Ever been to a music gig? Want to go again? Want to know who is worth seeing?
Music gigs and festivals is a blog dedicated to telling you where and when the coolest bands are playing in NY and the UK. In addition to this I will also be sharing reviews about gigs and festivals I have attended which are definitely worth checking out.
The View are an indie band from Scotland who incorporates pop, folk, punk, acoustic and rock into all their songs. The View has yet to disappoint me when it comes to releasing great songs. On 6th March The View released "Grace," the first song from their third and recently released album "Bread and Circuses."
If you are into bands like The Holloways, The Courteeners, The Enemy and The Pigeon Detectives, than this band is for you. Their gigs would certainly be lively due to their incredibly upbeat tunes and catchy lyrics. I hope to see this band live in the future and would push for you to do the same.
Songs to definitely check out by this band are Wasteland, Same Jeans, and Superstar Tradesman.
The Shins are an indie rock band from America, who got their first major break from the release of their single "New Slang." To date this band have released three albums, "Oh, Inverted World," "Chutes Too Narrow," and "Wincing the Night Away," and are due to release "Port of Morrow" on 20th March.
The Shins have some great reviews for their live performances. With three albums under their belt, this band is certainly not short of great songs to play. Lead singer, James Mercer is a great performer who is not only hugely talented but able to get the entire crowd buzzing.
Be warned though tickets often sell out, so if you want to buy them move fast. I will be trying to get a ticket - I urge you to do the same.
One of my fiends offered me a spare ticket which she had to The Drums in NYC- of course I couldn't say no; so I would just like to say a huge thank you for giving me a ticket to their sold out show.
The Drums support was Mathew Dear and all I will say is: Dreadful!!
Despite the awful support act, The Drums were able to save the night with their great performance. The Drums are a four piece indie rock band from Brooklyn, NY. In June 2010, The Drums released their debut album "The Drums" which includes the songs Lets go Surfing, Forever and Ever Amen, Down By The Water, and Best Friend. Their long awaited second album is due to be released in June of this year.
I had never been to last nights venue (the Knitting Factory) but I really liked it. I enjoy intimate gigs, although the venue was a bit of a mission to get to, it was a great place to see the band up close. The main room is small, with a bar on one side and a merchandise table on the other side. What I like most about small venues is the small amount of hustle and bustle you have to go through to get a good view of the stage.
Surprisingly last nights crowd was very diverse, there were young children, older people, rockers, businessmen, people on their own, couples and families. Despite the various ages and styles of the crowd, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and danced and sang along to the music.
To say The Drums are enthusiastic/energetic performers would be an understatement. The lead singer, Johnathon Pierce certainly gets taken over by the music as he waves his arms and dances flamboyantly around the stage. The Drums look every inch a true indie band with their vintage sweaters and shirts, denim jackets and skinny jeans, so combine this with their great song and you have the perfect mix for a great show.
This indie rock band from Liverpool, UK are definitely worth checking out!
The Wombats first hit the music scene back in 2003 and have to date released two albums, "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" and "The Modern Glitch." Popular songs by this band include 'Kill The Director,' 'Let's Dance to Joy Division,' 'Tokyo' and '1996.'
I was fortunate enough to see this band live a few years ago in Birmingham, and was certainly not left disappointed. This hugely energetic band will have you jumping up and down and singing along to all their songs. I would give their gig an 8 out of 10 since The Wombats are great performers who leave the crowd gagging to hear more! In addition to this I can honestly say I have never been to a gig where there has been a giant inflatable owl in the corner of the stage (still to this day I am quite unsure why there was one there!?). Their gigs have proven to be very popular so far, so I suggest buying tickets quite soon if you are interested.
Tour dates:
24th March. Scala - London
26th April. Webster Hall - NYC
8th July. Delamere Forest - Northwich
3th - 5th Aug. Mouldridge Lane, Pikehall - Matlock
Generally people's feelings for techno is you either love it or hate it, and nothing in between. I personally love techno for the sole reason, it allows everyone to dance however the hell they want without caring what others around them are doing. Seriously, if you are ever in a rave and look around, then you will see how everyone is completely lost in the music and in their own "zone." I love that!
So, if techno is your thing then you should definitely check out Chase and Status. This band is made up of two guys from London, who together have had three number one singles. If you have never heard of them but like bands such as, Sub Focus, Katy B and Magnetic Man, than this is a band for you.
In 2009, Chase and Status decided to collaborate with more artists in an attempt to go more mainstream and expand their already growing fan base. Since this decision, Chase and Status have collaborated with Kano, Plan B and are even set to release a single with Dizzee Rascal called "Heavy." With two albums behind them ("More Than Alot" and "No More Idols") Chase and Status have recently announced they will be releasing a third album later this year.
So if techno is your calling, then I urge you to go and see this band, as you wont be left disappointed.
Tour dates:
8th June. Download 2012 - Derby
15th June. Beach Break Live - Pembrey
8th July. T in the Park 2012 - Kinross
25th Aug. South West Four Weekender - London.
