rate the last gig you went to

had another wonderful Green Man festival. This is for you Columbia Rocks Man!!!

Thursday:
LIZ LAWRENCE: Kinda indie rock with some electronica thrown in, bang average 5/10
The Orchestra (For Now): this is a Windmill band that basically sound like Black Country New Road this was one of the recorded sets so they only did a 20 minute set but I liked what I heard 7/10
PYS MELYN: Opening night in the Walled Garden they always put on a bunch of Welsh acts which I like to catch as many of them never play outside of Wales. This was melodic pop/rock kinda Gorky's/Mwng era SFA, lovely stuff 7.5
HMS Morris: Another welsh group, this isn't something I'd ever listen to on record but they had good energy about them which made for a nice festival set 6.5
The Tubs: I tried their album earlier in the year and it's proper 90's indie-rock with hooks like The Lemonheads. Unfortunately the singer has a voice that annoys me greatly, at best I'd say it sounds like Bob Mould, at worst the guy from Pearl Jam. Man, they have some fucking tunes but the lyrics & vocals are just terrible. 6.5/10
Hippo Sound System: The Chai Wallahs stage is always a good atmosphere. Unfortunately a lot of what they book is white people doing black music. This was one of those cases. Crowd loved it but it just felt a bit naff 5/10
Sleaford Mods: Perfect end to the day. It was loud as FUCK, Jason was in fine form. Did their cover of West End Girls. Wonderful 8.5

Friday:
Malice K: Was quite intrigued by what I heard online so went along to their recorded short set as I wanted to see Hurray for the riff raff later when they did their main set, but got the time wrong and only saw the last song 
Opus Kink: A band that seemed to always be listed at the Windmill. Very similar to Fat White Family, that kinda deal. Impressed 7/10
Blue Bendy: I've seen them a few times & there's definitely something there but it never grabs me the way it should. This was another of those times, will probably give up on them now. 6/10
Humane The Moon: Was on the small Rising stage. Never heard of them, they looked very young. Kinda indie-rock meets post punk. Kinda forgettable but I've seen a lot worse 6/10
Hurray for the Riff Raff: Got down to the main stage to see a different band setting up. They had cancelled. So went to see Malice K do their proper set. I was really impressed. The singer (who I guess is the band?) was clearly fucked, did a backflip and landed on his back, then tried to jump over the speakers and staked it. also did 2 acoustic songs at the end and totally fucked them up. However, the main set with the band was excellent. Has a kinda Elliott Smith vocals but it got a bit garage rock in places. 7.5 
Wanted to catch Hotline TNT but was fucking knackered so opted for a live conversation with Jesus & Mary Chain, a band who notoriously hate being interviewed Was with the guy who's just help them write the book though so was actually pretty decent & unintentionally funny in spots. 
BEAK> : pulled in a pretty big crowd. Set had some outstanding moments, the rest of the set was just fine 7.25
Personal Trainer: I enjoyed this probably more than I should. They're kinda cheesy indie-rock from Amsterdam. It's a bit on the nose but they're enthusiasm won me over. Kinda a bit electric soft parade in places. Fun set 7/10
Fat White Family: This was fucking great. Obviously there's been some big changes to the lineup but the band now sound better than ever. Banging set, so much energy. Loved every minute of it, best time I've seen them 9/10
The Jesus & Mary Chain: This wasn't bad.. but I was disappointed. Opened with a new song which fair enough I guess, then had a run of about 7 classics and then the set went downhill. It feels like they're playing in slow motion when performing the faster material, everything lacking the punch that it should have. There was a huge lack of atmosphere in the tent too which didn'thelp, many people got bored and left early. They also did too many new songs, I've not heard the new record and i never will, those songs sound so gutless. Still enjoyed the gig, its the mary chain ffs but the days of them being a essential band are long gone. also Jim through a strop and aborted a song after trying to get it started 3 separate times 7/10

Saturday:
Maruja: Started the day with these, wasn't good, singer needs a slap 5/10
Lynks: opened the main stage and went down a storm. Just perfect festival music. 8/10
The WAEVE: I liked the first album but the new material sounds like a big step up. Very Bowie in Berlin vibes on a few of the tracks, especially in the guitar playing. Coxon took a couple of swipes at Blur during the gig Excited for the new album 7.5
Lonnie Holley: Loved that album he made with Matthew E White from a few years ago. Wasn't sure what to expect, had a small band. Watched a few down the front then the rest chilling on the hill. Was pretty nice, though he drew a tiny crowd on the main stage, should have been put somewhere else 7/10
Tapir! Did two new songs, sounded very nice. No surprises with the rest of the set but I won't tire of those songs anytime soon 8/10
John Maus: I went in kinda knowing nothing to this & loved it. All I knew was that he was in Ariel Pink's band at some point. Basically it's just him pressing play and singing over the top of a backing track with guide vocals. The energy he puts into it though is insane. I've looked up some footage and this is just how his show goes so it was nothing unique in that respect but fucking hell, I've not seen someone give so much on stage for an hour he was punching his chest and letting out mighty roars during every song. Tunes are catchy as shit too. 8.5
Nadine Shah: Other than Callum Easter her bands totally different now. Not sure how long this lineup has been together but the drummer was drumming far too fast for the more upbeat material, you could see Nadine & band struggling to keep up. That said, there was a much more brooding sound to her songs with this new lineup. The set took a while to really get going, she had nailed it by the end. She was told it was her last song then she spent ages mid song getting angry at people at the side of the stage. Then she brought on some kids and went into a cease fire speech after performing a final song. When some artists mention Palestine it feels like a wrestler naming the town they're in for a cheap pop but she put so much emotion into it, she was in tears of rage and did a big mic drop. pretty powerful. Seen her do better gigs & this band is a step down from what she had for the last record but still but good stuff 7.5
Osees: Never been keen on record but always been told what a great live act they're so decided to give them a shot. I hated it. The duel drummers are impressive but they're tedious as fuck & have zero tunes. It just feels like a big gimmick, the singer is an annoying cunt 4/10
DJ Stevie Steve & Rob Leggatt: Ended up getting involved with half hour of a techno set which was pretty banging. 7/10
Byrns Night: Ended with Byrnes night, which I've seen a few times now but is always a fun time. Ramshackle in nature, Lynks, Ash Kinazi, Nadine Shah, singer from Porridge Radio all did guest vocals. by thistime Nadine Shah was absolutely wankered 8/10

Sunday:
BDRMM: Saw them do 2 songs for the recorded session thing. I've seen them before and it was boring but I enjoyed this a lot, wish I'd caught their main set now. Might try their latest record 7/10
O. : me and Kevin saw I think their 2nd ever gig so it's nice to see them doing so well now. Pulled in a solid number of people for their set and went down a storm. 7.75
The Most Dangerous Animal In the World: This was one of the theatre performances they have in the middle of the field. a one woman show as a sheep, you had to be there I guess, but it was a unexpected bit of fun
Lambrini Girls: Pulled in a huge crowd. They had an hour set which was too much for me, I left after 40 minutes as I'd seen enough but fair play, they had the tent rocking early in the day and the energy was infectious. 7/10
Brown Horse: A recommendation from JP. Very much country-rock in the style of Ryan Adams/Neil Young. Did a Woody Guthrie cover to the tune of Powderfinger which was pretty awesome. Impressed even if I'm not keen on the vocal style. 7.5
Blondshell: watched this whilst eating a Burrito. Sounded like that middle of the road teenie indie-rock like Snail Mail. Nothing terrible but also unsure how anyone can be excited about it 5.5/10
Omar Souleyman: Knew of Omar but hadn't really ever listened properly and didn't know what to expect live. Was FUN, just Omar on vocals and a guy with a keyboard. Was pretty banging in places, the crowd loved it too. 7.5
Black Country New Road: Man, this was fucking terrible. When Isaac left they wrote a new batch of songs and took them on the road. Those songs sounded like when New Order made their debut which was just seem finding their feet but basically just sounded like a inferior version of Joy Division. Of course New Order found their sound and became one of the greats. BCNR have found their new sound and that sound is like a soundtrack to the worst Disney movie you've ever heard. Just fucking horrible. everything that made them so good originally is now gone. I lasted 45 minutes and fucked off, they're dead to me now. 2/10
Michal Head & the red elastic Band: Caught half hour of this, was hoping he'd get some Shack out early doors but I didn't get lucky. Was enjoying the set but had to leave due to clashes which was a shame 7/10
Ezra Collective: This was fucking phenomenal. One of the best atmospheres I've ever experienced at a gig. Everything was perfect, the sound was spot on, the band were on fire. One of the best things I've seen in years tbh, the really should have healined. 10/10
Big Special: Stumbled across these, from Birmingham. Just a singer and a drummer, like Yard Act meets Sleaford mods from Birmingham. Seemed like a much more commercial version, can see them ending up quite popular. Don't imagine I'll ever be interested in them on record but the energy of it and the fact everyone leaving Ezra Collective ended up catching them meant the good vibes continued. 6/10
Explosions In the Sky: Post-rock isn't a genre I gravitate towards & tbh it felt like such a downer after dancing my arse off to Ezra collective but I've gotta say, I enjoyed this quite a bit. The sound in the tent was huge. I watched an hour of their performance, tbh that was enough for me, the slow build before the cum shot style of post-rock means it kinda gets a bit repetitive after a while. Still, that hour I saw was pretty powerful at times. Listened to their The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead album on the coach journey home and enjoyed it more than I thought I would too. 7.5/10

thanks for reading columbia rocks man