It shouldn’t be surprising at this point. But the riffs, the rhythms, and the way the air seems to fill with electricity when the music first starts tonight make one thing shockingly clear all over again- Deftones are one of the best bands on the planet. Back in London and playing an upmarket theatre by invitation of Robert Smith and […]
Read moreThis is weird. 65daysofstatic are playing one of the biggest shows of their storied career- bass rumbling, lights strobing, bodies contorting- but, thanks to Robert Smith of the Cure, they’re doing it in front of a theatre full of people who are all sitting down. It’s not a sign of any audience dissatisfaction. The Sheffield quartet are one of the […]
Read moreThere’s poetry to Metallica playing in Germany. It can be a sweaty, bellowing, beer-guzzling kind of poetry, sure, but there’s a certain undeniable rhythm to the premier metal band playing in the premier metal country. There’s energy at every single Metallica show of course, an electric testament to just how much the boys from the Bay Area mean to people, […]
Read moreTonight is a celebration. Placebo, perhaps Britpop’s most awkward participants, have made it to 20 years as a band. And as the lights go down and the crowd welcome them to the stage, it becomes clear how they’ve done it. ‘Pure Morning’ is huge (Sure, three pieces are neat but Placebo haven’t worked that way live for a while and […]
Read moreThe fact that ArcTanGent Festival has changed so little since its inception is a testament not only to the outstanding team of men and women who curate and create it every year but the people that attend it too. The festival has grown at a pretty steady rate over the last five years but one of its unique features remains […]
Read moreThe atmosphere isn’t exactly electric early tonight. Maybe it’s because Deftones are pretty regular visitors to London, or because Ally Pally is literally no one’s idea of a good time, but it might just be because Deftones fans have grown up with the band. No offence to thousands of people politely queuing around the outside of the venue as doors […]
Read moreThe last time Thrice were here they were going away forever. Or at least for a very long time. The dreaded word ‘hiatus’ was fresh in the air and when the band waved goodbye to a packed Forum in 2012 they seemed to mean it, there was no longing in their eyes, only resolution, almost relief. Which only makes it […]
Read moreAnd just like that the best weekend of the year is back. Yeah yeah, argue all you like but there is no other festival with this many great bands in such a great space watched by such a great crowd. For three years now the folk behind ArcTanGent have successfully increased the size, scope and ticket sales of their festival […]
Read moreAnd now, the end is near, and so we face the final curtain. It’s been coming for a while of course, Maybeshewill announced their split in September last year and the farewell tour has been halfway around the world since then, but that doesn’t make this any easier. They’ve always been such a reliable, consistent outfit, the kind of band […]
Read moreThere are some bands that you buy a ticket for every single time they come to town. Glassjaw are one of mine. It hasn’t always ended well, the Long Island outfit have looked worn out before now and the last time they were over for Reading Festival there was just a hint of a band bored of their material and […]
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