Black Country, New Road – Bush Hall
On a freezing cold west London night, Mercury-nominated Black Country, New Road took to a sold-out Bush Hall stage decorated in rudimentary and brightly coloured cardboard depictions of country scenes, dressed as humble country folk and to the tune of Dvorak's New World Symphony (aka the Hovis ad to those of a certain age). "Are you feeling pastoral?" Lewis Evans asks the audience.
Pale Waves – 02 Forum Kentish Town
The ripples Pale Waves make may not be especially original, but they create a huge swell and the Forum loves to surf them. This is down to electric, PVC clad front woman and force of nature, Heather Baron-Gracie. She's part Avril Lavagne, part Joan Jett and blonde for now, with the cadence in her voice of an indie Madonna.
GoGo Penguin – The Marble Factory Bristol
Trio GoGo Penguin emerge through the smoke of the stage as if they’re walking over gothic moors rather than the boards of a Bristol landmark. It sets the tone for their performance; a complex and moody affair that’s undercut by the nightclub scene their music alludes to. It is under these circumstances that the statues of Nick Blacka, Chris Illingworth, and Jon Scott are brought to life in order to play.
Porridge Radio – Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Porridge Radio pounce on the Empire’s stage to Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song and it’s as if they’ve migrated from their true selves for the initial numbers.
Aoife O’ Donovan – St Thomas The Martyr Church Bristol
On the tour for her new album, The Age of Apathy, Aoife O’Donovan explores gossamer highs and lows, entangling the spider web of what it means to be intensely sensitive in the modern age.
Bodega – Islington Assembly Hall
New York's five-piece post-punk Bodega returned to London six months after their debut at the Moth Club, this time playing the more substantial Islington Assembly Hall. Championed by BBC 6Music's Marc Riley, amongst others, ticket sales were good, with the venue pretty packed, even if upstairs was closed.
An Evening with Bill Callahan – Roundhouse, London
Bill Callahan, once described by the late comedian Sean Hughes as the ‘leader’ in the fraternity of ‘miserable bastards of the world’, is on a post pandemic mission. Astonishingly, given a career of cussedness and existential woe, it is to mend and cheer us up.
DMA’S have dropped new single ‘I Don’t Need To Hide’
Australian Indie outfit DMA'S have dropped new single 'I Don't Need To Hide' today!
Enola Gay – The Joiners, Southampton
Enola Gay played Southampton's grassroots intimate venue, The Joiners on Thursday evening, musician Craig Perry was there to review for us.
Just Mustard announce deluxe version of ‘Heart Under’
Dundalk, Ireland 5-piece Just Mustard have announced a special deluxe edition of their new album: ‘Heart Under'.