GIG REVIEW

*Larrikin Love* [rating:****]

Supported by a band which I have not yet identified and the Rumble Strips. I won't bother reviewing the other band, as it won't be much use as I don't even know their name, but the Rumble Strips were really good. They had some very catchy songs and I will be looking out for them in the future. Larrikin Love played well and made up for their horrendous fashion sense with some good songs. The singer has dyed his hair ginger/red and it looks quite hilarious. Good gig, finished with a collaberation with The Rumble Strips.

Best song: 'Edwould'

GIG REVIEW

*The Futureheads* [rating:*****]

Fields were suporting The Futureheads...or perhaps Field Music. I'm not too sure. This band is lead by the Futureheads' old drummer. I wasn't very keen on the music because it was far too similar to the Futureheads, but a bit less catchy. The Futureheads were great though - good old Barry. They played a good mix of songs from the new and old album which kept the crowd very happy. The lack of 'Robot' and 'Le Garage' was a bit disappointing though, but they can't play ALL their songs can they?

Best song: Definitely 'Hounds Of Love'

Best song from new album: 'Burnt'

GIG REVIEW

*The Futureheads* [rating:*****]

Fields were suporting The Futureheads...or perhaps Field Music. I'm not too sure. This band is lead by the Futureheads' old drummer. I wasn't very keen on the music because it was far too similar to the Futureheads, but a bit less catchy. The Futureheads were great though - good old Barry. They played a good mix of songs from the new and old album which kept the crowd very happy. The lack of 'Robot' and 'Le Garage' was a bit disappointing though, but they can't play ALL their songs can they?

Best song: Definitely 'Hounds Of Love'

Best song from new album: 'Burnt'

GIG REVIEW

*NME New Music Tour* [rating:*****]

The first band on were the Long Blondes. I had already heard 2 songs by the band, which I recognised straight away and were wll played, but people who didn't know their music didn't seem too impressed. I think they were very good live, but were not particularly good at catching the audiences attention. The crowd didn't seem to like them much, but I did!

The second on were Forward Russia! who were in my opinion the best band of the night. They held the crowd's attention really well and played brilliantly live, even if lead singer Tom did try to throttle himself with his mic lead repeatedly. there was loads of energy in the set and despite the drums not working properly at the start, this problem was soon sorted out resulting in an excellent gig.

The Automatic were the third band on. I don't like the Automatic and this gig didn't change my mind. I will stop now incase one of my friends reads this and tries to throttle me with Tom Forward Russia's mic wire.

Boy Kill Boy were headlining the tour and were genuinely very good. I really like all their songs although it is some people's opinion that they all sound the same. What about those haircuts though eh?

Best song of the night: either Nine (FW!) or Suzie (BKB)

GIG REVIEW

*Mystery Jets*[rating:need I say?*****]

OK I apologise as I have been missing in action on this site for a month or two. I will now update you on the last gigs I've been to...8/5/06

Mystery Jets played the Waterfront on the 8th of May. They were supported by The Spinto Band, who are really good. They're an American indie band with catchy tunes and kazoos. That's right, kazoos. They played some songs which the crowd knew, like 'Brown Boxes', 'Mountains' and 'Oh, Mandy'. I think the best song was 'Oh, Mandy'. The band went down really well, especially for a support band, and were almost as good as Mystery Jets! When Mystery Jets came onstage they were greeted warmly by the crowd, and began with 'The Boy Who Ran Away' which was closely followed by 'You Can't Fool Me Dennis', these two songs sent the crowd wild. As the band left the stage, they were brought back on to chants of 'Zootime, Zootime...' and they then launched into a lenghty version of .... Zootime. It was a very good gig and we were given stickers at the start. I like stickers. :)

GIG REVIEW

*Bearsuit* [rating *****]

Last night I went to see Bearsuit at the Arts Centre in Norwich. They were supported by The Aprons and Monkey Swallows The Universe. The Aprons were up first, they could be compared to Help She Can't Swim and Be Your Own PET. They started off slightly tunelessly, then explained that they had but one love song, which was about killing people. It started off very beautifully and then everyone jumped as she started screaming! Their best song was probably one which singer Rose claimed was thier homage to the hip hop world and an attempt at a rap song. They were very original and my favourite of the support bands. I'll be checking them out on myspace and letting you know very shortly about just how good they really are. Next on stage was Monkey Swallows The Universe. The exact opposite of The Aprons, they played a variety of instruments aside from the usual guitars including the cello, the violin and the mandolin. At least i think that was what it was, but don't quote me. I didn't like this band quite as much as their songs sounded like many other bands that I have already heard. Despite their range of instruments, and the lead singer's perfect key, they were the worst band of the night. Bearsuit came onstage at about 10pm and were spectacular. Probably the best band I have ever seen live, they played loads of songs I'd never heard before and yet were far from boring. They also played their new single which coincidentially was released that day, 'Stephen F**king Spielberg'. Despite some problems with keyboards, they played superbly and songs which i knew like 'Disembowel The Demonkind' and 'Itsuko Got Married'. When the band left the stage, they were brought back on by cheers and cries for 'encore!' Not wanting to disappoint, they asked the crowd what song they wanted them to play, and the crowd insisted on 'Hey Charlie, Hey Chuck'. Brilliant gig.

GIG REVIEW

*Dirty Pretty Things* [rating *****]

I went to see Dirty Pretty things a few days ago, and it was absolutely awesome! The support was Metro Riots, who I first thought were Humanzi, and Humanzi. Metor Riots played a good set with some very catchy songs which they fequently informed us were 'all about chavs'. Then Humanzi took to the stage and due to the fact that we'd thought that M.R were Humanzi, we thought that Humanzi were D.P.T, which sounds confusing but made perfect sense at the time. I bet the poor Humanzi singer was shocked to come onstage to cries of 'Hey! Look! It's Carl!' but nevermind. I didn't like Humanzi as much as Metro Riot, this may be because of ther less catchy songs, or just that we were getting impatient for the main act. Anyhoo...when Dirty Pretty Things finally emerged onstage, they were met to a BIG applause and a lot of shouting/screaming. They played an amazing set, and the crowd sang along to 'Bang Bang, You're Dead' and as much of 'Deadwood' as they could pick up. The 'Things also included three Libertines numbers which went down really well with the crowd as you can probably imagine. these were 'Death On The Stairs', 'France' and 'I Get Along'. Three of my very favourites. So on the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable night, and now I can say 'I was there from the start of DPT'...and also 'I saw CARL!!!!!'

Hot Chip

HYPNOTISED.....OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER.....you MUST listen to this song...wow. You will be put in a trance...it's trippy, it really, really is. LIS-TEN

Test Icicles

Test Icicles are definitely an acquired taste. I am proud to say I have that taste, and will 'big them up' right here, right now. They are a screamy indie group with an individual style and great lyrics, I have nothing more to say right now, other than watch out for 'Circle Square Triangle' their most recent single.

Mystery Jets

Mystery Jets are a band who at first I hated, but they're growing on me so I thought I'd alert you of them. Lead singer Blaine (whose dad is also in the band!) has a unique voice and their songs are both random and brilliant. Although I'm not a fan of their first single 'Alas Agnes', I like 'You Can't Fool Me Dennis' and the soon-to-be-released 'The Boy Who Ran Away'. As they had the opening slot at the NME Awards Tour, they are expected to be BIG this year, as the Kaiser Chiefs opened the show last year. Don't say I didn't warn you...

Forward Russia!

I like Forward Russia! because they are very unusual and music-wise that's usually a good thing. They're a new band on the block and haven't made that much of an impact yet, but I'm fairly confident that they will quite soon. Their songs are named by number. 'Twelve' is in my opinion the best, closely followed by 'Thirteen'. Plus the lead singer has a big, fluffy beard. Check 'em out!

Maximo Park

I thought I'd better inform you of a band which have recently become one of my absolute favourites, Maximo Park. They are currently headlining on the NME Awards Tour 2006, and well, they're good! Lead singer Paul Smith is a hyperactive dancer with a comb-over, 'what more could you want in a front-man?' I hear you gasp. Well, I agree, with the combination of inspiring lyrics and Geordie accents, they are my band of the moment and should be yours too....more to come later on.