Search for rock singer performed on Thursday, 8th January 2009.
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A great singer / songwriter / guitarist producing highly original guitar sounds in the acoustic power-rock and contemporary range, creating a solid foundation of his own original songs. It has been said that hearing Geoff is like 'being swept away by
There's a new club open in town. It's pretty exclusive and the house band is Leeds' Yellow Stripe Nine. Conveniently, Club DeccaDance's owner is the band's lead singer. In fact, it's his creation.
As lead singer, main songwriter and all around head honcho of The Argonauts, Daniel Fell is now going solo. He's playing in Leeds at Carpe Diem on the 12th February, so Gavin Miller caught up with the man himself to have a little chat about all things musical...
On the 17th December '05, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the hardest working front men in the music industry, Ian Prowse (no relation to the bloke that played Darth Vader). He is the lead singer with the band Amsterdam.
Brainchild of Richard Green, The Heavens are a blend of British & American psychedelia, rock & roll and 90's brit-rock.
acoustic rock
alternative rock
pop rock mor
Band Profile: Spitfire Charlie
indie rock
indie rock
rock blues
hardcore rock
Band Profile: An Invitation To An Accident
rock post-hardcore
rock jazz blues
psychedelic experimental rock
Alternative Pop & Rock act with a nod towards the more obscure...
experimental post-rock
indie rock
indie rock
acoustic folk rock
alternative rock
punk rock
acoustic indie rock
acoustic rock
Band Profile: The Half Nelsons
The Half Nelsons are a punk/ska/rock band.
rock prog instrumental
rock blues
Various Artists: Shock Rock: Wall Of Sound
New rave. Makes you want to look away doesn't it? New talent being pigeonholed into genre specific straight jackets, and all as a sorry excuse for the latest scene or fad to grow and take hold of our vulnerable teens.
Bringing rock and blues back to the people
Requested personally by Swedish post-rock wonders 'Jeniferever' to be thier tour support, expect lush finger picked melodies ghosting underneath fragile vocal lines that place him somewhere between Nick Drake, Iron and Wine and Red House Painters.
Rob Galloway Dubbed 'The Rebel of the Leeds Music Scene' ROB GALLOWAY describes himself as Beck meets Iggy Pop, creating an electric sound from dance beats, guitars, trip hop and punk rock
On a cold, wet and dark Tuesday night Gavin Miller talks with Ross Futureheads from the highly showbiz and rock and roll location of a Leeds Travel Lodge...
Jody Fitzgerald is a Leeds-based singer songwriter, originally from Oswestry, North Shropshire. He started in music as the lead singer of a rock band named 'Good Rebel' and since then he has been playing live around Leeds for the last couple of years, playing at venues such as The Primrose, Cockpit, Santiagos, Sandinista!
Acoustic music with all the energy front and vigour of a full band, Benny sets out to get up get you singing along, and having a great time all round
Band Profile: Requiem For Romance
Requiem For Romance are a new rock band based in Leeds. We're currently looking for a lead singer to finalise the line-up.
It worries me when a band advertises themselves in their biography by the fact that their lead singer has big tits!
Even during the early stages of her career, Cara Robinson was writing and recording with notable artists from a huge range of musical genres, including David Holmes, LTJ Bukem and upcoming EMI artist, Corrine Bailey-Ray.
Juliette & The Licks: Hot Kiss
Inflated egos and being surrounded by 'yes men' usually mean that what a film star interprets as 'good music' is a lot different to the public's perception.
One day, five young chappies from Aldershot who had got fed up of getting nowhere with their band sent a demo tape to Ross Robinson (he of knob-twiddling duties for ATD-I, Slipknot and Korn amongst others).
The Hair are foot soldiers in the great army of rock and roll. They play bluesy soulful rock, with some keyboard frills.
I pray to the sweet Lord that the cover of this CD is supposed to be ironic; perhaps it's a nod to the current 80's rock revival.
The Smokestacks @ Cockpit (acoustic bar)
Mary Wanna Smile were a very solid, straight-forward rock band, performing some well crafted acoustic ditties.
acoustic indie
The Casanovas are an antipodean rock band, which should tell you something. Picture the big riffs (think ZZ Top), swagger vocals (Mick Jagger) and 80's rock drums.
Hoggboy have brought their mates along from Sheffield for this show taking in some of their recent releases.
Daughters look like they'd be a set of right pricks. The singer has a handlebar moustache, for starters, which ordinarily I'd greatly admire (this being the only acceptable variety of moustache, ever), but to be honest it makes him look like a bit of an idiot.
The Ga Gas are being heavily tipped to be the next big 'rock and roll' band, following the likes of The Darkness and Velvet Revolver.
acoustic indie
Imaginative, Intelligent, Witty and Funky is how I would describe tonight's openers, Soulwax. However, there is one other word that sums them up.
The Packhorse is one strange venue. The gigs are held upstairs in the attic right out of the way and it almost feels as though it's a secret club only a few know about.
As faKe, this band was heralded as "one of the underground metal scenes brightest prospects". This fact is drilled home throughout the promotional material with this CD, including reviews of faKe.
The Hightones: The Attic Tapes
Oh yeah baby, bring back that rock and roll! Only - if they could play and sing that would be great, but with out of tune vocals and guitars throughout I must say that from listening to this first track "Till The Night Is Through" I am NOT impressed.
As Minus are about to finish their set at 7:40 I stroll into the venue... shit. Ikara Colt take to the stage in the form of a British Von Bondies with ladies at either side of lead singer Paul Resende.
The Zico Chain: Where would you rather be?
The Zico Chain have been pushing on the boundaries of the rock mainstream for a while now with their mix of grunge and heavy rock.
A storming Liverpool/Leeds three piece with musical origins rooted in the Mississippi Hill blues through to English classic rock n roll.
Well, despite spending an hour and ten minutes waiting for a bus that didn't turn up and a taxi that didn't turn up either, I eventually made it to the rocket in time to catch most of Divided by Zero's set.
Hundred Reasons @ Leeds Festival 2006
This time last year Hundred Reasons were on the main stage with a huge advert behind them reading "Band For Sale".
Chapter Thirteen @ Joseph's Well
For a rock band like Chapter Thirteen an acoustic gig is to say the least - unexpected. I've seen the band many times and when I first heard about this gig I wondered what was going to be left without the crunching guitars and the wide range of effects they usually use in such an imaginative way.
If anyone's guilty of throwing the term "sounds like Tool" around, then it's me, and maybe Simon Glacken, but in this case, Broken have obviously been studying their copies of 'Lateralus' and 'Aenima'.
The Music Roll Exchange: Untitled
The Music Roll Exchange (North London with Huddersfield connections) have their chief blurb-writer primed to start abbreviating the name (they shall be known as TMRE) before anybody has heard of their carefully chosen long name.
The Blind Lemons @ Blue Bar (Harrogate)
Good lord. A decent gig in Harrogate. Might have known they were outsiders... We check out the fantastic but poorly-monikered Blind Lemons at the Blues Bar.
The Humour @ Leeds Festival 2008
The Humour are all about chugga chugga rock played with strutting ego and a confident American accent.
I'd never previously seen any of the bands I saw on Wednesday night but when I left at 11:15pm I felt like I'd heard three of them somewhere else before.
Bad Beat Revue @ Joseph's Well
There are about a dozen people in the room but I think somebody has forgotten to tell Bad Beat Revue's front man.
Hundred Reasons @ Leeds Festival 2001
A pulsating half an hour from Hundred Reasons ensured no rain-induced gloom in the crowd in The Evening Session Tent.
The Scaramanga Six @ Courthouse (Otley)
So, after a mere five months of waiting, I finally get to review a gig in my home town. Endless Grey Windows must have arguably the worst name of any band I've seen in a fair while but they're a passable start to the evening with their distorted indie rock recalling Ride at times.
For the first time in the running of this competition have I managed to find out what the rules are for scoring, and what catgories the judges are marking out of.
The Prototypes: A Twist Of Fate
I can't fathom The Prototypes. A Twist of Fate comprises four songs each of which have their own unique style.
Straight outta Oslo, Norway and newly signed to Island Records, Span are a complex rock and roll beast with occasional Soundgarden hints that just gets better and better as their show progresses.
This latest offering from the up-and-coming whippersnappers from Welwyn Garden City encapsulates perfectly what this band are all about; a three-minute burst of loud, simple, magnificent punk rock.
Ask some people to name a rock "super group" and their response will usually be Audioslave unless you ask you're grandma who'll probably just look at you funny.
To say that I was a fan of Napoleon IIIrd would be a severe understatement; this so called low-fi wizard of leftfield rock is about as appealing as leprosy and manages to push the crowd to the recesses of the dingy corners of the bar for salvation.
Alien Ant Farm @ Leeds Festival 2001
Delayed for 10 minutes due to crowd congestion, the kids went absolutely berserk for American nu-metallers Alien Ant Farm.
Dawn Parade @ Royal Park Cellars
Unison take to the stage sporting interesting T-shirts, boy band hair cuts and are apparently very new to the music scene; however, they don't actually show it a great deal.
Listen Ryder and all you other bands, when you send a CD for review - include a biog! Why? because as you have no marketing budget you need to use every opportunity to spread the word about your group that you get.
A couple of Sheffield websites have kind things to say about Dangerlust, a band formed last year out of a previously ditched project called Floater.
Remo are from the growing collection of "alternative" rock bands hailing from the city of Bradford lately.
Five bands. The Fav. For free. F me! It must be Easter Sunday. First on The Acutes bang out their bluesy rock which, when you consider the band have no bass player, brings obvious but perhaps unfair comparisons with The White Stripes.
Jeepster look uncomfortable. Their Noel Gallagher-style rock ballads are underpinned by some nice piano and Hammond organ, but like a potato sandwich, they also lack intrigue.
The band that was once Baby Chaos is now Deckard. Like their former self, Deckard have not yet quite been able to really break through and let the world know what they are all about.
The 3 Despondents play rock'n'roll punk like they remember it. Singer's Dead Boys T-Shirt is surely older than him.
Pounding of drums and wail of guitar signifies that My Exploding Heart have come to the stage. Singer/guitarist Danny Carr thrashes out power chords like it's the last time he'll play a gig while faces of orgasmic exhilaration come from frantic drummer Mike Quarry.
The Burning Brides' hearts are definitely in the right place. Read any interview and you will invariably hear singer/guitarist Dimitri Coates, attacking the conveyor-belt of crap that is today's music industry.
Joseph's Well tonight is certainly a strange place to be. Sweltering and packed to the rafters with anybody who's anybody, and anybody whose not, in the whole of Leeds.
Sadly missing the workaholic Being 747 (four gigs this week for them!) it was straight into the nitty-gritty of Futuresound.
As a fan of all things from the icy plains of Iceland, it's good to see Minus landing on my doorstep.
Nikoli are supreme. Uplifting, sweeping tunes with buried distorted guitars that drive their songs on.
If the names of the bands are anything to go by, this could be an interesting night of James Bond subterfuge, Pussy Galore and go-go gadgets.
Metal is on a definite upsurge at the moment, what with Limp Bizkit topping the charts and Amen on the front cover of NME and so on.
Strike Anywhere @ Joseph's Well
The sound has always been well in the Well, prompting the recent influx of American hardcore bands like Samiam and Propagandhi and these 'intimate' gigs.
Futuro: Keep It Short And Keep It Simple
ART ROCK! Wait, it sounds like Maroon 5. Hmm. Known in hip circles for my LURVE of ART ROCK! (not really scarf yielders) and Maroon 5 (of course, I love them.
Adequate Seven @ Joseph's Well
WOW! What can I say about this band? They are brilliant, they have come on so much since the last time I saw them early in 2002.
Been looking forward to seeing The Stands play live since I got a sneak preview of their forthcoming album (on Echo Records) recently.
Blimey, these guys are serious. Very serious. There's moody inlay pictures of the band looking all sullen, there's black everywhere and some very arty song titles.
Local band Parva blast out any remaining hangover from last night and prove that Leeds can not only host a festival of this quality, but can also supply the bands that make it rock.
Brutal Tinkerbell @ New Roscoe
If ever there was a lesson for new bands to learn then Future Sons Of Rome are it. 1) Your singer should never wear sunglasses unless you are playing on the main stage of a festival or have sold out a well lit arena.
Taxi To the Ocean hail from the Netherlands, although it would be mighty expensive to get one there. There is a definite influence of Pearl Jam in there, especially with singer Just Posthumus' long locks and head swaying.
Yet another band playing a part in putting Leeds on the rock 'n' roll map, The Glitterati are back with the second single to be taken from their self-titled debut album.
Bands wanted for Billy Bragg birthday bash...
Leeds 6 guitar shop Rockshack and venue Royal Park Cellars are getting together to jointly promote a charity show to celebrate the birthday of agit-prop rocker Billy Bragg - and the singer himself has backed the show by nominating a charity and donating a signed photo to raffle.
When I arrived at The Cockpit for this evening's musical extravaganza, I was struck first of all by how quiet it was.
All My Friends Are Dead @ Mixing Tin
Two things struck me when All My Friends Are Dead started playing. Just where the hell did these guys come from, and what took them so long?
Clearlake @ Leeds Festival 2001
"Everyone's gone to see Marilyn" wistfully opines lead singer Jason Pegg. He's right too. What should be a nicely brimming Carling Tent is not exactly chokka for Clearlake.
Dragpipe @ Leeds Festival 2002
New York six-piece Dragpipe bring anthemic bass lines and a party atmosphere to the Carling stage. A pleasure to watch, the band provide a feast for the eyes with the three guitarists and bass player all dressed in black bouncing in sync to the solid grooves.
iLiKETRAiNS: BEFORETHECURTAiNSCLOSE
If the Kaiser Chiefs are Leeds' masters of all that is cheery then iLiKETRAiNS are doom merchants placed on this earth to turn all those smiles upside down with dark and ever so sinister post rock epics.
The Offspring @ Leeds Festival 2002
The elder statesmen of tuneful pop rawk showed the kids how to do it all over again as the sun set over Temple Newsuam on the first day.
Four Planes In Four Days provide a low-key start to the night, their mid-paced, dynamic rock gets a decent response from the small crowd, even though the dynamics of the music don't quite work in this small venue.
The Pipers: Medicine Cabinet EP
Imagine, if you will, The Spin Doctors meet Pavement with Ray Lamontage as the lead singer. That's what we have here with this fantastic EP from The Pipers.
What a day to pick as your headline slot at the Vine... 9-11 was host to some damn fine rock action tonight, and not the sort that usually has me in a spin...
The Ordinary Boys: Week In, Week Out
Here's yet another over hyped band from the NME school of how to rock. It's very strange how exciting "new" bands these days seem to be ripping off old bands.
This long awaited punk festival finally arrives in Leeds, but not to the punters' disapproval. With doors opening at four, most people are expecting local band, 25th Cock (as Rich from Not Katies informs me) to be arriving on stage soon, but instead they don't even bother to turn up.
The Echo: Cast Those Stones EP
Come on now, another band with "THE" in the title. I received 4 cds this week to review and 3 of the bands were either called the somethings, the somebodies, or the so fucking whats.
With the likes of Dumb 41 and Blink 18Poo cluttering the air waves with their supposed comical take on punk rock, I was initially worried about listening to a CD by a punk band who had previously released an EP titled "Moshy Peas." Thankfully "The Upper Crust" is a musical dictionary of the various types of punk that are available to the people of the world.
What an honour, reviewing 2 of my favourite bands in the world, as well as the added bonus of Harold.
SAVING LENNY The first impression I got of this band was the noise. Two guitars can often be noisy and in this instance that was the case.
Good old rock and roll that's what Vatican Jet dish out! Apparently standing in for Being 747, these lads did a great job!
Seattle trio who seem to have their fingers on several pulses, the 13 tracks here run through genres like a modern rock 101.
Edison Medicine @ Joseph's Well
Seeing as Kate expertly reviewed Inertia Crisis, who I missed a lot of, I thought I'd review EDISON MEDICINE.
When the Foo Fighters were born from the smouldering remains of Nirvana there was collective, worldwide pants wetting as the grunge world considered the possibility of the music to come.
The Hair @ Leeds Festival 2006
The BBC Raw Talent Unsigned Stage makes a welcome return to the Leeds Festival and warmly welcomes The Hair to tread its boards.
A bunch of really hairy, middle-aged blokes are on stage playing rock and roll, having a shout at George Bush, and causing mayhem.
You can't really diss Rolo Tomassi. In fairness, I've seen these guys struggle through hardcore shows, getting abuse from the scene kids because they're all about 14 (my old band played with them last year and they bought their GCSE revision books with them), but they've struggled on over the past year and finally honed their unusual brand of synth-spazzcore, so now their headlining shows and supporting HORSE the band and stuff.
All My Friends Are Dead: Untitled
Another group to add to the new movement of Leeds-based post-rock outfits, All My Friends Are Dead arrive with a three-track debut demo that, while showcasing a promising musical style, still feels a little unfinished.
Rock. Or, if we're feeling particularly fruity, RAWK. Down-and-dirty, balls-fully-out Rock, fat of ass and fat of riff.
"We're the warm-up band" announces Cooper's entrance to tonight's proceedings. Following on from the previous night where we were entertained not only musically but also through an on-going dialogue with Four Day Hombre, we are again in conversation with tonights bands.
When a band includes ex members of Guns and Roses and the singer from Stone Temple Pilots it is impossible not to draw comparisons between those bands and the new one those members have formed Velvet Revolver.
There's a telling moment about two minutes into the opening track on this album when Electric Six's singer Dick Valentine announces, seemingly without any hint of irony, "Mr President, I don't like you/'Cos you don't know how to ROCK!".
Optimus Prhyme @ Joseph's Well
SWAMP DONKEY opened tonight's bill at Josephs Well. Two things that grabbed me about this band were the cool graininess to the singer's voice and the fact that they weren't that tight.
Funk Rock bands are a dying breed (discuss in 500 words or less). The first question then is why? Because the majority of them are not very good and they tend to be the biggest exploiters of tired and tested, slap-bass-riff-driven, meandering five-minute background music.
There are many gigs that you go to knowing in advance that it's going to be very good and there are those much rarer ones that you hope will end up being more than just a great gig.
Although it opens with the slightly trembly vocals and chiming guitars best associated with playlist staples like Coldplay and their ilk, the debut single from Glasgow-based foursome The Cinematics may not be destined for Radio 2 after all.
A real buzz of anticipation flutters through the crowd ahead of Weezer's entrance, and from opening number "Undone - the Sweater Song" through to closing number "Buddy Holly", the excitement is tangible.
When the lead singer of Trap 2 walked onstage tonight I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. Was this four piece really to provide support for Kasabian or a tribute act??
Playing MOD classics and the best of Brit-pop from Small Faces to Oasis
Bradford has come under fire in the past for some of its local bands sounding dated, lacking ambition and creative inspiration.
Lapdog @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
The summer madness continues with a spanking good night of local music at The Strychnine Lounge last Friday - four bands, yup four bands - one stage and a room full of people demonstrating that the upward trend of the venue is continuing.
Sweep The Leg Johnny @ Adelphi Hotel
I was really looking forward to this gig - I'd experienced 'Sweep' live before when we played an all-dayer with them in Wigan, so I knew the treat that was in store.
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for any action on stage and supping the over priced bottles of beer (because the draft had run out!) Oceansize took to the stage amidst an array of guitars (6 in total), laptops and large drum set-ups.
The Parnell Deception: Untitled
According to the press release The Parnell Deception are "often described as Tool thrown into a melting pot with Radiohead".
Razorlight play ballsy punk-fuelled garage rock with a distinctly British pop sensibility. I like it; but I don't love it.
Singer songwriter, Neil McLarty, has known what he wanted to do with his life since he first picked up a guitar at the age of 12.
Considering the torrential rain wiping out anything on the streets across Leeds, the Well was surprisingly full.
Saves The Day @ Leeds Festival 2003
Its hard to describe Saves the day without constructing a sentence containing the following words: Emo, high pitched, singer looks like a twelve year old.
Monday nights are always strange nights for gigs. It's kind of like an extension of the weekend, but with the knowledge that it's Tuesday the next day and still a full week of work ahead.
This song was made for The Boss. The addition of Bruce Springsteen's vocals to this tale of escapism through the car radio is an arena anthem worthy of its recent blitz on Radio 2.
A night of ROCK down the Royal Park... when isn't it these days? The Royal Park is getting a name for itself now as a more rock sort of venue, possibly due to promoter Steve Kind's insistance that all bands rock at all times.
Band names get more elaborate these days. It's a shame the music they produce doesn't. Now It's Overhead are very dull to watch and listen to.
CJ's Music Bar is a relatively new venue on the Leeds live music circuit and is tucked away somewhat in the depths of Kirkstall.
Fleet Foxes @ Brudenell Social Club
Opening for the hotly-tipped troupe were seasoned performers Beach House. Appreciated by the hushed audience, Beach House played some very melodic tunes in this short set despite singer Victoria Legrand's largely indiscernible vocals.
The Charlatans @ Leeds Festival 1999
Well the year goes fast doesn't it? Another year and yet another festival at Leeds' Temple Newsam Park and yet again this is another one that we all enjoyed.
The Shining Reserves start the evening off with some delightful loud and proud tracks. A fairly tight set with a regular rock rhythm and original local band sound.
It's splendid when a trip down to a nearby pub results in you getting nicely sloshed and seeing a good band.
The Lockjaws: Look Dad, You Can Cook Muffins On It
Crawling out of the dingiest and filth ridden areas of Bradford come the alcohol fuelled Lockjaws. A band bred on old school punk rock, beer, Guinness, late nights, hangovers, lager, kebabs, vodka, cider, gin, whiskey...
I'm intrigued. Track three on this CD is called 'Reykjavik 101', which is a sort of name check of one of my favourite films ever.
Another Saturday night at the Highwood saw the typical mix of youth and experience that has become all so common under the banner of the bearded soundman.
Band Profile: Medicine For The Meek
Medicine For The Meek formed in early 2007 when singer songwriter Shara Meek collaborated with some of Leeds Finest musicians.
This second self-released EP, from Manchester based 4 piece Finka, carries on what the band's "The Whistleblower" EP started a mere 6 months ago.
Now and then The Strokes manage to churn out a half decent song. Imagine if the growling and grizzly vocals you usual get with a Strokes' song have been replaced with passion filled, high pitched wailings which run up and down the scales like a clinically obese anorexic.
Screaming their way all the way from Japan, home of lock n loll, Electric Eel Shock are here for your daughter.
Leeds is quiet tonight; most of the local bars are empty, probably due to the appalling Leeds weather.
Live music seems to be undergoing some kind of renaissance in Leeds at the moment, with several new venues popping up here and there.
If ever a band sounded like they were a bunch of scruffy no good students who decided to record a few songs during fresher's week then it's Pale Man Made.
Young Heart Attack @ Joseph's Well
I'm starting to wonder if someone's put a curse on me which has condemned me for an eternity of always missing the opening act when I go to review gigs at Joseph's Well - this is no less than the third time in a row that it's happened.
Coming to gigs by yourself is never a lot of fun, but thanks to the army of apathetic student types that I call friends all wimping out, I'm here on my own.
Cornershop @ Leeds Festival 2002
A welcome alternative to the glut of nu-metal bands currently filling the airwaves, Cornershop nonetheless disappoint slightly with a somewhat lacklustre performance.
Entering the barely packed side room at first glance this does not seem like the prime of Switches' domains, stage drab and atmosphere mellow.
It's another night down at the Well and tonight we're in the presence of some nice ol' dirty rock. The night kicks off with Tricky Nixon.
The winners of Zane Lowe's Fresh Meat (?!) award open the proceedings with some rock and roll. Brighton garage rockers The Lodge have a heavy twinge of The Stooges about them, and play simple but catchy singles 'Piece of Cake' and new tune 'Noose'.
The bands are really packed in for this all-dayer organised by Bombed Out Records, Leeds' finest purveyor of melodic hardcore bands.
Planet Of Women: Waking Up the Neighbourhood
"November spawned a monster" sang Morrissey back in 1991. Fourteen years on and this turn of phrase could be applied to some of the current wave of artists riding on the coat-tails of the glam rock/ cock-rock resurgence instigated by The Darkness.
soul folk
Tonight's showcase at Josephs Well was in aid of Link Community Development to raise money for the Leeds University Hitch hike to Morocco.
With long instrumental sections and packing the small stage with a cacophony of noise, Held In Hands delivered a chaotic and often clashing set.
Once again the well is full. The crowd seems slightly different from usual, there's a definite glitzy glamour and expensive smell about them.
Yourcodenameis: Milo: Schteeve
Following their impressive Albini produced debut mini album, Yourcodenameis: Milo release their first single proper produced this time by Flood.
"Swift will remove your mask, whether dressed in white or dressed in black." they claim. A surreptitious war on Slipknot fans?
When listening to singer/songwriter Pete McGann, it's clear that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed into any particular genre.
Easy Star All Stars @ Irish Centre
A band who'd do whole Reggae cover albums of prog rock classics invite dismissal as a novelty act, but for years, largely until the Bob Marley/Roots revolution of the early/mid seventies, Jamaican artists commonly interpreted the work of American and UK artists.
The first 29 seconds of this 6 track EP from US newbies Revelation Theory sounds pretty damn good. Consisting of hard, dirty drop D riffage and that unmistakably 'fat' American drum sound.
Waking the Witch: Boys From The Abattoir
This CD concludes with desire for a solid Yorkshire Boy. Well, if it weren't for the age-restriction built into that phrase, a front runner could be Michael Parkinson - because much offered by Waking the Witch in the eleven new songs on Boys From The Abattoir has the type of showbiz gleam that earns the attention of Barnsley's elder statesman.
Disarm: By Any Means Necessary
What can I say about Disarm? This is a band of energetic musicians that makes a team Sir Alex Ferguson would be proud of.
This venue was the first place I ever came out to in Leeds and I can now appreciate what a find it is.
Well, another night of Bright Young Things bands down at Uncle Steve Kind's joint and tonight it is The Gordon Bennetts, Mutiny and Harold.
Band Profile: Johnny's In The Basement
Johnny's In The Basement formed in September 03 in a sweaty practise room somewhere around Leeds University.
Deadstring Brothers @ New Roscoe
Looking like Matt Bellamy and sounding like Mick Jagger, Kurt Marshke leads Deadstring Brothers through this evening's set with excellent vocals and some chirpy banter with a lukewarm crowd.
Not to dwell on the past, but my anticipation for this double single from Lewis Denby was so much after his critically-acclaimed 'Lookout Posts and Telescopes' EP which I had been lucky enough to cast my critical ears over last summer.
New record label to emerge in Leeds...
A new Leeds-based record label - "Performing Chimp Records" - was officially launched at the start of this month with the release of its first title onto the streets of the city - the album Hypertension by local guitar-maestro Jon Gomm.
Up first tonight are US based band Five O'Clock Heroes. Perfecting cheerful pop sensibility alongside dirty rock they possess a fiery sound, with each beat of the drum, each bouncy bass line and vocal melody perfectly executed to produce a catchy rock sound.
Dum Flux opened up the evening in a punk rock fashion. Melodic, energetic but let down by out of time guitars and slightly out of tune vocals.
Chris Helme came to most peoples attention as the singer in Jon Squire's post Roses flop The Seahorses.
David Kitt @ Leeds Festival 2001
Ahhh, Leeds festival, the well-known meeting point for the world's loud and not-for-the-fainthearted rock bands, some with egos so big they match the intensity of their sound.
Serafin start to howling and thundering tweaked feedback while the roadies try to hoist their banner.
Sound Asleep @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
CUTOUT HERO This three-piece were the first band of the day that I saw as I was late. Playing a mellow sort of rock/punk with even a little bit of ska thrown in every now and then, they sounded pretty good for their age, and were reasonably well rehearsed.
Now don't get me wrong here, I've nothing against Kurt Cobain - the guy made some damn fine music in his time.
Instant Species: She Gives Me Nothing EP
You know those times where you're sure you've seen something before, but don't quite know what it is, and it pisses you off for the rest of the day trying to figure out it out?
When I arrive at Blank Canvas the first band has already started. It's ¡Forward, Russia!, a band that I have heard glowing reports about but never seen.
There's two of 'em, one plays guitar and one plays drums. And that's pretty much where any similarity to The White Stripes ends.
The deBretts: First Come First EP
You may have stumbled across The deBretts at one of their two jaunts into Leeds where they played The Faversham.
Last Riot: Shoot For The Sky EP
Purple fiery dice adorn the front of the Shoot For the Sky E.P, suggesting a devil-may-care rock'n'roll attitude but there's also a hint of glam sparkle about it which builds up the fear that Last Riot might be as camp as KISS.
So here we have an "unsigned band showcase". Call me bitter, and even counter productive in the encouragement of fledgling bands but I hate these things.
Tonight's gig at the increasingly popular Rocket venue again showed the diversity of talent playing in Leeds at present.
Billy Talent: 4 Piece from Toronto, they seem to be getting some really good press at the moment and look set to be the next "Big Thing" with the angst ridden pocket money wielding teenage Sum 41 fans out there.
With recent single "Further" catching the attention of ears across the nation Longview could be on their way to becoming the NME's latest darlings.
Girls are in vogue this evening at Wired, a new monthly night at The Fenton imported all the way from that other big city at the eastern end of the M62.
First onstage tonight are the Bradford-based quintet Seven Hours, who mix a dose of funk into their otherwise straight-ahead rock sound.
Opening with a wave of fuzz and pomp filled riffs, three piece Relapse play dark rock. To use the word 'emo' to describe this band is risky, it's the equivalent of when neo-conservatives use 'liberal' to describe their opponents - however it's not a dirty word, and certainly in this case it's no bad thing.
Bloody hell, it's busy in here for a Monday. Usually a night of rest following the weekend, but tonight a haven of rock and roll activity the likes of which we haven't seen since...
With a name such as The Crypt, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this band is a Goth-rock or black metal outfit.
As a recent convert to the Lemon, it's nice to see they've progressed past the three chord thrash-a-thons that dominated their earlier work.
ESCLAVAGE A rather melodic beginning for a band that seem ready to tear the new roscoe down. This song turns into a roaring mosh-fest in seconds with all members showing good stage presence.
What once was Parva is now The Kaiser Chiefs. With a brand new set and a brand new sound the band introduce their new selves to us with "Less Is More".
What is this? Another ska / punk night? It does seem like ska is taking over the underground scene and I know ska is a love it or hate it kind of thing, so will Melvyn, The Antibiotics and Bobby Six Killer be able to compete with all the other 10 a penny ska/punk bands in Leeds?
I arrived at The Vine late to see there was a change to the original line-up for the night. Wakefield three-piece Soberskin had conceded their slot third on the bill to open the night.
Another respected underground American punk band have popped into Leeds to take advantage of the Well's grand acoustics and atmosphere.
You're 25. You live with your mum. You work as a cleaner at the nearest supermarket. You sweat profusely.
acoustic folk indie
Aristocrash: Disco Girl / Cheating
Let's get one thing straight: bitching - it's not big, it's not clever and it certainly won't help you to win any reality TV shows.
So here we are then, for another instalment in the Bright Young Things series, put together by Steve Kind.
Never without incident or injury, the NME Rock n Roll Riot Tour burst into the Refectory for its opening night with blown amps wreaking havoc during the highly anticipated set from The Fratellis.
Funk? That's the question isn't it!? Why funk? Is there something in the genes of white 16-18 year-olds, who when forming a non-"rock" band makes them think "I know, funk"?
Daniel Pearson announces his song-a-week project, "The Blueprint"...
Leeds-based singer-songwriter Daniel Pearson has begun his 'songwriting experiment' The Blueprint, during which he will release a brand new song every week for the next 6 months.
Dogged by guitar trouble throughout his set, The Lodger battles on with an aggressive guitar style juxtaposing nicely with the tuneful vocal melodies.
Narco are the start of a riot. Machine gun fire pings round my room and I duck for cover before the dirty grinding bass line of 'Hey You' kicks in like an exploding atom bomb on repeat.
International Trust: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' is an odd track to say the least. It's a perfectly crafted indie/pop song with radio friendly keyboard hooks and half decent production values.
FINAL CONCLUSION - This was the fifth viewing of Final Conclusion for me and possibly the most powerful time I had seen them.
Xi announce deals to release their album in North America and Australia
Leeds-based alternative rock band Xi have this week announced details of a deal to release their music within the North America and Australia territories.
Joseph's Well saw a storming gig on Saturday night as everyone is treated to four top bands, a brilliant atmosphere, a full venue and plenty of beer.
After the sun goes down on a rare glorious spring day in Leeds, Idlewild are creating havoc among the crowd gathered in Leeds Met Uni S.
Before we get stuck into the review I feel it's necessary to have a whinge. Stealthman were supposed to be playing tonight but unfortunately the landlord decided to be a prick and ban them from the venue due to them being under-age, after they had lugged all their gear in and sound checked.
Calling all Leeds music lovers ... Quidrophenia returns
Quidrophenia, Leeds' increasingly popular bandfest, is returning to Oporto for the fourth time with another amazing line-up set to rock Call Lane on 18th February.
It's around 9 o'clock when I wander down to Carpe Diem, feeling a little dazed and inebriated. (I blame the afternoon spent in the pub celebrating degree results).
I remember the days when Charly Six were Brass Monkey and I was interested to see what they would be like after all this time.
I used to love 3 Colours Red I did. Back in 1997 when I was taking my first tentative fumblings with these weird new genres such as "indie" and "metal" (note: post-rock didn't exist back in those days.
Upon the first listen to this EP I would have sworn I was listening to a group of twee American rockers, however these lads are from Essex!
Easy Now All Stars @ The Wardrobe
I hadn't been warned what to expect when I arrived at the wardrobe. I guess I was expecting a gig, followed by a DJ set.
The Ebb are about to reach make or break time. Ball-busting, tribally triumphant drums soundtrack the band's rock and Borrell swagger onstage, the supremely confident singer causally sauntering across the pit before thrashing himself into a Columbia sized riff.
My attention was alerted to this band when a live review likened them to Big Black and Cop Shoot Cop.
The (International) Noise Conspiracy @ Leeds Festival 2004
Almost a year ago the band were scheduled to play a venue in Leeds but had to pull out due to a back injury to lead singer and former Refused frontman Dennis Lyxzen.
Tonight sees another staple D.I.Y. gig at the Fenton, promoted by Pray For Hayden and showcasing three local bands talents alongside the Winchester based-Second Monday who have travelled up the M1 to see what all the fuss is about in our Musical Mecca of Leeds.
After the most stressful and unnerving day ever I was in need of some music, so off I race to RPC just in time to catch the catch the start of the All Star 69ers.
Interpol had to drop out due to pressing engagement catching criminals in Paris airports (actually they were doing a Peel session if I heard rightly).
Nathaniel Green @ Joseph's Well
This New Years treat sponsored by Bombed Out Records filled the well for a day with 11 rockin bands. Non-stop good music at Leeds/Britain's favourite venue (tests have proved) where the beer flows like, er, wine?
Ok so it's another wet dreary evening at Leeds and I have no idea where the Faversham is, that is until I realised that it was right behind the Uni which made me feel like a complete knobby creek.
Bilge Pump @ Brudenell Social Club
The Brudenell Social club played host to three bands, all helping to raise funds for the Asian Earthquake Disaster appeal.
Great my car is playing up, just in time for a drive to Leeds! I finally arrive at the Well to catch the last half of Shallowend's set.
On arrival at The Cockpit it appears I'm not on the guestlist after all. Spotting a man with a clipboard who looks like he must be part of the touring entourage I explain my predicament.
A much-billed single launch beckoned tonight at the Fenton with a joint headline of les Flames! and The Scaramanga Six.
I saw D-Rail once before at the Rocket and thought they had a lot of potential, even if they hadn't realised it at that time.
The Xenith Sound @ Royal Park Cellars
The basement of the Royal Park pub is pretty empty as Nex take the stage, but it quickly fills up once the reverberations can be felt through the floor upstairs.
Clowns. More club and gig night should have clowns. Tonight, The Power Of Omnipotence got some clowns to join the boozed-up throngs.
Well what can a poor boy do, except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band. Them Amazing Babies may have found a way to relieve their small-town, post-uni boredom but they've inspired some for me.
The Vine is hardly buzzing tonight, which is a shame I think - all three bands here tonight have some definite potential, and some support early on in their careers wouldn't hurt.
Ah, Players. The Landlord looks grumpy, the beer is rubbish, and it's full of teenage nu-metal fans. I don't know where else you'd want to be on a Friday night, especially when there are bands on...
Putting Air Traffic as the second band on the line-up is extremely misleading. The implication given to the unsuspecting audience is that their performance will be equal to that of a slapdash support slot; anyone expecting this kind of set is about to be proved wrong in the most spectacular fashion.
Apart from having a similar name to Hundred Reasons, there isn't much you can say about this band. As I listen to the opening track, I get the feeling the song isn't going anywhere.
It's 8pm and the Cockpit pit is already absolutely rammed. That's saying quite a lot considering there are only 2 bands on tonight, Idiot Pilot and The Seal Cub Clubbing Club.
It is often said that 'genius steals', however he was usually 'round mi girlfriends' at the time and has ten or fifteen people willing to testify that he's 'a good boy, always in church on Sundays and would never steal so much as a middle-eight'.
Dead At 27: Scatter the Shrapnel
"Scatter the Shrapnel" is the second EP from this Halifax based band and featuring a wah guitar heavy, punked up version of the Grange Hill theme tune, this is a band who aren't as morbid as their name suggests.
A very fine evening of music was presented by Logo Magazine in conjunction with Leeds based Uglyman Music Ltd and Stuckup Music.
"The first band will start at 8," shouted the manager of the cockpit. Ah good I thought. 8.10 ... 8.20 ...
Inner City Sumo @ Cardigan Arms
It wasn't a huge crowd that braved the Kirkstall Road winds to see these 4 bands in The Moog Productions evening at The Cardigan Arms.
The Beat Poet: Hardest Battles Fought EP
Usually when a band has an unbelievably pretentious press release then 9 out of 10 times the music will be utterly pants.
Two Wheel Fury @ The Refectory
This is the honest truth: I just got off the phone to a friend of mine and when I mentioned that I had been to the student union Battle of the Bands, she said "Oh, and did the winner of the event happen to be a metal type band who did some well known covers?" The formula is that obvious then.
Chapter Thirteen @ Joseph's Well
The kids are where it's at, man. Every teenage band I've seen at the Well have got all their mates from school down and all of them get the hallowed moshpits.
London's Circuit magazine and Manchester's Charabanc Promotions have tonight arranged to bring Leeds three of the best bands from the top Northern cities of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.
Canada seems to be producing some great bands of late with many beginning to enjoy worldwide acclaim, perhaps it's time The Dears got a piece of the action?
There is laughter in the air tonight; people look determined to have fun. Young innocent faces rejuvenate my past and my Sixth Form days come flooding back to me.
Another cracking line-up courtesy of the Blue Star boys, this time with a bit of a rockier edge leading to possibly the fullest showcase since Leeds Music Scene maestro Dave Sugden and Joseph's Well manager Karl Baird began the monthly nights back in December 2000.
Ryan Shirlow and the Bloody Marys @ Fibbers (York)
I'm starting to feel like a York correspondent for LMS as I stroll down to Fibbers to catch one of Leeds' most talked about bands of the moment.
Obsessive Compulsive: Crash EP
I was looking forward to listening to this CD, because it had a female vocalist, and I just love listening to bands with female vocalists and this was no exception.
Grammatics, hailing from Leeds are an interesting mixture of cellos with indie pop rock. Having a real soft spot for classical music myself, I was slightly apprehensive at this unusual cello/indie mash up.
It seems that everywhere you turn these days, someone is writing a review or on TV or maybe just down the pub declaring the excellence of the current Leeds music scene.
acoustic pop
The Royal Park Cellars has a rapidly growing reputation, and gets better every time you catch a band down here.
You may well have read us gush about these bright young protégés of Johnny Marr before on this site. Since seeing them simply pulverise the opposition at the In The City A&R bunfight of 2000, we've been waiting expectantly for this debut platter.
SAMMYUSA take a while to warm up, delivering a couple of songs that consist little more than controlled feedback - as well as the addition of a vocal sample in the opening instrumental.
Snail Racing @ Royal Park Cellars
Having experienced the laid back styles of an ambient-art-jazz band with a preverbial nice as openers, we're jolted sharply into shape by TIGERS.
With the ample crowd salivating in anticipation it's finally time for the main event, and American rockers Ok Go fail to disappoint launching a violent tirade of killer hooks and candy floss anthems.
Is this night at the Mixing Tin proof that the traditional guitar / bass / drums / vocals band set up is dying out and becoming tired?
AntiProduct @ Brudenell Social Club
If there was one thing that fatally crippled the "nu-Brit-indie" uprising of last year, it was the lack of general excitement and, more to the point, characters about the whole thing.
Sweat drips from every pore; they bleed your life and finances here folks. Here been the cockpit. Atmosphere is sold in bags, buckets even.
If you thought InMe were trying to be poster boys a few years ago when they emerged with debut album 'Overgrown Eden' wait until you see the video for new single 'Seven Weeks'.
LCD Soundsystem @ Blank Canvas
The night starts of very well indeed, as I enter the Blank Canvas I notice that tonight we have guest DJs doing sets in between sets which I absolutely loved.
Capital State: Middle Of The Night
Capital State are making a lot of the running on the Leeds scene these days. High profile gigs, a growing following and this smart new 3 track CD commits them to the West Yorkshire Premiership, with a special award for pleasing the crowd.
If blues-rock is as close as you like to get to the blues and you like it revved-up and with the occasional touch of rowdiness, then a pretty positive forecast can be made for The Raindogs.
Fast becoming THE British band to namedrop amongst Britain's indie intelligentsia, ¡Forward, Russia! represent the new bastions of British art rock.
The Mingers: Live at Joseph's Well
This live CD sampler of The Mingers' work is instantly marred by the poor sound quality. Recorded straight from the desk at Josephs Well it highlights the struggle many bands have in getting their sound balanced, particularly in a live setting.
r'n'b jazz
On first tonight were Saving Lenny. Whom I missed. Moving on... Cactus warmed the crowd with their own brand of rocking guitar based songs with the occasional metal influence, but not so much that it wasn't accessible, especially in this venue, which is more of a wine bar than a rock club.
If The Vine is less than half empty then The Terminals performance is anything but half-arsed. Singer Phil Privelidge teeters on one leg as his eyes bulge and his vocal cannon rains more blows on our ears, already battered to submission by the howitzer guitars and gunshot drumming.
Brand New @ Leeds Festival 2007
So my day started off heading to the NME stage to see up and coming Swedish bans The Sounds. Their blend of electro-rock goes down very well with the crowd and their set soon begins to attract a number of passers by into the tent.
Dead Fly Buchowski @ Faversham
Imagine Johnny Greenwood screaming The Bends out at full blast through a 12ft wall of amplifiers. Then imagine he's playing it inside a giant washing machine that's on full spin at 10,000rpm.