Yo! This is a direct copy/paste job of the review I posted at AF fansite Us Kids Know, so all the weird "people" I reference in here who aren't obviously members of the band are folks from that fine institution that I met up with over the course of those four days. I can't be bothered to edit it specifically for LJ, I'm way too much of a lazy ( Read more... )

Halfway through AF's Brixton Residency; yesterday was good but probably the least impressive time I've seen them; today was the best performance of theirs I've had the pleasure of seeing and thus by default the best show I've seen in my life. Crown of Love...I can't even put into words how astounding that was ( Read more... )

Despite having contracted what seems to be the Plague from some unknown agency, I rather enjoyed Eagles of Death Metal at the Astoria tonight. A far more light-hearted outfit than Josh Homme’s other band (stoner rockers Queens of The Stone Age), they provide simple, no-frills, straightforward rock ‘n roll. Their material could certainly never be ( Read more... )

So yesterday afternoon, the powers that be decided to dispatch me to our Waterloo outpost in the north of the borough. What shouldn’t have been a difficult journey was complicated by the fact that Waterloo is a labyrinthine bastard of a station. Although not quite as infuriating as Paddington, it still seems to be have been designed to be as ( Read more... )

Went to two superb gigs earlier this week; here are the inevitable reviews:

Los Campesinos!, London Spitz (05/03/07)

Another day, another NME buzz band. But Los Campesinos! seem, for once, to be the real thing; a band that eschews the sub-Libertines claptrap that’s so in vogue at the moment and plays music that’s actually FUN to listen to. And so ( Read more... )

Before I went to seem them at the Koko, I’d heard all of one song by Explosions In The Sky. But I’ve oft heard them mentioned in same breath as Hope of the States, 65 Days of Static and Sigur Ros, and that more than piqued my interest. Support came from avant-garde artist Alexander Tucker, who recreated the post-rock ethos with the bare minimum of ( Read more... )

On paper, My Latest Novel should be one of my favourite live bands- a wonderful catalogue of work (infused with a luscious yet understated folkiness that makes them sound like the sober, Presbyterian younger brother of the Arcade Fire); talented musicians; big, glacial build-ups culminating in explosions of beautiful sound. And yet they’re not. ( Read more... )

Over the last few years, my video game geekery has slowly been superseded by  slightly more socially acceptable indie geekery. However, I am still an unashamed Final Fantasy aficionado and so naturally, I spent a considerable chunk of the last weekend playing the latest instalment, the long-delayed numero XII. And so far, I gotta say it’s certainly ( Read more... )

It really makes a pleasant change commuting to work in sunlight. When I started my job we were already at the arse-end of autumn, so I’ve always travelled to and from Brixton in darkness. But spring is finally a-comin’, and now I can appreciate the scenery en route, rather than staring at the harrowing expressions of misery on the faces of my ( Read more... )

An uncontroversial yet well-deserved bunch of Oscars this year, I think. Shame to see 'Pan's Labyrinth' miss out on anything substantial, but if the sparkling review by 
( Read more... )