Band Weblogs

Thursday night on the Cowley Road, Oxford. It’s drizzly outside but warm in the O2 Academy, and as we enter we’re greeted by a steward who informs us of the forthcoming entertainment and hopes we enjoy the evening. So for some ale and to find a good spot to stand to see Little Comets.

What is there to do on a Wednesday evening in Oxford? Watch TV? Go down to the pub? See the cricket? None of the above. Oh well, it’s raining in June again, constant pitter patter. But hey look! The Damned are in town and they’ve brought some friends with them …

You know when you’re drinking, and you find yourself somewhere you never planned on being? Well that happens to me quite often these days. I had no idea I would end up at The Cellar Bar in Oxford last Saturday for instance …

Photo Credit: Dave Tommo. After listening to Benjamin Taylor’s music on his website and MySpace page, I was quite interested to see him perform live. Ben is Carly Simon and James Taylor’s son, so the idea of seeing him and hearing him in person was intriguing …

Last Sunday night I went to see InLight at The Bullingdon Arms in Oxford. After watching two members of the band play an “acoustic” set last month at The Jericho Tavern when they supported Baskery, I was looking forward to seeing them as a full band …

With her upcoming tour supporting Girls Aloud and her debut album release this summer, London based singer Emma Deigman is one to watch this year – and Dave and I had the pleasure of meeting her at The Regal Room in London last week …

It was good timing to have been able to, on the same day, review Pete Doherty’s upcoming debut solo album, Grace/Wasteland, and then later that night – last night – to go out and see Mongrel play live at the O2 Academy (was Zodiac; Carling Academy) in Oxford …

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Alice Russell show at Thekla in Bristol, England. What a great excuse for a road trip – to travel from Oxford, on a mission to see this up and coming British Soul singer, to a city that I hadn’t yet been to, but had heard so much about …

Leonard Cohen review, O2 Arena, London – 14 November 2008. Have you ever seen Annie Hall? If yes, then you’ll recall the scene where Alvy dates a music journalist played by Shelley Duvall and they emerge from a Stones concert, Duvall’s character rhapsodising about how the gig was ‘transplendent’. Well before you go any further, I should confess: that was me, after witnessing the legend that is Leonard Cohen in London …

Last night (4 November, 2008) I witnessed two sets from Martha Wainwright and her support act Angus & Julia Stone that couldn’t be more different …

In keeping with the history of glamorous pop trios, The Pipettes have undergone what they call in the business, a line up change. In that the band are effectively a brand new entity, with none of the original members left …

Truck Festival – Photo: Gina Policelli. 2008 marked the eleventh Truck Festival in the normally sleepy Oxfordshire village of Steventon. Not to be mistaken for an event celebrating all things of the vehicular variety, Truck represents one of the precious few independent music festivals …

Last night I went to the Reckless Sons and The Splendour show at Madam JoJo’s in Soho, London. Before the show, we were having drinks across the street from Madam JoJo’s, upstairs at The O Bar …

Last Saturday I was at the Temple Bar in Oxford and a very young band by the name of Behaveya from Wycombe/Worcester was playing. The irony in all of this is that members of Behaveya are ages 10-17, and yet they were playing …

Last week I had the pleasure of watching up and coming band The Fullertons play at The Jericho Tavern in Oxford …