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

I’d taken a punt on Chorusgirl’s album. Rough Trade had sent me one of their singles as part of a subscription and the single grew on me. The album was similar. Initially I felt the album was over produced but after a few listens really enjoyed it. Tonight was my first time seeing Chorusgirl live. Because of the album I was expecting a bigger ‘slicker’ band. Instead what I got was a much more stripped back sound and it was all the better for it. They really were pretty damn good and my highlight of the evening.

Next up were Flowers. I have to admit I find them an acquired taste and it very much depends on what mood I’m in to whether I enjoy them or not. I find the lead singer’s voice a little wearing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovely. But for some reason, I find it quiet tiring listening to it. She sings in quiet a high register and it means there’s not much dynamics to her range. It’s all very dream pop but I have to be in the mood for it. Tonight, I enjoyed the first four songs before I started to get the feeling that I wanted something with a bit more punch. It’s a pity really that they don’t work for me live, they really do have some nice music and I can listen to their albums without getting the same feeling.

Closing the evening were Tigercats. I’ve seen them a few times and they usually put on a good show. Tonight was no exception. Great songs. Great live. What’s more to ask for and a great way to round off a pretty decent night’s music.

Fun set from an engaging Eureka California setting the bar on audience participation.

Unlike last month’s Lexington gig, tonight Mammoth Penguin played a great glitch free gig.

I heard good things about Spook School. They were fun. They didn’t quite work for me. But I will give them another listen

Nice set from Tigercats

Colleen Green played an interesting set. I thought maybe she was touring without her band so there was something missing from her normal sound. But watching videos afterwards, it seems she doesn’t have a band. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. She had some interesting material. I just didn’t feel using an iPad to provide a rhythm section did the material justice.

It’s about 18 months since I last saw a full September Girls set. I loved their first album and thought the beefing up of some of the songs on their last EP improved an already good album. So I was expecting to be blown away tonight. Sadly, I found their set a bit hit and miss.

Tigercats

Allo Darlin’