Search for two tunes performed on Thursday, 8th January 2009.
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Various Artists: Big Tunes: Ministry of Sound
If you are part of the clubbing scene at the moment, you will either already be familiar with these tunes, or you soon will be as they continue to make waves in the clubs.
Guitar based pop music with its roots in late 70s punk-pop, but which has drawn comparison to a huge range of bands from the 60s to the present day. Expect layered harmonies, catchy three minute tunes and the city's best rhythm section.
The Zeds span three generations, playing an irresistible mix of ska, punk, rock and reggae grooves that appeal to all tastes.
The Scaramanga Six @ Leeds Festival 2006
Smartly dressed in suits The Scaramanga Six deliver edgy rock tunes with lyrics as sharp as their threads.
Single White Female: Extended Play EP
From the very first tentative cymbal strike of "She's a Songwriter" the "have we rehearsed this one enough?" warning signs begin so unding.
I like Milburn a lot. They're one of the reasons I started reviewing because you never know when you'll be sent a gem of a CD to cover that you just absolutely love.
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.
Electric Street Police: When Machines Hit Back
Are you one of those people who used to be into the dance scene but then drifted slowly but surely into the indie revolution?
Easyworld @ Leeds Festival 2001
Touting hangover - blasting melodic indie-rock, the three immaculately dressed Sussex kids that make up the delectable Easyworld are a brilliant tonic early on Saturday morning.
The Terminals @ Escobar (Wakefield)
Mother always said, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all". With that in mind perhaps I should just progress directly to talking about Jack Afro.
Awesome Funky Magic from the tightest, heaviest, most powerful 4 piece in Leeds! Maji are not to be missed!
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.
If a hazy summer's evening chilling out with friends could be bottled into a sound and made into a song, the third single to be taken from Leicestershire's My Awesome Compilation's album 'Actions', 'Awake' could very well be it.
Fuzz Love is something that popped into my head one day when I was walking about in the wonderful Huddersfield sun shine.
Kid Symphony release debut album on 21st June...
Leeds' Kid Symphony, aka Chris Langdon and Pete Denton, released their debut album, The Underqualified last week (21st june).
Tonite sees the UK debut gig by the dreadfully named 'Big Arm', the latest group to include former Happy Monday's bassist and now singer/songwriter, Paul Ryder.
An ex-baseball player, originally from Canada, now based in Paris and with 'Square', his first release for a major, maybe the pioneer of 'A.O.H' (that's 'adult orientated hip hop(c)' to you and me).
After a guy just spinning some classic hip hop tunes (and doing the occasional beat juggling, not the best I have seen) it's time for the real hip-hop masters to appear.
indie alternative
The Nervous Shakedown: Untitled
Well known for their sleazy stoner rock The Nervous Shakedown have been spreading their own brand of guitar filth across West Yorkshire.
The reformation of the late-nineties' most brutal of crowd pleasers is welcome news as 3 Colours Red once again rock like Armageddon.
After seeing Aces & Eights at The Cockpit many, many nights ago, I was extremely excited to see that they'd been signed.
When I moved to Leeds 15 years ago, the first gig I saw was in Lister Park, Bradford, with a packed crowd enjoying the sounds of The Wedding Present, who were on a stage in the middle of a lake.
33 years ago, Hawkwind came onto the psychedelic scene, and have continued to push music outer and further away from the mainstream, while influencing space and post rock and to a large extent the techno end of the dance spectrum.
Coming to the end of a thirteen-year career, Shed Seven make the half hour journey to Leeds for the last time this evening.
indie rock
pop punk
Earl: What Are You Waiting For?
Now this one's a hard one, not often do I recieve or listen to dance tunes with a huge amount of interest, but as I put this CD on, I suddenly like dance music!!
Grandmaster Gareth: The Party Sounds Of Grandmaster Gareth
Give this man a minute and he'll give you a melody. He'll give you a surreal story in sixty seconds. He'll even give you a bonus track that's half as long as the album itself!
All Its Worth: The Golden Spoon Theory EP
Research says that All Its Worth, an emerging four-piece from Pudsey are a 'punk rock band' with influences listed as Muse, Placebo, 3 Colours Red and Hole, yet their debut EP is more fittingly described as catchy, guitar pop ditties.
Nikoli are supreme. Uplifting, sweeping tunes with buried distorted guitars that drive their songs on.
Wrath Records celebrate their second birthday...
Wrath Records, Leeds' most prolific and hellbent label, is celebrating another milestone as it becomes two years old!
This Holiday Life: The Fallout
This Holiday Life are almost too knowingly good. Only an American band, and a Californian band at that, could be so unashamedly mellow and well produced, while singing such nifty songs with such passion and style.
An already sold out gig sports an impressively long guestlist, which makes for a very cramped Cockpit this evening.
It's an early festive treat for punters at The Vine, although when I arrive it looks like a makeshift Berlin Wall made of sheets has been erected, with the bizarre prospect of a gig one side, and a huge fucker of a piss up with 70 quid plus rounds on the other.
A half full Fibbers sees local lads Sixty 6 take to the stage for their first ever gig. The youthful three piece burst into their opening number with a degree of confidence and if I'd not been told you wouldn't have thought it their first time on stage.
The Mooney Suzuki in Leeds. The Mooney who?! Luckily, a few raw enthusiasts for this New York beat combo managed to rustle up a crowd barely reaching a hundred, a real shame for a band whose live reputation back in the USA is huge.
Here are six recorded songs from a Halifax band with the same name as a tune by muso wonderbillies Dark Star.
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.
Simon - guitar, piano and vocals Adam - lead guitar Chris - bass Dave - drums Well except for colplday and the music, and of course blazin squad, the british music scene is a shambles, where here to rock it back into shape with a mixture of melodic tunes, uplifting ballads, screaming instrementals and a lead guitarist who enjoys lying on the floor at sponge.
Fear Factory @ Leeds Festival 2001
Fear Factory must be doing something right if they still manage to attract thousands of young kids to their show, all donned in black t-shirts and all clearly intent on going fucking mental.
Red Stars Parade to release their debut album on August 22nd....
Red Stars Parade's debut album - titled "Disko" - will be released on 22nd August through Dry Run Recordings.
Royal Vendetta: The Lost Cause
Wearing their influences firmly on their sleeve, or more like in a big day-glow t-shirt that says "our influences are:" Royal Vendetta are Leeds' answer to Kasabian, The Cooper Temple Clause and The Music...
Goldie Lookin' Chain @ The Refectory
It's been a bit of a weird day. Walking towards Leeds Uni to interview Goldie Lookin' Chain I'm sure Eggsy walks past me.
An impressively tight two track demo from these Huddersfield youngsters. Clearly kids who worship at the altar of Eddie van Halen and Angus Young, this is solid old-skool metal with some relevant lyrics about the tabloid press.
Formed in 2004, Move To Cuba are a three-piece consisting of Mark Regan, Matt Poole and Chris Powel - a frenzied guitarist with a soul shattering voice brought together with a gut-punching rhythm section.
Tonight was a night that saw the merging of football and local music, and whilst the action on the field fell short of inspiring the music was, as expected, spectacular.
The Charlatans @ Leeds Festival 1999
Well the year goes fast doesn't it? Another year and yet another festival at Leeds' Temple Newsam Park and yet again this is another one that we all enjoyed.
punk new wave
"Lick Your Ticket" is Chikinki's major label debut but is by the letter of the law their difficult second album.
At risk of being derided on the Fracture forum for the rest of eternity, I'm going to try and describe what I saw and heard at the Bassment one night last week.
Tom Waits: Real Gone (sampler)
Tom Waits is a damn legend. It's that easy, the actor/musician/genius has always been producing work which provokes and stretches from every chord, this been no acception.
If you hadn't noticed, Franz Ferdinand have been rather successful these past couple of years. The Fallen is another Indie disco hit straight off the FF production line, stamped with their trademark optimistic upbeat swagger and containing a sure fire air-guitar moment for all the family.
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 Longshots: Million To One EP
'Ex-Girlfriends' kicks off in incendiary fashion and sets the tone for the next eleven and a bit minutes of your life.
Things look very bright for the music scene in Leeds at the moment, and tonight is a great testament to that.
The Research to release double A-side single in August...
The Research release a new single on Monday, 22nd August with a single launch party scheduled at Leeds' Faversham venue on Saturday 13th August.
Uptight continue to dominate US airwaves...
Uptight tune The Hitman From Detroit appeared on a compilation through the Teenage Depression radio show, CJSW based in Calgary, Canada this month.
indie rock
South: A Place In Displacement
One of those bands who seem to have been ekeing out a living as perennial outsiders despite a clutch of pretty damn good tunes over the course of their two albums so far ("Colours In Waves" and "Paint The Silence" especially), it's unfortunately difficult to see South's forthcoming third album changing things.
Liam Gallagher shows the world the side of him that so far only Nicole Appleton has been privvy to with this endearing little ballad.
Fountainhead: Footprints in the Sand
Bethany Dowsett sings with a Stevie Nicks' catch to her voice and Tom Stupple plays very good guitar in sympathetic acoustic straightforwardness.
Here is a thing, this is ace but you should not buy it. Why? Because you would be much better off buying the album which is even better and full of tunes just as good as this one.
The Smokestacks are... Will: vocals / lead guitar Joel: vocals / rhythm guitar Owen: bass Ben: keyboards Tom: drums / vocals Formed in 2003 in the Level 5 Burns Ward of Leeds General Infirmary, after being struck by rock lightning, The Smokestacks have been perfecting their sound around various Leeds venues ever since.
Bad Beat Revue @ Joseph's Well
There are about a dozen people in the room but I think somebody has forgotten to tell Bad Beat Revue's front man.
Mr Shiraz @ Warehouse (Huddersfield)
Well if there was ever a rock 'n' roll town, it's gotta be Huddersfield. Why bloody Huddersfield? I asked Mr Shiraz and their pop impresario and all-round genial chap of a manager, and they all just said 'You'll see'.
Band Profile: The Superlatives
indie punk
Band Profile: Johnny Poindexter
Johnny Poindexter's music was often described as bleak, bold, beautiful, and anything inbetween. Safe to say, you wouldn't find it down the disco.
The crowd gather nervously near the back of the room as The Pigeon Detectives open up the evening's musical jamboree.
Girls Aloud: Sound Of The Underground
WAIT! Don't leave just yet. Lets give the girls a chance. Yes everything indicates that you should run screaming from this record.
punk emo
country rock
From a band that have seemingly come from nowhere to be headlining the rocket, this was a glorious performance.
Here we have three tracks that could be heard anywhere across the land. Grungy punk rock is the order of the day but there's neither the tunes nor the talent to match the enthusiasm here.
indie pop rock
Bad Beat Revue @ Joseph's Well
Let's get this over with. Western Suburbs have a female drummer. She's hot. Men stare, under the pretence they are watching the singer of course, but you can see their eyes wander slightly toward the back of the stage.
Band Profile: Seven Story Mourning
post-hardcore emo
On first hearing that Jewel had recorded a Pop album it seemed a strange move. This down to earth, cowboy dating, sensitive poet ditching her acoustic guitar in favour of a beat box?
The Get Up Kids @ Leeds Festival 2002
The Get Up Kids are hailed by some as the only band worth the emo moniker. They do turn out catchy guitar laden tunes, but their sound is a lot poppier than strict emo and all the better for it.
acoustic classical experimental
The six tracks on offer here feature 3 already released so it's a little bit like going over old ground.
Wrathstonbury is, believe it or not, one of the most important dates on Leeds' live music diary. Eighteen bands compete with beer for your attention.
Bloody hell, it's busy in here for a Monday. Usually a night of rest following the weekend, but tonight a haven of rock and roll activity the likes of which we haven't seen since...
Band Profile: The Roman Empire
alternative country
Last Night's TV: Too Much in Doubt
Last Night's TV bring us their 14 track album of laid-back chilled tunes. Mostly a progression on the acoustic material from their previous EP.
There's something instantly familiar about opening track 'Chloe'. It took me a while to figure out what it was and then it suddenly hit me.
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.
Now while some bands are off being all angular or throwing a bit of electro into the mix or just being plain emo there are some bands that still just like to make songs the good old fashioned way.
The Darkness: Permission To Land
You must understand, The Darkness are not a joke band. This is not the Electric Six playing it for laughs.
The Tennessee Traincrash: Untitled
Yes!. It's very good. Panic over. Notes as follows: Magazine: is "Run, Run, Run" interfering with "Born to be Wild" up against a wall in a Leeds back lane.
Despite some speculation as to the true identity of The Rebellion Threat Kills, tonight's mysterious support band, it's clear that much of the enthusiastic audience at the sold-out Pack Horse venue were given a tip-off that Sammy USA were the act in question.
Third Eye Blind: Out Of The Vein
Another American band that have failed to break the UK market, perhaps down to a seeming unwillingness to tour these shores.
The Victorian English Gentlemens Club: La Mer
The accompanying press blurb is refreshingly stupid and "eeh, I'm zany me" in nature, and luckily the two tunes contained herein are up to the mark to denounce any zaniness over talent argument.
The Caves: Polymorphic Light Eruption
The Caves second single release is an altogether rather jolly pleasant affair and is the kind of thing you'd put on the stereo to jump around to in a "Look I'm daft, me" manner to impress your embarrassed long suffering friends.
Wakefield's The Old House are no ordinary band. Chris Billingham, Craig Newman Matt Knee and Paul Reid are fresh, enthusiastic and fizzing with ideas.
I'm tired and hot and I know it's time to get some sleep but what the hell, I'll bang the new The Acutes single on and give this review a bash.
The Offspring @ Leeds Festival 2002
The elder statesmen of tuneful pop rawk showed the kids how to do it all over again as the sun set over Temple Newsuam on the first day.
Ben Kweller used to be the frontman of mid-nineties US grunge-pop act Radish, a band he formed when he was just 12 years old.
For any regulars on the Leeds music scene, the Cellars has always and will always hold a very special fondness in our hearts.
Bit of a weird one here people as Whiskycats are a reviewer's nightmare with all their genre bending activities.
funk jazz pop
You may remember Hayley Avron as one third of Leeds garage-indie types The Tennessee Traincrash. While I have to admit I wasn't a particularly big fan of theirs, her new guise as an acoustic singer-songwriter is, it has to be said, a big improvement on the Strokes-lite indie of her old band.
Dr Octopus @ Royal Park Cellars
Brass Moustache - the first of two excellent bands at the Royal Park cellars, a band with a definite influence from the well esteemed 'Cake'.
Back to Mine are at the pinnacle of the music compilation scene, providing interesting and eclectic selections from some of the greatest names in the dance music scene and beyond including, The Orb, Underworld, New Order, Faithless and by far the best up to date Groove Armada.
Nutronstars: Melody Rules Everything (Handclaps and Fuzz)
If Carter USM had written theme tunes for midweek BBC family sitcoms, then it would have sounded somewhat like Nutronstars.
Rob Leach's three-piece Anechoic do three sweetly melancholic songs with minimal fuss. They are very agreeable, highly listenable tunes with a consistently intelligent feel.
Various Artists: At Least You Can Die With A Smile On Your Face
Do you have a special friend who sends you compilations of their very secret favourite tunes? Someone you love enough to want to discover new bands to play for them?
Foley (2) @ Royal Park Cellars
My first trip of 2004 into the deep dark depths of the Royal Park Cellars. It's often dirty rock you find emanating from the cellars but this evening it's an altogether more mellow collection of bands.
Sky Larkin @ Leeds Festival 2006
With all 3 members adorned in bright yellow Sky Larkin add more sunshine to the afternoon with their rocked up pop tunes.
Mark Ronson is that hip-hop guy who remixed "Just" by Radiohead last year. That song was fucking rad.
On receiving Clarkesville's album 'The Half Chapter' (Clarkesville being Michael Clarke) I was highly impressed, part of the reason being this single.
Good old rock and roll that's what Vatican Jet dish out! Apparently standing in for Being 747, these lads did a great job!
The Cribs continue their musical blitzkrieg with a new single on 22nd August...
On Monday 22nd August, The Cribs release the third single - titled "Martell" (Wichita) - to be taken from their 2005 album "The New Fellas".
There's not a lot of bands that can make you feel like you're on a mind-altering drug when you're actually chronically sober.
The Libertines @ Leeds Festival 2002
Seeing The Libertines live is a rather cosy affair. They're the boys next door who've invited you to their gig - playing in this more intimate venue definitely suits the band; the effect would have been lost on the main stage.
The Hair @ Leeds Festival 2006
The BBC Raw Talent Unsigned Stage makes a welcome return to the Leeds Festival and warmly welcomes The Hair to tread its boards.
indie rock
If there was any evidence needed that unsigned local music is thriving in the UK then here's another example.
"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.
The final night of Ash's tour falls in Leeds due to the gig being postponed from a couple of weeks ago.
Summer comes early for Leeds music company...
Leeds-based music production company Joe Williams Music has teamed up with distributors AKM Music to release their new CD album Summer Party.
alternative DiY folk musician
Dashboard Confessional @ Leeds Festival 2006
Chris Carraba and his band entertain the main stage with their heartfelt, lyrically strong tunes, laden with rich melody and lush vocal harmonies.
Monday nights are always strange nights for gigs. It's kind of like an extension of the weekend, but with the knowledge that it's Tuesday the next day and still a full week of work ahead.
A night of ROCK down the Royal Park... when isn't it these days? The Royal Park is getting a name for itself now as a more rock sort of venue, possibly due to promoter Steve Kind's insistance that all bands rock at all times.
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.
Shed Seven: Why Can't I Be You?
After playing a weekend of gigs at Fibber's those stalwarts of various York bars are back with a new single.
Some songs are just ace. This is one of them. It just makes you feel good and want to sing and dance along.
I never realised there were so many Candians in Leeds, I'm pretty sure they outnumber non Cannucks here tonight.
The Humour @ Leeds Festival 2008
The Humour are all about chugga chugga rock played with strutting ego and a confident American accent.
Signal Generator: Square Wave EP
The "Square Wave" EP from Huddersfeld's Signal Generator (Peter Morttram) is four tracks with (as far my lugs can tell) not a square wave anywhere.
Polytechnic: Won't You Come Around?
With their permanent bed head and adorned in cardigans, Polytechnic are an Indie wimp's wet dream. Having previously witnessed a particularly lacklustre live performance that had about as much energy as one of the losing toy bunnies from the Duracell advert, hopes for this single were decidedly low.
The Rakes: Work, Work, Work (Pub, Club, Sleep)
The Rakes sound like a million different bands, they talk about the same ambiguous subject matter as a million others but yet The Rakes do seem to hold a very special concentration of charm to single them out for extra attention.
What once was Parva is now The Kaiser Chiefs. With a brand new set and a brand new sound the band introduce their new selves to us with "Less Is More".
A forte of young bands tonight graced the Well on Friday night. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think there was one performer tonight that was older than 20 and many were under 18.
Soundtrack Of Our Lives @ Leeds Festival 2002
The second that Soundtrack Of Our Lives step onto the stage, the biggest conceivable raindrops begin to plummet from the sky.
The Cribs @ Leeds Festival 2004
You know when you see something so many times, but often miss the glaringly obvious each time? Well, it's not quite that with The Cribs because I always did enjoy watching them live but up on the Carling Stage it suddenly dawns on me how many great tunes they have...
It is now more than a decade since Ocean Colour Scene were truly in their glory, but the boys from Birmingham still know how to put on a fantastic show.
I've been listenig to some cool CDs recently. The new Martin Grech album is rather insane and the lastest effort by This Et Al is a bit of an epic while Dalek has been opening my mind to a whole new side of hip-hop.
Considering there wasn't a lot of promotion for the showcase this evening at Leeds Mine this was one hell of a night.
For me the Tea Time Shuffle is both a blessing and a curse. The great thing is you get to see 5 decent bands and at the same time are provided with the opportunity to start drinking at 6pm.
Openers Kenosha play to around 10 people due to an admissions cock-up tonight, and therefore have a hard job ahead.
Northern Ireland's loss is Manchester's gain regards Jist, originating in the former and decamping to the latter.
In the field of heavy metal/ hard rock, some bands try their very best to push forward the template to an otherwise limited genre.
The Cribs @ Leeds Festival 2006
Last year in the Radio 1 tent The Cribs gave a performance that completely won me over, becoming not just a band with good pop tunes but now the ability to deliver them in the live arena with the same quality they managed to capture on record.
Birmingham's Gash play a storming set of Ataris-influened punk, without songs about girls. The crowd lap it up, and they set the stage perfectly for Americans Bowling For Soup, who, although playing for too long, fill their set with brilliant pop-punk tunes and comedic between-song banter.
Beautiful Feet: Suddenly / I See
Beautiful Feet? The best way to maintain beautiful feet is to make sure they don't work at anything more than walking pace, so follows the theme of the band's music.
Hayley Hutchinson: Independently Blue
York's Hayley Hutchinson has set up her own label, HayLo Media, to release this debut album of country tinged acoustic tunes.
Neil Cowley Trio @ Millennium Square
The Leeds Jazz festival has become an easy way for the average music lover to be exposed to a whole host of talented Jazz musicians from across the UK.
Various Artists: Being 747 / The Lodger - split single
There is a point in DIY Prescriptions where if you listen ever so carefully it sounds like Dave Cooke is laughing at you with a sort of "God this is good isn't it?" smirk on his face...
This second self-released EP, from Manchester based 4 piece Finka, carries on what the band's "The Whistleblower" EP started a mere 6 months ago.
The Belles are Christopher Tolle and Jake Cardwell from Kansas, a singer/guitarist and a drummer/percussionist.
Princess Superstar @ Leeds Festival 2002
Joined today by Kool Keith, New York hip-hop royalty Princess Superstar enters the stage looking the picture of pure innocence in a long white dress and white jacket.
Holly Taymar: Less Than Nothing
No no no no, and again no!! "Who is this aimed at?" has to be the question posed. A collection of rather lame jazz show tunes sung by the brat girl who was in stage school and still believes in her mother's own hype.
Bridewell Taxis offer fans a double Christmas treat
Leeds-based crowd pullers Bridewell Taxis are set to hand their fans a double Christmas treat. The band will be launching a copy of their new DVD - live at Joseph's Well - on Thursday, 8th December when they play at Pudsey's Bien Venue.
The Boyfriends: No Tomorrow / I Love You
While the band may have a crap name they actually do have the knack to pen a couple of decent tunes as demonstrated on this two-track CD.
original folk-music with a DiY twist
Sheffield's The Moon live in a world of catchy soft-pop tunes written about girls and boys, and boys who like girls and the girls who don't like the boys who like the girls (and other clichéd love-failure subject matter).
Middleman to release their debut single on Bad Sneakers Records
Bad Sneakers Records have today announced that they will be releasing two singles by the Leeds-based four-piece Middleman.
This is a big-hearted CD with two very good songs. The sound is full, the tunes are strong and Matt Worall has a voice on him that draws all the attention.
Portabello forced to take timeout
In a freak garden wall climbing incident, Mark, of the meticulous rhythm method, has broken the big bone that goes into the hip (the femur, apparently).
Buzz Forward & Space Boy: All the way from outer space...
We should all be wary of music that takes itself too seriously and is full of pomp and self-importance...
Spiritualized @ Leeds Festival 2002
Spiritualized round things off in the Evening Session Tent in a particularly sombre mood. Playing to an already small crowd it transpires that this set is for die-hard fans only.
Insider information is great, but useless if it doesn't get shared whilst on the other hand there's some things that are better left unsaid.
I'm always suspicious of a CD when I see a quote from Pete Tong on the front cover, and there it is on the front of this Munkie album, 'Progression'.
Imagine Status Quo with occasional bongos. Got it? Ok, that's half way to the sound of 10,000 Things.
The Glitterati @ Fibbers (York)
"We all wanna be big, big stars but we don't know why and we don't know how". So sang Counting Crows, which subsequently became their 'how'.
New internet radio show targets the Leeds music scene
Based in Glasgow, Radio Magnetic has long been at the forefront of new media and new music and has this week announced a new monthly on-demand show specialising in Leeds' local music and clubbing scene.
The Wombats: Lets Dance To Joy Division
I'm sure that a lot of us have mused in our time upon the fact that, in 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', we have some of indie's most chillingly doomed lyrics set to some of its most relentlessly danceable beats.
Volcanoes hail from the new Leeds (Sheffield). The four piece have a stripped back indie blues sound that although not devoid of influences, has a pretty strong personality of its own.
Allegedly with a half a million pound record deal freshly signed and most definitely currently being touted by the music press as 'the new Coldplay' Keane hail from Oxford.
Dogs Die In Hot Cars: I Love You 'Cause I Have To
Bang-boom-bing-bam drum clatter + crazy chipmunks belting out 'I love you' repeatedly = assaulting introduction to sliver of barmy pop with distinctly nasty undertones.
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'.
The first and best thing you notice about fsor is the passion they have for the tunes they're playing.
The band that was once Baby Chaos is now Deckard. Like their former self, Deckard have not yet quite been able to really break through and let the world know what they are all about.
The 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.
How do you know a good CD? How do you know that when you first play a song it is going to be one you will play again and again?
Andy Beverley: Swords in the Sunset
This is a brave thing to do. Andrew Beverley is not an accomplished singer or guitarist, but he has a pile of heartbreak and a real story to tell.
Little Japanese Toy: Fingermouse
Oh the joy of breaking out a real 7 inch single and then loving it as much as this. les Flames! go at it like rutting dogs in a home for delicate poodles.
les Flames!: Commitment to Excellence
Oh the joy of breaking out a real 7 inch single and then loving it as much as this. les Flames! go at it like rutting dogs in a home for delicate poodles.
Everything is running late and A Destructive Issue aren't sure if they are soundchecking or actually on stage for real.
Ryan Shirlow and the Bloody Marys @ Fibbers (York)
I'm starting to feel like a York correspondent for LMS as I stroll down to Fibbers to catch one of Leeds' most talked about bands of the moment.
There always seems to be something rather good going on at The Faversham at the moment. In tonight's case we're treated to a single launch party in aid of those young new wavers O Fracas, the single in question is "Zeroes and Ones".
Firstly an apology. I'm going to get a bit nostalgic in this review. Please bear with me. Back in the crazy days of the Leeds Music Scene (circa 2001) I saw a band play several awesome gigs at The Well.
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.
Leafeater @ Pennington's (Bradford)
Leafeater are on top form tonight, showcasing tunes from their eagerly awaited debut album which they are releasing in April on their own label GAK Records.
Biffy Clyro: Glitter and Trauma
You know it's always an oddity when a band are known as well for their odd moniker as they are for their tunes but this Scottish three peice manage to have a large back catalogue that speaks for itself.
A clear, heart-breaking guitar line across a damped guitar rhythm track, Joe McAdam's pure soaring voice and heartbreak on the agenda.
Electric Soft Parade @ Cockpit
Actress Hands have just released a split with the headlining band, having just toured with their fellow Brighton and Metway studio regulars British Sea Power.
The Conspirators @ Joseph's Well
The Conspirators are a product of the magic of communication; either by word of mouth or internet, somehow these five people came together - maybe it was fate, maybe it was chance...
Five O'Clock Heroes: Run To Her
Oh Jesus, When is this endless tide of pretty boy piss poor pop going to end? "Run to her" skips merrily around on my CD player but I think I am going to take it out in a minute and use it as a coaster.
Bayou Gumbo @ The Junction (Otley)
I like to think of myself as a man of the world, a raconteur, a philanthropist and all those other words I remember my father using when I was a lad to describe himself to some hapless stranger over a pint (he never ever knew what they meant!) However, even men of the world can be caught off guard every now and then.
Maximo Park: I Want You to Stay
It has been a fairly inauspicious rise to glory for Maximo Park with their Gold selling debut "A Certain Trigger".
The Scaramanga Six: Walking Through Houses
After both the songwriting and production genius that was 2007s LP tour de force "The Dance Of Death", a question that crossed my mind was where now for the Six, such was the magnificence of the LP?
For a band about to release their second single to be playing a headline set at the Leeds Met is no small feat.
This is chilled nearly-dance music with some real and some ambient stuff mixing up a loving recreation of someone's Summer of love on a gentle acid come down some years ago.
Electric Mud Generator: Souls of Infinity
Appropriately with a name containing the word "mud" this is a dirty throaty blues rock stab from the Leeds outfit.
This Et Al: The Figure Eight EP
We'd seen angry young men come and go before, and Leeds has been brim-full of earnest tunefulness for years, but from the early days This Et Al seemed like something a little different (remember the red shirts?) But here, three years on from the split 7" that launched Dance To The Radio, the main differences between themselves and contemporary Leodensians such as the band with whom they shared that single, ¡Forward, Russia!, seem to revolve around the resolute failure of the national media to pick up on their efforts.
Here's a band that probably spend all their time listening to music from the 60s. Light and playful almost cuddly infused with the desire to churn out classic guitar based sing along pop.
I've been impressed with Manchester three-piece Fi-Lo Radio ever since I stumbled across their 7" single "Pretty Bones"; and when they showed they could cut it live too - a gig at Josephs Well late 2001 saw Fi-Lo Radio win over a rocking Leeds crowd - I reckoned they'd be ones to watch in 2002.
Adequate Seven @ Joseph's Well
WOW! What can I say about this band? They are brilliant, they have come on so much since the last time I saw them early in 2002.
Education: Cool As You, Charles
Method Education use brash guitars and a singer that sounds rather like Morrissey to create rip-roaring 80s style punk-pop tunes.
On arrival at The Cockpit it appears I'm not on the guestlist after all. Spotting a man with a clipboard who looks like he must be part of the touring entourage I explain my predicament.
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.
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".
Chapter Thirteen @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
Following a surprise withdrawl by Josie's Turbulent World just days before the second heat of the Survival of The Fittest competition at the Strychnine Lounge, the night saw fierce competiton and a very close result.
While all around them are listening to kids in tight jeans and crazy haircuts, hoping that they are an offshoot of the good old punk days, these punk leaders have released ninth studio album 'Reason To Believe'.
A pretty quiet start to the evening for a Saturday night in Leeds, and bloody cold too, so I was looking for something to warm my cockles.
This 3 song debut from York students The Calvo Contract is "grunge-metal"... so that'll be rock then.
If you were thinking that the worse thing about Filthy Sanchez was their name, you're wrong! Yes it is appalling and fits the "funny when you're 14 and you know what it really means" category but the real travesty here is a lyrical one.
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.
Hailing from Detroit, Deadstring Brothers have delivered a fine album worth of songs that evoke thoughts of 'Exile On Main Street'.
Shallowend: Now You Can Own The Experience
If you had never heard acoustic music played well. If you had never heard well-written songs. If mumbling rock with no particular words was your only listening pleasure.
Did you hear the one about an unknown band from Teesside, the guy who runs a Smiths night and the room upstairs in The Fenton?
York, eh? Lovely place, full of historical importance and quaint old streets full of olde shoppes. As for music though, it's probably not the first place you'd look for talent.
funk rock
Various Artists: The Best KIDS Christmas Album in the World Ever, Ever, Ever!
From the beginning of November it's impossible to escape the sounds of Christmas. Whether it's popular hymns played on panpipes or 70's glam smashes, tolerance levels have usually plummeted before December begins.
Fortune Drive: Recent Advances Vol II
This is not as the title might suggest, a back to back collection of "bonkers" dance tunes as is usually the case with anything suffixed with "Vol 2".
A hectic lifestyle means that it has taken me a good week or two to actually get round to playing this CD.
BC Camplight is one man band Brian Christinzio who has been described as an "American Badly Drawn Boy", a description which should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt and more for its fashionable status than its truth.
Amberman's five-track CD comes in a very well presented package with an equally well-designed CD cover; on the inside there is the message: "this is the eagerly anticipated first demo".
Excuse me in advance. I may rant slightly in this review. First off the trains lashed up, severely. Forcing me and my able sidekick to go gig-goer hunting at Shipley train station in order to round up a posse who could get a mini-bus taxi with us instead.
The Dave Bakewell Plot feature a singing guitarist who bears an uncanny resemblance to the lad on the back of the Flaming Lips "Clouds Taste Metallic" LP.
pop indie
Super Furry Animals @ Leeds Festival 2004
¡Forward, Russia! - Agit pop, stop start disco beating tunes, taking in XTC, Gang of Four and The Rapture moments - who knows what the fuck singer Tom is going on about, perhaps he doesn't - see this band on a bigger stage next year.
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.
The Dance To The Radio stable this week wheeled out their latest offering in the form of Voltage Union, and with such stable-mates as Forward Russia and The Pigeon Detectives I was excited and eager to sample the label's latest release.
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.
With people still slowly drifting into the venue The Glitterati take to the stage. A crack of drums and a howl of overdriven guitars sees the band launch into 'Heartbreaker' and a rampant set that keeps upping the energy levels with each song until you feel veins are going to burst somewhere on stage.
This is straightforward simple soft rock from somewhere in the early 1970s. Three tracks, three slightly different grooves with an identifiable consistency.
Hurrah it's a concept compilation album here. The basic idea is that "internationally renowned" architect Will Alsop came up with a new exhibition called "Supercity".
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.
Mark Owen: Four Minute Warning
Awww, it's the cute one from Take That! For younger readers a little history. Robbie Williams was once in a boy band called Take That.
Various Artists: The Trip: Compiled by Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey
Hold on those of you who suddenly got excited at the thought of a Pulp spin off group featuring messrs Cocker & Mackey, this is simply another installement in Family Recordings "The Trip" series.
I should really like York's Slash Bikini. They play punked pop tunes unlike anything I've heard for ages and write interesting lyrics about everything from drinking taboo to crashing your motorbike.
It's been a long time since we last heard from The Downfall with their last CD 'Atrofeed' which got rave reviews from several sites, and I think they've just about managed to keep the tradition.
Mother Vulpine: Keep Your Wits Sharp
Like a musical energy drink pumped full of sugar and caffeine, Mother Vulpine rattle around these 2 songs like they are being shaken around in a box by some giant hands.
The Scaramanga Six @ Leeds Festival 2007
Wintermute - The Carling Stage Wintermute's prize for winning the Cockpit's Futuresound competition is the opening slot at the festival, 11.30am on The Carling Stage.
Wildhearts @ Scarborough Castle
So this is what I missed Leeds Festival for then. Catching the train out to the coast first thing on a Saturday morning (well, halfway to the coast - due to trouble on the line I end up getting a bus from York) to see the last ever gig by both Wildhearts and Terrorvision, today has the omens of being a good day.
Even during the early stages of her career, Cara Robinson was writing and recording with notable artists from a huge range of musical genres, including David Holmes, LTJ Bukem and upcoming EMI artist, Corrine Bailey-Ray.
These days you can't walk 20 feet without tripping over a band that from Merseyside that wants to be either The Coral, The Las or both.
'Brown Eyes Blue' opens with an acoustic guitar part that sounds like a speeded up version of Green Day's 'Time Of Your Life'.
The Lodger: Watching / Not So Fast
This is a limited double A side release from Leeds' The Lodger that hopes to follow on from a growing media interest after the previous Dance To The Radio release.
The Needles @ Bar 1-20 (Huddersfield)
Poor old Huddersfield music scene, struggling manfully under the pressure of an audience made up generally of 16 somethings more concerned about which shade of black to dye their hair before their next bout of Emo, Screamo, Eskimo or whatevermo.
The band that everyone loves to hate right now. It would seem that everyone who never liked the Stereophonics hates them even more now.
I didn't have a clue who the support was going to be this evening, so I eagerly awaited the arrival of the support band: Captain.
Various Artists: Bilge Pump / Pifco - split single
Now this is going to be a noise fest. With these bands you just know it - two of the nastiest, brashest, craziest acts in the city.
Why, oh why, oh why?? What is it with female bass players? Now I've been in bands with three myself and my current partner in rhythm, Miss Ravelle, is an exception to this rule...mostly anyway.
Motion City Soundtrack @ LMUSU
Through my own ignorance, I had not heard much from these guys, who have been one of the most influential rock bands in the word.
Dan MoFo quotes "Our style has been described as very laidback and completely fresh and original". To whoever said this I must disagree.
Bradford slacker rock outfit Harmacy are a bit of a find. I've never heard of them before but if they're gigging locally I'd recommend checking them out.
Sky Larkin @ Leeds Festival 2007
Turbofruits - The Carling Stage Hailing from Nashville these fresh faced blues-punks are a thrilling kick off to the day.
Red Bee Society: When We Talk of Horses
Every so often a band comes out of nowhere and punches you in the kidneys before ripping out your heart and then skipping off down the pub laughing.
Well to say it's my first gig of the year, it's a packed Mixing Tin, and how impressed was I this evening - VERY!
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.
Kiosk: One Day I'm Going To Go STRATOSPHERIC On You And, Chances Are, You'll Thank Me For It
This EP has the bestest title ever. Annoying to type out. Stupidly pretentious. Vastly ambitious. Impressive.
Instant Species: The Take Away EP
If I had my own way, Instant Species would write all of their songs in the style of the third track on their latest CD, "The Take Away EP".
Sharron Krauss @ Korks (Otley)
Sharron Krauss was billed as an "avant garde" singer/songwriter and an expectant crowd had gathered at Korks, a venue which had, in a previous incarnation, operated as a night club of ill repute.
alternative rock
Chicken Legs Weaver @ New Roscoe
First, a grumble. Tonight, there were three great acts on for a measly three quid, on a well though out bill, in a venue just outside the city centre, with probably the most consistently good sound in the city.
Various Artists: Across the Pennines III
This is another fine offering from the good people at AtP. Again, not every tune is perfect but it's as good a sampler as any of what's going on musically right now along the M62 corridor.
In a time before you were born, dearly beloved, an Icelandic child called Björk joined a punk band called KUKL.
Peggy Sue and the Pirates @ Brudenell Social Club
Jaunty acoustic duo Peggy Sue and the Pirates played to a sparse audience of hangers-on and plus-ones at a subdued Brudenell Social Club, but their winning chattiness and lack of pretension set me up to like Peggy Sue before they even sent a jerky, charming mixture of grime, nu-folk and doo-wop echoing round the room.
The second coming of Bridewell Taxis was given the official seal of approval by fans after a barnstorming set at Pudsey's Bien Venue.
Despite going down to the Well to see all three bands I only saw the first couple of songs by openers Uma and Shallowend-playing-Pavement later on in the headliners set.
The Moldy Peaches @ Leeds Festival 2002
First up of the Main Stage on Saturday are fancy dress fetishists Moldy Peaches. And, lo and behold, they've been rummaging around in the dressing up box again with acoustic guitarist in full length unicorn costume, Kimya in bear head and Adam in an extremely tassel-y cowboy outfit.
Identikit... that's the word that springs to mind. How many shaggy-mopped, skinny, pretty-boy Indie bands playing Libertines inspired ska-skiffle-scratchy-Strokesesque tunes can you possibly need?
These Monsters @ Leeds Festival 2008
On the BBC Introducing Stage we had yet another band who are hell-bent on making something new and exciting with a similarly fluent talent.
Taz (Bass and vocals) Kate (Guitar and vocals) Ultraxine are a female-fronted, harmony driven pop/punk/rock duo based in Leeds.
Charly Six: Get Drunk, Screw, Get High
The boys that once were Brass Monkey are now the men standing up to be counted as Charly Six. With a sound that has undergone several incarnations there has always been some question as to which C6 would be turning up.
As a second encounter with Barnsley's badly named Gaia (and they're not even crusties!) is thankfully a little more promising but still cuts a firm trench in the middle of the rock/pop highway.
Apart from having a similar name to Hundred Reasons, there isn't much you can say about this band. As I listen to the opening track, I get the feeling the song isn't going anywhere.
Pete's Sake: If that's what you really want
CD single from this Welsh 4-piece, pretty straight up SoCal sounding pop punk. Complete with American accent.
e·mo·tion (-mshn) n. An intense mental state that arises subjectively rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a strong feeling Emo is a type of music that is rapidly gaining popularity in the UK, despite being popular in America for some time now.
Nick Copland - vocals, keyboards, shouting and hitting stuff, Paul Farago - bass, trousers, Simon Wood - keyboards, trombone, knob-twiddling.
Apparently trucker style baseball caps are now "cool". Well Grandaddy were wearing them long before the ponces and poseurs deemed them suitable to wear and continue to do so now they are, but for much different reasons I'm sure than the world's fashion victims.
So I'm wondering where my drunken comrades are and thinking if I'm going to get my coat back from the bag they have before I have to brave it back out into the winter night.
Accolade: Something In The Sky
There's a strong voice and some nice open tunes here. The simple chord changes are fluently done and a Radio 2 audience beckons.
The Storyville concept is sound. Excellent music kept simple enough to play live, and intelligent enough to reward repeated listening.
Like a hypnotic kids jewellery box My Toys Like Me have created a song that purrs and makes a beautiful backdrop for the almost infant-like vocals of singer Frances Noon.
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.
Dolores offer up five atmospheric and mature sounding tracks on this their debut EP "Please Note..." Occasionally blending Radiohead intensity with Sneaker Pimps sultry and Portishead dark it's a brooding mixture which is aptly summed up by the band themselves as "filmic".
Record label boss for Badly Drawn Boy, DJ, entrepreneur, sleeve designer, tea maker and generally good bloke Andy Votel has his own proper album out.
Andy Clare: Only in Your Glory
Andy Clare follows his three track demo with a consistently well tempered 6 track mini album "Only in Your Glory".
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.
Review featured with permission from www.charmonline.co.uk It has come to my attention that recent reviews in Charm have been of Emerson, Lake and Palmer proportions.
The Scaramanga Six @ Joseph's Well
Malevolent. Not the crowd - the band. Politburo take to the stage. No lights, a speedy, last minute soundcheck.
Richard Ashcroft: Break the Night With Colour
After two years away Richard Ashcroft returns again to fill our hearts and souls. His new single "Break the Night With Colour" was released on 9th January 2006 under his new label Parlophone and upon hearing the single for the first time, I sensed the feeling that his roots now lie along side new mates Coldplay.
It's official: My Red Cell offer no comfort to back pain. Not being skilled in the art of medical science or physiotherapy could be an excuse, but I put it to you the reader that if their barrage of leaping and yelping had been in any way exciting I'd have forgotten about my oh-so-amusing fall down a flight of stairs earlier in the day.
London trio Plastik are straight down the middle Indie pop-rock merchants, unfazed by scratchy angular scenes that no doubt surround them and standing tall on the back of well written tunes rather than the right look.
Half Man Half Biscuit @ Cockpit
It's been a while since this band have graced any stage in Leeds, and it's an obvious welcome return judging by the full house that's in front of them, even at 14 quid a pop.
Spitfire Charlie: Childish Thoughts
These days, releasing CDs more regularly than a wet day in Yorkshire, Spitfire Charlie are no doubt looking to build on their recent 3 minutes of fame found in the hands of Steve Pac-a-mac.
iLiKETRAiNS: athemercyofstephenson
This delightful coupling of tunes is down payment on a full EP that is timetabled for "soon". iLiKETRAiNS present their minimalist manifesto with a light acoustic guitar, a bowed cello and the gentlest of voices: TAKiNGTHEDAY is the opener.
Sovereign @ Woodkirk Valley Country Club
The first band up was Sovereign. With guitar band influences from Nirvana, Hendrix and Oasis, but with a sound all their own, Leeds-based Sovereign put in a superb performance, treating us to some excellent new material for the first time, including an excellent acoustic number.
Tremulous Monk: Sparkle Like Your Shoes
The monk in question is York boy Chris Wilkinson. After building his own studio in his hometown he set about recording several EPs which lead to the release of this album.