Gigs That You Need To Go To #1: June 22, 2014 - June 29, 2014
Right then. My first feature for the site. Since I'm such a live music fan, I'd thought I'd launch this segment. Anyway, these are the five gigs in the South West that you should be at this week. There's always a lot going on in Bristol, Exeter and beyond - so get on down to these gigs. We promise you'll enjoy them.
#1 - Mongol Horde, Palehorse and Oxygen Thief - Bristol, The Fleece - 22nd June (Tonight)
Frank Turner has been making waves at arena level for a couple of years now, as a very successful and supremely talented "half-arsed country singer" across the country. What people don't know is that Frank used to be a punk singer for band "Million Dead". The punk side of Frank hadn't been exhibited for several years, before Mongol Horde's self-titled, debut album came out. Far from being a Million Dead grave robbery or a copycat attempt to sell a few extra records, Turner et al's new record is surprisingly vicious and very well written. Particular credit goes to the track "Winky Face: The Mark of The Moron" for pre-empting the Emoji debate and taking the correct standpoint on it. Anyway, they're at The Fleece - they're sure to put on a riotous show, so go and see them.
Cost: £14 + Booking - Tickets
#2 - Wretched Soul, Kill All The Gentlemen and King Creature - Exeter, The Cavern - Monday 23rd June
I've covered Kill All The Gentlemen for previous sites before, and I'm strongly of the opinion that they're one of the most impressive bands to come out of the South West in a long time. This time, they return to the Cavern Club with Wretched Soul, a band that I'd best describes as thrash with some death mixed in. They're a highly well drilled bunch of guys, and "Veronica" released last year is a thrash opus. Also on the bill are King Creature, a tight groove metal outfit with a great vocalist (a compliment I'd also extend to the other two acts). Definitely worth your money - a night of top metal, guaranteed for less than a pint!
Cost: £3 (well worth a punt) - Tickets on the door.
#3 - Paolo Nutini - Bristol, Amphitheatre/Waterfront Square - Wednesday 25th June
I've been a fan of Nutini since These Streets came out in July 2006. Another good album followed with Sunny Side Up, but Nutini has outdone himself with Caustic Love. The album is bluesy, moody and totally brilliant. The good news is, he's coming to Bristol. The bad news is that it is incredibly, astronomically expensive. I've only spent above £40 on two tickets, Green Day and The Prodigy. This ticket is £76.99. It must be a special gig. But hey, if you've got the cash...
Cost: £76.99 + Booking - Tickets
#4 - Cate Le Bon - Exeter, The Phoenix - Friday 27th June
A Welsh songwriter who sings in both English and Welsh, Cate Le Bon has supported the Manic Street Preachers and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals fame. The acoustic indie she performs is well written, her voice is quirky and unique, and her latest album Mug Museum is surprisingly good for a genre I'm not really well acquainted with. She's at The Phoenix on Friday, and she's sure to put on a decent show with her off-kilter rock.
Cost: £9 + Booking - Tickets
#5 - Gary Numan - Exeter, The Phoenix - Saturday 28th June
What more can be said about Gary Numan? He maintains a cult following despite having peaked in the early eighties, and next weekend he also comes to the Phoenix, the day after Cate Le Bon. The people who say they aren't going just to listen to the likes of Cars and Are 'Friends' Electric are lying, but his new album Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) is a creepy, moody affair with Numan's synth game as strong as ever on the new record as on stuff from his prime. The gig is sold out, but there are always tickets going to be floating about, so keep an eye out. If you're going, enjoy it!
Cost: SOLD OUT - Expect to pay upwards of £25 for a ticket.
#1 - Mongol Horde, Palehorse and Oxygen Thief - Bristol, The Fleece - 22nd June (Tonight)
Frank Turner has been making waves at arena level for a couple of years now, as a very successful and supremely talented "half-arsed country singer" across the country. What people don't know is that Frank used to be a punk singer for band "Million Dead". The punk side of Frank hadn't been exhibited for several years, before Mongol Horde's self-titled, debut album came out. Far from being a Million Dead grave robbery or a copycat attempt to sell a few extra records, Turner et al's new record is surprisingly vicious and very well written. Particular credit goes to the track "Winky Face: The Mark of The Moron" for pre-empting the Emoji debate and taking the correct standpoint on it. Anyway, they're at The Fleece - they're sure to put on a riotous show, so go and see them.
Cost: £14 + Booking - Tickets
#2 - Wretched Soul, Kill All The Gentlemen and King Creature - Exeter, The Cavern - Monday 23rd June
I've covered Kill All The Gentlemen for previous sites before, and I'm strongly of the opinion that they're one of the most impressive bands to come out of the South West in a long time. This time, they return to the Cavern Club with Wretched Soul, a band that I'd best describes as thrash with some death mixed in. They're a highly well drilled bunch of guys, and "Veronica" released last year is a thrash opus. Also on the bill are King Creature, a tight groove metal outfit with a great vocalist (a compliment I'd also extend to the other two acts). Definitely worth your money - a night of top metal, guaranteed for less than a pint!
Cost: £3 (well worth a punt) - Tickets on the door.
#3 - Paolo Nutini - Bristol, Amphitheatre/Waterfront Square - Wednesday 25th June
I've been a fan of Nutini since These Streets came out in July 2006. Another good album followed with Sunny Side Up, but Nutini has outdone himself with Caustic Love. The album is bluesy, moody and totally brilliant. The good news is, he's coming to Bristol. The bad news is that it is incredibly, astronomically expensive. I've only spent above £40 on two tickets, Green Day and The Prodigy. This ticket is £76.99. It must be a special gig. But hey, if you've got the cash...
Cost: £76.99 + Booking - Tickets
#4 - Cate Le Bon - Exeter, The Phoenix - Friday 27th June
A Welsh songwriter who sings in both English and Welsh, Cate Le Bon has supported the Manic Street Preachers and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals fame. The acoustic indie she performs is well written, her voice is quirky and unique, and her latest album Mug Museum is surprisingly good for a genre I'm not really well acquainted with. She's at The Phoenix on Friday, and she's sure to put on a decent show with her off-kilter rock.
Cost: £9 + Booking - Tickets
#5 - Gary Numan - Exeter, The Phoenix - Saturday 28th June
What more can be said about Gary Numan? He maintains a cult following despite having peaked in the early eighties, and next weekend he also comes to the Phoenix, the day after Cate Le Bon. The people who say they aren't going just to listen to the likes of Cars and Are 'Friends' Electric are lying, but his new album Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) is a creepy, moody affair with Numan's synth game as strong as ever on the new record as on stuff from his prime. The gig is sold out, but there are always tickets going to be floating about, so keep an eye out. If you're going, enjoy it!
Cost: SOLD OUT - Expect to pay upwards of £25 for a ticket.