [...]
Review: Marcus Foster at The Joiners
Last time Marcus Foster was at the Joiners the evenings were light, the temperatures were high and a full band came along and supported the solo artist. On this chilly and damp evening the scarves and gloves were out and the Joiners was our open fire playing host to Marcus Foster in a more stripped [...]
Review: Summer Camp at The Joiners
Blogosphere hype can be as much a curse as it can be promotional gold, and many a band have experienced the tightening of its noose around their neck as they’ve taken their unready, undeveloped act on the road. The London duo of Jermey Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey are thankfully not one of these however, and [...]
review: Flogging Molly & The Minutes at Portsmouth Pyramids
So another week and another band from my student days rolls into town in the form of Flogging Molly, the folk punkers really are like a fine wine getting better with age. Having danced around to them in a rather inebriated state at many a Wednesday night in Rhino’s, probably making a complete fool of [...]