Jul 19

Nas & Damian Marley @ The 02 Academy, Birmingham, UK – 19th July 2010

Nas & Damian Marley The front of the o2 Academy has a different feeling outside it than usual, 3 metal detectors, snarling steroid injected dogs being held back by fat coppers, 4 x more security than normal and an extremely chilled mixed crowed queuing to get in to see Nas & Damien Marley. This is the first time since the smoking ban has been put into place, that I have walked into a venue to see a slight fog. The opening song "As We Enter" has Nas spitting "I got the guns" Mr Marley... "and I got the ganja”... which it then appeared, so did half the audience, as the weed was burning well tonight.


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Jul 13

Converge + Kylesa + Gaza @ The O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK – 13th July 2010

Converge Converge, just never seemed to touch Brum, every single time they’ve come to the UK. More the pity, as they’re arguably the one band from amongst their peers who have managed to successfully traverse the years since that first boom period almost a decade ago with their integrity and identity relatively intact. Until today, so for those who’ve been waiting for Converge since ‘Jane Doe’ or before, this gig really had a real air of anticipation attached to it. It also boasted a carefully picked undercard in the form of Kylesa and Gaza.


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Jun 27

Ghostfest DAY 2, Leeds University, UK – 27th June 2010

Ghostfest DAY 2 Headliners Gallows stepped onstage 25 minutes late, lapping up the air of anticipation which permeated the room. They dedicated a song to Yorkshire in honour of their headline performance in Leeds, renaming ‘London Is The Reason’ to ‘Yorkshire Is The Reason’ which had the crowd chanting along. They played almost an hour of their trademark sing-along hardcore punk, peppered with Frank Carter’s uninsightful, cheeky and cocky banter.


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Jun 26

Ghostfest DAY 1, Leeds University, UK – 26th June 2010

Ghostfest DAY 1 Headliners The Acacia Strain stormed onto the stage with one goal in mind: to make a much noise as possible. As vocalist Vincent Bennett announced ‘We are a very angry fucking band’ they ripped into a sound that epitomised their hatred. The American deathcore band decided they would dedicate a song especially to the UK Hardcore and straight edge scene. The crowd reacted well to the headline act’s aggressive performance.


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Jun 16

Keane + The Helio Sequence @ O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK – 16th June 2010

Keane It was much of a surprise when I turned up at the venue to find a crowd of all walks of life and more surprisingly ages at this gig. This band obviously attract the masses so it seems. From the moment the doors opened, the crowds got bigger and bigger... Keane evidently have evolved over the years into a band who have an affinity with everyone. Their radio friendly tunes appealing to all has definatly proved successful for them this evening as I can only assume that ticket sales have been rewarding for them tonight...


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May 29

Slayer + The Haunted @ O2 Academy Birmingham, UK – 29th May 2010

SLAYER A lengthy queue has formed after our arrival, and swiftly grows out of sight around the corner, demonstrating that Slayers near thirty year history has diluted their appeal not one jot. This is clearly going to be quite some gig.


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May 16

Dinosaur J. + Built To Spill, O2 Academy1, Birmingham, UK – 16 May 2010

Dinosaur Jr There seems to be a bit of an indie revival going on at the moment. What with Slint marking the release of their landmark album 'Spiderland' last year by playing it live, and with Pavement currently hitting the road, now it's the turn of Built To Spill, who sound eerily like Stephen Malkmus and co, although a three guitar line up gives them a lush edge to their jangly antics, with their Hendrix-esque freakout moments. Frontman Doug Martsch is a low key but steady presence at the microphone, but then the crowd weren't here for flashy.


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