Alternative live music reviews http://soundblab.com/ http://soundblab.com/images/soundblab.png http://soundblab.com/ editor@soundblab.com (Rich Morris) Copyright 2012 Soundblab Ltd support@soundblab.com (Nick Honer) http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4636 Thu, 10 May 2012 04:46:00 GMT It can't be easy following the vocal dexterity of four Yorkshiremen singing sea shanties, yet somehow Martyn Joseph manages to upstage the locals with another passionate and polished performance, even if they're quick to correct his pronunciation of their hometown, much to his amusement. Keen to try out new material 'on... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4636 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4634 Tue, 08 May 2012 10:11:00 GMT After seeing the brilliant Ane Brun, this gig was further proof that the Norwegian music scene is going strong. Hanne Huckelberg, however, is quite the contrast to Ane Brun's accessible brand of folky balladry. Huckelberg's music is experimental and kooky, utilising various styles, unusual sounds and techniques. It is melodic... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4634 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4617 Fri, 04 May 2012 04:16:00 GMT I didn't know anything about Natalie Duncan before going to see her at this little gig in London. She's petite, pretty and feline, and has that bluesy-boozy attitude about her. She can also really sing, so I initially feared that this could be some dangerously sub-Amy Winehouse act but she... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4617 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4620 Wed, 02 May 2012 02:46:00 GMT Yet another band which is made from another band; it's happening a lot these days. Pinkunoizu is half of Le Fiasko, taking that experimental folky sound even further into the depths of psych and strange sampling, making whirring and drawn-out soundscape tracks. They're minimalist, sparse, focussed. Having been likened to... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4620 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4608 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:18:00 GMT The stage at the Brudenell Social Club is bathed in blue light as the three musicians that make up A-Sun Amissa take to the stage. Guitarists Richard Knox and Owen Pegg, along with violinist Angela Chan, create a glacial wall of ambient drone which feels like you're submerged, deep under... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4608 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4604 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:06:00 GMT The Mt. Sierra Trip are a quartet of pasty, floppy haired indie-waifs who sound like My Bloody Valentine most of the time, and sometimes like Yuck and all the bands they sound like. Very occasionally, they go a bit space rock, which is exciting, but this seems to be rare.... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4604 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4594 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:38:00 GMT Let's cut to the chase - female drummers are cool. No if, no buts - they ARE cool. Yet in the alpha male world of rock 'n' roll they are a rare breed indeed. However, surely if any budding female stickswoman out there needed a tad more encouragement into how... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4594 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4575 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:47:00 GMT It tends not to be a good idea, politics and world affairs combined with musical performance. Think Bono - of course, everyone does - he may be right and just but yawnesome. Jaz Coleman on the other hand seems to have a good mix, if a little bit of an... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4575 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4563 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:09:00 GMT There's no doubt about it, Spector are having the time of their lives at the moment. Hot-footing it back to the capital fresh from putting Florence's crowd through their paces at a Nottingham enormodome, this is the London quintet's second 100 Club gig sold out show in a week. And... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4563 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4560 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 06:22:00 GMT First on tonight is French speaking Canadian singer O Paon. Taking to the stage in bare feet, Genevieve Castree is softly spoken, shy even, as she introduces herself but when she starts to play you can hear a pin drop. Castree uses a pedal to loop deceptively simple guitar parts... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4560 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4547 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 01:59:00 GMT You may not be aware that Niall O'Conghaile, alias The Niallist, made one of the best party records of last year, but he did. It's called AKA and he's now offering it as a free download. To celebrate that and just because, well, why not?, he gives us a live... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4547 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4541 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:02:00 GMT The queue for Lights at Scala in London is so long that it doubles back on itself. It takes a giant of a bouncer to restore order and get everyone into line properly. Lights probably couldn't have imagined such a positive turn-out from the UK after such a small run... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4541 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4536 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:05:00 GMT Leeds punk-rock heroes Broken Arm open proceedings tonight and set a high standard from the start. The first song comes on like 'Little Doll' by The Stooges via Black Flag; brutal and exhilarating. Most of the songs hurtle along at breakneck speed thanks to Greg Ginn worthy guitar heroics. 'The... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4536 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4518 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:12:00 GMT Manchester's Academy 1 was packed out from before the start of Red Fang's set, first up on this three band bill of grizzlies. A heavy stomping stoner rock act, engaging the crowd from the outset, they gave a good solid start to the night and had a great response being... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4518 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4509 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:56:00 GMT Peggy Sue are from Brighton and possess a fairly bewitching live presence. However, their brand of riot grrrl folk-rock gets a little repetitive over several songs, despite some innovative drumming and an interesting use of dynamics. Occasionally, they break into some bracing atonal noise or a spot of monster riffing... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4509 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4494 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:09:00 GMT At the very back of a record store in East London, behind the aisles of CDs and vinyl, a bespectacled and ordinary looking man gets on stage with a light-looking acoustic guitar. This rouses the ageing, slightly hipster crowd. The man on stage is Craig Finn, leading man for The... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4494 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4475 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:17:00 GMT Tonight Wolf People will help the audience at the Brudenell Social Club collectively forget that they're in the early stages of 2012. No, tonight we'll be transported to a smoky bar, sometime in the 1970s. You'll want to grow your hair and buy a Neil Young-esque plaid shirt before the... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4475 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4468 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:13:00 GMT Sunday's curators are Caribou, Canadian resident Dan Snaith and his backing band, who along with the previous days' headliners also commence proceedings with an afternoon set. Emerging dressed almost entirely in white, they provide sonically enhanced beats with the aid of two drummers and a brass backing. As all Sunday... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4468 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4466 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:51:00 GMT Day two's curators are Battles and their afternoon set is as math-tastic as expected, with unconventional, driving bass and drum rhythms, echo-drenched guitar and fleeting glimpses of keys. Perhaps taking cue from the dressing up of the previous day's curators, Les Savy Fav, the guitarist/keyboardist is sporting a giant Beastie... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4466 http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4407 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:59:00 GMT All Tomorrow's Parties' annual festival, A Nightmare Before Christmas, at a windswept Butlins complex in Minehead is this year curated by three North American bands of contrasting styles. While none of them quite have the draw of previous recent curators Pavement, My Bloody Valentine or The Breeders, which could have... http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/4407