Category Archives: Gigs & Reviews

The last of this years open air festivals was Bingley Music Live. We went down after work for the free Friday night and just missed Dreadzone (I still love their ‘Second Light’ LP). The Blackout came on looking like nice … Continue reading →

    Englands premier world music festival was blessed with good weather this year – not a drop of rain to spoil the proceedings. No queues on the way in (or out) – loads of room to camp with our … Continue reading →

The inaugural Deershed Festival was a glorious affair and just a 40 minute drive up the road bliss! We got there a bit late due to kids stuff (parties, drama groups, yknow, all that never happened to us) but missed … Continue reading →

To celebrate his 50th birthday and his dads 80th, Ivan hired the Abbey Tavern in Kentish Town for the afternoon and had a private party with TJ Johnson and his Band playing a couple of live sets. A gathering of … Continue reading →

on Marc Riley. They were smartly dressed and served up some 80s style camp indie-disco. We reconned they were brother and sister. The lead singer looked like Gareth Southgate doing a David Byrne impression. 10/10 for enthusiasm.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people at the gig didnt realise they were so big. James Murphy isnt a likely pop star slightly portly with a baggy white T-shirt on but he and his 6 band mates know how to get a crowd going.

They impressed from the off with driving beats, synths and bass line Its like watching Cabaret Voltaire in the 80s – Jez. Everyone on stage took a turn at everything with some songs having 3 on drums and others 2 bass guitars. During the heavy hard hitting bits of some songs they gathered around the drummer as if egging each other on. They reminded me of all the best bits of so many other bands I love The Fall with Murphy messing around with everyones amps and using the microphone like a walkie-talkie, Talking Heads for the quirky lyrics, New Order for the cow-bells and extra drums they were like the Friendly Fires on Steroids. Absolutely Loved them!

Someone Great and Losing my Edge were my favourites the former for its synth pulse and the latter for its hilarious lyrics. The only downside was the beer-throwing crowd. Why do Academy crowds think its funny/acceptable? Kids eh!

Bob the Chiropodist
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