Bringing you all the Live Reviews that matter since 1998

A TINGLING IN HANDS AND EARS
06 March 2008 / Sacred Trinity Church / Salford
:: James Blackshaw ::
It’s rare that true beauty and technical skill meet; more often, it is channelled into endless, wanky solos

MENTALIST STRIKE ACTION
29 March 2008 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Cyril Snear :: Lou Whatling :: Day For Airstrikes :: Arficeden ::
Someone shouts "Riffhouse!" and they thrash out a ten second hardcore metal attack

PSYCHO ANALYST
29 March 2008 / Joshua Brooks / Manchester
:: Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man :: Harijan :: Sound Of Swami :: John Player Specials ::
A presentation of “Music by people who drink cider out of the gutter”, the “That’s Not Skanking” crew really do host a good party

BUTTERFLIES
25 March 2008 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Lucy & The Caterpillar :: Chris T-T ::
Even when she's singing about meeting a lover or getting pissed it's with a beautiful innocence that reminds you of doing those things for the first time

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
24 March 2008 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Laymar :: The Twilight Sad ::
I'd been wondering of late where there was actually any space for yet another intense post-rock-indie band in my life, but The Twilight Sad are worth making room for.

SPITITUAL RETURN
26 March 2008 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: The Duke Spirit ::
Liela immediately stamps up on the monitors whilst several pairs of male eyes in the front ranks of the crowd visibly pop out

PRESS THE EJECT BUTTON
20 March 2008 / Ruby Lounge / Manchester
:: Ejectorseat :: Red Vinyl Fur :: The Unstoppable Team ::
A pretty faultless and generally unmissable show - where were you ?

FIST FULL OF FUN
18 March 2008 / Tiger Lounge / Manchester
:: Mr. Fist :: Jailhouse Fuck :: Hotpants Romance :: Monkeys In Love ::
An excellent laminated Comrade Card - would seem to imply an approach to economics not dissimilar to their approach to the English language. And what a range of bizarre treats they've got for us tonight

IN DRY WE (T)RUST
20 March 2008 / Dry Bar / Manchester
:: International Trust :: King Pest :: The Dead Certs ::
"We're used to playing shit-holes in Leeds... so we've come over here to play one of your shit-holes!"

SACRED TRINITY BLUES
11 March 2008 / Sacred Trinity Church / Salford
:: Jack Rose ::
Hunched and draped over an acoustic guitar and kinda grizzled looking, it’s difficult to tell quite how old Jack Rose is

GOING GREEN
16 March 2008 / The Deaf Institute / Manchester
:: The Coral ::
Jameson’s attempt to compete with Guinness over St Patrick’s Day weekend, with an exclusive show at the new Trof. The budget didn’t quite stretch to U2

HOUSE PARTY
15 March 2008 / Secret Gig / *
:: The Sun And The Moon ::
The devotion of some, even after all these years, to the legacy of Middleton's finest and the former members' subsequent projects is astonishing even to this longtime fan

BEWARE OF THE CAT
14 March 2008 / The Garden Hotel / Manchester
:: Cats In Paris :: Modernaire ::
Stars of the new Brainlove split 7” are unfathomably supporting some kind of experiment in twee-noise

AIRWAVES DREAM
12 March 2008 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Twisted Wheel :: The Enemy :: Lowline ::
...thunderously powerful with a brickwork troubling bass to match the inherent darkness of their rain-lashed songs

EYE OF THE TIGER
10 March 2008 / Tiger Lounge / Manchester
:: Danny Saul :: Greg Haines :: Jasper TX :: Pausal ::
A cold storm-threatens the Monday night, but inside Tiger Lounge is another world

BEST OF BRITISH
13 March 2008 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Sound Marshals :: Small Amp :: Kid British :: Shooter ::
If you’re quick and own a record label, you need to beat a path to his door, NOW!

BOYS SHOULD BE ANTI-SEEN AND HEARD
06 March 2008 / Dry Bar / Manchester
:: Victorian Dad :: The Deodates ::
Victorian Dad are from Wigan and the place still, apparently, rocks.

LIVE REVIEW LIVE - WINELIGHT AS IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS
11 March 2008 / The Met / Bury (mcr)
:: Fallen Leaves :: Kate Peters :: Judith :: Simon Chandler ::
OK, so here’s a first. As I write this I’m actually sat in Automatic.

LEVEL HEADED
07 March 2008 / Apollo / Manchester
:: Levellers ::
Chadwick sings with raw enthusiasm - if only they could capture this more often these days

VOLT METER
01 March 2008 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: MGMT :: Virgin Passages ::
MGMT are, if you've opened a music paper of any description this year, the hottest band in the world right now