bennyboy

December 2008
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Abram Wilson + Hugh Masekela @ The Barbican

25 May 2007

Posted on 18 June 2007 by bennyboy

South Africa's struggle for freedom is celebrated at Hugh Masekela gigs - this political backdrop is perhaps even more important than the trumpeter's illustrious musical past, his love of jazz and dan

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Aim @ The Bristol Academy

6 March 2007

Posted on 18 June 2007 by bennyboy

There's a pretty impressive sight on offer as you enter the Bristol Academy tonight.

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The Shins + Alberta Cross @ The Astoria

Alberta Cross - go to band page >>

25 February 2007

Posted on 18 June 2007 by bennyboy

It’s easy to forget the importance of a front man (or, for the PC-section of you, front person). Thinking about all of your favourite bands, of course you appreciate them as a whole, as a group.

1 Comment | See Full Review

Anthony & The Johnsons @ The Academy 3

29 June 2005

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

ANTONY’S reputation has cast a long shadow across the Atlantic, from his adopted home of New York City back to the country of his birth.

1 Comment | See Full Review

Arcade Fire @ St. John's, Smith Square

30 January 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

Before he formed the Arcade Fire with his wife Regine Chassagne, Win Butler was studying the Bible.

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Artic Monkeys @ Brixton Academy

27 April 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

There was a sense of excitement surrounding this gig at the Brixton Academy.

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Babyshambles @ The Manchester Apollo

20 February 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

Returning to Manchester for the second time this year, there doesn't seem to be any doubt or apprehension about whether or not Pete Doherty and Babyshambles will turn up.

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Bat For Lashes @ Sheffield City Hall

4 March 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

It's so nearly the entrance nightmares are made of: on her way up the stairs leading to the Memorial Hall's circular stage, Natasha Khan (you may also know her as Bat For Lashes) stumbles but manages

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Be Your Own Pet + Good Shoes @ Bush Hall

1 February 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

Tennessee's finest play for their own age group:

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Beck @ Shepherds Bush Empire

2 September 2006

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

Have you seen that scene in Being John Malkovich when Schwartz – played by John Cusack – creates puppets of himself, his freak-wife, and the object of his unrequited affection, Maxine?

3 Comments | See Full Review

Belle & Sebastian @ The Manchester Ritz

29 January 2006

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

Super groups by their nature can be frivolous projects designed to show off and give the impression that the members of them, are only there to cash in on their reputation.

20 Comments | See Full Review

The Killers + Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

3 March 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

Sam’s Town rolls into Brighton, a juggernaut of glitter and glam. This isn’t a gig, it’s a concert; a carnival of showbiz fresh from the Las Vegas strip the band calls home.

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Good Shoes + Vince Vincent & The Villans @ The Concorde 2

28 March 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

“Everything’s OK and everything’s alright!” Good Shoes neatly summarise their live show with one shouted lyric.

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Bloc Party @ Mean Fidler

25 January 2007

Posted on 19 June 2007 by bennyboy

‘Silent Alarm’ rang late in the winter of 2005 and has since been taken in by the millions of music fiends around the globe, people who love nothing more than a fresh melody drumming away harmonio

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Foals @ Lennon's

Foals - go to band page >>

16 March 2007

Posted on 21 June 2007 by bennyboy

It might seem as if there's a shampoo boycott on stage tonight, but the local fashionistas out in force to see Foals and enjoy Lennon's grotty glamour and sliding scale of drinks prices have probably

2 Comments | See Full Review

Bonobo @ Islington Academy

20 June 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

I LAST caught Bonobo live at the Jazz Cafe in January 2004, just after he decided to recreate the sounds of his albums using a six-piece band for the first time.

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Bright Eyes @ The Centennial Hall

14 June 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

LONDON, Ont. - It's safe to say a cult hero is in the house when the local brew can be joked about -- and the crowd sees nothing wrong with that.

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The Feeling + Captain @ The Refectory

22 November 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

I didn't have a clue who the support was going to be this evening, so I eagerly awaited the arrival of the support band: Captain.

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Cherry Ghost @ The Academy 3

8 February 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

OBSERVING the rise of Cherry Ghost from a distance, nothing quite shakes the niggling opinion that Bolton, of all places, is the most unlikely launch pad for such gentle, life-affirming pop songs, eve

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The Cinematic Orchestra @ The Barbican

6 May 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

Four years after last playing the sprawling labyrinth of the Barbican and The Cinematic Orchestra return to promote their new long player “Ma Fleur”.

1 Comment | See Full Review

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ ULU

22 November 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

Clap Your Hands could probably have played to another 500 ticket-buying members of the public tonight, or at least sold the tickets - whether they could have performed or not is another matter.

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Cold War Kids + The Jane Bradfords @ The Limelight

5 February 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

This is one of those gigs that when you see it announced you think 'Mmm, that could be very good.

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Damien Rice @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

29 March 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

After his brilliant debut album 'O' went multi-platinum in the UK, Irish singer songwriter Damien Rice returned last year with his brand new album '9'.

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Dirty Pretty Things @ The Academy

5 December 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

This was the second night of their biggest tour to date.

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DJ Food & DK @ The Waterfront

3 June 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

When I arrived around 9pm-ish, there was already a small pocket of people dancing to the warm-up DJ, who was playing a set of hip-hop, funk and house.

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Dj Format @ Newcastle University's Global Cafe

29 April 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

"Coming in tighter than a venus fly-trap..."

1 Comment | See Full Review

Gruff Rhys @ Queen Elizabeth Hall

4 March 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

Gruff Rhys is taking us on a journey. Consequently, he's kitted out in a flight captain's blazer and peaked cap, his "stewardess" (singer Lisa Jen, of Welsh band 9Bach) in a turquoise foil suit.

1 Comment | See Full Review

DJ Shadow @ The Academy

13 December 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

In the era when the turntablist was the star and even two-a-penny DJs were raking in celebrity mates to knock out lamentable albums, Californian Josh Davis, aka DJ Shadow, almost casually unleashed th

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Do Me Bad Things @ The Cockpit

11 April 2005

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

With their single “What’s Hideous” clawing a respectable thirty something in the charts this week, Do Me Bad Things take their Jazz-Glam-Metal car crash on the road.

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Doves @ The Apollo

7 April 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

Good Points Anthemic, uplifting Bad Points

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Eagles of Death Metal @ The Academy 2

23 August 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

THIS could be the best gig of the year, given a few extra features. A 10ft, fire-breathing skull busting out of the stage or some caged go-go dancers.

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Editors @ Brixton Academy

19 June 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

Last Month (30th May) saw one of my most anticipated gigs for a while – Editors at Brixton Academy in London, the first night of a 3 night run at the venue.

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Elbow @ The Guidhall

4 April 2006

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

After a hearty warm up set from Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family, Guy Garvey led his bunch of scruffy northerners, collectively known as Elbow, on to centre stage at the Guildhall.

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Explosions In The Sky @ The Astoria

19 April 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

We can be sure of one thing now; Explosions In The Sky are so certifiably post-rock that their equipment can’t help but set itself on fire. FACT. Impressive, no?

1 Comment | See Full Review

Fall Out Boy @ The BIC, Bournmouth

31 March 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

Fall Out Boy are one of the great rock success stories of the 00’s – back in the day they were a solid but fairly generic pop-punk band.

23 Comments | See Full Review

Fields + The Spinto Band @ The Cockpit

Fields - go to band page >>

24 January 2007

Posted on 20 June 2007 by bennyboy

Having read on the Cockpit website that The Spinto Band were getting some press with features in NME and the Fly, I made sure I got there early on the off-chance that they'd sell out.

2 Comments | See Full Review

Four Tet & Explosions In The Sky in Gateshead

9 November 2006

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Looking like four chilled out pixies, Explosions In The Sky took their positions at the Sage, Gateshead, whether crouching on the floor cradling their guitars with slides or standing feet far apart mo

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Franz Ferdinand @ Grand Ole Opry

6 June 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

An ill wind blows around the Grand Ole Opry, an outpost in more ways than one, in the depths of the south side of Glasgow.

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Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly @ The Anson Rooms

28 January 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Sam Duckworth is Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., the boy-done-good whose tales of travelling the UK with nothing but a guitar and the clothes on his back have infatuated both fans and critics alike.

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Gnarls Barkley @ The Hammersmith Apollo

6 July 2006

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Pink Floyd belting out over the speakers and a backing group wearing school uniforms aren’t exactly the setting you’d expect from the hip hop chart front runners Gnarls Barkley, but that’s the i

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Goldfrap + Vib Gyor + Shortwave Set @ The Ritz

15 June 2006

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Pop stars are like sharks. They look slimy, they’re attracted to the

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Ryan Adams @ The Bridgewater Hall

20 February 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

“ABOUT FUCKING TIME, RYAN!” is one man’s welcome to our host this evening.

24 Comments | See Full Review

Sigur Ros @ The Philharmonic Hall

13 November 2006

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Playing a handful of British dates to support their latest heart-

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The Cribs @ The Astoria

29 May 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

There are some things in life that gradually get more and more disappointing with time.

1 Comment | See Full Review

Hadouken @ The Concorde 2

Hadouken - go to band page >>

9 June 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

So, you turn up for a gig at 8 o clock on a Saturday night feeling quite clever that you have got there pretty early only to realize you’ve totally missed the support band as tonight is one of those

5 Comments | See Full Review

Daft Punk @ Hyde Park in The O2 Wireless Festival

16 June 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Day three of the O2 Wireless Festival begins rather hazily.

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The White Stripes @ Hyde Park

14 June 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

"I want something good to die for", demands Josh Homme before spitting on the stage floor with green beret rock'n'roll aplomb.

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The Rolling Stones @ The Isle of White Festival

14 June 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

It's more than 31 years since The Rolling Stones last played for a UK festival crowd.

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New Young Pony Club @ Koko

11 June 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

"I'm old enough to appreciate this", says Tahita Bulmer, visibly savouring every last second of the sight of the sweaty, besotted faces gazing up at her.

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The Chemical Brothers @ The Roundhouse

31 May 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Rock music is an instantaneous hit. The opening bars of "Ace Of Spades" is like a punch in the kisser; a double espresso when you need it the most.

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Rufus Wainwright @ The Old Vic

28 May 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

At ten pm in the Old Vic's well-heeled Pit Bar, some smartly-dressed bright young things - many gay, many terminally fashionable - are crowded by the grand piano.

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Amy Winehouse @ The Shepherds Bush Empire

28 May 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

He's previously used the event for slagging off Madonna - "Since when has lip-synching been 'live'!" - but unfurling his acid tongue at the recent Ivor Novello awards, Sir Elton John was in surprising

2 Comments | See Full Review

Good Shoes @ Mean Fidler

29 May 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

The remarkable popularity of Good Shoes is an odd one. It' not that they're not a good band, but there's just nothing distinctive or memorable about them.

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Idlewild @ The Scala

4 December 2006

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Idlewild are a band that has to be seen live in order to realise just how good they are.

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Ed Harcourt @ The Scala

19 March 2003

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

"You f**kin' up for it," blurts handsome young Ed Harcourt at his keyboards, six songs in, "or what?"

2 Comments | See Full Review

Hope of The States

14 June 2004

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Some people would have you believe that Hope Of The States are integrity and credibility personified.

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Hot Chip @ The Luminaire

7 June 2006

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

Hot Chip walk a tightrope. These are men with lots of fancy equipment: banks of synths and sequencers with brand-names like Roland SH-101, Micro Korg, Casiotone and Teisco.

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The Holdsteady @ The Borderline

18 February 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

"There is so so much joy in what we do here," gasps a sweaty Craig Finn, beaming, as the crowd swamps the stage.

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The Horrors @ The Concorde 2

11 April 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

"Elvis was a hero to most but he never meant sh*t to me", raged Chuck D some 15 years ago. Faris Rotter, the ghoulish giant who fronts The Horrors, probably feels the same way.

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Interpole @ Koko

15 May 2007

Posted on 22 June 2007 by bennyboy

"A revolution happened. Oh sorry, you haven't heard", observed Jarvis Cocker a decade ago, as Pulp bought the mighty "This Is Hardcore" to a close.

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Sean Lennon @ Klub Ikra, Moscow

6 March 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

The crowd gathered for Sean Lennon's first show at Moscow's Klub Ikra (translation: Club Caviar) is an appropriate arrangement of beer-swigging youths in Yoko Ono t-shirts, and deliberately blasé, mi

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The Gossip @ The Astoria

24 February 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

The Astoria is unsurprisingly packed out for this NME Awards Show, what, with Gossip being one of the most talked-about American imports since nylons and the Hershey bar.

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The Decemberists @ Southampton University Union

9 February 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

h a wide array of excellent and eccentric songs, the expectation before this Decemberists gig is high.

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The Young Knives @ The Astoria

30 October 2006

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

It's only natural that in a country which is said to love the underdog that The Young Knives would succeed.

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The Long Blondes @ Mean Fidler

18 October 2006

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

Hyped by all and sundry, loved by fashionistas, and yet dogged by rumours of a less-than-perfect live reputation, it's a curious audience if nothing else which packs out the Mean Fiddler tonight.

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Blackbud @ The Faversham

27 September 2006

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

Despite being the 'headliners' for this Club NME show, Blackbud take to the stage in front of a mere half-filled room.

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The Who @ The Roundhouse

29 October 2006

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

The Who, consisting of surviving members Roger Daltrey and creative mastermind Pete Townshend are the band chosen to end the BBC Electric Proms (fitting, for a band whose most ambitious work has been

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Graham Coxon @ The Green Note

24 August 2006

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

A ruffian in drainpipes sits down on a rickety wooden chair on a small wooden stage in front of a small audience.

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Jamie T @ The Hammersmith Palais

2 March 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

With a backdrop of pictures from their previous tour, Jamie and his band, The Pacemakers, burst straight in to a fast-paced 'Ike & Tina', followed by epics 'Operation' and 'Alicia Keys'.

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John Martyn @ The Symphony Hall

25 June 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

It was like going back in time thirty years when singer-songwriter John Martyn played his classic 1973 album 'Solid Air' at the Birmingham Symphony Hall.

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Joses Gonzalez @ The Old Blue Last

25 February 2005

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

It seems unlikely that even this broodingly handsome, rangy Argentinian will be able to silence the hellishly over-stuffed upper room of a pub in the heart of Nathan Barley country, but from the achin

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Ghosts @ Monto (Formally known as The Water Rats)

27 January 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

This evening, you are actually crammed into The Monto – formerly the Water Rats, but no changes are visible to tell me that it’s updated from this reliable name to the oh la la Monto.

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The Guillemots @ The Barfly

8 April 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

Although a lot of popular music these days has confined itself to glorified talent shows that ensure hit singles, every now and then, a band comes along that tears up the rule-book and puts it through

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Pete Paphides

10 February 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

There are certain questions — for instance, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” or, “How do I look, dear?” — that people tend to ask, knowing full well what the answer will be.

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Kasabian @ Earls Court

20 December 2006

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

There has to be a better way to see a band than in an archaic exhibition hall which has all the acoustic properties of an aircraft hangar.

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Kid Harpoon @ Various Venues over the last 6 Months

25 June 2007

Posted on 25 June 2007 by bennyboy

In the last six months, I have seen Kid Harpoon three times: first at the Carling Academy, Islington, then at 93 Feet East, and last month at the Scala.

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