Bringing you all the Live Reviews that matter since 1998

OVER AND OUT
26 September 2003 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Fi-Lo Radio :: Politburo :: Moco :: The Obsession :: CHAIRSMISSING ::
The large forboding stormcloud hanging over The Roadhouse tonight is of course the sad the sad fact that we are witnessing the last ever Chairsmissing

TRUCKERS RAPTURE THE BOGGS
28 September 2003 / Academy 3 / Manchester
:: The Rapture :: The Boggs :: Fat Truckers ::
It’s inevitable that on The Raptures next tour we’ll be seeing them in venues the size of Brixton Academy / Manchester Apollo

SAY IT AND PLAY IT
29 September 2003 / The Roadhouse / Manchester
:: Guided By Voices ::
Everyone came to see a band that is so easy to love, and tonight it’s so very very easy to see why

HATS OFF
25 September 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: Capdown ::
The wait is justified. Before there’s even a microsecond to wipe the drool from my expectant visage or even seize a breath, Capdown deliver their insurrectionary exuberance

CARRY ON REGARDLESS
26 September 2003 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Waiger ::
A distinct heavy backbone of gruelling bass and drums complemented by distortion and power

WHY WAIT FOR TOMORROW
27 September 2003 / Karumba / Manchester
:: For Tomorrows ::
At the moment, For Tomorrows are one of the finest bands in Manchester. They have the two essential components of a great band: Great songs and the beginnings of their own, definable image

ITC : ASHTON ATTACK
14 September 2003 / The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lyne / Manchester
:: Cleon :: Dimparcio :: Remirah ::
Three band pile up at Ashtons contribution to the ITC calender

CRYSTAL PALACE
19 September 2003 / The Palace, Levenshulme / Manchester
:: The Influence :: Washington Lees Experiment :: Austin :: The Mirrors :: The Hollow Earth Theory ::
They might actually think the earth is hollow, with shaven heads and baggy pants and half of the band go bare chested

ITC : SATURDAY THE 13th PART 4
13 September 2003 / 42nd Street / Manchester
:: Youth Movie Soundtrack Strategies ::
They take on a whole array of future-looking avant luminaries and spin it into something remarkably eclectic

ITC : SATURDAY THE 13th PART 3
13 September 2003 / The Colliers / Manchester
:: Fae Magdalene :: Royal McBee ::
A Fender Jazzmaster, a singer who spends half his time howling through a cardboard tube and a badly behaved sequencer

ITC : SATURDAY THE 13th PART 2
13 September 2003 / Dry Bar / Manchester
:: Infrasound ::
One can only presume that Infrasound are from Liverpool judging by the prevalence of Reebok classics, sports casuals and comfort-fit jeans

ITC : SATURDAY THE 13th PART 1
13 September 2003 / Ascension / Manchester
:: Spencer Tracy :: Countess Zapek ::
When we’re finally admitted from decadent street heat into Ascension the power pop sunshine sounds of SPENCER TRACEY seem like an almost appropriate fanfare

ITC : NORTH BEAST
13 September 2003 / Life Cafe (now see Studio / Chicago Rock) / Manchester
:: Parklandsway (Kubichek!) :: Sefelt :: Maximo Park :: Beccy Owen ::
A whole modern sounding, modern thinking collective has sprung out from previously infertile soils and this afternoon Spearhead is the new North East’s cultural ambassador.

ITC : IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE ?
13 September 2003 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Grand Transmitter ::
There are obvious parallels with Coldplay, especially the piano ballad that closes the show (!)

ITC : CHASING A DRAGON
13 September 2003 / Dry Bar / Manchester
:: Tokyo Dragons ::
Here at ITC 2003 A.D. (After Darkness), hairy men with handle-bar moustaches, Spinal Tap guitar-as-phallus posturing, AC/DC riffs and songs titles like ‘Get It Off’ are suddenly high in demand

ITC : VALENTINES SHOWCASE
12 September 2003 / Font Bar / Manchester
:: Performance :: Palo Alto ::
The narrow electro-clash window has flown open and PERFORMANCE are halfway through it judging by the abundance of expensive ‘Punk’ T-shirts leaning over the banister to catch a glimpse and the bladder-bustingly long line for the Ladies

ITC : EYEBALL HAEMORRHAGE AT CLUB FANDANGO
12 September 2003 / Night & Day / Manchester
:: Green Hookers No.1 :: Sammy USA ::
Confidently decked out in leather jackets, skinny ties and tight jeans (charity shop chic, but undoubtedly at charity shop prices).

INTERPOLATION
03 September 2003 / Academy 1 / Manchester
:: Interpol ::
What do Interpol mean to you? Are they the band that, deep down in your heart, you secretly wish were Joy Division, or are they New York style with elegiac melody and the sadness of the urban generation in their souls?