Bringing you all the Live Reviews that matter since 1998

SPACED OUT AT BLOWOUT
26 February 2010 / Irish Association Social Club, Chorlton / Manchester
:: Daniel Land And The Modern Painters :: The Telescopes :: One Unique Signal ::
Three minute pop tunes are absent from this week's Blowout event as three bands deliver their visions of blissed out rock.

COUNTRY PASSION
22 February 2010 / Ruby Lounge / Manchester
:: The Yellhounds ::
Showcasing an accomplished mix of Americana style blues and and traditional folk rhythms, local five-piece The Yellhounds offer a refreshing alternative to current mainstream trends with an infectious performance on a cold, dreary evening.

LOVE AND DANCING
26 February 2010 / The Deaf Institute / Manchester
:: Performance :: I Am Blackbird :: Futurecop :: Nowhere Again ::
Joe Stretch looks like Cristiano Ronaldo on a forced diet of Joy Division and caffeine, while Laura Marsden looks like a Blade Runner Replicant Seductress. In a good way, of course. And the sound is equally sexy and sleek - welcome back.

SELLING THE BIG ISSUE
26 February 2010 / The Factory (Fac251) / Manchester
:: Twisted Wheel :: Young Rebel Set ::
Welcome to Britain's most relevant rock band with fans who dress like mods and dance like punks

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTIONS
23 February 2010 / Ruby Lounge / Manchester
:: The Heavy :: The Kill Van Kulls :: The Janice Graham Band ::
Highlights include a song that sounds like it almost came straight out of the Jungle Book...

I HOOP TO GOODNESS
18 February 2010 / The Deaf Institute / Manchester
:: Jo Rose :: Jesca Hoop ::
A magical evening of smokes on the balcony and enchanting voices from the stage.

THE MAN IN BLACK IS BACK
21 February 2010 / Ruby Lounge / Manchester
:: John Cooper Clarke :: Frank Sidebottom ::
Good health may be temporary but class is permanent

HERE COMES THE BLACKOUT
16 February 2010 / Band On The Wall / Manchester
:: Stornoway :: Beth Jeans Houghton ::
The quintet prove themselves to be masters of the slow-build, with music and harmonies of such youthful intensity, yet carved firmly into the granite of classic songwriting

CHARM OFFENSIVE
18 February 2010 / Shepherds Bush Empire / London
:: Midlake ::
Now expanded to a seven-piece live, Midlake's chilled psychedelic folk rock is a charming way to spend an evening

OH LA LA
15 February 2010 / The Deaf Institute / Manchester
:: Hot Club de Paris :: Spokes :: Trojan Horse ::
Greeks, the invention of the wheel and ‘stage heights’ in Paris....

CUCKOO SEASON OPENS
15 February 2010 / Ruby Lounge / Manchester
:: Everybody Was In The French Resistance...Now ::
Midway through the set, Eddie Argos announces that he's an idiot...

FACTOTUM
11 February 2010 / The Factory (Fac251) / Manchester
:: Elgazelle :: Dead Celebs ::
As we file out past Tony’s gaze and into the night, thoughts return again to what Mr Manchester would have made of tonight’s fayr...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
06 February 2010 / The Factory and Sound Control / Manchester
:: May 68 :: The Drums :: LoneLady :: The Whip :: Surfer Blood ::
Two brand new venues open for business on the same weekend, within five minutes' walk of each other, one with the bands on early, the other with the bands on late? Sounds like a night out...

DRUMMING UP SUPPORT
06 February 2010 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: The Drums ::
The bigger slots on the night may be set up for the new British blood, but it's the boys from across the Atlantic who come out showing their feathers at the NME Awards Tour.

WIGAN OUT TO THE PSYCHEDELIC SOUNDS
05 February 2010 / Wigan Social Club (AKA The Legion) / Wigan
:: The Loungs :: Moco ::
When Wigan's former Royal British Legion Club elected to start holding "un-Legion like events for younger people", were they ready for The Roaring Psychedelic Octopus?

THE APOCALYPSE YOU CAN DANCE TO
02 February 2010 / The Arena / Manchester
:: Rammstein :: Combichrist ::
...and have we mentioned the exploding babies with laser eyes? MM's Cath takes a trip to the dark side, and stands well back...

ROCKIT TO THE MOON
02 February 2010 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: Oceansize :: Vessels :: And So I Watch You From Afar ::
Oceansize are working on a fourth album whilst exponentially increasing their fan base - the world will listen...