Not only is Thomas Truax a talented songwriter and musician, he is also an inventor of probably the most bizarre looking instruments you could possibly imagine. Now the tricky thing for me to do here is explain what each of them does, but I shall try my best. Apart from his guitar and loop pedals, the most used of these is. . . .
22 Sep
Thomas Truax
19 Sep
Billy Childish & Musicians of the British Empire
At the beginning of August I had a decision to make. This was due to the fact that Billy Childish and Musicians of the British Empire had lined up two dates at The Dirty Water Club in Tufnell Park. I had to decide whether to attend one or both. On deciding to attend just one, I then had to choose which one, so I chose the September date, as opposed to the October date.
18 Sep
Bob Log III
Photograph courtesy of Matthew Pitchford.
Have you ever seen a one man band? Have you ever seen a one man band wearing a pair of Chelsea boots? Have you ever seen a one man band wearing a pair of Chelsea boots and an electric blue human cannon ball jump suit that is adorned with red jewels down the sides?
2 Aug
Kendal Calling 2009
Now in its fourth year, Kendal Calling has grown at an unprecedented rate. When it opened its gates for the first time in 2006, the capacity was a mere 900. This weekend they have sold all six thousand tickets for its arrival in the beautiful surroundings of its new location, the Lowther Deer Park in Penrith.
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20 Jul
Billy Childish
As the Manchester International Festival came to an end, the 24:7 Theatre Festival held its official opening night in a small function on the ground floor of New Century House. Finding tonight’s venue was not the easiest of tasks, as it is tucked away in a corner of a dark back street between The Printworks and the CIS Tower.
19 Jul
Optional Wallace
The usual step up from headlining your own small intimate gigs will see you generally filling the support slots for bigger names. The main change will be that you now know the audience are not there to see you and have in all honesty, probably never heard of you. Even though this is a daunting task to take on, any band serious enough about their craft will have to jump from playing to family and friends and take their music out to the critical masses.
18 Jun
Kitsune Maison Party
To celebrate the seventh instalment of the much acclaimed Kitsune Maison compilation series, this ultra cool label have taken on a month long tour to spread the word. Starting in Paris and ending in Hamburg, it shall cover the U.K, Europe and even as far afield as Japan.
2 Jun
The Lovely Eggs & Hotpants Romance
Upstairs in this tiny venue, sees the opening night of a six day UK tour. In these six days there shall be no fewer than nine shows, which will include appearances in bars, charity shops and even one on a beach.
14 May
Little Boots
At the tail end of last year, 130 of the UK’s leading music critics and broadcasters came together to compile the BBC’s Sound of 2009. The final list included many acts that you will have heard day after day over the airwaves, such as La Roux, White Lies and Lady GaGa.
28 Apr
The Nightingales & Ted Chippington
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I am betting there are not many occasions when the P.A. system at the Night and Day Café has had church organ music piped through it. But tonight this is the case, as Reverend Ted Chippington graces the stage with his presence.
It is almost two decades ago that Ted first started doing stand-up under the guise of Eddie Chippington. He is highly regarded in the comedy world and has inspired many of today’s big names, Stewart Lee and Richard Herring being just two of a long list.
22 Apr
The Days
Slightly later than originally advertised (seven weeks and one day to be precise), the boys from Devon finally make it to Manchester on their 13-date UK headlining tour.
Fresh from completing 25 shows with Scouting For Girls and releasing a single on Atlantic Records back in January of this year, it is now time to take the reins for themselves. Unfortunately the venue tonight is rather sparsely populated.
11 Apr
The Leisure Society
Tonight is one of those nights when there are two gigs on at two different venues that you don’t want to miss. Fortunately for me, the first band I wanted to see is due to play at eight fifteen and the second at nine thirty. So I am glad to say that after a hurried walk from one end of town to the other, I am in plenty of time to get to my second intended destination, meet up with a couple of friends, purchase myself a drink and get a decent vantage point before the band take up their positions.
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3 Apr
Kid Carpet
Looking around the upstairs room at tonight’s venue, I am sad to say, the numbers are very low. I find this all the more shocking, as I have had the joy of seeing Kid Carpet on two other previous occasions, both of which were packed out. The first two bands on had brought their own contingency with them, but by now, had either left or retired to the downstairs bar, seemingly not knowing or caring who they were sharing tonight’s bill with.
28 Mar
I Bike Manchester Opening Party
After a windswept mass bike ride around the city centre, it is a short detour at the end of the route to converge at Islington Mill in Salford for the “I Bike MCR 2009 Festival” grand opening party
11 Mar
Casiokids/Flashguns/The Answering Machine
CLASH Magazine proved their worth tonight with a line-up of three acts they are backing to go on to bigger things in the near future.
First up on tonight’s rolling headline tour at the Lost & Found clubnight, are the Norwegian analogue masters Casiokids with their deep electronic dance grooves, topped off with addictive melodies.
28 Feb
School of Seven Bells/Apache Beat/Kyte
The first band to take to the stage tonight at The Night & Day Café, are Apache Beat. This five-piece from Brooklyn, New York, fronted by the Siouxsie Sioux-esque Ilirjana Alushaj, give us a short but powerful set of their punk-wave style. Even though Ilirjana is a fixating character in the forefront, it is hard not to be amazed by drummer Angus Tarnawsky tucked away in the back, who gives an amazing performance from start to finish.
23 Feb
Imelda May
When Imelda May takes to any stage, it is hard to see how anybody could possibly see past this vision of beauty that stands before you and concentrate on anything else. This is soon put aside with the amazing talents that Imelda and her band members individually possess.
13 Feb
John Cooper Clarke
It’s gone 10pm when our very own Broughton Bard strides gingerly on stage at Manchester’s Dancehouse Theatre. Clutching a bottle of water in one hand and tatty carrier bag in the other, there is no mistaking this instantly recognisable skinny figure.
8 Feb
La Roux
The boys behind Manchester’s bi-weekly Contort Yourself night at The Roadhouse managed to pull a rabbit from the hat tonight. The decks this evening are adorned by Rachel Barton (BBC Radio 1), Emma Chibuku and Natalie Esquire (Murkage). If for one moment you think this all-girl line-up could not be topped, then think again, as everyone in this tiny 200 capacity venue are to receive a treat with a live set from La Roux.
2 Feb
Fight Like Apes & Underground Railroad
With only 10 minutes to go before Underground Railroad take to the stage, there are possibly no more than 20 people populating The Roadhouse. Which is unfortunate, not necessarily for the Parisian trio that are providing the support tonight, but mainly for anyone that missed out on this chance to see a truly amazing band
31 Jan
Half Man Half Biscuit
On arrival at Manchester’s Academy 1, it is clear to see that Half Man Half Biscuit are very much a boys band (not boy band), or maybe I should re-phrase that to a mans band. Blokes in their late thirties and early forties make up a large percentage of this audience. Some have dragged their girlfriends or wives along with them and some have brought their kids, but the majority are with their best mates.
26 Jan
Duke Special
Sometimes a gig is just a gig, but on other occasions they can be much much more. Tonight’s sold out performance on the top floor of The Deaf Institute is by far, the latter of the two!
Before Peter Wilson, A.K.A Duke Special and his percussionist ‘Temperance Society’ Chip Bailey show themselves at around 9.30pm, it would appear that Steptoe and Son have emptied a trailer load of junk onto this miniscule stage.
25 Jan
The Only Ones
Over the past few years, we have seen an abundance of bands reforming. Some have worked and some have not. So there is always an air of anticipation when heading to one of these gigs, and tonight is no exception to this.
1 Jan
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
2009 will see Manchester’s Dry Bar on Oldham Street turn 20 years of age. It was another creation from Manchester’s legendary Factory Records and was given the number of Faç201.
I have personally attended some memorable nights there since it opened on July 25, 1989, including the first year of In The City, with Mark Lamarr and John Peel playing some of there favorite music
