High Voltage

What is it about Iceland that breeds oddballs? Joining the queue of Icelandic eccentrics (well, Bjork), Jónsi is using the 'procreation hiatus' of his regular band Sigur Ros (re)productively by exorcising some of his spare tunes to predominantly middle-aged audiences worldwide. Tonight may not quite hit the supernatural heights of his band's previous Manchester visits, but this is still hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck stuff which deserved a better setting than the Academy 1...

There are some bands who clearly met by accident. There is no feasible way Alan Palomo and the three live members of retro-electronica-heads Neon Indian chose to hang out together: we’re talking a hipster frontman, long-haired metal drummer, 90s Britpop female on synths and – no joke – a male Yoko Ono on guitar. This is a study in disparity, four opposites finding common ground in glitchy beeps and looking forlorn. Either that or a shared appreciation for the...

In a recent article with Manchester’s City Life, Dominic from the band expressed exactly how most of Muse’s global fans view them, as “The biggest non famous band in the world”. Ten years in, and a back catalogue laden with hits, tonight’s enormous open air show illustrates the humble drummers opinion perfectly.

With the word ‘understated’ not being listed in the bands vocabulary, today’s show  sees an enormous 3D...

Drowned In Sound's regular live showcases at the Deaf Institute are renowned for the unfailing quality of their lineups. So it seems somewhat odd that excellently named but otherwise uninventive indie rockers Der.Die.Das have been invited to play tonight's opening slot. Sure, their guitarist and keyboard player have sufficient skill to go it alone, but together the quintet fail to impress.

The second band to take to the stage rate altogether more highly on the rock 'n'...

C.W. Stoneking is a man who suffers from the duel handicap of being born in both the wrong place and the wrong time, an antipodean blues singer and banjo player hopelessly lost in a world of pre-war Americana, voodoo and tall tails. But rather than be alone in this world, he transports the packed Ruby Lounge’s sweaty patrons with him, into the deep dark jungles of Africa, the whisky soaked, dangerous dives of New Orleans and the sweltering fields of the south with a set of songs drawn...

Having been to the Night and Day the previous night to watch People in Planes play to a near-empty room it was a very different experience for Kitty Daisy and Lewis, felt before I even got inside. There were teams of people lining the street on the ascent up Oldham St towards the venue, many kitted out in amazing rockabilly attire, accessorised with authentic 50’s styled hair and make-up. I loved the attention to detail, the dedication to an era gone by that characterises a look nailed...

I may have made a few misjudged assumptions about this evening. Assumptions such as all German’s are cold and sticklers for precision. The Ruby Lounge has a questionable sound system. DJ/producer/computer types live are always tepid, obvious and repetitive affairs.

After some time a rather humble gentleman is on stage with a wine glass, some ice, and a couple of bottles of water. He taps and runs a metal wand around the innards of the glass and a shrill tone comes echoing...

The Wu-Tang Clan are the absolute embodiment of true hip-hop. Despite some shaky record releases during their time, they continue to shine like a beacon of authenticity when compared with their contemporaries. There was a time when rappers were political activists and serious thinkers but the hip-hop world has become increasingly contaminated by commercial artists who lack any real substance, yet the Wu-Tang Clan are different. They tackle serious and delicate issues with aplomb, and they...

Feeling like we had either arrived too early or missed the band altogether, I was disheartened to see only a scattering of people at the venue. It says something about a band, or how it was promoted, that it’s either an omen for what’s to come. As it happens they did have stiff competition for punters that Tuesday night as Wu Tang Clan and Bonnie Prince Billie were also in town – while diverse groups, it may have had something to do with it. Or not. 
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Blogggers of the world were united in admiration for Jack Tatum’s debut album Gemini upon release last month. Through his solo guise Wild Nothing, the Virginian native took us by the hand to lead the listener through his fragile dream pop world. With a glut of US bands currently invading our shores with their modern take on shoegaze pop, it appears that up to now Wild Nothing sit firmly at the top of the pack. It should come as no surprise then that it’s Manchester’s...