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"There is a potentially huge talent emerging in our midst - Roger Davies. His new songs tell of life in Huddersfield, amongst other things, and are all delivered with extraordinary, understated humour and delightful turns of phrase." Joe Grint (Tykes News, Summer 2007)
Luke Hirst: Songs for a rainy day
Luke Hirst gets off to a better start than most beginner singer/writer/guitarists. His guitar playing is crisp and well-recorded.
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.
Don't be silly, of course they're still going. And they've just delivered an album so perfect it chills the blood.
four day Hombre to release April single through Crystal Songs...
four day Hombre have announced that they will be releasing a single through the Crystal Songs label at the end of April.
Ella Guru: 3 Songs from Liverpool
Key words. Exquisite. Pastoral. Oceanic. Delicate. Tender. Mellifluous. Treasured. Arboreal. Confiding.
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.
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.
Ins and Outs are a Leeds based rock and roll band who write songs for people to singalong with!
There's a world of male dreams, TV series and British films where the Ford Capri, wide lapels and the wah wah pedal combine to create power, speed and cool calculation.
Band Profile: Michael Rossiter
Arcane songs and other relics
Various Artists: Dream Brother - The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley
The point of a covers album? Mainly it's to get a fresh and exciting new perspective on old classics, but when those old classics are nigh on perfect, do we really need this album?
Band Profile: Penny Broadhurst
Quirky, clever, melodic and catchy songs. Not lo-fi or acoustic.
A 6-piece band who play funk/rock/pop/acoustic songs
Buen Chico songs to be included free via new MP3 Player products...
Music from Leeds band Buen Chico is set to feature on a new and innovative MP3 Player called Mica. Created by leading manufacturer Asono, the player is designed to appeal to the younger end of the market and all 100,000 units of the initial production run, which will be available across Europe, will come with two pre-loaded tracks: "I Don't Care" and "Wait".
Layered dronescapes compliment pure noise assaults - combine this with girl/boy harmonies, feedback drenched pop songs and a live set gift-wrapped in promotional films and on stage projections...
Leeds Solo artist performing acoustic versions of the songs he writes.
"All the best female-fronted pop songs ever ('Atomic', 'Kids In America', anything involving Gwen Stefani), mashed up and sung out by an indie Alison Goldfrapp in a stripy prom dress. Better believe it, buddy" NME
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.
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
Think Jeff Buckley....Elliott Smith....Nick Drake...Neil Young.....! soft vocals, hard drums and unforgettable songs.
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...
Interview: The Pigeon Detectives
The Pigeon Detectives have been on a UK wide tour enjoying sold out shows and performing their new songs. Charlotte Oxnard caught up with the band at Leeds Metropolitan University for the home leg of their tour.
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.
Band Profile: James Owen Fender
James Owen Fender might be the new boy on the musical block, but at just 25 years old he's got a bundle of songs full of catchy hooks that are currently getting everyone excited about this talented newcomer. He is signed to Island records and is currently recording his debut album
indie rock
Down at the Well on a Sunday is a relaxing end to one of the maddest weeks, and in such context I review this gig.
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.
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.
indie post-rock
Here we have four songs of complete 'Radio 2-ness'. Songs of acoustical charm with a male baritone charm of a voice.
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.
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.
When Ben (the tunesmith for The Lodger) released his first three-track demo as a solo project, it showed that his taste and song writing were spot on.
Snowdonia E.P available now from www.myspace.com/mechanicalowl
Band Profile: The Royal Park Orchestra
acoustic jazz folk rumba
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.
Giant Drag: Hearts And Unicorns
There has been quite a lot of recent hype and attention surrounding this two-piece from LA after touring with The Like and The Cribs.
The Prize Fighter Inferno: My Brothers Blood Machine
With all the recent success of Coheed And Cambria's recent 'Good Apollo...' album it was only a matter of time before lead singer, Claudio Sanchez' side project would see light of day.
Various Artists: Crash! Indie Anthems 1982-2004
1982-2004 22 years of indie? Did indie really begin in 1982? Who cares, don't let the title stand in the way of this rather good (but rather predictable) compilation.
Kram's previous efforts were not well received by Leeds Music Scene. One and half stars and a general roasting from reviewer Richard Garnett.
Band Profile: Where Skies Meet Shores
alternative emo
Band Profile: Madam Laycock And Her Dabeno Pleasures
Roll up our pretties! All the fun of the freaks is to be laid before you. Munchkins with white fluffy hair, songs that make you strip and dance in a public place at a public time, tangos of uncontrollably erotic beasts, songs of flatulence and songs people sing when people die.
The Masked Musician: Perfectionist Being
The Masked Musician is a Leeds based solo artist responsible for everything from writing to producing the songs.
This is an interesting idea. Monte Carlo are filling three CD-Rs with songs, and giving them all away at live gigs and through their website.
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.
Steve Sanderson: Not For Mass Consumption
A clear lover of Bob Dylan, Steve Sanderson is one man and his guitar on this album of 11 songs of folk blues, ever so occasionally joined by associates on bass and adding a touch of harmonica and electric where appropriate.
I was absolutely shattered when I went down to see Edison Medicine and Mr Dogg play at Joseph's Well on Thursday night.
Simon Wiffen is a solo acoustic singer/songwriter from Leeds.
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.
Well it's been three years since the good old The Xenith Sound formed and they are still forging ahead with that unique futuristic sound they managed to create a while back.
Impure: 42 Miles In This Direction
This first stab from Impure is everything to be expected from ones so young and nothing more: ideas, attempted emulation, poor musicianship, ambition, and naivety.
The Zutons got the ball rolling with current single "Why won't you give me your love?", a perfect example of why they are so popular.
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.
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.
Rounding up their U.K tour which has spanned over a month long, Milk 2 Sugars took the stage following the warm up sets of 2 of the North's best ska bands, first up, "Blinded by Ivan", a young band from Scunthorpe, followed by "Grown at Home" a highly infectious group, who had also been clocking up the tour dates over the summer.
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.
From start to it's "all too soon" finish this is a well constructed / crafted delight. Five songs and a reprise of pure young man's emotion put into song.
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.
Lucky Jim: You're Lovely to Me
"... you may hear echoes of Neil Young, Lee Hazlewood, Nick Cave, Van Morrison, Serge Gainsbourg, Arthur Lee, Leonard Cohen, Brian Wilson, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Ewan MacColl, Phil Spector and many others ..." (Skint Records website) You may also find traces of nuts.
Anyone who thought, like me, that after the success of the none-more-irritating 'Tubthumping' that Chumbawamba just simply vanished, are now obviously wrong.
It's a shame that around only thirty people ventured over to the New Roscoe on Wednesday night because it really is a very well laid out venue, good acoustics and has a larger PA than venues such as the Rocket - although it was a little on the quiet side tonight.
So, after intending to go down to see Terris, I thought I'd still pop down and check out the array of talent that had been put on to replace them.
Yellow Stripe Nine announce album release...
Yellow Stripe Nine have just put the finishing touches on their second demo album 1 White Horse. The ten tracks include all the songs from their Look Sharp demo plus seven new recordings.
Linus present a jazz tinged singer-songwriter compilation of songs by Chris Holliday, Chris Simmonds and Lee Johnson.
The Smokestacks @ Cockpit (acoustic bar)
Mary Wanna Smile were a very solid, straight-forward rock band, performing some well crafted acoustic ditties.
Glaswegian 3-piece Feel Like Falling have an accomplished and familiar indie power-pop sound that will provide interest to many fans of guitar driven grit.
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.
heavy metal
The Twilight Singers @ Leeds Festival 2006
Gregg Dulli and his new line up perform to a packed out Carling Tent and you can only feel sorry for those misguided souls who would rather watch Franz Ferdinand than be here.
The Cut to let their fans choose their next single
Leeds band The Cut are to release a new single in April 2007 - but there's a twist! The band have revealed that their fans will get to choose what songs will feature on the CD.
acoustic rock
Jimmy Eat World @ The Refectory
Jimmy Eat World, if there were any justice in the world, should never be able to play Leeds. This isn't because they aren't deserving of a show in our fair city, it's simply because there's nowhere big enough for them here.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Show Your Bones
Oh my god it seems like we've been waiting an eternity for this record but it seems like all this waiting around has been worth it.
Interpol @ Leeds Festival 2003
The first time I saw Interpol, I was blown away completely. I was hooked. Their astounding album "Turn On The Bright Lights" is one of the best in my collection.
The Paradimes present a mix of bright vocal and guitar melody with the backdrop of a tight and dynamic rhythm section.
As the first band of the night Sawthroat take the stage, many people in the venue seem unaware of their presence.
New York based singer-songwriter Ian Love has created a pleasant debut album, but it doesn't quite hit the mark.
When Russian Circles recorded this album they knew that it could never be a "disjointed batch of songs".
Leodis Fan
Chugging bass, airy guitars, respiring vocals and climactic songs at an andante pace, presenting Monomania's recent white label 006 promo.
Melodic indie-pop minstrels The Lodger have avoided rushing into recording their debut album, the band instead deciding to rouse interest through several single releases on a variety of independent labels.
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.
Band Profile: Livestock Meeting
Born through a love of all things cattle, a jam was a perfect accompaniment to a good glass of apple juice.
Farming Incident: Our Glorious Five Year Plan
The black sheep of the Wrath Records family, Farming Incident have been ploughing (ouch) their trade in these fields, as it says on the tin, for five years or so.
Nikoli are supreme. Uplifting, sweeping tunes with buried distorted guitars that drive their songs on.
A hectic lifestyle means that it has taken me a good week or two to actually get round to playing this CD.
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.
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).
Scouting For Girls @ The Refectory
Scouting For Girls have had a good run of it lately, three top ten singles and a number one album, shed loads of air play and to cap it all off a sold out UK tour.
Shed Seven - The Charlatans - Flowered Up - The Verve - aah, halcyon days indeed. These bands are almost certainly amongst the record collection of openers Silvertin and their facsimiles of the aforementioned bands in their songs are pretty spot on, if a little watered down.
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.
Support tonight is from fellow band member of Graham Coxon's band, however I didn't manage to catch his name.
Duelling saxes used to be a phrase that would have me running for the hills, fingers in my tinnitus inflicted ears.
Captain Wilberforce: Dreams of Educated Fleas
Seven songs of mature melody and thought provoking stuff from the quaintly named Captain Wilberforce.
Leeds Metal
Ghosts in the Nightclub @ Royal Park Cellars
I missed Miranda Arieh tonight and I have no excuse for it, sorry. But I stumbled in eventually and had the pleasure of seeing Frankie Eisenhower.
Skint & Demoralised @ Escobar (Wakefield)
We met a very dapper looking Matt Abbott (lead singer and songwriter of Skint & Demoralised) dressed in a fashionable grey suit before the gig as he was greeting people by the door and giving away demo CD's.
Fightstar: One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours
On the initial listen to this album it doesn't seem to be the album that this band are capable of. Starter song '99' does nothing to move this band along in anyone's opinion whether good or bad, and the standout songs initially are track five 'death car' and track ten 'Tannhauser', simply for the bruising head bashing riffs.
Mr Shiraz @ Scullys (Heckmondwike)
The Agency Well I think this is the 3rd or 4th time I've seen The Agency. They play a kind of punked up ska, which is a refreshing change from what we hear all to often coming out of America.
Horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible CD. If you haven't heard of Lorraine or their music before you truly are blessed.
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.
The Cooper Temple Clause @ Leeds Festival 2002
My, what lovely hair you have! These guys look like proper pop stars, but at least they have the music to match, unlike several wannabe lookalikes in the audience this evening.
Hot Hot Heat: Make up the Breakdown
"Bandages, bandages, bandages, bandages, bandages, bandages, bandages" Yes, that's Hot Hot Heat, and that's what you can expect from the album.
Deadstring Brothers @ New Roscoe
Decisions, decisions! In town tonight there's Joseph Arthur at The Cockpit, Brendan Benson at the Uni and then his friends from Detroit, Deadstring Brothers at the New Roscoe.
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.
Three songs of pleasant strumming and little distinction from this Leeds based singer songwriter. All the songs show an ear for melody and are definitely in the Evan Dando bracket, track 2 "Love Burns" could easily be lifted from The Lemonheads' "Shame About Ray" era.
Angels & Airwaves: We Don't Need to Whisper
As the frontman of Blink 182, Tom DeLonge sold millions of records and gained huge popularity off the back of songs about falling in love, shagging your mum, and being a teenage delinquent.
Edward Molby: The Butcher of Castile
From their debut release Edward Molby have leapt and bounded and delivered 4 new ear slewing monsters of guitar screeching joy.
indie rock
Buen Chico are quite simply one of the best bands in the world right now. That sounds like a bold statement, but if you don't believe me go fucking listen to them.
"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.
Nina Nastasia @ City Varieties
Apart from the most spellbinding songs, drawn from all three albums, Nina Nastasia also treated us tonight to five world class accompanists and some astonishing arrangements that had been worked out in just a couple of days before the gig.
This two tracker from The Outlines is a self-produced side step from the rock-pop formula adopted on previous releases.
Scott Matthews' second visit to Leeds since his debut album 'Passing stranger' was put out, took place at the University's Mine venue.
The Gift are a three-piece consisting of Sean (bass/vocals), Nathan (guitar) and Jon (drums). This three track CD runs in at just under nine minutes and in attitude and style alone sounds more akin to 1970s punk - perhaps more so than anything that takes that name today.
alternative rock
alternative pop
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.
Tift Merritt you may ask - who the hell is that? Well, Tift Merritt is a country singer-songwriter hailing from North Carolina who has attracted the attentions of Ryan Adams and Ethan Johns no less - who produced this brilliant debut album.
Kaiser Chiefs @ Leeds Festival 2006
The meteoric rise of the local boys continues as they step out on stage in front of a huge "KC" back drop that twinkles in the night sky throughout their set.
Adam Green: Jacket Full of Danger
After recent support slot with fellow friends The Strokes and briefly having a diary in NME, Adam Green is back with his new album, Jacket Full Of Danger.
Having arrived at the Well a bit late, I arrived to see the end of the first act, a duo performing what I'd probably call the most traditional set of the evening.
Jonjo Feather releases his debut single in April 2008
Leeds songwriter Jonjo Feather will release his debut single, 'I Suppose', on 14th April 2008 through the local record label Dead Young Records.
It has to be said that since Arcade Fire's début Funeral was released, not a week has gone by where the album hasn't found its way to my CD player.
Here we have ten diamond white 80s pop songs with mighty swirls of darker third millennium awareness.
Field Music: Write Your Own History
The shining, swirling, sun-drenched pop with peculiar but often alluring percussion that made up Field Music's self-titled album is, unsurprisingly, the staple of this B-sides collection.
The Boy Least Likely To: Fur Soft As Fur
The third single from the exclusive in the know club that is "The Boy Least Likely To". Those in the know apparently include the likes of Steve Lamacq, Clare Grogan and Rough Trade.
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.
Band Profile: The Lazy Darlings
The Lazy Darlings are a loose collective of musicians playing the songs of former Cardboard Cowboy frontman Dave James.
Flipside's demo spins around in the CD player, while a huge cringe appears on my face. Three tracks, three power ballads.
Shadow of Memories: Too Much Within
Darkly epic melodious doom-metal from the rock metropolis of Headingley, Shadow of Memories latest audio instalment is the two-track EP "Too Much Within".
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.
Local lads Union Jackass thought it about time to put something down to chronicle where they are as a band.
Frankly, I'm surprised Breed 77 still have the energy for the music business. Not because they're not any good but it has to be said they're not the greatest band to walk the planet either, despite the ridiculous amount of the overtime they put in at the office.
The Somatics, or so it seems to me, are possibly one of the least talked about most talked about bands in Leeds.
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.
All the way from Norway are Magnet, creating epic and beautiful soundscapes rather than mere songs. Even Johansen has a voice direct from the Gods, and a band of great ability to help him recreate the self-made sounds of his two albums thus far.
The Lost 45s UK to release a new EP on November 5th
Leeds band The Lost 45s UK will release a new EP on Monday 5th November. "Experiments In Pop" will be available via the band's website for just £1.49 including P&P.
After reaching no 24 in the national indie charts earlier this year with their debut release on Siamese chinS Records ("Snow"), a single that also made the band Radio One's "Unsigned Session of the Week" things appear to be going from strength to strength.
This sounds a bit like acoustic-folk versions of stadium rock songs. Fat choruses sit amongst some delicate arrangements of piano and guitar.
Embrace to begin recording fourth album with Youth...
Embrace played their first live dates in over 18 months last weekend when they performed three secret, sold-out gigs as "The Good Good People" at the Cockpit.
The Arteries' music is pretty much as you would expect with such an unpleasant name. The Welsh five-piece's aggressive punk almost verges on metal with its hard, powerful riffs backed by thumping rhythms topped by screeching vocals.
Graeme Stanton: I'm Not Perfect
Apparently our very own leedsmusicscene has once called Graeme "The next David Gray"... who said that?
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.
Avant-garde prog ideals and chaotic, balls out, rock and metal
Band Profile: Unspeakable Easels
post-rap hip hop
Band Profile: The New Delamores
Lee: guitar / vocals Barry: bass Scott: drums Formerly just "The Delamores", The New Delamores are from the outskirts of Leeds and Wakefield.
The first act to play the bigger stage of the Cockpit tonight are Ins and Outs. The Leeds-based band stumble through a set of 'lager rock', accompanying two big pairs of lungs which concentrate on being as loud as possible, instead of the idea of tuning. What did entertain the crowd was probably more to do with their unique dance moves.
Ska tinged rock without the horn sections, verging into metal at times with growling vocals and guitars to match.
Calvin Johnson @ Brudenell Social Club
"Well hello, my name is Calvin Johnson, thank y'all for being here. I'm just gonna do my thing baby and you do yours." And there he was, the main man of Dub Narcotic Sound System and Beat Happening, alone on the stage of a northern social club with only an acoustic guitar for company.
I had a lot of preconceived ideas about this gig, hair in the wind guitar solos and flying V's, my stereotypical preconceptions were true, although there was a number of surprises that slightly changed my small minded opinion of these American head bangers by the end of the night.
Reading Rotating Leslie's biog you'd be forgiven for being ever so slightly disappointed when you actually come to hearing the accompanying CD.
Stanford are the fresh sound which is erupting into the city's local venues and beyond. Hidden away these five diverse talents combine to produce songs jam packed with variety and excitement.
One obvious disadvantage of calling yourselves Breakthemould is that reviews of your recorded output are inevitably going to query whether or not you do actually "break the mould" in terms of pushing new musical boundaries.
Insert Coin: The World Is Yours EP
Insert Coin sound like they have grown up a lot. Sometime last year they recorded their first demo, and let's be frank, it was poor.
Varsity Drag @ Jockey (Wakefield)
There is a little buzz about Wakefield tonight as a member of the much loved Lemonheads is due to appear in our very own Jockey.
Flowered Third: She is the Monkey Master
This is a 16 song (count'em), labour of love from the Harrogate lo-fiers. It is peppered with Steven Malkmus inspired alt cuts, fidgeting guitars, meticulously picky rhythms, don't give a f*ck vocals and more time signature swapping than you can imagine a drummer being able to cope with...
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.
Goldie Lookin' Chain: Safe As Fuck
Those Newport Boys are back. Unlike debut 'Greatest Hits', which featured many songs that had beeing doing the rounds of the 'Port for many years, this is a batch of brand new songs from the GLC.
Bradford's Water pleasingly don't fit the usual sweaty longhaired contingent of the city. This album is proficiently played by 3 talented musicians, produced by former Cure levels changer Steve Whitfield, has as much professionalism about it as you would hope, and 11 (that's eleven) songs that borrow a number of classic ideas...
To be honest I can't remember how CHEVRON started, but I know that something went wrong. If you've seen chevron before, you'll know that this is a regular occurrence in their set, and have learnt to deal with bad luck as they go along.
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.
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').
Matthew Lewis is a singer/songwriter from Leeds. He plays a mix of quirky and serious songs.
All Time Low: So Wrong It's Right
If you like your pop-punk to sound just like the early The Starting Line or New Found Glory with a pinch of pre fame Fall Out Boy songs, sweet summary vocals and hooks that could catch Moby Dick, then All Time Low are your new favourite band.
What immediately struck me about this four-track CD when I first listened to it was the quality of the production.
Most new bands tend to struggle to find their sound and manage instead to just about hold together some songs.
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.
After almost a year since their last gig, Dub City are finally returning to the Leeds scene. Following the arrival of their new guitarist, Jonathan Maude, in early 2003, the band have reinvented their style and sound and are now proudly producing heavier songs with a more rock-orientated feel.
Ok, so Slipknot may be nine idiots who thrash about in boiler suits and "scary" masks. They might have a back catalogue of songs so artistically titled "People = ****" and "Sic" and there might be a thousand people that hate them to one fan, but admit it, you have a soft spot for them don't you?
After trekking through Leeds - without a coat - in the bitter Yorkshire winter, we were greeted with a problem relating to our guest-list places, which meant we were able to just get in the venue in time to see Cancer Bats in full swing.
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.
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.
Solace's accompanying letter tells me immediately a lot about what I should expect from this CD... I know, I know, never judge a book and all that but I just hope that if this goes to record companies they try some other tactic than scrawled biro.
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.
Afternoon are new to me. But experience has its mitts all over this accomplished demo. Learning that they recently did support for Oceansize at Joseph's Well made me even sicker at having missed that gig.
i concur @ Leeds Festival 2008
i concur's focussed songwriting and euphoric guitar sounds set them apart. They go to no great lengths to present themselves as individuals or as a band on stage.
Ahh, the troublesome sophomore album, so many bands try, but so few succeed in moving their music on and keeping it interesting.
Solo artists breaking free from a band and a fanbase they collected on their way to the top can be a lonely place.
This debut album from Mr Noir is actually a compilation of his first 3 sold out EPs. Not one to strip the early adopters of their privileges, he has also stuck on 3 extra tracks.
This is the second time I have seen Gallo and I like them more every time. The female duo have a lot of talent between them and use guitar and saxophone to produce some lovely funky, jazzy, blusey medleys, topped off with an angelic, but strong voice that you have to notice.
Hamster Pizza: Okay, I am not going to lie, I wasn't expecting anything from this band. I thought it would be one to miss, but they were better than I expected.
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 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.
It's improbable that a bloke from Salford is really called Jackson Starfield, but I'm prepared to accept it.
I was instructed by Cooler Green to write a review for their gig at the Rocket on Friday 1st February.
Bloody hell. A band who site The Beach Boys as influences are hard to come by nowadays... Thankfully The Composers aren't one of those bands who say someone is an influence when in reality only have one song on mp3 which they kinda like.
folk country
deep house dance pop
Since I reviewed the bands first album last May I have wanted to hear more material from the four-piece.
Saturday night and four bands take to the stage at Leeds' Premier pub/venue location, The Duchess. First up are the duo of Andy Parrott & Rob Karl, who unfortunately I missed.
"Bird's songs occupy similar territory to Dido," say the Daily Telegraph. Oh dear. Thankfully, our favourite right wing broadsheet seem to have missed the point on this one, as Bird (otherwise known as Janie Price)'s latest is thankfully, a really rather beautiful number.
Fifth Goodbye were the first band of the evening's entertainment, and they had to put in a very solid performance to be able to stand up to the following bands, and a solid performance it was.
When listening to singer/songwriter Pete McGann, it's clear that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed into any particular genre.
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.
Death in Public: Start a Fight
Lancaster's Death in Public's release 'Start a Fight' is an inventive three-track disc. The title track is full of energy and enthusiasm and sets the tone for the rest of disc.
Longwave @ Leeds Festival 2002
Another New York guitar band? On first cursory glance you may be tempted to throw Longwave on the towering pile with all the rest, but stop a moment, stay and listen (as many did) and you may change your mind.
Good Riddance: Remain in Memory: The Final Show
Chaptering the last hometown show of punk band Good Riddance; it's May 27th, 2007 and The Catalyst venue in Santa Cruz, California is full to bursting.
Exactly twenty people witnessed what, despite flu-ridden vocalist Nick saying it was merely a "rehearsal", I believed to be one of the strongest Sugarvalve's sets to date.
This two track sampler from Silvertin reveals a fondness for a sound that is quickly growing "old fashioned".
Any aspiring pop stars out there, and I'm not talking about the ones that get a slagging by that horrible twat Cowell for ratings and self-publication, should be forced to know the story of Six By Seven.
Martha: Kids knee deep in the Power of Love
Martha quickly establish a big power-pop sound on this 3 track release. It's energetic and well played, produced etc, but the overall songwriting is still someway of the polished finish of the CD packaging.
Workout Holiday is a collection of re-recorded songs from the first two EPs by White Denim. This ramshackle three-piece from Austin have been causing a bit of a stir of late, and on this evidence it's fairly easy to see what the fuss is about.
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.
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.
Anyone know what "Spiegeltent" means... well, apparently it's German for "Tent of mirrors". And it was a certain feeling of intrepidation that I went to see Bodixa play there on Friday.
Brass Moustache: Brudenell Groove
Brudenell Groove sparkles like frost on a sunny day. It zings like lemon juice in a salad. It's three smart-arsed young men doing a sort of acid jazz thing right there in your back yard.
Inspirita is one of those albums that get better with every listen. It's an album which draws all kinds of influences, from Metal to Jazz.
Mybe's press release emphasises the point that the combined height of the trio stands (or maybe squats?) at sixteen feet and eleven inches.
Piskie Sits and The Spills release a split EP titled 'Dogs are Faithful, Cats are Clever'
Piskie Sits and The Spills have released a split EP on the Louder Than Bombs record label on 23rd June 2008.
Time for a bit of a honky-tonk jig, as Dubliner's 747s' catchy indie folk starts off, with tracks like 'Rain Kiss' and 'Leave Your Job Today', which employs an assortment of kitchen utensils and pans, adding to the plinky-plonk of the organs.
With so many singer/songwriters about at the moment, it's understandable that people are looking for something different.
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.
If your priorities when it comes to gigs include musicianship and not getting shoved around, then you probably shouldn't go to see The Cribs.
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.
Entering the barely packed side room at first glance this does not seem like the prime of Switches' domains, stage drab and atmosphere mellow.
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.
Itch: Well, Well, Well, Three Holes in the Ground
Itch's Mike Milner has the biggest mouth in Leeds. Not that he slags people off or anything. He just uses it to scream unbelievably, painfully, loud.
The Television Personalities: My Dark Places
Well at least we know there's no chance of The Television Personalities' mainman Dan Treacy getting prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act for this album.
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).
I had seen this band at the very same venue around a year ago, so in many ways knew what to expect. Little Man Tate know what they're good at and don't really stray from that formula - spiky riffs, pounding drums and big shouty indie choruses are pretty much the order of the day.
Modern Day Urban Barbarians: The Endless Retreat
It is well known that sometimes the albums that you find the most challenging on a first listen will later prove to be one of the best you own.
As the sun overhead blazes down over Leeds, most people either sit outside basking in the mid twenties sunshine or fiddle with their badly burned meat on their barbecues rather than venturing out to the local venues.
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.
A very fine evening of music was presented by Logo Magazine in conjunction with Leeds based Uglyman Music Ltd and Stuckup Music.
indie acoustic
Noisy bloody students eh? The Faversham's packed full of them tonight. This is no bad thing though, and as free acoustic gigs go, this is a great opportunity to be heard by and impress a lot of people that wouldn't normally be there.
Good Shoes: Think Before You Speak
I was slightly sceptical about how I would find South London quartet Good Shoes' début album, 'Think before you speak'.
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.
The Hold Steady: Boys & Girls In America
From the opening chords that travel through heavy guitar and jangly piano riffs, this album feels like an old friend.
Band Profile: Bikini Black Special
indie pop
Little Big Men to play at Race for Life 10th Anniversary run...
Leeds band, Little Big Men, could be forgiven for thinking all their Christmas's have come at once this Sunday, as 6,000 women in shorts run towards them.
Bodixa: And They Danced on Glass
On the back of their first single, "Give Me Rain", comes their debut album, "And They Danced On Glass".
The Labels @ The Bedroom (Wakefield)
Tonight at The Bedroom sees WEAREYOU (of Thursday night @ Carpe Diem fame) expand its reaches to Wakefield.
Icarus Sister have the ideas and the attitude. But they hesitate in their achievement. They have three songs in minor keys and a confidence in the truth of their own feelings.
For a band that took about 7 years to produce their brilliant debut album it may be a bit surprising to find them knocking out a follow-up so soon.
Loudmouth Soup: Skydiver / Narcolepsy
Loudmouth Soup have long memories and some skill in their five-piece band. Here are two catchy pop songs of some quality.
Band Profile: Vinnie & The Stars
Funky upbeat blues with a touch of hip-hop
Juno 2 are a band I've heard a lot about but only seen play live once. They didn't particularly blow me away on that occasion, although I seem to remember thinking at the time that they had some good songs and could be great, if only they'd perform a little.
Why is it that only guitarists can pull off wearing a cowboy hat? And why is it only drummers who wear vests?
As always I'm going to show my complete ineptitude at reviewing by saying I don't know how to review it.
Bifta Smoking Eskimos: The Columbian Cold EP
We now have a scoop the NME would love to get their hands on, Richard Ashcroft formerly of The Verve and currently enjoying a bafflingly successful solo career has sneaked over to Huddersfield and recorded an EP in secret, working under the name Bifta Smoking Eskimos.
It has to be said that on first listen, I struggled to find anything worthwhile on this album. As the follow up to 2004's 'Raw Nerve' debut album my expectations were high, especially after seeing their strong set live.
The first "Whatever..." night I have been to at the New Roscoe has left quite an impression on me. An unassuming venue that looks like it should play host to tribute bands, it has a Wednesday night local talent night where three bands play and finishing work early I decided to call in.
lo-fi indie
Band Profile: Under Darkened Skies
metal hardcore
Sonus are a tight guitar based three-piece I have not yet heard before. They seem to feed off each other well, and enjoy being on stage (small as it is at the packhorse).
"All songs written by Instant Species, except track 3 - written by some other guy" What the inlay is trying to say is that the third track on this CD is a cover of the well known country theme tune "The Littlest Hobo", rocked up and thrown back at you as a cheeky addition to a well produced CD.
Laura Toth is an acoustic singer songwriter. She is a student at Leeds College Of Music. Originating from Hungary, her repertoire has songs in English and her native tongue.
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.
Venues with pillars are shit. Especially big huge stone ones a few feet square. That aside, the Blank Canvas is a rather cool venue and seems to be increasingly used.
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.
Clone, dressed in their shades, have an uneasy obsession with writing songs about the stars and planets.
Band Profile: Working With Kenzi
Working With Kenzi formed in 2004 in a moment of boredom-induced bedroom songwriting. Long-time friends Emily and Fliss, tired of writing parodies of songs they hated, set about writing a more serious tune.
Wakefield is the place for sure. Here's another talented bunch with a future ahead of them. It's not fully realised in the demo, with its tendency to try and sound like a "proper record".
BEING 747 - Only arrived for the last four songs I think and what I witnessed of them I was impressed.
Tonight's opening slot came from the young band STEALTHMAN. A great start tonight, mixing material from their 'Maria' EP with newer stuff and a few covers.
Sexed up Soul Funk for the modern age
Who is Imogen Heap? The place is certainly packed out with young, fashion conscious people, and there is a clear Perspex grand piano on stage.
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).
The Völtz formed in late 2005 in Headingley, North Leeds. They played their first gig to a sold out Leeds Cockpit five weeks later.
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.
The Coral: Nightfreak & The Sons of Becker
The latest recording form The Coral is the product of improvisational sessions. I awaited the release of this CD with anticipation since I saw them in November and heard two of the songs live.
solo pop
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.
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.
This CD looks pretty enough, with a visual clash of romantic guitar in woodland, gurning space alien baby and splodgy studio snaps of the artists at work.
The Moonies: I would give it all up for your Love
If you sped the Buzzcocks up then you would have The Moonies. In the recent media frenzy of garage rock bands that regularly appear at the whim of the NME and their evil media empire buddies, to often the focus seems away from our shores - be it Sweden, Australia or the US, we overlook our own proficiency to turn out some darn' right great bish bash bosh guitar songs.
Herman Dune @ Brudenell Social Club
I think the year was 2001 when I turned on the radio and heard the late John Peel introduce a Paris-based Swiss/Swedish trio of David, Andre and Neman Herman Dune singing songs such as "How Things Slide" and "Lazy Boys (Don't Stand A Chance)" Five years later, after not listening to Herman Dune for a while I was happy to hear that they would be playing a gig at the Brudenell Social Club.
Bloc Party had an amazing year in 2004 and it appears that their debut album is about to thrust them to the top and beyond.
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.
The Von Bondies @ Leeds Festival 2002
It's early doors at The Evening Session Tent, but that isn't going to prevent squillions of kids getting the Motor City party going ahead of Meg and Jack White's show on the main stage later.
Band Profile: future sons of rome
indie rock
acoustic pop rock
Gweedo @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
Openers tonight were DayDream, a three piece who are unashamedly proud of their Beatlesque influences.
Over fifteen years since Suede burst on the UK indie scene with their debut single The Drowners, frontman Brett Anderson releases his first solo album, the imaginatively titled Brett Anderson.
There appears to be quite a few bands called Seed, this one however are two brothers from Leeds. Their brand of safe pop-rock is well produced and performed but lacks any real ingenuity.
Rhode Island announce themselves with the borrowed voice of a court house judge from some seedy American backwater.
funk rock
I had not heard any of these bands before the day of the gig, so I wasn't really sure what to expect.
Superelectric: E Is For Effort, A Is For Attainment
First off, I like this CD a lot, it's up there with a lot of good CD's, and I really enjoy listening to it.
There isn't a great deal that inspires on this 5 track EP. Opening song Perfume is about as good as it gets, with what seems to be their big song - it's as watered down as stadium rock gets.
Voxtrot are a band from Austin, Texas. They write songs. Some of those songs were put together to form an album.
North South Divide: Another Fine Day
When you have songs that are worth writing, a gift for melody, and a workmate who can do rich musical arrangements, you do the obvious thing.
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.
Witchita have been grooming Bloc Party, making them into everyone's favourite indie band. While this has been going on, unbeknown to most of the indie community, another of Witchita's bands, The Cribs have been recording some songs with the legend that is Edwyn Collins.
This is the third album from Jeff Klein, a New Yorker relocated to Austin, Texas. It opens with the title track, with lullaby acoustic guitars and some truly beautiful, sparse, throbbing slide guitar.
Band Profile: The Dragon Rapide
avant-rock
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.
The Printed Sound: A Tale Of Two Cities
Nice name. Nice sound. First track 'A Tale of Two Cities' is a nice little stomp of a song, all plodding beats and clean, choppy guitar stabs.
Glasgow's Eska should have gone down a storm. Their dynamic noise, all stop-start rhythms and waves of sound should have had the crowd in awe, but they simply stood and stared.
I've got to admit, I've been avoiding this band like the plague. Its nothing personal, but a name like Milf just conjures up images of a bad Blink 182 rip off act with 'hilarious' fart into a microphone japery.
As The Somatics take to the stage, it is noted that not only is Bruce the drummer the closest thing to Animal from the Muppets on drums, but that he looks stylish in a trilby hat.
Spoonfish. Hmm. Interesting name. It's good. This Keighley four-piece band are definite contenders. They play energetic enthusiastic metal in a classic style (but claim to be NU).