Jul 05

The Black Keys + The Features @ The O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK – 5th July 2010

The Black Keys I love this time of year. Hot sunny days, long warm nights, shorts and BBQs… And if you’re a music lover or Gig Junkie it means music festivals going off up and down the country every weekend. Of course there’s the biggie, the one every band wants to play – Glastonbury. By far the greatest asset of Glastonbury is it’s sheer power in bringing some of the worlds greatest bands to these shores. And whilst here why not turn one festival appearance into a mini tour and play a small handful of gigs in the few minutes you have spare. Taking this into account means that London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham get the chance to see alternative Blues / Rock duo ‘The Black Keys’ before embarking on a full US tour.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 14

Grace and Danger: The Songs of John Martyn @ Town Hall, Birmingham, UK – 14 May 2010

Grace and Danger: The Songs of John Martyn Part of the English Originals Weekend tonight saw a veritable cornucopia (yep, I’ve been reading the dictionary again) of artists pay their own tribute to a man who, in my humble opinion, is hugely underappreciated. Of course John did himself no real favours during his 40 odd year career... what with all the drink and drugs... and more drink... and... oh go on... just a few more drugs. Having his leg lopped off in 2006 probably didn’t help matters either, but the overwhelming feeling that you got after he passed away last year was that John well and truly lived life to the full. Inevitably if you’re going to do that you can expect massive highs and crashing lows and listening to John’s songs it’s clear that’s just what he got. Anger, love, hate, bitterness, regret, joy... he covered pretty much every emotion under the sun and tonight’s gig gave us a chance to see how others manage to interpret what are, often, intensely personal songs.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 10

The Drums @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK – 10 May 2010

The Drums Is too much hype a good thing? According to the NME The Drums are "New York's official coolest new band". Thankfully I had no idea of the hype or the NME statement proclaiming them to be so cool when watching them warm up the Civics crowd prior to the emergence of Florence and her ever-expanding Machine.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Apr 12

AFI + Sick Of It All + The Dear & Departed @ O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK – 12th April 2010

AFI Bit of a contrast tonight at the Academy in Brum. In the main room, a mixture of punk, rock and hardcore, in the form of AFI, SOIA and The Dear and Departed, and in the Academy 3, Joshua Radin? I hope they have good soundproofing as I have a feeling Joshua won’t be loud enough to sing over tonight’s line up in the main room!


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 15

The Specials + The Ripps @ The Ricoh Arena, Coventry UK – 15/05/2009

The Specials It would be fair to say that grown men will only willingly dance on two occasions: at weddings is one, where their normal high level of self-awareness is snatched away.. and the other occasion? At Specials gigs when the infectious, continuous groove becomes so irresistible that even Jerry Dammers himself could not contain himself...


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Apr 06

Interview with Jersey Budd – Birmingham UK – 06/04/2009

Jersey Budd Conducting interviews wasn’t really the key criteria when we launched Gig Junkies. Instead, we set out to review all of the top gigs up and down the country. However, when the opportunity came up to interview young starlet Jersey Budd, we jumped at the chance. Were we scared (ish)? Nervous? (A little) Awestruck? (Possibly). When Jersey arrived it quickly became apparent that we needn’t have had any fears or trepidations. Jersey Budd is a REALLY decent bloke. Top fella. No pretence, no arrogance, just a salt of the earth ex Plumber who happens to be a pretty tasty singer. It also became evident that this wasn’t going to be your run of the mill interview. Phew! It was more of a chin wag between old mates about music, footy, marriage and his of course gigging.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Mar 31

Lionel Richie @ The LG Arena, Birmingham UK – 31/03/2009

Lionel Richie I signed up to review Lionel Richie because a friend of mine had seen him live and told me he actually danced on the ceiling, which was a feat I had to see for myself. Arriving at the LG Arena, I feel slightly out of place but with fabulous tickets; beer in hand, I sense this could be a fun night. Luckily, there is no support for tonight's show as I probably would have missed it, because it has taken forever to get from the car park to the arena let alone purchase a drink.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,