rate the last gig you went to

Also went to two gigs at the Aberdeen Tunnels at the end of August that were each impressive.

Adrian Crowley pulled out of supporting Emma Pollock, so it was a surprise and a delight to see Lord Cut Glass standing in. Alun led a watertight band with at least one Chemikal Savage brother in the mix. The accordion player in particular was class, like a Scottish Little Walter of the accordion. The tunes were all solid too, Great Example to the Dogs being my favourite of their set. 7/10

Completing a Delgados-solo-project line-up was headliner Emma Pollock, who I saw promote her last album supporting the Phantom Band. The difference between two years ago and now is that Emma's latest album is easily one of the best things I have heard in 2010, and whilst it might not be breaking any new ground, its pop, rockier and folkier moments are all each defined by the serious strength of all of the songwriting, which wasn't on the same level on Emma's other post-Delgados solo stuff. All the stuff from 'The Law of Large Numbers' was the best on the night, I Could be a Saint, Chemistry Will Find Me & a solo acoustic The Child in Me all high points. Paper & Glue, the best song by miles off her last record, was also a belter, and the stage banter was minimal but always brought a smile. 8/10

Saw The Low Anthem a couple of nights later, who were supported by the unique Mountain Man, a trio of american women whose songs are all three-part harmony acapellas, with some using sparse acoustic guitar. All they need is one mic, and it was spine-tingling to see them perform, stratospheric voices and wonderful harmonies. Played some original stuff and some old blues and folk vocal covers, bit of a one-trick pony, but an excellent and distinctive trick. 7/10

The Low Anthem played big ballads, some sludgy blues, some Stones-esque rock n' roll, bit of everything about them and all of it completely involving. Constantly swapping instruments between songs didn't take any time at all (I've seen local bands take a full two minutes to change tunings ffs) and they looked to be having loads of fun on stage. The best tune on the night for me was recent b-side Sally Where Dyou Get your Liquor from?, a slowbuilding narrative bit of blues layered in feedback. 8/10

anyone seen prince live?

ISLET at the shipping forecast in liverpool
fucking hell. rating this highly at 9/10 on the basis of:
four bands for a fiver.
sharing a joint with islet before hand.
one of islet having a proper RAF moustache (worth a point in itself)
them being great live.

geniunely powerful stuff. my only regret is having a couple too many pints in there (which is an expensive place) so I couldn't afford to buy their EP after.

yeah they are fucking amazing live. gonna be huge.

take a few quid if you're going they've got a 2nd EP out in a few weeks and are selling it at the shows for £7 already. the damn things a tenner on amazon though

i saw them in norwich at the beginning of the year supporting los campesinos and was blow away. was going to see them again next week but am going to watch the england under 21s instead. still not sure its the right decision but it will be more of a LADS NIGHT OUT so i went with it.

grinderman at the apollo last night, fantastic, made my ears ring which I never realised was possible anymore. Nick Cave without doubt one of the best frontmen on earth, amazing performance. They used all the huge songs up early on so the encore lacked the punch of what came before but either way a really top gig.
8 POINT 9.

This Islet mob intrigue me, I notice a couple of them used to be in the Victorian Gentlemen's Club. Any chance you could turtle any of their tunes? They've no myspace of nowt.

They play at the Captain's Rest in a couple of weeks, I'll prolly go along.

spotify....
there are some mp3s going round but they are 112!!!!kps, better off with spotify

I can't use Spotify, for reasons that I won't bore you with. Any mp3s at all, no matter, how poor, would be gratefully recieved.

Got to love the Captain's Rest. Know nothing of this Islet mob however.

I dont have them I'm sure i'd have deleted something that bitrate, I did order the first mini LP off amazon the other day though and I think that comes with a download code.
used supersaver delivery though so fuck knows when it comes.

just got back from seeing no age. was the first gig ive been to in months, very unlike me. was pretty excellent show but vocals were a bit low down in the mix. 8.5/10

The Mice Parade
Silje (someone, I forget her name)
Sheep stealers
Kazimier Liverpool
7/10
I love the kazimier, its like stepping out of liverpool and into a hidden glastonbury stage for an evening sometimes....
first up were sheep stealers, should be shit its 3 girls from LIPA (liverpool institute of performing arts) and usually these cunts are awful, however they were the 3 prettiest girls you could imagine and nice enough,
silje was a norwegian support for the mice parade tour, possibly the most beautfiful woman I've ever seen, sadly all the LIPA pricks there to see the first band chatted all the way through and wrecked it. cunts.
Mice parade played their first ever liverpool gig, actually I missed the encore having to get the last train home but it was pretty impressive stuff (check them out on waffles or what if you dont know them.... its a solo project of adam pierce - an anagram of mice parade- with lots of people from bands you do know like múm and the enablers)

The Charlatans at the picturehouse last night, it was the 45903489067438904th time I've seen them, I barely listen to their records these days, the new album is shit and I really couldn't be arsed with it. Still, even with the bloke from The Verve on drums they were fucking brilliant. And reeled out half of Up to Our Hips. 8.5

you see shaun ryder supporting? im bizarrely looking forward to seeing him supporting them in norwich in a couple of weeks

Nah, took in the first half of the Scotland game instead. 1/10.