Bringing you all the Live Reviews that matter since 1998
ROCKTOBER FESTIVAL LEEDS 2003
26 October 2003 / The Well (formerly Joseph's Well) / Leeds
:: Part Chimp :: Adam Killin :: Future Ex-Wife :: This Unit Ama :: Pylon ::
Part Chimp don’t ‘play’ their songs they shake them, tear them limb from limb and leaving them like a spider after some sadistic infantile experiment
CHAIN GANG BANG
28 October 2003 / Academy 2 / Manchester
:: The Raveonettes ::
As with the best erotic films, it’s not what we see but what is suggested which turns us on
SATANS BANANA
31 October 2003 / Satan's Hollow / Manchester
:: Melt Banana :: Narcosis ::
A performance which had me reeling and questioning the very nature in which music is made. Gig of the year by a country mile.
SEE THE LIGHT
21 October 2003 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Razorlight :: The BellRays ::
Lisa Kekaula, a hip shakin’ diva with one hell of a voice. A lethal secret weapon that could add a bit of sex and sparkle to the most average, rock’n roll outfit
STAND AND DELIVER
29 October 2003 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: The Bandits ::
The Bandits look likely favourites for much more to follow next year.
GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
22 October 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: Super Furry Animals ::
SFA leave The Coral looking a bit like amateurs in such a game as the new “psychedelic movement
LAND OF THE GIANTS
30 October 2003 / The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lyne / Manchester
:: Waiger :: Barfly :: Oceansize ::
Oceanic performances preceeded by off-shore squawl, as the Witchwood hosts the final leg of Oceansizes Autumn / winter season .
ERRATIC VOLUMES
18 October 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: Mogwai ::
"Do you have any idea of how important that note that I’m playing is?”
WILD AT HEART
13 October 2003 / Apollo / Manchester
:: The Wildhearts ::
Ginger and co. are bold fusers of punk energy, metallic weight and prog expansiveness with pop sensibilities and witty lyrics
A RICH RICE
17 October 2003 / Academy 2 / Manchester
:: Damien Rice ::
An emotional night that the people lucky enough to have had ticket will surely remember.
FRIENDLY FUNERALS AND BIG HONDOS
12 October 2003 / Academy 2 / Manchester
:: Hondo Maclean :: Funeral For A Friend ::
Tonight, on the eve of the release of debut album ‘Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation’, FFAF are playing to a Sold Out audience at one of the larger venues in Manchester
ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
12 October 2003 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: The Sleepy Jackson ::
A band renowned for being a little left of centre, tonight walk right down the middle of the road
REMEMBER THEM
16 October 2003 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: British Sea Power ::
A glorious electricity runs through BSP's set and current tour - a band whose set list includes check guitars, align owls, test drum mics, attach trees to monitors...
DUBLIN SURF
08 October 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: The Thrills ::
The Thrills purists have turned out but the crowd seems to be diluted by a odd selection of people who evidently picked the album up in Tesco’s
BEST LAID PLANS
08 October 2003 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: The Holiday Plan ::
Somewhere between the muscular angst of Hot Water Music, the punked-up pop of The Get Up Kids and the dark, wistful plaids of Sunny Day Real Estate
FESTIVAL OF BRITON (FRI)
10 October 2003 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Misty Dixon :: TVH-3 ::
A great week, a varied and enjoyable showcase of the astounding array of musical talent in town
FESTIVAL OF BRITON (THURS)
09 October 2003 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Moco :: The Obsession :: Jackie O ::
Great music should make you do things like this. I think.
HIGH VOLTAGE REFORMS GROT
03 October 2003 / Karumba / Manchester
:: The Sonar Yen ::
No on stage histrionics, just brooding intros that flourish into epics of intensity
FESTIVAL OF BRITON (TUES)
07 October 2003 / 42nd Street / Manchester
:: Crestfallen :: Bryan Glancy :: Indigo Jones ::
This is a new one, it's called Manchester, and it's about... um, Manchester".
FOUR SEASONS
09 October 2003 / Life Cafe (now see Studio / Chicago Rock) / Manchester
:: Glass :: Lookin :: The Maker :: Forena ::
Four quite different takes on rock, from blistering chugga to carefully manicured distortion, charabanc present more at life
THREE WAYS
08 October 2003 / Barfly / Masque / Liverpool
:: Fi-Lo Radio :: Kinesis :: Oceansize ::
Three great emerging Mcr based acts and an exciting slab of next-gen rock all on one night. You never had it so good.
AUTUMN FALL
02 October 2003 / The BierKeller / Manchester
:: The Fall :: Dr Freak’s Padded Cell ::
Mark E Smith is out there, somewhere, doing what he does and we should be weirdly re-assured by that
BLACKS BACK
01 October 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: Frank Black :: (and The Catholics) ::
It would be neigh on impossible to argue Frank Blacks' impact on modern guitar music was anything less than pivotal
ELBOW MOVE JOINT
03 October 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: Elbow ::
The respectful participation of the crowd and the strongest set that they could have played made tonight at the Academy another Elbow gig it was a privilege to attend
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