Bringing you all the Live Reviews that matter since 1998

STANDING TALL
20 February 2004 / Retro Bar / Manchester
:: Nine Black Alps ::
When they play London temporarily loses 5% of its population. Find out why...

THE FUTURE OF THE GUITAR LIES WITHIN
22 February 2004 / Satan's Hollow / Manchester
:: The Wow :: The Little Explorer :: This Ain't Vegas :: Paper Cut Out :: LongLive :: The Mercy Suite :: The Jesus Years :: Andy, Glenn and Ritch ::
Although it could be the caffeine and the onset of heavy cold, it has to be at least in part due to my musical company tonight. My head rushes and my body finds itself gyrating subconsciously.

SOUND OF TSUJI
27 February 2004 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Tsuji Giri :: Mountain Men Anonymous ::
The intensity is still there only this time it’s been going to the gym every day for a year

TAKE THE BAIT FOR DEBATE
19 February 2004 / Jabez Clegg / Manchester
:: Lisa Brown :: Indra ::
The future for Lisa Brown looks lustrous, adored and of course very, very pretty.

RETRO BOOSTERS
11 February 2004 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: No Known Solution :: Retrograde ::
Thats one one offensive mullet - But musically things really grind spectacularly

FACE OFF
18 February 2004 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Kill Kenada :: PTA (Psychotic Tree Ambush) ::
All scrunched up and tossed for yet more spiky-assed punk recklessness - true gems indeed

IN THE CITADEL
21 February 2004 / The Citadel / St Helens (mcr)
:: Puressence ::
There’s no doubt at all this band have not only still got it, but they’re playing as well as they ever have

BIG NOISE
12 February 2004 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Amplifier :: Winnebago Deal :: Drive It Like You Stole It ::
Guitar riffs and husky vocals steal centre stage in the band which now effervesces with charisma and motivation

THE LONGEST CUT
18 February 2004 / Life Cafe (now see Studio / Chicago Rock) / Manchester
:: The Longcut ::
On a cigarette break outside I find Badly Drawn Boy discussing the Manchester music scene with two block head bouncers. It seems he’s been impressed

COLLECTIVE EFFORTS
18 February 2004 / The Music Box / Manchester
:: Fallen Origin :: 10 Days ::
Meandering melodies, and occasional moments of brainy guitar anoint the soul

LAY OF THE LAND
14 February 2004 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: Seachange :: Pretty Girls Make Graves ::
The prospect of hanging doth focus the mind and indeed the minds of those who tonight play like their lives depend on it

CAT IN THE HOUSE
07 February 2004 / Secret Venue / Manchester
:: Cat On Form ::
Cat On Form sign a three-album deal to a multi-national label yet they arrange their own tour choosing to play somebody’s living room

PUT YOUR ZUTON
20 February 2004 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: The Zutons ::
Zuton fever provides a conglomeration of infectious beats which has the sold out gaff bouncing along

BELLES RAY OF LIGHT
09 February 2004 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: The Belles ::
Self acknowledged influences are “the two Neil’s (Young and Finn) and the two Paul’s (McCartney and Westerberg)”

MAYBES ESCAPE THE BLOWOUT
20 February 2004 / Irish Association Social Club, Chorlton / Manchester
:: Escape Pod :: The Maybes? :: Reid Anderson & Stagger Lee. ::
Nothing short of Steve Marriot’s equal in razor wire rock and roll singing, as his head bobs around the microphone spitting out the words

LOGIC WINS
15 February 2004 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: The Open :: The Stills ::
The Stills are the crossover between upbeat melody and dark inner city sound scrapes we’ve all been waiting for

INTO THE TWILIGHT NIGHT
02 February 2004 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: Twighlight Singers ::
There's a battering ram of songs; rushing melodies with only enough pause for Dulli to take a drag on an ever-present cigarette

TWO HALVES
04 February 2004 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: then came music ::
slightly blown away by all this when someone texts me the news of City’s improbable comeback – “bet you wish you’d seen that!” – no way. I just saw an already great band progress to the next level

THREE FROM TWELVE
01 February 2004 / Jabez Clegg / Manchester
:: The Longcut :: Engerica :: The Suzukis ::
The Longcuts' rejection of standard song structures is their greatest weapon as their music looks to play on the insecurities of an audience

FAST PICTURES
04 February 2004 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: The Sonar Yen :: Gonga ::
When The Sonar Yen explode it certainly isn’t garden fireworks, more a doomsday weapon

MANNERS COST FUCK ALL #2
05 February 2004 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Overtone :: The Hot Puppies :: Flawed ::
The authority and anthematic quality within each of their indie tour de forces explains the abundance of interest from above

STRANGE TIMES
12 February 2004 / The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lyne / Manchester
:: Dave Fielding / Coconut DF ::
Close your eyes and it could almost be an early 90s Megadog night, all fluorescent projections, strobes and stilt walkers

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
01 February 2004 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Kings Have Long Arms :: I Am Kloot ::
With two successful albums under their belts, I Am Kloot are coming home