Twin Atlantic hit the road for Jan/Feb

4 January, 2010 – 1:51 pm | by peekay

Twin Atlantic-Green ShirtAcclaimed Glaswegian rock band Twin Atlantic are set to continue their quest for greatness into 2010 with their biggest headline tour to date in the UK before they go off to the USofA in support of their debut mini album ‘Vivarium’ which was release this year on the newly founded Redbull Records.

JAN 26: SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners – 0238 8022 5612 / www.joinerslive.co.uk
JAN 27: CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach – www.ticketweb.co.uk
JAN 28: LONDON, Borderline – 08448 472 465/ www.ticketweb.co.uk
JAN 29: NOTTINGHAM, Rock City – 0871 3100 000 / www.alt-tickets.co.uk
JAN 30: BIRMINGHAM, Academy 3 – 0844 477 2000 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
FEB 01: SHEFFIELD, Academy 2 – 0844 477 2000 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
FEB 02: LEEDS, Cockpit – 0113 245 4650 / www.lunatickets.co.uk
FEB 03: MANCHESTER, Night & Day – 0161 832 111 / www.gigsandtours.com
FEB 04: NEWCASTLE, Digital – 08444 771 000 / www.yourfutureisdigital.com
FEB 06: GLASGOW, ABC – 08444 999 990 / www.gigsinscotland.com

Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

15 December, 2009 – 9:55 am | by Maxwell Stott

The title to Kasabian’s 3rd album (West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum) certainly has the skill to intrigue, and from a personal view, it has the music to support it. It seems that after two relatively good albums from the band and 3 years work, Kasabian have finally found their ‘niche’ with tracks such as ‘Underdog’ and ‘Fire’ catapulting the band into ‘Headline’ material.
 
Serge Pizzorno (guitarist) certainly comes out from the dark on this record, with a variety of different rifts that grab the audience from the moment they hear them. ‘Fast Fuse’ for example, tricks the listener into thinking a raucous hammering of a guitar will confront them when instead a quite hearty and jumpy melody follows, this emphasising how this new album not only excites but also interests the listener.
 
Tom Meighan’s role (lead vocals) is also elevated on this album, with his voice having to adapt to the new approach Kasabian have undergone. He pulls it off well.  On ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ Meighan really exerts a matter of feeling through his voice, bringing the track together to create a deep moving sound.
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4 stars (out of 5)

“Union” – The Boxer Rebellion

10 December, 2009 – 12:26 pm | by Allan Mckay

When I hear a lot about a band in the music media, there’s always the niggling question of how much of is hype and scene-following and how much is about the genuine qualities of the band.  “Union” is one of those albums which sets all my alarm bells ringing.

The press release accompanying this album focuses heavily on the novel partnership between the band and HMV and the digital pre-release of the album and the single “Evacuate” earlier this year, while saying very little about the actual music, which is an interesting indicator of the content of the album.
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2 stars (out of 5)

The Best Bar Band in the World – Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes

20 November, 2009 – 6:03 pm | by Allan Mckay

Southside Johnny & Billy WaltonWhen someone has had serious praise (and a sackload of songs) from Bruce Springsteen and he’s described by Jon Bon Jovi as the reason he got into music, you know there has to be a story there. The man in question is John Lyon, or Southside Johnny, and he’s aided and abetted by the Asbury Jukes. The band, with many personnel changes, have been around for 35 years with a current line-up which has been fairly stable for the last 10 years (stick with me, it’s all relevant).

Despite the long lifespan, this isn’t a nostalgia gig; Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (shortened to The Jukes from now on) have released 4 albums of new material in the last decade and his audience expect to hear the new songs as well as the 70s classics. The audience at the Buxton Opera House were mainly the expected glad to be grey generation with some notable exceptions, including the teenager behind the mixing desk applauding the solos and singing along to songs recorded around 2 decades before he was born.
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5 stars (out of 5)