Since their precocious full length debut album 1977, Ash have always offered something a bit different. They were a middle-fingered anecdote to fey Britpop. Then they poo-pooed the album format and released a single every 2-weeks for a year. Now they’ve reneged on that idea and written a breakup album on a series of Islands […]
Still living by their debut’s mantra, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, Arctic Monkey’s new long-player, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, is bereft of stadium guitar riffs, laddy swagger or LA rocker confidence. Instead, Alex Turner and his simian cohorts play louche lounge music, nestled at the back of an empty lobby bar – […]
Supergrass came to an end in 2010, and unlike more and more of their Britpop contemporaries, haven’t yet been tempted by a reunion tour cash cow, or dipping their toes in, to see if they can reform and record without spoiling their legacy. Good.
After 2 stalwart support sets from The Faim and Lower than Atlantis, blimey-Charlie, it’s only just turned quarter to 8. Here come Sleeping with Sirens, bounding out of the traps with We like it Loud. It’s clear that the band are sticking to their harder sound pallet that punctures its way through Powerstation in Auckland, NZ. […]
Two consummate ringmasters – Lionel Richie and Nile Rodgers. An audience you’d expect, and one you didn’t. Hits from the last five decades that you know by osmosis and hold close to your heart; and a sometimes self-congratulatory trawl through them. Troupes of sensational musicians; and clowns distracting the reason everyone’s there. Creepy, nostalgic sexy time; […]
Paramore – Spark Arena February 13, 2018 As Paramore’s 7-piece band take the stage the mosh starts to scream. Hard Times, lead single for their fifth studio album, After Laughter, is first off the rack. Lead singer and all-round energy-bunny, Hayley Williams leads the crowd in the first of many sing-alongs. Williams tiptoes, pogoes-a-go-go, skips […]
It’s taken it’s time to drop, but QTY’s eponymous debut turns on another bulb in NYC’s shining sonic lineage.
After a 5 year hiatus, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are back with, well, another BRMC record.
After a mediocre response to their most recent LP, Cut Copy pooh-poohed the naysayers by storming The Studio.
The 13th Floor’s Simon Todd headed down to Auckland’s ASB Theatre to check out Alison Moyet’s NZ tour. Here’s what he encountered… I didn’t think I’d be seeing a 5-string bass solo last night, but that’s what happened, half-way through Hollie Smith’s super support set at the pretty much full Aotea Centre.