Search for rock songs performed on Thursday, 8th January 2009.
rock songs
Your term - rock songs - is very common.
We have limited the results to 300 articles.
Ins and Outs are a Leeds based rock and roll band who write songs for people to singalong with!
A 6-piece band who play funk/rock/pop/acoustic songs
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
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.
Def Leppard: Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
For over 25 years Def Leppard have been one of the UK's biggest rock bands, selling over 30 million records worldwide.
Alien Crime Syndicate: Ten Songs in the Key of Betrayal
"Some people tell me to turn it down, I tell 'em no 'cause I like it loud" is a choice phrase taken from Guitar Assault Number One 'Forever Is Rock n' Roll' and a nice little taster of what this album is all about.
Think Jeff Buckley....Elliott Smith....Nick Drake...Neil Young.....! soft vocals, hard drums and unforgettable songs.
Mogwai: Happy Songs For Happy People
'I Know You Are But What Am I?' asks one of the tracks on Mogwai's new album. Well, I am an intrigued music buff and you are one of the finest records of the year.
Guitarist with Icelandic rockers Mínus (pronounced "Meenush") Frosti, has an informal chat with Gavin Miller about touring, singing songs in English and why Iceland is the hip place to be nowadays...
Listening to Casper Hauser is like being berated by a hip young mudslinger playing cracked 78s of warped folk songs recorded on a laptop. Casper Hauser's album, It's About Time, is eleven taut fraught shards of angular pop mysticism.
Rock, Paper, Indie: Charlotte Oxnard talks to Wakefield rock band The Humour.
Band Profile: The Hypnotist Collectors
americana rock
indie post-rock
indie rock
rock/pop
alternative rock
Avant-garde prog ideals and chaotic, balls out, rock and metal
Band Profile: future sons of rome
indie rock
funk rock
funk rock
Electric Eel Shock: Transworld Ultra Rock
Dispensing with the need to be ironic or clever, having English as a second language is perfect for fists in the air rock, as Ozzy has consistently shown. Indeed Black Sabbath have been one of Electric Eel Shock's main influences along with a host of other 80's rock luminaries. It's a style accurately described by their own press as 'fashion proof' and you'd have to agree there's very little here that would identify it as a record made in 2007.
punk garage rock
Apparently the result of a tantrum after his record label told him that his initial efforts were too depressing we have former mopey alt.country boy turned 80's rock god.
Band Profile: And Then The Amber Slips
rock indie
Band Profile: Judging Johnny West
funk rock
rock metal
pop rock mor
indie rock
Rock/Alternative/Metal
rock covers
Melodic/indie/pop rock
Four-piece rock band from Leeds
indie rock
Alternative Pop & Rock act with a nod towards the more obscure...
indie pop rock
Band Profile: The Western Front
indie rock
pop rock
indie electro rock
punk rock
punk rock
indie rock
Band Profile: The New Born Kings
acoustic rock
punk rock
indie/rock
indie rock
Band Profile: The Wedding Present
alternative rock
Rock/Alternative/Progressive
rock indie
Band Profile: Dusty Not Digital
indie experimental rock
Band Profile: An Invitation To An Accident
rock post-hardcore
alternative rock
rock metal grunge
indie/rock
acoustic rock
indie rock
rock jazz blues
alternative rock
Leatherhead are an alternative rock 3-piece from Leeds.
Band Profile: A Lot Like Eskimos
A Lot Like Eskimos- pop / punk rock
acoustic pop rock
Band Profile: The Dragon Rapide
avant-rock
Band Profile: Flawless Attitude
rock punk metal
If this CD didn't have "we are mods" written all over it I could get fairly enthusiastic. It's fresh, it's shouty and it's self assured.
prog experimental rock
indie rock
piano-led rock
indie rock
rock pop
indie rock
psychedelic rock
Interview: All My Friends Are Dead
Gavin Miller speaks with Leeds' newest post-rock prodigies All My Friends Are Dead
alternative rock
Band Profile: Anderson Congress
indie rock
emo metal rock
acoustic rock folk
Protectors is a 3 piece guitar rock band from Leeds.
indie rock
pop rock
indie rock
punk rock
pop rock
punk rock
Guns on the Roof released their new EP, 'Last Orders', on Monday, June 16th. Victoria Holdsworth caught up with the band to ask them about the album, punk rock and music in general.
rock pop
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.
Melodic, atmospheric indie rock and roll.
acoustic rock
rock metal
acoustic rock
Interview: Pulled Apart by Horses
Pulled Apart by Horses are a new, sickening, rock-dirge act who seem to be getting a little bit of attention, even though they've only played about four gigs and have two tracks on MySpace. Chris Lowe asks this motley crew what the deal is.
psychedelic experimental rock
rock blues
Alternative dark psychedelic progessive space rock.
Ricky Warwick was, and still is, the formidable front man for one of the heaviest rock acts the UK has ever seen. Victoria Holdsworth asks the questions...
4-piece indie rock band from Dewsbury
The Alabama 3 train of country blues electro rock rolled into town recently and we caught up with them for a brief chat in their dressing room after their gig at the Cockpit...
"Innovative four piece with a hybrid sound comprised of Funk, Rock and Soul."
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...
Downfall - those long-serving purveyors of rock speak to Andy Roberts on the hiatus surrounding their latest release, perfectionism and The Music...
In the busy world of the Leeds Music Scene, there's always a few bands who slip quietly into the main arena. iLiKETRAiNS are one of these bands, playing their sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce, but always beautiful take on post rock theatrics.
Rock music. It's not that simple these days. Like a supermarket that has so much variety it's hard to know what to get, rock music has so many flavours, it's hard to pin down which flavour of rock music is rock music these days.
When Russian Circles recorded this album they knew that it could never be a "disjointed batch of songs".
Thousand Natural Shocks: Under The Sun / Attack
Exeter based rock band Thousand Natural Shocks latest double A-sided release 'Under the Sun / Attack' doesn't provide much variation on the current influx of new wave/art-rock songs.
A bold effort from The Ga Gas here; their melodic rock sound has certainly set them in line to be pretty big up and coming.
Melodic indie with a twist of grunge
The Sugars: Doo Wop (Sugar So Sweet)
Bands such as Arctic Monkeys may dispute that image isn't everything, and whilst it certainly isn't, it's always good to find a band who, in addition to writing first-rate songs, also have a good ol' bash at looking damned good.
Nerve Engine: Underneath The Sprawl
This is the second release from the multi regional band and once again self recorded in keeping with their independent attitude.
Folks, you're going to love this band; imagine a merger between Terrorvision, Cube, Spacehog and Phluid and the story is thus: three spiky rascals betray their sinister ballsy rock exterior by revealing a love of catchy guitar hooks.
Hundred Reasons: Shatterproof is not a Challenge
A British rock band that sound British? What? How novel! Failing to be swayed by the influx of rock acts at the moment that seem unable to retain any sense of their own accent Colin Doran sings and screams his way through this second album in a most definitely British voice, in much the way Gary Stringer of Reef has always done.
Cube scare me. It defies all rules of rock when even the drummer is good looking. Yet it makes sense with the mirror-posing rock that they play.
It's actually quite hard to write decent meaningful songs about totally irrelevant rock clichés like angels crying, hard times, girls who don't pay you any attention, dragons etc, and not surprisingly like so many before 16th Round don't manage it either.
Guitars. Lots and lots of guitars. Leather, screaming girls, sweat, passion, sex, sleaze, bourbon. Just some of the things that pop into my head when I think of the words Rock n Roll.
As the first band of the night Sawthroat take the stage, many people in the venue seem unaware of their presence.
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?
The Bacchae @ Leeds Festival 2008
The Bacchae came onto the stage in costumes of various stripes. The band comprise Harriet Hyde doing vocals (a good line in slurred rock wastrel), Jockstrap Jim as the rock guitarist, Dave Vachon on bass and Rob The Fox playing the organ.
Remo are from the growing collection of "alternative" rock bands hailing from the city of Bradford lately.
The very last Blue Star Music gig happens with possibly one of the busiest crowds, best bands and best mix of indie rock from the straight up young upstarts (Solo and Diawara) to the wit, charm and brilliance of the experienced Mama Scuba and Being 747.
The Smokestacks @ Cockpit (acoustic bar)
Mary Wanna Smile were a very solid, straight-forward rock band, performing some well crafted acoustic ditties.
All My Friends Are Dead: Days Of Sleep
Falling somewhere between the orchestrated Icelandic experimental pop sound of Sigur Ros and the dynamics of the post-rock genre sits the Leeds based 5-piece All My Friends Are Dead.
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.
Andie Mills: Going Native for Dirty Pictures
A familiar face on the Leeds scene, Andie Mills is a veritable one man music industry. This is his 3rd solo release and is another sombre collection of introspective blues/acoustic rock.
Since I reviewed the bands first album last May I have wanted to hear more material from the four-piece.
Tempting Kate are a band that play exciting pop punky stuff. And I don't mean the kind that is plugged away on mtv2 all the time, I mean up tempo rock songs with powerful vocals and real melody.
Classic Rock Covers Band - THE DOTS Russ Entwistle (guitar/vocals) Peter Goacher (bass) Andy Myres (drums/vocals) The Dots formed in Jauary 2007.
Just because they're kids with guitars, don't expect Outl4w to be in the same mould as McFly/Busted. You won't find any watered down rock for the teeny-bop masses on this album.
The Von Bondies @ Blank Canvas
I hate Coldplay with a passion now. Why you may ask? Well let me tell you. It all began on the 21st April, me and my friends were waiting to see a band from Detroit called The Von Bondies.
There's a band in front of you playing really good music, great pop music on guitars, with beautiful intertwining vocal melodies from a lovely lady and a lovely man.
Grand Volume: Send Me Your Champion
Obviously not short of confidence, this trio from Manchester, as Send Me your Champion aspires to throw down the gauntlet to today's crop of rock bands and, on some levels at least, succeeds.
Been looking forward to seeing The Stands play live since I got a sneak preview of their forthcoming album (on Echo Records) recently.
Here we have ten diamond white 80s pop songs with mighty swirls of darker third millennium awareness.
Sad times rule at the Well as the latest Monte Carlo incarnation comes to an end. Sad, but happily the tunes as just as fine as ever, as Carl's voice soars above the tight rhythms of his fellow Montes.
Diawara, in my opinion, have to be one of the most improved bands over the last year. Musically they have got so, so much tighter and their songwriting has improved as demonstrated on this EP.
Describing themselves as "melodic Rock... with thoughtful rhythms and inventive guitar parts with distinctive vocals and personal lyrics." Could seem a little self-appreciating, but this is actually a fairly apt description.
The Hellacopters are so close to being Spinal Tap. Only a lack of exploding drummers, entrances through pods and a miniature Stonehenge is lacking, rockposing and dumb rock songs are the order of the day.
There's the possibility of a successful band here, but it's unlikely to be named Louie. I mean, it could form from Louie, or component members thereof, but for now all we see before us is a band going through the stage of self-finding, identification and formation.
Eighty Six: What's My Problem Today?
Ten-track album "What's My Problem Today?" has a self-classification of "driving, melodic punk" which is a surprise, as 'punk' is clearly not a term I would have used myself.
The Printed Sound: The Announcement EP
These days the term "Indie-rock" is enough to strike fear into the heart of even the most hardened, weathered hack.
Aarkle Hooman: Pink Gorilla EP
The Pink Gorilla EP is the dazzling debut from the bizarrely named Aarkle Hooman. An upbeat electro pop rock duo who were once a full band but then felt that they sounded better as a keyboard/guitar combo.
post-hardcore
It's wrong to compare, but what first attracted me to this band was a rock rush, the crash of a song, in an unashamedly indie way.
Coast are a covers band, and If you like rock music then your're going to love them. Two sets at The Lion Castleford at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon meant that it was always going to be quiet especially when Cass were playing at home.
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.
Purple Orm: Sounds From Small Town
Apart from the name I have little to complain about Purple Orm. This 3 piece from Castleford (I'm guessing) have a steady rock and roll sound that is likeable enough on this 3 song CD.
Various Artists: Heathen Angel - Volume 2
The last compilation album I bought was Now 29 on cassette back in 1994 and the last time I saw it was in 1998 when it was discovered in a draw full of old musty books after which it was thrown into a plastic bin bag and donated to some orphans.
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.
Modey Lemon: Thunder + Lightning
Garage rock duo/trio Modey Lemon burst out of Pittsburgh to not only kick out the jams but to actually boot those jams firmly in their jammy balls.
Rhode Island announce themselves with the borrowed voice of a court house judge from some seedy American backwater.
This is part of what should have been the "official" (i.e. Demolition was just a collection of demos in reality) follow up to 'Gold'.
Eddie Vedder inspired an entire generation of rock vocalists to realise they could sing respectably, Chris Cornell spread the word with Soundgarden, but more recent acts have pushed it to exhaustion i.e.
Would putting rock bands in a massive hole work? With a crowd made-up of mostly of people wanting to be seen and grab the free booze, it was a triumph for the bands for so many to be grabbed from the bar by the quality of the music.
Voxtrot are a band from Austin, Texas. They write songs. Some of those songs were put together to form an album.
Fifth Goodbye @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
MISLED VISION Oooh a girly metal band. Misled Vision have one of the best vocalists I have heard all day in the form of "Jan" and were pretty tight overall.
Motley Crue: If I Die Tomorrow
In December last year cock-rock legends Motley Crue, well known for their drug overdoses and womanising, decided to reform to give music one more crack.
This February will have an extra day this year, as it's a leap year and all. But another day in that month which could indeed be good for the music industry is the 11th.
Reuben: Very Fast Very Dangerous
Reuben is one of those bands that have come from similar stables as Hell for Heroes and Hundred Reasons but unlike their counterparts they haven't succumbed to the dreaded second album syndrome, where they fail to create a gripping second album and instead create a the musical equivalent of turd.
Kram's previous efforts were not well received by Leeds Music Scene. One and half stars and a general roasting from reviewer Richard Garnett.
For as grandiose as their biog describes them, employing such everyday phrases as "dramatic melodic edge", "distinctive atmospheric sound" and those favourite biog-bites "inspiration" and "soaring", The Xenith Sound are a rock band.
The Bellrays @ Leeds Festival 2002
Accompanied by the belting voice of tambourine-wielding Lisa Kekaula, The BellRays play their own brand of old school uptempo punky rock they fondly call 'maximum rock and soul'.
The Fencott Disaster: Ambulance Fever
Shout, scream, whine, loud, fast, stop, start, feedback, riff, rock, ravage, thrash. That's The Fencott Disaster in 12 words.
The Dirty Soul: Perfection is bad for the soul
Indeed it is... perfection that is, but is the soul in question actually The Dirty Soul themselves? Not perfect but steady and steadfast, standing as they are on a blues and swaggering pub-rock foundation.
All Star 69ers @ Joseph's Well
Tonight's Northern Xposure event is opened up by Welsh band Novello, who play interesting, energetic, loud rock music.
Story Of The Year: The Black Swan
'The Black Swan' is the new long awaited album from Story Of The Year. Having never really been into them, or really giving them a chance to be honest, I thought that perhaps I was missing out on something, especially as they seem to have a major following and this will be their third studio album.
Huddersfield band Kava Kava included on TV soundtrack
Yorkshire band Kava Kava will have three songs on the new season's soundtrack to FX TV show Dirt (featuring Friends star Courtney Cox Arquette).
When listening to singer/songwriter Pete McGann, it's clear that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed into any particular genre.
Dan Pearson - Vox/Guitar Sean Hatherley - Lead Guitar Mike Neilson - Drums Scott Coutts - Bass/Vox The Signs are here to stay..four talented and charismatic musicians brought together by a love of soaring melodies, roaring guitars and seismic drums, the boys have a knack for creating radio-friendly choruses made to be sung around stadiums around the world.
The Super Insurgent Group of Intemperance Talent: Black Amplifier
Well this is as 'out of town' as any review I've ever done: The Super Insurgent Group of Intemperance Talent (or The S.I.G.I.T.
Alternative/Indie
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.
No Use For A Name: The Feel Good Record Of The Year
Although punk rock veterans, with twenty years under their belt, No Use For A Name have now released an album that seems to take in influences of too many new wave bands and forgets about what made them great in the first place.
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.
Mazeppa: Kick It for the Low Times
It's easy to believe that Mazeppa smell of soap, so clean is their music. Jazz, Blues, Broadway Musical and pub rock roots combine to cut a straighter than straight middle of the road path for this Bolton outfit.
Seven Story Mourning: The Mourning After EP
For a band that are described as "Sleazecore Metal", there are a surprising amount of Indie Rock influences at work.
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.
Vocalist/guitarist Dan Pearce, bass player Pete Green and drummer Chris Smith are throwing their hearts into Zealous.
iLiKETRAiNS? Were these lot stoned when they thought up their name? According to their website, no! They do actually like trains.
Out of all three bands playing at the Futuresound gig tonight it's obvious as the crowd disperses onto the dance floor which band most people have come to see.
Bank Holiday Monday and "Lock & Load" bring us four local bands to play the Rocket Venue, fast becoming the best middle sized venue in Leeds, following the closure of the Duchess in March.
Mullets. When did they become fashionable again? They're all around me. I nervously feel that I'm being punished for having a chuckle at mulletmadness.com a few days earlier, or perhaps I've been warped into a parallel universe where all the rock chick style guides insist on one.
Jupiter and Teardrop: Bring Me Down EP
Jupiter and Teardrop don't reveal whether or not they are named after the song by Grant Lee Buffalo, but there are plenty of similarities in the Americana pop/rock sounds of main man Geoff Martyn's song writing.
Funeral for a Friend: Escape Artists Never Die
On one hand faced with a mountain of press and media that can say nothing bad about the black haired post-nu-metal-rock-core-emo-make-up-your-own-new-genre band, whilst on the other hand faced with a similar level of interest in the music as my regular hobby of sticking pins in my eyes - this was not going to be an easy task!
A pair of beseated little smurfs and a big slutty rock vamp alight the stage in a cloud of barbershop-style harmonies.
The Labels @ The Bedroom (Wakefield)
Tonight at The Bedroom sees WEAREYOU (of Thursday night @ Carpe Diem fame) expand its reaches to Wakefield.
Days Of Worth: The Western Mechanism
Somehow no matter how hard you try - and I mean really, really try - you just can't imagine Surrey as the backdrop against which tales of angst-ridden suburban alpha-male woe are set to wistfully melodic slabs of post-hardcore rock.
Dogged by guitar trouble throughout his set, The Lodger battles on with an aggressive guitar style juxtaposing nicely with the tuneful vocal melodies.
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.
Band Profile: Vinnie & The Stars
Funky upbeat blues with a touch of hip-hop
Opening up the evening, Diawara impressed me on two counts. Firstly they proved they were a decent little rock outfit, competent musicians and overall, sounded very good.
This three-track promo CDR is awesome. No really. I didn't understand it at first but once my wife had taken over and proclaimed how much she loved the record after just one listen, I had to work out what it was that I had missed...
"As far as ambition, hard graft and commitment are concerned, no-one has a patch on us" ... that's as maybe, but as far as songwriting and putting your finger on a good tune there's plenty that do.
Decoy sit musically in a category that is most definitely not indie; probably more rock, with a tendency and concentration towards creating a guitar ambience.
With the withdrawal of Tempting Kate from proceedings, tonight's Futuresound heat has a delayed late, which means by the time Kenosha arrive on stage there's for once a decent if not huge crowd in attendance.
As much as people complain about gigs being continuously empty the Highwood continues to buck that trend totally.
Standing around the Cockpit, waiting for my interview slot, I got chatting with the drummer from The Humour, who were getting ready to soundcheck.
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.
Sheffield's Dead Like Harry are a six piece with a strong folk influence. The press release that accompanies this CD bemoans the invasion of Pop Idol and the like upon our ears.
Eden are a girl fronted alternative spikey pop rock band who perform an exciting mix of original songs and lesser known covers.
Rock? Orange Fall from Swansea take the pure form and do it sharp justice. Searing and original guitar licks and falsetto harmonies with lumber punching drum and bass.
Screaming their way all the way from Japan, home of lock n loll, Electric Eel Shock are here for your daughter.
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.
Despite his 14 albums, 2 number one hit singles, cult novel, industry awards and massive 90,000 people gigs, the chances that you have heard of Robin Auld are probably fairly slim seeing as all of the above took place in South Africa.
A fine cross between Aqualung and Liz Phair, "The Finest Thing" is an intimate and serene album that makes the perfect chill out album for dissertation stress.
Leeds' youngsters Inertia played to a decently sized audience at the Fenton on what was a gloomy Saturday night.
A brief introduction for some of our younger readers: Def Leppard formed in the late 70s, and featured five 'longhaired lovelies from Sheffield' TM.
"The Diet EP" by Djingo is a well-produced CD mixing equal elements of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Limp Bizkit, although unlike both of those bands they seem to have their tongue placed far more firmly in their cheek.
American bands are cool these days. What with this and adventurous promoting from Melting Vinyl, we have a healthy throng at Joseph's Well to see performance art-rock straight outta Chicago.
One of the best things about being an instrumental post-rock band has to be choosing what to call your songs.
A hectic lifestyle means that it has taken me a good week or two to actually get round to playing this CD.
Whoa! Where did this come from? Like a rabid dog let out of its cage whilst on numerous class A drugs, The Lies are all about fast, loud, in your face songs.
The Palms really fit the modern day bill with their take on the current Indie rock / dance scene ala Kasabian, but one or too vocal production issues and an occasional penchant for misguided fret-wanking hold them back from hitting the full throttle.
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.
Ska tinged rock without the horn sections, verging into metal at times with growling vocals and guitars to match.
Glazed are three wacky dudes who can't play or sing particularly well. Their songs have a moment or two where it sounds nearly OK.
Dinosaur Pile-up @ Leeds Festival 2008
Matt Bigland, guitar and vocals, Tom Dornford-May, bass guitar, and Steve Wilson drums are the relatively new Dinosaur Pile-up.
To be honest I've never seen Downfall before, never heard a single note played by this lot before, I've heard good things, don't get me wrong, but I've never been to a gig to see them play, call it laziness I guess...
US Maple @ Brudenell Social Club
Monday nights. It's the start of the working week (Christ) or it's still the weekend for the proverbial student.
4 Letter Holiday: Carefree Demo
Describing themselves as a no-nonsense rock band, 4 Letter Holiday hit the nail square on the head. It's always interesting to consider what any band's motives are in the music they write/record/release.
Mogwai: Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait
Mogwai have always been seen as one of the rightful heirs to the upper echelons of the post-rock pantheon, their 1997 debut Young Team proving to be both a boisterous statement of intent and the warning shot that was fired across the bows of the bloated sub-Oasis-junk that was cluttering the mainstream hinterland of the time.
Captain Wilberforce: Dreams of Educated Fleas
Seven songs of mature melody and thought provoking stuff from the quaintly named Captain Wilberforce.
Simple Kid @ Leeds Festival 2002
The Irish lad centre-stage normally peddles his wares on his own gives it a go with a full backing band in the Carling Tent.
The Beautiful New Born Children: Hey People
Michael Becket - AKA Kptmichigan and member of experimental German electro group Schneider TM's live band - returns to his indie-rock roots fronting new outfit The Beautiful New Born Children.
Uptight to release their Pink African Violets EP...
Uptight have almost completed their new Pink African Violets EP. As well as the title track the CD will contain the tracks Hypnotised and Blood Soaked.
Apparently Roe Sham Bo have had the luxury of turning down 3 record deals. One listen to their self-released album Serotonin will have you scratching your head and asking "Just who the f*ck were these record companies?" and did they come here in a time machine?
Soledad Brothers: Voice of Treason
I'd like to draw an analogy if I may, (bear with me, this is going somewhere) between retro rock music and vintage clothing.
In a parallel universe, the likes of Coldplay and Keane are touring University Unions, and Guy Garvey is the one with the Hollywood actress wife, whilst his band sits proudly atop the bill at Glastonbury.
My Chemical Romance: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
The inner movie style sleeve of this album describes it as "The story of a Man. A Woman. And the corpses of a thousand evil men..." This is punk rock with a dark side and ever present gothic undertones with passionate and often anguished lyrics focusing around death and heartache ("say goodnight to the heart you break and all the cyanide you drank..." from 'To The End').
First on were Philadelphia band Burning Brides who kicked off with loud, messy, head banging metal. The trio included a female bassist; Melanie Campbell and frontman Dimitri Coats who hammered his way through the set with ragged vocals, raucous guitar riffs and big, curly Slash hair.
After debuting on a handful of live shows the band have a healthy C.V of support slots with Silver Ginger 5, The Jellys and playing with Terrorvision at their last ever gig (which incidentally was their first) Butterfinger are absolutely amazing.
Well, I told you all about this gig - so those that didn't come along missed a real music treat! Johnson House are a real enigma of a band, and probably Leeds' best kept secret.
Erin's Third Incident @ Joseph's Well
Eukanuba (I think that's what they're called) look like your dad playing rock music, squeezed into tight leather trousers (disappointingly I already used the World of Leather comparison in a previous review, but it applies here, too) with too much hair in some cases, and not enough in others, and being festively plump from the seasons celebrations.
The first instalment in what was to be another very memorable night. 10,000 Things arrived with a nice solid bass, wild guitar sounds, decent vocals, a sharp percussionist and some disappointing drums, but left me feeling somewhat thwarted by a distinct lack of thought.
Monotone: Nothing Lasts Forever
"Nothing Lasts Forever" is the recent demo from three-piece Monotone, who claim their influences include Jeff Buckley, Morrissey and Nick Drake, though I really can't see much of a comparison.
alternative indie
Forget The Darkness. The true kings of the classic rock revival have arrived. The howling screaming mess that is the The Black Velvets burst onto the stage in the slot normally reserved for the lowest of the low in terms of talent and stage presence.
As a fan of all things from the icy plains of Iceland, it's good to see Minus landing on my doorstep.
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.
Nikoli are supreme. Uplifting, sweeping tunes with buried distorted guitars that drive their songs on.
Only Los Angeles could produce something as cool and pretentious as Autolux. Dark art noise rock that gives the impression smiling is banned 'cause it is too passé.
It makes a change tonight that the Rocket is actually packed to it's brim tonight and it only helps that the music being played is deserved of such a crowd.
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.
Sunday night in March at Joseph's Well and we're here to witness Fungus' latest tour, as they bring us their latest tongue-in-cheek, have-a-go single "A Fanclub Would Be Nice" and a genuine attempt to rock the venue ...
It worries me when a band advertises themselves in their biography by the fact that their lead singer has big tits!
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.
The CD cover is black and the font looks rather gothic so I am not expecting any summery pop as I slip Misled Vision's demo into the tray.
You can't help but wonder what kind of band would have an album cover featuring a naked woman being mounted by a giant scorpion.
I arrived at the venue (just) in time to interview the band, and made it downstairs just as openers Shibby were finishing up, so on them I cannot comment.
This two tracker from The Outlines is a self-produced side step from the rock-pop formula adopted on previous releases.
Rather notorious for their wallowing and broody contemplation, Turin Breaks' fourth album was hardly going to go all-out-rock on us.
Alright, alright I give in... now I am a believer in conspiracy theories! Which theory in particular?
Kings of Leon: Youth and Young Manhood
Three sons of a preacher (and their cousin) from America's deep south, all with snake hips, long hair, thick fringes, flares and most importantly (gasp) beards!
Imodiom are a young, energetic, underskilled, 12-year-old pop punk/rock band. OFM are a fantastic, under promoted, slack drummered, great frontmanned, beautifully written, lo-fi grunge band.
A fortnight on and another four bands feature at Lock & Load. Tonight we open up with the sounds of Metallica's "Enter Sandman".
Eureka Machines @ Leeds Festival 2008
Eureka Machines charge up the whole show for the next three days by demolishing Friday's graveyard slot, tearing out classic rock songs like Saturday night was already half way through and speeding us all up to life-threatening pulse levels.
A much-billed single launch beckoned tonight at the Fenton with a joint headline of les Flames! and The Scaramanga Six.
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...
On entering The Cockpit the support band (M.A.S.S I believe) are nearing the end of their set, after a brief listen we decide to stay in the bar and prepare to jostle for a position near the front of a packed crowd.
Samson Bedford - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar Kev Shirley - Lead Guitar, Vocals Chris Hall - Drums, Vocals Boa Internationalè - Bass, Vocals Late in 2004 four young men of high ambition formed a band called Volcanoes.
Burning Brides: Fall of the Plastic Empire
Focus on the first four tracks of this album and you have a belting EP, packed with chunky riffs, older than time themselves and meatier than the best kebab you can imagine.
Prime Mover: Cabbages and Kings
Now then chaps and chapettes, how do you like your bass? Hidden away murmuring nicely in the background, contributing nicely to the overall convivial atmosphere but at a comfortable level where it can be safely ignored, rather like an elderly family member at a Christmas shindig?
It's impressive! - there have not been a straighter set of pub rock songs committed to record for a considerable time.
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.
This two track sampler from Silvertin reveals a fondness for a sound that is quickly growing "old fashioned".
Beautiful Feet @ Hard Rock Cafe
This was my first visit to the Hard Rock and I was expecting great things. Apart from Jimi Hendrix's belt the venue disappointed slightly, but neither of tonight's acts did.
Plasticine: The Man Who Makes Volcanoes
Describing yourself as the sort of band journalists hate to write about because you are so genre defying is equivalent to tying up a lamb in front of a lion...
Lock & Load returns to the Rocket Venue on a Sunday night, with promoter John Trueman brining four Leeds bands to the 60 or so visitors to the proceedings.
This is the sort of record that it really should be very easy to dismiss as hapless retro-copyism. Ulster rockers The Answer don't so much wear their influences on their sleeve as practically have them branded on to their foreheads.
The Glitterati @ Fibbers (York)
After some initial confusion it turn out this is the Phluid I already know of, not a York band by the same name.
MIZKARRAGE OF JUSTICE - for a first gig these guys did well! They opened their set with 'So What' by Metallica and surprisingly did well.
Garon Shark are a young rock'n'roll four-piece from Huddersfield (what is it with that town?) I'm very impressed with their three-track offering, which suggests a band influenced by a variety of rock bands and styles and showcases an ability to write some excellent songs yet leaving enough room for improvement (without it being an insult to say so).
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.
What a relief, The Xenith Sound appear to have finally found the "Sound" their moniker so proudly advertises.
Chugging bass, airy guitars, respiring vocals and climactic songs at an andante pace, presenting Monomania's recent white label 006 promo.
The Soft Explosions: Ride Between The Eyes
From the same rock family tree as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Brian Jonestown Massacre come The Soft Explosions, a New York four-piece rock'n'roll combo in the classic Stones mould.
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.
This sounds a bit like acoustic-folk versions of stadium rock songs. Fat choruses sit amongst some delicate arrangements of piano and guitar.
I am sorry again to The Dauntless Elite and Ruin You, who I missed because I was late with my tea. But I did catch You, Me and the Atom Bomb from Portsmouth, who were great, like skate punk with a harsh voice and catchy riffs.
Band Profile: Redneck Renegade
Gary Ross - Tom Goodwin - Mike Heaton - Daz Haley. Rock n roll has a tendency to ignore boundaries. In the case of Redneck Renegade, the boundaries ignored are geographical.
Band Profile: Those Freeloaders
Those Freeloaders were founded in Leeds in late 2006 by four students from the College of Music, Bruce (bass), Petchy (guitar, vocals, piano and general northern abuse), Liam (guitar and vocals) and Sammy (drums).