Who did you see live last?

[cetera]

Connolly Hayes Band in Hampton.

 

Amazingly tight, funky, soulful, bluesy band who have no right to be as fantastic as they are!

[SteveXFR]

Chelsea Wolfe in Bristol last night.

Very dark and atmospheric. Incredible vocals, very creative. 

One of the most impressive dynamic drummers I've seen, from barely there quiet to brutal, punch in the face loud. 

During the solo acoustic song, she had an amazing lighting effect I've never seen before which looked like a 3d smoke & light vortex going back in to a black hole. Very cool.

[casapete]

Went to see ‘Fire and Rain’ last night at Howden’s Shire Hall. 

Second time seeing this band who play James Taylor and Carole King stuff. Couple of friends 

play with them, and it was a fabulous night. Probably around 100 people in this great venue,

and the sound using the house PA and engineer was knockout. Tom Townsend in particular

was outstanding on guitar and vocals, but the whole band were exemplary. 
 

 

[kevin_lindsay]

Saw Massaoke last night in Glasgow  - what a fun gig.

I was originally introduced to them by Guy Pratt a few years back when he net them during Guy's stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Guy had borrowed my white Jazz Bass while he was in the city for a couple of weeks. 

 

And here is Guy sound checking with the Massaoke guys in Edinburgh, filmed by the band's bass player  (Guy using my white Jazz).

 

[BigRedX]

Just back from Whitby Goth Weekend. 

 

Gave the  pavilion a miss (I've seen both IST IST and Peter Hook & The Light recently) in favour of a selection of lesser known and up and coming bands.

 

On Saturday afternoon it was Goth At The Brewery with the magnificent Machiner:

 

 

Combining the best parts of The Blue Nile and Talk Talk to create something new but with a darker edge. "The Sound Of Disappearing" is probably my favourite new song of 2024.

 

Followed by Death Trippers. I hadn't been that impressed with their recording, but live it was a whole different proposition. A more psychedelic Joy Division with some real brooding power. Hopefully they will manage to capture that sound in their next trip to the studio:

 

 

And finally the mighty Westenra:

 

 

Unfortunately I couldn't stay for all their set as we had to battle our way through the crowds across town to get to Flowergate Hall where Stock Image were playing at 5.30:

 

 

Influenced by all the best bits of your favourite early synth-pop bands, but still bringing something original into the mix.

 

And then the surprise of the weekend - Social Youth Cult:

 

 

Despite all looking as though they were under 20, they bring a powerful combination of early Joy Division meets first album Bauhaus.

 

After that I had hoped to see Holy Braille along with Killing Miranda and Iamimperfect at The Crafty Cove, but I left it too late to get tickets and they had all sold out. Probably just as well as 8 great bands in one day might possibly have been overload!

 

Then on the Sunday went to see Dr Diablo and The Rodent Show at Abbey Wharf. This was the first time I have seen The Rodent Show in its current incarnation, and they didn't disappoint. The audience appeared to be an equal mix of those who knew what to expect and those who spend the weekend parading around the town in costume who had popped in for a final drink before going home who mostly had WTF expressions...

 

 

And here we are just before the mayhem commenced:

 

 

Hoping that I'll be gracing one of these stages in 2025...