rate the last gig you went to

so you're cornalkipling

silvery are a laugh live- the 'wilko' like bass player is funny

Mark Ronson & The Business 7/10
Rose Elinor Dougall 9/10

So I went and saw Ronson tonight at Webster Hall in NYC. I went mainly to see Rose who is touring w/ him at the moment. Nevertheless, the show was really good. The stage was a bit elaborate for the size of the gig and there seemed to be 20 keyboards/synths on stage, but it was still fun. Rose Dougall is one of the most captivating performers Ive ever seen. As soon as she hit the stage I couldnt take my eyes off of her. One of my friends was like "Shes not all that", and I say to her "Yes she is, just listen to her". Bit silly. But yea she was fantastic and the gig was over in a flash. Afterwards a lot of the performers were milling about the bar area and I walked up to Rose and gushed a little bit, but she was very sweet and thankful for the words. Shes not as pretty in person, but its really her voice that gets me anyway.

At any rate, I had high hopes for Rose but the entire group tonight was really solid. I was impressed with some of Ronson's songs that I hadnt heard prior. And the version of Stop Me (Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before) with Rose on lead vocals is fucking killer.



they did this one too and its pretty good.

The Strange Boys 7/10

They're certainly a bunch of strange boys. Mainly cos the normal they are. Although one guitarist is neckless. Anyway, familiar atmosphere as always a small band comes to my city, which is nice for a band like The Strange Boys. I once described them to a friend as "the Black Lips with Dylan singing", which sounds suitable although they never really come close of that potential. And they don't seem to care at all, they make good music and they enjoy doing it, and the audience did have a nice time. They're nothing groundbreaking, and they don't get ashamed of admitting they only had a one hour set ready, even if they spent ten minutes on a jam while the singer changed a broken string. All and all, some songs sounded better than on record, some other sounded worse, the singer miaows and there's a female saxophonist.

yeah theyre a good band the strange boys. im suprised more people on here arent into them tbh, i think its only really me and you barny who have talked about them. their sound would be up a lot of forum members streets i reckon.

Yeah, I wouldn't say they are your kind at all, but as the soapy is asleep these days let's enjoy this together

Did they play Bestival? I was planning to go this year and went on a mission, downloading stuff by bands that were playing who I'd never heard of and I'm sure Strange Boys were one of them.

me and mahoney are welsh brothers tonight. whilst he was at the phonics i was seeing...

THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS

in reality i only went along for BRITISH SEA POWER who were great as always. new stuff sounds top live and they ended on a storming version of my favourite SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS 8.5/10

was in two minds about leaving after bsp or sticking around for a bit of the manics. decided to stay as they were coming on real early. they were better than expected tbh,glad they played motorcycle emptiness nice and early as it was the only song i was really bothered about seeing. i left after about 5 songs as they were decent but i dont think i could have stuck 2 hours of fatty bradfield. 6.5/10

A fortnight past Wednesday, I went to see a co-headline of Errors & Twilight Sad at the Lemon Tree here in Aberdeen. This was the first gig I'd been to post-left-eardrum-bursting, so had to attend with my ear packed with cotton wool

To be fair, ever-present and ever-pleasant Aberdeen indie-pop peddlers The Little Kicks were supporting, and during their short but enjoyable set I thought perhaps the cotton wool would be unneccessary as the sound wasn't as loud as I'd anticipated. 7/10.

Obviously, these thoughts quickly became sources of amusement as The Twilight Sad came on stage. Playing their first gig in a few months, the singer James Graham was a bit rusty vocally, but all in all they were as definitive and distinctive as they normally are live. New tracks Wrong Car and the almost dance-y Throw Yourself in the Water were great, Reflection of the Television was probably my favourite of the night and all the debut album stuff went down brilliantly to an enthusiastic crowd. 8/10.

I'm unsure which member of Errors it is that talks to the crowd, and whether or not he's autistic or what, but his banter needs to be replaced by anyone else in the band, or in the world even, monotone bizarre asperger's hoor. Pish utterings aside, the band played a pretty strong headline set of 16-bit inspired electronica, my highlight was Songos Ya Mongos, and a killer finishing track in Pump. 7/10

Went to the Music Hall the following day, where British Sea Power were the support act. More familiar with their first album than anything else, so Carrion and Remember Me sounded the best to me, but you could barely hear the violinist or her backing vocals which was seriously poor from the soundman. Rest of their set was so-so and lacked a bit of punch and charisma overall. 6/10

Manic Street Preachers opened with Sleepflower, which was odd, but a welcome surprise. Stuff from their new album was good excepting a track called Hazleton Avenue which was a bit rank. Faster, Motorcycle Emptiness and Motown Junk were all played as usual, but all delivered passionately and meaningfully, which couldn't be said for a plodding Empty Souls and a sleepy Ocean Spray. Of a 23 song set though, those two and personal bugbear of mine If You Tolerate This were the only low points. 7/10

This Friday, much improved and the first time since August I'd been to a gig with two naked ears, I decided to go to Drummonds.

The first band on were a very average Our Last Night, who I was willing to forgive for being incredibly derivative and tryhard seeing as they looked young enough to just be starting out, until they said a song was from their third album. Far too much effort into moving about on stage, foot on the monitors shit and goading for folk to join in clapping than there was tunes. 3/10.

The Ghost of a Thousand are incredible. Like an 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster raised by wolves or a Stones/Refused hybrid, they are nothing but breakneck punk, a turbo rock n roll good time like very few other bands at the moment. Black Art Number One, Knees Toes Teeth, Left for Dead and set closer Bored of Math all do the same thing, just really fucking well. The guitarist now sports a Frenchman-bicycle-tash. They threw in a cover of Back In Black. The lead singer walked through the crowd on a trip to the bar and back during a song in the middle of the set. 9 songs was also the perfect length of set for what they do. Best I've seen them as yet. 9/10

I wasn't really arsed about We Are The Ocean, and neither I am now. They are sub-Alexisonfire, and even more painfully derivative than Our Last Night were. Anyone singing in an accent that isn't theirs is probably in need of a large reality check and I sincerely hope that We are the Ocean evolve or die, because their current wares are cheap and shoddy. The best I could say about the lead vocalist is that he sounded almost like the twat from Rooster. I was glad after their inordinately long set (for a band with one album!) was done with. 2/10

Should have kept an eye out for Dan.

And it's good to see you posting, Hepburn. I would reply to your post with a bit more than this but sadly I know nothing of any of the bands you've been to see. However



did have me laughing out loud.

The New Pornographers w/ Neko Case

Tokyo Police Club opened, but I did not bother with them and was talking to friends outside the venue right until the headliner played the first note. Anyway, Neko is brilliant. I love her and I only know of the band because of her. Initially, I wasnt going to go to this, but a friend got me a ticket and that is good enough for me. Im glad I did. Despite being on a Monday night, the show was rock solid, Neko is gorgeous, and I had a good time.

8/10

PHONICS DOING WORD GETS AROUND

999/10

Tokyo Police Club are good Ben, too bad you missed them.

saw Japandroids a week ago. They were very hard on the ears. 7/10

everyone else was loving it.

i wanna say they remind me of Death From Above 1979... but a little different

was gonna go to charlatans/shaun ryder tonight but dunno just cant be arsed now. ive no doubts that if i went id have a fucking great time BUT ITS QUITE COLD OUTSIDE and i cant help but feel at 25quid its a bit pricey.

CANT MAKE MY MIND UP

I saw the Temper Trap last week, they're alreet. 6/10

you are finished bruv, there was a day you would of fucking gone, you wouldn't of left the manics after a few songs, don't give me the I don't really like them speech, you was enjoying it but you thought an early night would be better didn't you. OH IT'S COLD, you are finished bruv, finished!

I feel the exact same way when I go to gigs now though I'm gonna come on here friday night after seeing charlatans/ryder and say it was the best gig ever if you don't go tonight. I've a real big feeling it's gonna be totally shit.

went to see danish band MIMAS in norwich tonight.

3rd time seeing them and epic lovely stuff as always.

8/10

A few friends of mine were really close to booking flights and hotel rooms and do a weekend in Chicago based on that Charlatans gig. LUCKY WE DIDN'T.