Reviews and Recommendations: indie

Wow - what a concert!! I've seen them once before on the Zoo TV tour and this was way better. We got last-minute cheap tickets, so didn't expect a great view & we got what we expected - but the band and the music more than made up for it... [more]

Event Date: August 15, 2009
Event Venue: Wembley Stadium

Wow - what a concert!! I've seen them once before on the Zoo TV tour and this was way better. We got last-minute cheap tickets, so didn't expect a great view & we got what we expected - but the band and the music more than made up for it - and unusually for seats, everyone around us was really into it as well. Apparently they change the setlist every night & tonight's was way better than last night according to their website. It was my wife's first U2 gig & first time at Wembley Stadium & she loved it - despite not knowing all the words of the older stuff.

Highlights for me were the mental disco-bongo remx of the new single I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight and the slower One and Faraway So Close (Until The End Of The World), but in truth, there were no duff songs & the crowd had a blast!

As for the "see everything from anywhere" claim - I can say it isn't true - especially from Level 5 of Wembley Stadium.

Finally a word about the support acts - The Hours seemed good and got the early crowd going, but the sound was awful & the drummer drowned out the singer most of the time. Glasvegas were really boring - can't put my finger on why - the singer has a big voice & was giving it some, but it didn't get the crowd going at all - and they have an odd standing-up drummer woman who only has two drums and a cymbal - it looks really strange!!

To summarise - everyone go & see U2 in concert before you die - even if you hate them - they'll convert you!! [less]

If there was any band that had reason to be weary in the least of heading on stage it would be Limp Bizkit. For a few reasons, namely because of Machine Head (always a tough act to follow) fans chanting the expected "F*** Limp Bizkit" and possibly showering the band... [more]

Event Date: August 2, 2009
Event Venue: Knebworth House

If there was any band that had reason to be weary in the least of heading on stage it would be Limp Bizkit. For a few reasons, namely because of Machine Head (always a tough act to follow) fans chanting the expected "F*** Limp Bizkit" and possibly showering the band with an array of boos and bottles (remember Summer Sanitarium - Chicago?). But as soon as the music hit and the original line up began forming on stage starting with DJ Lethal, the total opposite had happened.

After their storming performance at Download this year, the band continued their momentum and high stakes energy at Sonisphere opening with 'My Generation' - a perfect hit for reacquainting with the fans. Wes Borland, one of the main creative forces within the band didn't miss a step with his white body paint, blue-dyed hair and effortless communication with the crowd. Sam Rivers played bass like his life depended on it and that's a compliment to his obvious dedication to every track played during the set. DJ Lethal remained flawless keeping the set intact with his scratch interludes and a focused John Otto on drums. Fred Durst was on top form and at one point coming off stage for the right reasons - joining the fans at the front row. He also took time to address his respect for Machine Head and Nine Inch Nails which was followed by the track 'Hot Dog'.

The set closed with a blistering performance of 'Take A Look Around' where Fred Durst asked the crowd to join in by kneeling or sitting down before the song would erupt for the final chorus. The crowd without hesitation did so, contributing to a great performance. A true highlight of the event along with perhaps the most emotional set from Nine Inch Nails. [less]

Supporting the excellent Ida Maria, VV Brown was a breath of fresh air after the first act, BirdPen's unedited navel gazing sub-thrash prog rock. Her energetic style and catchy tunes soon lifted the mood of the crowd and visibly swelled the numbers in the pit.  Dashing through her numbers... [more]

Event Date: November 27, 2008
Event Venue: Scala

Supporting the excellent Ida Maria, VV Brown was a breath of fresh air after the first act, BirdPen's unedited navel gazing sub-thrash prog rock. Her energetic style and catchy tunes soon lifted the mood of the crowd and visibly swelled the numbers in the pit.  Dashing through her numbers in the tiny 30 minute slot allocated VV even managed to cram in two versions of her then single, "Crying Blood", the second reggae version bringing whoops of joy from the crowd. Mention must also be made of her backing group, who manage to be the perfect foil for her energy and verve whilst holding out personalities of their own. On the whole a refreshing surprise as I had gone to see the headline act and had no expectations of the support. I'm now a confirmed fan. [less]

I definitely had fun at this gig. Their début album packs some tuneful, jaunty pop songs, with catchy choruses perfect to sing along to. Roy (the frontman) had a good connection with the audience, in particular the gaggle of girls at the front.

I didn't go with any serious expectations... [more]

Event Date: November 16, 2007
Event Venue: The Point, Cardiff

I definitely had fun at this gig. Their début album packs some tuneful, jaunty pop songs, with catchy choruses perfect to sing along to. Roy (the frontman) had a good connection with the audience, in particular the gaggle of girls at the front.

I didn't go with any serious expectations that what I was going to get would be anything more than I got on the album. Which is just as well because I didn't feel that the live experience enhanced any aspect of the music in particular, other than it being quite exciting for me to be so close to the band, this being the first intimate gig I had been to.

I think with this type of music you have to embrace it for what it is. I genuinely had a good time jumping around and yelling the chorus to 'She's So Lovely' at the end. It's not going to change your world, but it's good fun.

On a quick aside, the first support band were brilliant, I wish I knew who they were, the second support were not so good. I really like the venue, it has a good vibe. [less]

There is alot to be said for 'The Cribs' guerilla attack on the indie mainstream, while they have been around touring and releasing singles since 2003 I think it is fair to say they hadn't reached the masses until the release of 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever', their 3rd album... [more]

There is alot to be said for 'The Cribs' guerilla attack on the indie mainstream, while they have been around touring and releasing singles since 2003 I think it is fair to say they hadn't reached the masses until the release of 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever', their 3rd album released in early 2007.  

So, why is this? I think there are many reasons, aesthetically they have bad hair and bad clothes & vocally they are unorthodox, in that technically speaking, they can't sing. Primarily however, I believe they have actively avoided and rejected it and only through traditional Indie/punk values of a very heavy touring schedule and vehemently intense live shows have they gathered a now massive cult following.

There music speaks for itself though with thier singles throughout their 3 albums proving their talent at delivering wry & witty lyrics over ludicrously catchy riffs and loud and dirty basslines. And, to be fair to them, some of their best tracks remain unreleased.

Ultimately though, this band are so good because they know how to deliver their tracks live. Every member of this band show charisma on stage, with drummer Ross frequently standing on his drum stool to get a piece of the action. The tracks have the BPM, anthemic sing along factor and shambolic, anarchic delivery to more than involve the crowd and make their gigs something special.

If you don't know their music listen to 'Our Bovine Public', the perfect track to summarise their musical style and ethos.

Finally, ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has officially become the fourth member of 'The Cribs' which for any Cribs fan is an interesting development. With their sound up until now being distinctly representative of a 3-piece band with the single guitar/bass combination working wonderfully up until this point, suffice to say the addition will impact on their sound and style. What comes next is a new era for 'The Cribs' and I know that I am one of many that stands in eager anticipation of what is to follow. I'm almost certain it will be amazing! [less]