Gigs.

just back from sprints at nottingham bodega, venus grrrls supporting.

really enjoyed both bands.  loud, thrashy, punky, whats not to like.  surprised sprints are still playing venues as small as that, think theyre ready for rock city type venues now.

Saw James skelly and Nick power from the coral on Fri night. Bit of an acoustic set + q&a session about the first album.  Was jolly good 😊

Went to see Cam Cole at Sheffield Corp on Saturday.

Was pretty blown away at his talent

Kosheen at Koko in Camden on Friday night were outstanding.  They had a huge band on stage this time rather than just a couple of players like when I saw them last and they put on a heck of a show.  I also had a good look around Koko for the first time rather than just getting in, going to the bar and getting into the crowd.  It’s a lot bigger than I realised.

In contrast to the above – saw Tom Vek doing his first solo tour last night. a SEATED?! WHAT? gig, which was actually a relief cos I was knackered! Nice tiny venue in Southampton, no support, just Tom coming out and playing some songs. Very nice 🙂

Mungos HIFI and KBI Sound system was awesome last night. At one point they played a jungle track and I said to my mate they should play more. They played another 2 hours of jungle and the bass………ermagerd!!!!! Slight ear whistles today so must have been loud.

A nice warm up to Chase n Status on Weds (they’re not on until 11 and the gigs on til 1am. Plus we have ANZAC day the day after so that’s nice.

Ooh… How good are Kosheen live? Sian’s voice is fantastic!! Saw them in Perth a few months back. Always liked Kosheen ever since Hide U (98 or 99?)

I’ve had a good couple of weeks

Sambroso All Stars playing Buena Vista Social Club – what a fun and uplifting evening

Tusks album launch / instore at rough trade – that girl can sing

English Teacher album launch / instore at rough trade – another great evening, I think these guys are going places and down to earth as well.

This week Tom Walker in Birmingham as a friend had a spare ticket and I can’t turn down live music

Re English Teacher- yes I think so. Missed ticket for Wedgewood Rooms. Found they were sold out, then discovered the whole tour was fully sold – at least any venue within 100 miles.

Disappointing, but seeing Pom Poko and Personal trainer Co-headline tour in London and Brighton on consecutive nights- so may need a few early nights to recover

English Teacher have sold out the Wedge? That’s such great news. Maybe they’ll start booking NEW bands again instead of the tribute drivel they’ve been serving up lately!
Got Jane Weaver there in a couple of weeks.. not sure what to expect, her latest album is dangerously close to folk music 😮

I’ve just had an email from Stowaway festival saying Maribou State have pulled out due to ill health.  Replacement is Max Cooper who is someone I really want to see play.  It will be interesting to see who replaces them at Forwards as they were one of the main reasons for going.

Rock City for The K’s tonight.

Saw them last year supporting The Reytons and they were excellent.

The Reytons at The Leadmill next weekend

@desperatebicycle I’ve got Jane Weaver tomorrow in Notts, but I’m also excited for the support who is Halo Maud who did vocals on a couple of tracks on the latest Chemical Brothers album

went to see subhumans at lincoln drill hall on friday.  they were okaaaaay i spose.  not sure they stand the test of time for me personally but clearly still angry at ‘the system’ which maybe isnt a bad thing, nothing wrong with being passionate.

twas nothing more than i expected really, wouldnt have travelled to go see them but it was cheap and a couple of miles from home, and hey, its live music.

had a few beers with a couple of mates that i hadnt seen since ‘the old days’ which was also good.

Orbital in Birmingham on Friday night was loads of fun. To be honest they could have just stuck a CD on and bobbed around in those light glasses for all I know but the atmosphere was fantastic.

Brighton on Friday for Personal Trainer and Pom Poko, who finished their set with both bands on stage. Very good indeed.

And now for something completely different ~ next concert lined up is Schubert’s Winterreise at Snape.

Chase and Status, Luude and Mozey was EPIC

9000 people. Awful venue though. Floor felt like they’d put carpet adhesive down, was so sticky with spilled drinks. Added to the workout!

Jane Weaver Last night was pretty good, better than I expected, but that was mainly down to the last 3 songs! Early set wasn’t my type of thing (latest album stuff in particular) but when she moved to the extended groove type songs, bit more keyboards,almost Krautrock vibe, they make her great voice really standout and I could get much more lost in the sounds. Worth going, especially as my mate paid 😊

English Teacher at the same venue next week, but sold out.

Last one was CJ Wildheart, guitarist from (dur) the Wildhearts (and Honeycrack and the Jellies and now his own man). The Wildhearts remain an absolute car crash but at least that means lots of really good spinoff solos. Really good mix of songs from across his career, could have been tightened up but was still a really solid show.

Random treat was the support band, Main Primate.A sort of Edinburgh supergroup, made of members of Idlewild, Degrassi and Foil. We didn’t know anything about this in advance, I loved Foil bitd so hearing a couple of those tracks dusted off was fantastic.

No big gigs but can see up to 4 free gigs in Brum on a Sunday afternoon,mainly covers so not really what this thread is for I guess.

However on Saturdays theres Rock and Roll Brewhouse putting on all original song acts,some really good, different tunes.Theres also a students night on a Thursday night once a month featuring students from the Collage of Contempory Art.

Once a month at The Tower of Song in Cotteridge theres Draculas Garage,a punk afternoon with 2 acts doing original songs ,seen  6 excellent acts here.

Anyone in Macclesfield on Friday night?

My band are playing at The Wharf. Old-school ska and jazzy stuff (Dekker, Toots &maytals, skatalites) from 8 🙂

Watched A Certain Ratio last night at Bedford esquires. Fairly poor turn out I thought but the gig was good, the band are multi insrtumentalists and take turns on each instrument which you don’t often see.

Got tickets on Friday for the just announced Bristol concert by the criminally underrated Gemma Hayes, an artist possessed of a phenomenal songwriting talent and a divine voice. But then, I’m a sucker for a soft Irish accent. 😁

And Elbow on Thursday.

Anyone in Macclesfield on Friday night?

My band are playing at The Wharf. Old-school ska and jazzy stuff (Dekker, Toots &maytals, skatalites) from 8 🙂

Sorry I missed this, was too knackered 🙁

Thursday is Scott Bradlee Modern Jukebox in Ipswich (seats at full price, Mrs Sandwich had a £5 ticket offer at work this last week for better seats)!!!

Friday is Elbow in Birmingham and then Saturday with Sandwich Jr.

Got home yesterday to find that my wonderful daughter has secured tickets to show 3000 at Alexandra Palace for Frank Turner next  February.

Huzzah indeed.

Mount Kimbie at the QM last night – just made it in time after the drive home from Fort Bill.

My new favourite band, they were tremendous. Been aware of them for a while without really getting on board but their new album is brilliant. So glad I made the effort despite a couple of late drunk nights catching up on me!

Got Arab Strap on Friday, decent week.

Orbital at Bristol Beacon last Thursday and the Stranglers at the same venue last night. Strange decision to be all seated for the Stranglers but had standing for Orbital.

Bagged a ticket for English Teacher at the Wedgewood Rooms

Managed to get a single returned ticket for Tool at the O2 in June. Considering the speed they record at, and they haven’t even started on their next album yet, this might be the only chance I get to see them!

Very much looking forward to the next couple of weeks 🙂

Ben Gorb tomorrow with support from Aerynn @ 33 Oldham Street (and Raoul Vignal @ MASH if I get back to Macc in time afterwards)

Macc Woodfleet Friday @ Macc Beerfest

Tragicomics Sunday @ Button Warehouse

Manchester Jazz Fest opening weekender next weekend

Joe Tatton & Lucas DeMulder 23rd @ MASH

Laura Misch (with support from Rory A Green) 25th @ Band on the Wall

Just back from PMJ in Ipswich. Heard the truly great voice Effie Passero do Hallelujah and Creep both of which made this old man cry. Astounding control and power.

Elbow tomorrow in Birmingham.

@vd did you go? Wow, that was a pretty special gig. Glamboy the support were quite bonkers and great..English Teacher something else. Didn’t know what to expect, but they almost had me in tears! Especially You Blister My Paint. Marvellous 😊

I did. Surprisingly versatile and showed a lot of confidence to play songs I thought would be difficult live. Also, playing 4 songs without drums mid-set is quite a high risk move for an emerging band. Very good.

Also enjoyed The support.

Such a good Thursday night!

@vd / @desperatebicycle

English Teacher are superb, I caught them at an instore gig a couple of weeks ago and seeing them again at rescue rooms in a couple of weeks time which I’m looking forward to. Just can’t believe they all look so young.

Elbow next week which no doubt will be good

English Teacher are superb

Yep! Just listening to the album again… it’s good but didn’t prepare me for what a great voice Lily has live. For such a young band they’re very accomplished, (not that that is important!) and excellent live. Good ol’ Wedgewood Rooms coming up with the goods again. Shame it’s become tribute band central 🤢

Saw the rather marvelous “Lottery Winners” in Sunderland on Saturday night in a teeny tiny venue. They were great and (usefully as I’m an old giffer) started their set at 8:20. Thoroughly enjoyed myself and looking forward to seeing them again at Kendal in the summer.

I’m off to see The Notwist in Glasgow tonight. They don’t seem to be well known and don’t tour much in the UK (they’re a German band) but they’re definitely up there amongst my favourite bands. Neon Golden is probably a top 5 favourite album for me and how I discovered them back in the early 2000s. Since then they’ve only released 3 more studio albums but their last one, Vertigo Days, is really great too and the others are worth the time as well.

June, Alvvays

July, The Sadies

September, The Lemon Twigs

Hives a month or so back in Leeds were flippin ace. Took my eldest to his first indoor gig and he was blown away by it. Wanted to see the Hives for years now but they every bit as epic as I’d hoped they’d be. Nobody does energy like those guys! They were supported by Bad Nerves as well which was a nice surprise as they’re equally amazing.

Echobelly last night in Leeds. Superb. Sonya Madan still has the voice…