Bands I liked

Adrian Crowley, Mary and the Pigeons, Radie Peat, Idles, Sofasonic. Saint Leonard’s Horses, Ed Dowie, Guildhall Saxophone Ensemble, Gill Sandell, Alev Lenz, Angèle David-Guillou, Enderby’s Room, She Drew a Gun, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Mammoth Penguins, Milky Wimpshake, September Girls, The Proper Ornaments, Tigercats, Chorusgirl, Spook School, Joanna Gruesome, Martha, Freak, Black Honey, British Sea Power

Bands that were okay

Brigid Mae Power, Dinges, Krammers, John Hassall, Kite Base, Circa Waves, Jess Bryant, Pete Astor, Piney Gir, Samantha Whites, Michael J Sheehy, Anna Pancaldi, Bahboon, No Cars, The Tomboys, Natalie McCool, Healyum, Marvin Powell, Bearsuit, Evans the Death, USA Nails, Dairy Classics

Bands I won’t be going out of my way to see again

Martin Dubna, Sonic Kimono, Hope

Best Gig

March was a sad month as it saw the closure of Fortuna Pop!. The gigs celebrating Fortuna Pop! were excellent. But the gig of the month has to be a new band, Idles. They’re easily the most exciting band I’ve seen for a few years.

Best new band

Idles

Albums of the Month

• Volcano – Temples
• Brutalism – Idles
• A Pink Sunset for No One – Noveller
• Flying Microtonal Banana – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
• Condition – Spectres
• The Navigator – Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Let the Dancers Inherit the Party – British Sea Power

Best photo

The first evening’s line-up was known to me. Girl Ray opened the evening. They’re pleasant, but don’t do much for me. They were then followed by the excellent Wharves who played a few new songs. Closing the evening were Ultimate Painting. I’d seen them a few times and have their first two albums. They’re formed out of Mazes and Veronica Falls and seem heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground’s third album. You know the relaxed, stoner VU album.

The second evening was more of an unknown for me. The headline act, Martha are brilliant. They’re fun, engage with the audience, and they have lyrics that are about things that matter to them. I find them refreshing amongst the sea of indie bands with little to say. Tonight was no exception, with a well observed comment on how supermarkets create beautifully crafted adverts celebrating the family at Christmas, despite the fact that their staff were all having to work Boxing Day. Their set was a brilliant start to the year.

The other two bands were also enjoyable. The first band, Average Sex were engaging. Initially I wasn’t too keen on Radiator Hospital. Their first song was just didn’t work for me. But after that was out of the way. (Or I adjusted to them) They settled down into some mighty fine DIY indie and were thoroughly enjoyable.

So not a bad introduction to 2017.

First up was Fulhäst. A Danish band. It was a really interesting session. The singer sang in a conversational way so song became stories. The first few were kind of depressing talking about a breakup. The set could have been a disaster. Error riddled really doesn’t adequately describe the set. But the singer caried off every mistake with the right level of self deprecating humour which made just made it all endearing.

Next up were Evans the Death. Unfortunately, they simply didn’t work for me. The singer had just ran up the stairs because she was late and she seemed to struggle for the first few songs. I also didn’t like the way every song ‘just finished’. I don’t think a single song had a adequate ending. Not for me.

Finally, was a band from Durham, Martha. It turns out I’d seen them a few years ago supporting Allo Darlin’ and I’d enjoyed their set. Tonight was no different. They’re kind of ‘Blink 182’ but with an endearing quality.

Tigercats

Allo Darlin’