Gaslight Anthem Review

Gaslight Anthem, an American rock band from New Jersey, are one of my favorite bands.

This band has released three albums. "Sink or Swim," my favorite "The 59 Sound" and their most recent "American Slang." They have also just announced that they have began recording songs for their fourth album which they hope to release later this year. I personally feel "The 59 Sound" is the bands most successful album to date, due to their ability to combine rock n'roll with definte elements of hardcore, pop-punk and classic soul.

If you are a fan of artists such as Frank Turner, Bruce Springsteen and Brian Fallon, than Gaslight Anthem are a band you should check out!

I saw this band last year at the 02 Academy in Birmingham, UK. The two support acts Shark and Twin Atlantic, were nothing special and did little to warm up the crowd. Despite this, when Gaslight Anthem finally came onto the stage, the crowd instantly warmed up and sang along to all their songs. I have to admit, I was pretty surprised to see the wide mix of people that turned up to see them live.

The set which Gaslight Anthem performed was very good. They opened their gig with American Slang and progressed with the songs Great Expectations, The 59'  Sound, Boxer and Stay Lucky. I must add they gave an exceptional performance of Queen of Lower Chelsea and Blue Jeans & White T-shirts.

My personal highlight was watching the lead singer, Brian Fallon on stage. He looks completely in his element and sings with so much confidence and passion that the entire crowd is left captivated. 

The gig was very good and I would certainly suggest people to go and see them live.

Tour dates:
26th July. Hudson River Park - NYC
28th July. Hudson River Park - NYC
31st July. Upstate Concert Hall - NYC
8th September. The Paramount - Huntington, NY

For information regarding tickets or the rest of their tour check out:  http://www.songkick.com/artists/550811-gaslight-anthem/calendar?page=1

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics

Love this band.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics are an American indie folk band from LA. What sets this band apart from all other indie folk bands out there is the pure number of band members it has! The band consists of; Alex Ebert (vocals, guitar, percussion, piano), Jade Castrinos, Stewart Cole, Josh Collazo, Orpheo McCord, Nora Kirkpatrick, Christian Letts, Seth Ford-Young, Mark Noseworthy and Aaron Arntz - yes that is 10 members!!! On top of the ten mentioned there are also 8/9 additional members who help with general percussion and instruments.

Whenever I listen to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics I find myself smiling and jamming along to the beat. Their music is insanely catchy and uplifting, and leaves the listener with the impression of a band just having one big musical party. It is clear this huge band is doing what they love most - creating great folk music.

To date, this band have released two albums; "Up From Below," and "Here." Songs which have proven to be hugely popular from their albums are: 40 Day Dream, Janglin and Home. My personal favorites are Man on Fire, and Mayla.

In terms of live performances you can be sure of a great evening. Likened to being 'one big family' on stage, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics all perform with such enthusiasm and passion it becomes impossible for the audience not to join in. Expect an active (sold out) crowd - i'm talking singing, clapping, stomping...oh and sweating!! Hey it's party!!!

So if Mumford and Sons and Alabama Shakes are your calling than you would be a fool to ignore this band.

For a recent review of this band, check out: http://musicgigsnfestivals.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/gentleman-of-road-mumford-sons-review.html

Tour dates: 
26th July.  Xponential Music Festival - Camden, NJ

For more information regarding tour dates and tickets, check out: http://edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/tour/

Gentleman of the Road (Mumford & Sons) Review

So last weekend I was fortunate enough to travel over to Dublin, Ireland to see Mumford and Sons live at Phoenix Park.

The sun was out, the beers were in and to the credit of all the acts, the day was great! The days lineup consisted of Ham Sandwich, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics, The Vaccines, Ben Howard, and of course the main act themselves Mumford and Sons.

First up were Ham Sandwich. I can honestly put my hands up and say before seeing them live I had never heard of them. Ham Sandwich is a five piece indie rock band from Ireland. Like with any relatively unheard band at these one day gigs, the crowd can be pretty unresponsive and tame. Although the band did have a couple of good songs, in particular their final song of the set "Ants," there was little more they could do to warm up the crowd!

Next up were Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics. If you know little about this band check out my previous post: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics. I loved their set, and was seriously impressed by how much stage presence the lead singer Alexander Ebert had. For me, and arguably the rest of the crowds favourite part of the set was their final song "Home." Everyone by the end seemed in great spirits, singing and dancing along with this american folk band. I for one will certainly be keeping a close eye on their upcoming tour dates.

Now for some British players - cue The Vaccines. Again for more information about this band, check out my previous post regarding them: The Vaccines. I was excited to see this band live after recently hearing how good they were at Glastonbury. I was certainly not left disappointed. Their hugely energetic performance was a nice mix to the relatively chilled out line up that played before them. They played a strong set, and included many of their popular singles which seemed to be a hit with the crowd.

Now for my fav - Ben Howard. Having seen him live in London three weeks ago, and twice before that, I knew I was in for a great set. His half hour set included the popular tracks The Fear, Only Love, Keep Your Head Up, Blackflies, Old Pine and his new single I Forgot Where We Were. Although it was evident that Ben Howard was a huge hit with the crowd, I must say from previous performances, he is a lot stronger when playing at smaller venues.

And finally, the headliners of the evening, Mumford and Sons. Again having seen these four times previously I was confident this was going to be good. Opening with their new single Babel. the irish crowd all seemed to go wild. Others song featured in their set included "I Will Wait," "Holland Road," "The Cave," "Little Lion Man," "Ghosts That We Knew," and "Hopeless Wanderer." I thought their set was truly brilliant. Not a band to ever let a crowd down, these four boys soon has the jam packed crowd on their feet, singing, swaying, jumping, dancing and cheering along. Although I thoroughly enjoyed their entire set, for me one song particularly stood out to me. For their final song of the night they made the standard move of inviting all the previous acts back onto stage to sing a cover together. Although this was predictable the song they chose to perform was not so much. Galway Girl. As someone who loves Dublin and frequently goes over to see friends, this song was perfect (i cant quite say my irish friends were as impressed however...).

So overall I have to say I had a truly fabulous day. Although Ben Howard was slightly disappointing I would still without a doubt go and see him live again (for a 5th time) and seriously can't stress enough how good his new album is going to be. Mumford and Sons proved again to many why they have become such a hugely popular band all around the world. For me though I was most pleased to have seen Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics -  Having never seen them live before and being such a big fan, I was truly stoked.

Mumford & Sons

Ben howard 

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics 

Ben howard

Mumford and Sons 

Mumford and Sons and co. 

Bat For Lashes

This English indie singer and songwriter is certainly someone to check out.

Bat for Lashes first hit the music scene in 2006 with her debut album "Fur and Gold." It was during this time that Bat for Lashes was shortlisted for a Mercury Prize, and nominated for two Brit Awards; Best Breakthrough Artist and Best Female Solo Artist.

In 2009 Bat for Lashes released her second album "Two Suns" which once again got her nominated for Best Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards, and shortlisted for the 2009 Mercury Prize. Although its been a while, Bat For Lashes has recently announced that she will be releasing a third album "The Haunted Man" on the 15th October. The first single to be heard from the soon to be released album is a beautiful heartfelt ballad called "Laura."

Natasha Khan, who goes by her stage name Bat for Lashes, has been likened to artists Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Cat Power and Annie Lennox.

Bat for Lashes' live performances have been described as being a "visual and sensual experience." If you can handle a lot of arm swaying and allow yourself to become detached and be drawn into the fantasy, than this gig will be right up your street.

Khan puts a lot into her gigs, something that has not gone unnoticed by her continually growing fan base. Check Bat for Lashes out, it will be worth your time!

Tour Dates
13th August. O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - London
30th August. Webster Hall - NYC
31st August. Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY
6th September. Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY
8th September. Nikon at Jones Beach Theater - Wantagh, NY

 For more information regarding tickets and tour dates for the rest of her European tour check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/130039-bat-for-lashes/calendar?page=1

Ben Howard Review

Only securing the tickets a week ago for the gig, I was pumped to be given the chance to see Ben Howard perform again.

Having already seen Ben Howard perform live (in NYC), my expectations of this gig were high - and boy did he deliver!

The set list for the evenings gig was: Everything, Black Flies, Old Pine, I Forgot Where We Were (new single), Only Love, The Wolves, The Burren, Burgh Island, Keep You Head Up, and The Fear. For encore Ben played: Keiko (new single), Oats in the Water, and Promise.

A totally chilled out guy who lets his music do the talking, this gig is solely about the music.

Playing a mix of singles, from crowd favorites (Keep Your Head Up/ Wolves), to my favourites (Black Flies / Burgh Island), to brand spanking new material (I Forgot Where We Were), the crowd were treated to a really great night of live music.

For me the highlight of the evening was his performance of new single "Keiko." This song reminds me a great deal of "Depth over Distance," in terms of harmonies and playing style on his guitar. Just him on stage, accompanied by his guitar, this song was raw and highly emotive.

It is safe to say from hearing the new material, the new album (due out sometime in the winter) is going to be just as good as the hugely popular debut album "Every Kingdom." Another single which is new and definitely worth check out is White Lights.

Something that stands out to me when watching Ben perform live, which I feel plays a huge part to his success, is his genuine appreciation and humble attitude to all the support he gets from his shows. There is no doubt this guy is popular - the packed out crowd at the Hammersmith Apollo cheered from start to finish.

To read my previous review of Ben Howard live in NYC check out: Review NYC

To read my original post about Ben Howard check out: Ben Howard

I am due to see Ben Howard perform in Dublin next month, and just between me and you - I cannot wait!!

Tour Dates
13th June. Isle of Wight Festival - Isle of Wight Festival, UK
26th June. Glastonbury Music Festival - UK
6th July. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - London, UK
14th July. Phoenix Park - Dublin, Ireland
29th July. Central Park - NYC
17th August. Boardmasters Festival 2013 - Cornwall, UK
15th August. Green Man Festival  - Powys, UK
17th August. Custom House Square - Belfast, UK

For more information regarding tickets and tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/1212276-ben-howard/calendar?page=1

Alt-J

I am a huge fan of this foursome.

∆, pronounced as Alt-J, are a British indie pop band from Cambridge. Their debut album "An Awesome Wave" has proven to be a great hit since its release back in May of this year. Before this release however Alt-J had recorded a 4-track EP which included the singles "7," "Matilda,"  "Fitzpleasure" and "Breezeblocks."

This band has been compared with the likes of Hot Chip, Bombay Bicycle Club and Dry the River.

Alt-J have received some truly rave reviews for their live performances both in the UK and across America, and so all that is left to for me to say is give these new boys on the block a go - I promise you, you won't be left disappointed.

Tour Dates:
11th July. T in the Park - Balado Airfield - UK
18th July. Latitude Festival - Henham Park - UK
23rd August. Leeds/Reading Festival - UK
14th September. Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom - NYC
15th September. Rumsey Playfield, Central Park - NYC

For the rest of their Summer 2013 tour dates, and ticket information check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/4555533-altj/calendar?page=6

Bestival Music Festival

Want to go to a music festival? Well you still can.

Bestival is a four-day music festival held in the Isle of Wight at the beginning of September. Starting in 2004, this festival has grown from a medium sized festival to becoming the best major UK festival in the UK (voted 2010, 2012).

Although I have yet to attend this festival myself many of my friends have, and they all absolutely love it (so much so they are all going again!). When people talk about Bestival, the general consensus is "Glastonbury without all the walking!" - what more could you want...other than maybe the promise of no rain!?

Another reason why people choose Bestival is because you can STILL buy tickets. While all the other festivals this summer sold out months ago, you can go on their website and purchase a ticket for the great value of £180.

Obviously regardless of the price (and the weather) everyone looks at one thing when it comes to festivals: the line up. The 2013 Bestival headliners are: Elton John and His Band, Fatboy Slim and Snoop Dogg. Also playing are Franz Ferdinand, Jessie Ware, Tom Odell, Disclosure, Bombay Bicycle Club,  Belle & Sebastian, James Blake, The 1975 and many many more. For more line up info check out: http://2013.bestival.net/line-up

So if you are regretting your decision to resist festivals this year, or you feel one or two festivals just isn't enough, than this is a great solution for you.

For more information regarding this festival check out the website: http://www.bestival.net/

The Neighbourhood

After hearing this indie pop band on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show I was left craving to hear more!

The Neighbourhood are a five man band from California, who only got together back in 2011. To date they have released two EPs "Im Sorry.." and "Thank You", and a highly successful debut album "I Love You" (April).

Despite this band having no upcoming british tour dates, they are playing a handful of dates around the US. The Neighbourhood, known for their black-and-white imagery which is demonstrated in all their music videos and artwork, have released to popular hits "Female Robbery" and "Sweater Weather."

If you like the sounds of Haim, and Smoke & Jackal, than this is a band for you.

Check them out, it will be worth it.

Tour dates:
22nd June. Main Street Armory - NY
26th June. Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
29th June. The Bowery Ballroom - NYC
25th July. Nikon at Jones Beach Theater - NY

For information regarding their N.America (and Canada) tour, check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/636848-neighbourhood/calendar?page=1

Villagers

You need to check this Irish band out.

I first came across the Villagers when they were shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2010 for their fabulous debut album "Becoming A Jackal." Now, two years later, with the release of their second album "Awayland" (Jan, 2013) Villagers are finally receiving the attention that they so rightly deserve.

This indie folk band is made up of front man Conor O'Brien, Cormac Curran, Danny Snow, James Byrne and Tommy McLaughlin. If you like the artists; Dry the River, Low Anthem and Fionn Regan, than Villagers should be right up your street.

When it comes to putting on a live performance, these boys are no rookies. Having toured with the likes of Tracy Chapman, Bell X1, and Elbow, Villagers know what it takes to please a crowd, and please a crowd they do! They have grown quite the fan base over the years, and so it comes as no surprise their shows are often sold out. Hugely popular in Ireland, this band just keep on getting better and better. There is no doubt most of their success is down to the talents of Conor O'Brien, who as the lead singer, uses his voice superbly to deliver the beautiful and sincere lyrics of the band.

If you are still unsure about this band, check out their EP "Hollow Kind" which was released back in 2009 - it is really very good!

Tour dates
11th June. The Bowery Ballroom - NYC
26th June. Glastonbury Festival - UK
11tth July. T In The Park - UK
15th August. Green Man Festival - UK
23rd August. Leeds/Reading Festival - UK

For more information regarding tickets and tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/2393580-villagers/calendar?page=1

Kings of Leon Review

LOVE LOVE LOVE this band!

Kings of Leon are a four man American rock band from Tennessee. Although they first formed together in 1999 it was not until 2008 that they got their first big break. Their big break came from the two BRIT awards they won from the success of their platinum selling album "Only By Night." This album includes their three number one singles, Sex Is On Fire, Use Somebody, and Notion.

To date, this band has released five albums; "Youth & Young Manhood," "Aha Shake Heartbeat," "Because of the Times," "Only by the Night," and the most recent (back in 2010) "Come Around Sundown." Although this group have been on hiatus for the last couple of years, they are doing a series of gigs over the next upcoming months, and are also due to release a sixth album "Mechanical Bull," sometime this year.

I have seen Kings of Leon twice, once in Manchester and once in Hyde Park, London.  For me seeing them play in Manchester on their sold out UK tour two years ago was the most memorable experience. I was originally put off by the price of the ticket and the size of the venue (absolutely massive!) when I was buying the tickets. Shockingly, although I was quite far back from the stage, and the arena was filled with hundreds of fans, the atmosphere was not only electrifying but intimate as well.

I have to admit I have never a seen a crowd of such magnitude become so wild and excited during a gig before. The reception that the band received when they first stepped out onto the stage was so great that it was five minutes until the band could even begin singing.

Considering the gig was only an hour and a half the crowd was certainly spoiled by the number of great songs they got to hear. When I saw them in Manchester their set list was flavorless and included Crawl, Taper Jean Girl, Molly's Chamber, Red Morning Light, Fans, California Waiting, Milk, Closer, Four Kicks, Charmer, My Party, Sex is on Fire, The Bucket, On Call, Cold Desert, and Use Somebody.

What made their performance even more memorable for me was the amount of effort and passion they put into each of their songs.The band seemed in both shock and gratitude by the response the crowd gave them. When it came to the encore, Kings Of Leon ended their show with four more songs including Knocked Up and Manhattan. I was generally gutted when the gig came to an end because the time seemed to fly by.

The quality of the music and talent shown by Kings of Leon was so high that the lack of on stage props and extras did not matter. I would certainly say this is a gig not to be missed.

If you wish to read my review of their live peformance at Hyde Park, check out: http://musicgigsnfestivals.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/kings-of-leon-hyde-park-review.html

Tour dates: 
12th June. The 02 Arena - London
13th June. The O2 Arena - London
24th June. Manchester Arena - Manchester
25th June. Manchester Arena - Manchester
9th July. LG Arena - Birmingham
10th July. LG Arena - Birmingham
14th August. Boucher Playing Fields - Belfast
15th August. Bellahouston Park - Glasgow
17th August - V Festival

For more information about their European dates and to buy tickets check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/2847-kings-of-leon/calendar?page=1

Green Man Festival

Folk music your thing?

Green Man Festival is a music festival that has grown from a one day event(2003) to a four-day extravaganza. This festival is held is the Brecon Beacons, Wales and offers so much more than just music.

This independent festival has comedy, poetry, music (obviously!), hot showers (always a plus!), all night bon fires, and fun things/areas for people of all ages.

This is a festival, so although all the above sounds very exciting the main attraction is obviously the music. Although mostly folk, Green Man Festival delivers other genres: indie, dance, and Americana, across five stages. On top of this, every night an array of DJs play everything from electro to rock.

With a capacity of 20,000 this festival is nothing on Glastonbury (which has around 150, 000 people) however if you are looking for that quieter/ smaller alternative, than this is the perfect option.

In terms of the line up, this year's headliners are; Ben Howard, Band of Horses, and Kings of Convenience. Other acts to perform include Lord Huron, Roy Harper, The Horrors, Local Natives, and Patti Smith.

For more details check out the Green Man Festival website; http://www.greenman.net/

Emeli Sande

Emeli Sande is a Scottish Soul and R&B recording artist and songwriter.

Already Emeli Sande has achieved great things since hitting the music scene. She has two number one singles (Read All  About It, and Next to Me), a number one debut album "Our Version of Events," won numerous awards (the most recent being Best British Album and Best British Female at the 2013 Brit Awards), and has written a number of songs for the likes of Cheryl Cole, Tinie Tempah and Leona Lewis.

Sande has received great reviews for her gigs. Usually to a sell out crowd, Emeli leaves her crowds mesmerized by her tremendous vocals and great onstage presence. I was fortunate enough to win tickets to see Emeli Sande perform at the iTunes festival - click the link to read the full review.

Emeli has grown from a relatively unknown artist to a huge music star in a very short space of time. With impressive performances under her belt (Olympic Opening Ceremony, and singing for the President at the White House come to mind), we can be confident Emeli is going to be around  for a long time yet. Check out her gigs - it is worth it.

Tour dates:
13th - 16th June. Isle of Wight Festival - Newport, UK
11th - 14th July. T In The Park 2013 - Glenrothes, UK
12th - 14th July. Wireless Festival 2013 - London, UK
28th August. Rumsey Playfield Central Park - NYC

For more information about tickets and tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/2574236-emeli-sande/calendar?page=1

Bipolar Sunshine

I love this artist.

Adio Marchant, more commonly known as Bipolar Sunshine is a solo artist from Manchester. I came across Bipolar Sunshine purely by accident when I was spending an evening watching youtube videos. Formerly a member of Kid British, Adio now is concentrating on his solo career.

So far Bipolar Sunshine has posted two singles 'Rivers' and my personal favorite 'Fire.' To listen to them check out: Bipolar Sunshine singles.

As someone who recognises his style of music isn't for everyone, Bipolar Sunshine isn't afraid of taking risks. True, some people will hate it, but I for one love it. I would strongly urge you to check him out!

Bipolar Sunshine is releasing an EP, 'Aesthetics' on June 17th.

Tour Dates: 
20th June. Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen - London
21st June. Soup Kitchen - Manchester

For more information regarding tour dates and tickets check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/6538459-bipolar-sunshine

Lord Huron Review

Last week I went to see this band perform live at Scala in London. For more info regarding the band check out my previous post: Lord Huron

First up was the supporting act, Nataly Dawn. A singer I had not come across before, Nataly Dawn is a singer-songwriter from San Fran, USA. Nataly reminded me a great deal of a Anna Nalick and Regina Spektor. Although a great singer and songwriter, I felt that Nataly was missing something in her performance. One thing however that did stand out to me was how witty she was. Her dry sense of humor was clearly appreciated by the crowd, who were all giggling and listening between tracks.

Next on stage were the main act themselves; Lord Huron. Playing mostly songs from their debut album "Lonesome Dreams" these guys were really very good. I was initially surprised at the strong turn out, especially since this American indie folk band are not that well known within the UK.

Leading the boys on stage was lead singer Ben Schneider. Kitted out in a tweed jacket and a cowboy hat there was no questioning the 'folk' in this band. Looks cast aside however, Schneider and the rest of the guys' vocals were right on point, delivering track after track flawlessly.

It was obvious from standing in the crowd that all five members of the band were having a fab time on stage performing. The bands constant interaction of glancing and smiling at each other, mixed with their  lively stage presence really made the whole gig so much more exciting and enjoyable to watch.

The highlight for me was the bands encore performance of "Time To Run" which was anything but dull. With plenty of percussion and instrumental parts played throughout the track, the song soon had the entire crowd singing, bobbing and clapping enthusiastically along. Another memorable moment was when Ben Schneider was left alone on stage part way through to sing "She Lit A Fire" and "Lullaby" acoustically. The fact that I am a sucker for pretty much all acoustic performances probably means I am being totally biased when I say how amazing this stripped down performance was.

I certainly enjoyed the evening of live music. Although not quite on par with The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons just yet, these guys demonstrated they have all the ingredients to match them one day. I will certainly be keeping an eye out on Lord Huron and their new material - i urge you to do the same.

Tour Dates: 
21st May. The Cluny - Newcastle Upon Tyne
22nd May. King Tut's Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow
23rd May. The Deaf Institute - Manchester
21st June. Webster Hall - NYC
27th July. Wiggins Park - Camden, NJ (USA)

For  more information regarding tickets and tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/3447511-lord-huron/calendar?page=1

Acoustic "lullaby" and "She Lit A Fire"

Citizen Cope Review

Looking for a chilled out artist? Citizen Cope is your answer. 

Citizen Cope is an American songwriter and producer from Memphis, Tennessee. If you have not heard of this singer but like Trevor Hall (Supported for Citizen Cope ), Dispatch, O.A.R, and Amos Lee, than this singer is for you.

I was fortunate enough to see Citizen Cope live last year in NYC and was certainly not left disappointed. Citizen Cope, the pseudonym of Clarence Greenwood, has a number of great alternative rock songs including "Mr Officer," "Bullet And A Target" and my personal favorite "Son's Gonna Rise."

The set list for when I went to see him live in  NYC included "Bullet and a Target, Hurricane Waters, Every Waking Moment, Healing Hands, Pablo Picasso, If There's Love, Let the Drummer Kick, Coming Back, Keep Asking, Off the Ground, I Couldn't Explain Why, Back Together, Son's Gonna Rise, Lifeline, Salvation and Sideways."

In terms of excitement and spontaneity this gig does not score high, but don't let that put you off. Clarence Greenwood is the definition of "chilled out." A gig based entirely around the music, there is little fuss and absolutely no gimmicks or crowd banter. Surprisingly though I still had a great night. The energetic atmosphere created from the buzzing sell out crowd was electrifying.

When Clarence and his band appeared on stage, there were no jokes or introductions - just Clarence going straight into the first song of the evening. Overall if you are a fan of this group than you really do have to see them live. The quality of Clarence Greenwood's voice had the whole crowd enticed and hanging onto his every word. It was an extremely enjoyable, chilled out evening listening to excellent live music.

Tour dates
13th July. City Winery - NYC
14th July. City Winery - NYC
15th July. City Winery - NYC
16th July. City Winery - NYC
28th July. Asbury Park - NJ


For more information regarding tickets and his N. American tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/164785-citizen-cope/calendar

Ms Mr

I'm a huge fan of this duo.

I first came across this band when their single Fantasy was played on Zane Lowe's Radio1 show, and then again when their single Bones was featured on Game of Thrones.

Ms Mr is made up of duo Lizzy Plapinger (vocalist) and Max Hershenow (producer). Based in New York, these two have to-date released three singles; Hurricane, Bones and Fantasy, all of which feature on their EP "Candy Bar Creep Show."

On 14th May, Ms Mr's highly anticipated debut album "Secondhand Rapture" is due to be released.

Lizzy Plapinger has impressive yet distinctive vocals that have been likened to those of Florence from Florence and the Machine. Having built such a strong following after such a short amount of time, it is clear that Ms Mr is a band to watch out for.

Tour dates: 
15th May. The Bowery Ballroom - NYC
7th June. The Governors Ball Music Festival - NYC
11th July. The Haunt - Brighton, UK
15th July. Manchester Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
16th July. The Institute - Birmingham, UK
17th July. Electric Ballroom - London, UK

For  more information regarding tour dates and tickets, check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/5313478-ms-mr/calendar?page=1

We Are Scientists

If you are looking for humor, charisma and great indie songs than We Are Scientists are your calling!

We Are Scientists are an indie rock band from California who are superb live. They always have a great stage presence and give an extremely energized performance which never fails to get the crowd going. In addition to this, the band are are very witty/ funny and always have hilarious on stage banter.

If you have not heard of this band but like "The Maccabees," "The Futureheads" and "Mystery Jets" than this is certainly a band for you. They have five albums "Safety, Fun, and Learning," "With Love and Squalor," "Brain Thrust Mastery," "Crap Attack," and "Barbara." Their most successful album to date has been "With Love and Squalor" which sold over 100,000 copies in its first 6 months.

Songs which I suggest you to check out are "Nobody move, nobody get hurt," "This Science is dead" and "That's What Counts."

Overall I have to say this is a gig not to be missed.

Tour dates
22nd July. Thekla - Bristol
23rd July. Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth
25th July. XOYO - London
27th july. Kasbah - Coventry
30th July. Manchester Gorilla - Manchester
31st July. 53 Degrees - Preston

For more information about tickets and tour dates check out: http://nme.seetickets.com/tour/we-are-scientists?src=id1nmenewsrhsgtngtn

Bastille Review

A band to watch.

Bastille, formed by singer/songwriter Dan Smith, is a four man band from South London.

If the likes of King Charles, Dry The River and Gabrielle Aplin are your calling, than this is a band for you. I first came across Bastille by chance when I stumbled across their single Flaws on youtube. After listening to more of their music I instantly became a fan.

Since stumbling across this relatively unknown band all those months ago, Bastille have come along way. Recognised for their talent and potential, Bastille's recently released single "Pompeii" went straight to number 2 in both the Irish and UK singles chart. They have also released an EP "Laura Palmer," and two mixtapes (featuring all covers) "Other People's Heartache Part 1" and "Other People's Heartache Part 2."

Their catchy indie/pop melodies will soon have you singing and bobbing along in no time. Combine beautiful harmonies with an instrumental mix of drums, bass, and keyboards and you will have yourself the sound of Bastille. Despite being relatively new to the scene, this band has already performed at a number of very large venues, such as Glastonbury and Blissfield Festival.

I was fortunate enough to see Bastille when they supported Emeli Sande at the iTunes Festival. As mentioned earlier, I am a huge fan of this band and so I was really excited to see them.

I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. Their evenings set list included: Icarus, Things We Lost, Overjoyed, Bad Blood, What Would You Do (City High Cover), Oblivion, Pompeii, Flaws, Of the Night (Cover). Dan Smith with his hair sticking on end, was great at working the crowd. His strong vocal ability tied with the groups enthusiasm was enough to have the crowd enraptured.

I urge you to give Bastille a chance, I think you will be presently surprised by what you hear. I was.

Tour Dates:
May 2nd. Liverpool City - Liverpool
May 17th. O2 Academy - Oxford
May 18th. The Great Escape - Brighton
May 27th. Evolution Festival - Newcastle
June 15th. Isle of Wight Festival - Isle of Wight Festival
June 22nd. Gold Coast Ocean Fest - Croyde
June 28th. Glastonbury Festival - Glastonbury
July 06th. Blissfields - Winchester
July 26th. The Secret Garden Party - Huntingdon
July 27th. Redfest - Redhill
Aug 2nd. Hertfordshire
Aug 4th. Leopallooza - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Aug 23rd. Reading Festival - Reading
Aug 24th. Leeds Festival - Leeds
Sept 7th. Bestival - Isle of Wight

For (European) tour dates and tickets, check out: http://www.bastillebastille.com/signup/#url=/live/

Sigur Ros

This band is unbelievable.

Sigur Ros is a ambient/ post rock band from Iceland. What makes this four piece band so good is the sounds they are able to produce. Recognised for their "ethereal sound,"Sigur Ros reminds me a great deal of Moby and Orbital .  Lead vocalist, Jonsi Birgisson is able to produce an exquisite, gentle high pitched sound which goes perfectly with the classical, minimalistic sounds produced by the rest of the band.

Something to note about this band - Vonlenska. This term is used to describe the unintelligible lyrics sung by the band. Don't let this put you off however, despite not being able to sing along this will be one hell of a show to remember.

This gig promises to be one of the most surreal experiences you will ever encounter at a music gig. The response from the crowd ranges from pure anticipation and respect to awestruck and serenity. I urge you to buy tickets - I have!

Tour Dates: 
30th June - Eden Project - Cornwall
30th Aug. Jodrell Bank - Cheshire
31st Aug. End of the Road Festival - North Dorset
19th Nov. Capital FM Arena - Nottingham
20th Nov. Brighton Centre - Brighton
21st Nov. Wembley Arena - London

For ticket and tour date (European & N.America) information, check out: http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/tour/

Lord Huron

My latest must listen to band.

A friend of mine recently told me about this band, and having never heard of them before I was eager to check em out!

Lord Huron are a truly fabulous American indie band from LA.  In 2010 they released two EPs "Mighty," and "Into the Sun," and a debut album "Lonesome Dreams" in 2012. Songs definitely worth checking out by the band are The Stranger, Brother, and Time To Run.

I have bought my ticket to see them, I urge you to do the same. They are great.

Tour dates:
14th May. Scala - London
17th May. Thekla - Bristol
18th May. Brudenell Social Club - Leeds
20th May. Hare and Hounds - Birmingham
22nd May. King Tuts Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow
23rd May. Manchester The Deaf Institute - Manchester

For information regarding tickets and tour dates check out: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Lord-Huron-tickets/artist/1486841

Cold War Kids

A very cool band.

Cold War Kids are an American indie rock band from California. Together this four piece, made up of Nathan Willett, Dann Gallucci, Matt Maust, and Matt Aveiro have released eight EPs and four albums. Starting in 2006 Cold War Kirs released their debut album "Robbers & Cowards," followed by "Loyalty to Loyalty," "Mine Is Yours," and then their most recent (April 2013)  "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts."

I first came across this band many years ago when I heard their single "Hang Me Up to Dry" which I instantly loved. Another single which I adore by these guys is "Hospital Beds," which is actually also been covered by Florence and the Machine.

In terms of live performances, it is safe to say Cold War Kids' music and style has evolved over time.  Expectations of their gigs; lead singer Nathan Willett dancing around like a maniac, shows selling out, songs from old and new albums performed.

Cold War Kids have certainly built up a large fan base (particularly in the states) over the years. With the new album it comes as a relief that these guys are not planning on quitting the scene anytime soon.

Tour Dates:
9th May. The Forum - London
10th May. The Ritz - Manchester
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Cold-War-Kids-tickets/artist/1091130

With the Lumineers: 7th July. Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center - NY
http://www.boweryballroom.com/search/?q=cold+war+kids

A$AP Rocky

 A rap star making serious headway.

A$AP Rocky in an  American rapper from New York. In 2011 he released a mixtape "Live. Love. ASAP" which he received huge support and positive reviews for. In January of this year (2013), A$AP Rocky released his debut album "Live. Love. ASAP" which went straight to number one in the Billboard charts.

In terms of new material, A$AP Rocky recently announced he was working on an instrumental album which he will release sometime this year, without notice.

With a background of violence and drugs from a young age, this rapper has certainly lived a turbulent life. Despite this however, A$AP Rocky continues to release chart topping singles about real life that people can't get enough of. His shows frequently sell out, so if you want to buy tickets I urge you to do so asap.

Tour Dates: 
28th April. Prudential Center - Newark, NJ (Supporting Rihanna)
4th May. Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY (Supporting Rihanna)
5th May. Barclays  Center - Brooklyn, NY (Supporting Rihanna)
21st May. 02 Academy Brixton - London
22nd May. 02 Academy Brixton - London
23rd May. HMV Institute - Birmingham
25th May. Manchester Academy - Manchester
26th May. 02 ABC - Glasgow
12th July. Wireless Festival 2013 - London
23rd August. Leeds Festival - Leeds

For more information regarding tickets and tour dates; http://www.songkick.com/artists/4610868-asap-rocky/calendar?page=5

The John Langan Band Review

A fun folk trio.

With elements of Celtic, Balkan and Gypsy in their music, this scottish band are pretty unique. The John Langan Band is made up of John Langan on guitar, vocals and percussion, Dave Tunstall on double bass, and Alastair Caplin on fiddle.

I saw these three guys perform at the very low key "Folk Rising" event held in Camden, London this week. An incredibly upbeat band who evidently love playing together, this trio soon had the seated crowd bobbing their heads, and tapping their feet to the beat.

Although their set only consisted of a handful of songs (including Winter Song, Midgets on Acid), each one was roughly 5 minutes plus and was jam packed with different sounds and styles. What I found most endearing about this band is you were never quite sure what to expect next - what starts out as a pensive and acoustic track can instantly turn into a stomping yet highly rhytmic instrumental piece. I love it!  

Over the years this band has built up quite the fan base and have recently released their debut self titled album "The John Langan Band." Check them out - this alternative folk band brings a lot more to the table than you could ever imagine.

Tour dates:
19th April. The Cornerhouse - Cambridge
23rd April. Russet Cafe - London
11th May. The Glue Factory - Glasgow
8th Aug. Mandstock Festival 2013 - Arco

For information regarding tour dates and tickets check out: http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/177947/The_John_Langan_Band.html

The Lumineers Review

10 out of 10. I loved it.

I was fortunate to see The Lumineers live at O2 Academy Brixton, London last month with my friend. I cannot stress enough how fantastic they were. I have previously posted about The Lumineers: The Lumineers.

The evening started with support act Langhorne Slim, a country folk singer/songwriter from Pennsylvania, US. Langhorne Slim did a tremendous job of building the crowd up before the main headliner came on stage, and even came back on stage during The Lumineers set to accompany them for one song. Having never heard of this artist before I would certainly suggest folk fans to check him out - he was great!

Langhorne Slim (Support)

With the 5,000 strong crowd closing in around the stage, the atmosphere soon became electric with anticipation and excitement. As soon as the five piece folk band stepped on stage the party began! From start to finish, The Lumineers frontman Wesley Shultz had the sold out crowd eating out of his hand, and on their feet, singing and dancing along!

The evenings set list was: Submarines, I Aint Nobody's Problem, Flowers in Your Hair, Subterranean Homesick Blues (Bob Dylan Cover), Ho Hey, Classy Girls, Dead Sea, Slow It Down, Love, Love Love (new song), Charlie Boy, Stubborn Love, Big Parade. The encore: Morning Song, This Must Be The Place (cover), Flapper Girl.

Jeremiah Fraites, Neyla Pekarek, and Wesley Schultz together with the rest of the band delivered a flawless performance of upbeat, soulful and raw folk music. For me, one of the highlights of the evening was Wesley Schultz singing the first half of my favorite track "Slow it Down" all stripped back and acoustic.

Musicians to the core, this band is all about the music. As the crowd sang and danced in a frenzy to their hit single "Ho Hey" Wesley mid way told the crowd to "put away cameras and recording devices and just be human with us for a while." If anyone was on the fence about this band before that statement, it seemed clear they were sold! A huge cheer rang out from around the venue as people put away their phones/recorders and let themselves get lost in the music.

As the show came to an end, the crowds cheers and applause was huge. Wanting to show their appreciation (and hear more), the crowd knew they had just been treated to a joyous evening of live music.

If I ever get the opportunity, I will certainly buy tickets to see them live again. This group proved to London that they are by no means a one track wonder and are here to stay.

Pictures from the evening:

Langhorne Slim joining The Lumineers on stage

Tour dates: 

7th June.CMAC - NY

8th June. Mountain Jam - NY

9th June. The Grovernors  Ball Music Festival - NYC

13th July. T In The Park - Scotland, UK

27th July. XPoNential Music Festival - Camden, NJ 

23rd August. Leeds Festival - Leeds, UK

25th August. Reading Festival - Reading, UK

For more information regarding tour dates and tickets check out: http://thelumineers.com/tour-dates/

Civil Twilight

Civil Twilight are an indie rock band from Cape Town, South  Africa.

To date this trio have released two albums "Civil Twilight" and "Holy Weather." I first came across their music when their single "Quiet In My Town" featured in an episode of One Tree Hill.

If Paper Route,  Vacationer, and Neon Trees are you calling, than Civil Twilight is a band for you. Their music is a "perfect blend of atmospheric sound and hazy storytelling that transports you to another place" - which makes them the perfect choice for a chill night of live music.

Although this band has yet to break into the mainstream music scene, do not be deterred. They have done a lot of touring and supported a number of great acts such as Florence and the Machine  and Smashing Pumpkins.  I would definitely urge you to check this band out.

Tour Dates:
9th April. The Borderline - London

For ticket information or for the rest of theirEuropean tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/1991033-civil-twilight/calendar

Theme Park Review

I saw this band when they were supporting Bloc Party.

Theme Park with their catchy indie pop tracks and upbeat and cheerful lyrics are a great go to if your seeking feel good music. Miles Haughton, the lead singer of Theme Park, has a voice that to me matches that of Razorlight front man Johnny Borrell - in no way is this a bad thing. Joining Miles on stage are Loius Bhose, Oscar Manthorpe and his brother Marcus Haughton.

Despite the venue being jam packed Theme Park showed no nerves when appearing on stage. Having supported Bombay Bicycle Club on their tour, Theme Park did a great job of warming the crowd up. Despite being a relatively new band, there was a great number of people from the crowd singing along to Theme Parks singles.

I really enjoyed this band and their sound. Looking at them, Theme Park's style reminded me a lot of Bombay Bicycle Club, while their sound mirrored that of Vampire Weekend.

This band is sure to do well, and has proven a huge hit so far supporting Bloc Party on their UK tour. I would definitely check them out if I were you - your in for a treat.

Tour dates: 
26th July. Kendal Calling - Lowther Deer Park
23rd August. Leeds Festival
23rd August. Leeds Festival

For information regarding tour dates and tickets, check out: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Theme-Park-tickets/artist/1799929

Laura Mvula

As some one who is originally from Birmingham I feel it is only appropriate I post about her.

Laura Mvula is a soul singer/songwriter, who despite only being signed late last year promises already to be someone to watch out for. So far Laura has released an EP "She," and an album "Sing to the Moon."

Although this girl is new to music scene I would urge you to check her out.

Tour dates: 
30th April. Brighton Komedia - Brighton
1st May. Islington Assembly Hall - London
5th May. Oran Mor - Glasgow
7th May. Manchester Gorilla - Manchester
8th May. Glee Club - Birmingham
30th Sept. Queens Hall Edinburgh - Edinburgh
8th October. The institute - Birmingham
9th October. The Ritz - Manchester

For more information regarding tour dates and tickets, check out: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Laura-Mvula-tickets/artist/1800450#artist_table_focus

Foals

This English indie rock band are great.

Originally from Oxford, Foals have been a favourite of mine since I first heard their single "Cassius" on a night out all those years ago.

Over five years later Foals are continuing to release great indie music. I would add however their music has changed (and matured) a lot from their original material back in 2005. So far Foals have released several EPs and three albums; Antidotes, Total Life Forever, and the most recent - Holy Fire, which includes the singles "Inhaler" and "My Number." They have gone from strength to strength over the years, building up a strong fan base of teenagers and twenty somethings. In terms of seeing them live, expect packed crowds and mosh pits.

If you like bands; The Maccabees, Bloc Party and Everything everything, than you are really going to like this five piece.

Tour dates: 
3rd May. Terminal 5 - NYC
6th May. Upstate Concert Hall - NYC
13th June. Jilian's of Albany - NY
26th June. Glastonbury Festival - Pilton, UK
11th July. T In The Park - Glenrothes, UK
18th July. Latitude Festival - Beccles, UK
23rd-25th August. Leeds Festival/ Reading Festival - UK

For information regarding tour dates (Australia, Europe and N.America) and tickets check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/525043-foals/calendar?page=1

Joseph Arthur

Joseph Arthur is an American singer/songwriter from Ohio. This hugely popular artist is known for his "poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette."

I first came across Joseph Arthur when his song Honey and the Moon was featured in an episode of The OC many years ago. As an artist who is known for his constant touring, Joseph Arthur has written an impressive collection of singles. To date he has released 11 EPs and nine studio albums, the most recent being the double album "Redemption City." One of his singles - In the Sun - has been remixed by Justin Timberlake, and covered by Michael Stipe and Chris Martin.

Joseph has a raw yet soothing voice that compliments his poetic lyrics perfectly. Not one to strum his guitar and sing about the heartbreak of love, Joseph Arthur creates music that covers everything. In addition to this, Joseph Arthur is not afraid to mix it up - experimenting soft melodies, with alternative beats/ electronics.

In terms of live reviews, Joseph Arthur rarely receives criticism. An exceptional artist who rarely sings a wrong note, Joseph Arthur always seems to leave his crowds feeling deeply satisfied.

Similar artists to Joseph Arthur include: Joe Purdy, Pete Yorn, Alexi Murdoch and Matthew Ryan.

Tour Dates:
13th June. The Bowery Ballroom - NYC
For more information regarding tickets, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U7aL3DHD_s