Pennyblackmusic Presents: Johny Brown (Band of Holy Joy) - With Hector Gannet and Andy Thompson @The Water Rats, London, Saturday 25, May, 2024
Blur
On home turf for the second of two Wembley Stadium shows, Blur are on exceptional, energized, poignant form. Richard Lewis reviews
Thirty years since a struggling London indie band issued an album
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
American icon Bruce Springsteen shows zero signs of slowing down on a lengthy, wide-ranging set at Hyde Park for British Summer Time. Richard Lewis reviews
Ruts DC
Richard Lewis catches punk band Ruts DC delivering an energetic set at Liverpool’s O2 Academy
Rolling Stones
At the opening UK date of their Sixty Tour, and their first visit to Liverpool in over fifty years, The Rolling Stones’ retain their title of The World’s Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band. Richard Lewis reviews
Garnetts
Richard Lewis reviews Liverpool alt. rock quartet The Garnetts live on home turf at the legendary Jacaranda in Liverpool, supported by indie rockers Peak Low.
Paul Weller
On the road to promote new LP 'Fat Pop (Volume One)' and celebrate the anniversary of 1990s classic 'Stanley Road', Paul Weller shows no signs of slowing down on record or on stage at a capacity Liverpool Olympia. Richard Lewis reviews
Primitives
Indie pop progenitors The Primitives roll back the years with a career-scanning set delivered in breathless fashion. Richard Lewis reviews
Ben Ottewell
Richard Lewis watches Gomez lead singer Ben Ottewell turn in an excellent solo performance at Leaf in Liverpool.
Happy Mondays
Richard Lewis enjoys a set of classic hits and more obscure early tracks from the Happy Mondays at the Liverpool date on what might be their last full-scale tour for a while.
Ride
On the final tour date in support of acclaimed new LP ‘This Is Not A Safe Place’ shoegaze legends Ride turn in a storming set on Election Night at a sold-out Ritz in Manchester. Richard Lewis reviews.
Dandy Warhols
Richard Lewis watches Portland, Oregon alt. rock legends the Dandy Warhols celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary by playing an eclectic and career-spanning set at the Albert Hall in Manchester.
Lemonheads
Richard Lewis at the Academy in Manchester watches US alt. rock legends the Lemonheads play a rapidfire set of tracks from across their lengthy career.
Stranglers
Richard Lewis watches punk legends the Stranglers showcase their impressive live firepower at a full capacity, extremely hot O2 Academy in Liverpool with Northern Irish rockers Therapy? in support.
Happy Mondays
Richard Lewis finds seminal Manchester band Happy Mondays rolling back the years with an all-conquering Greatest Hits set at the Liverpool Olympia.
Ride
Richard Lewis watches shoegazing pioneers Ride turn in an impressive set in Liverpool to plug excellent comeback set ‘Weather Diaries’ with rising London alt. rock crew Ulrika Spacek in support.
Killers
Richard Lewis watches the Killers, visiting the city they call their ‘musical spiritual home’, turn in a stunning career-spanning set to a rapturous capacity crowd at Manchester Arena.
Jesus And Mary Chain
Noise rock pioneers The Jesus and Mary Chain turn in an excellent career-spanning set at the O2 Academy, Liverpool in support of recent LP ‘Damage and Joy’. Richard Lewis reviews.
Evan Dando
Richard Lewis finds Lemonheads mainstay Evan Dando is ramshackle and superb in equal measure at Manchester Gorilla on a tour to support the reissue of 2002 solo LP ‘Baby I’m Bored’
Jesus And Mary Chain
Richard Lewis finds the Jesus and Mary Chain, who are currently touring 'Damage and Joy' their first new album in nineteen years, to be on formidable form at a near-capacity Manchester Academy
Blue Aeroplanes
Richard Lewis reviews Bristolian art rock stalwarts the Blue Aeroplanes' highly impressive return to the stage on the opening night of their first UK tour in years
Black Grape
Richard Lewis watches Happy Mondays' front man Shun Ryder's other band Black Grape make an excellent return to form in a comeback gig at the O2 Academy in Liverpool
Embrace
Richard Lewis watches resurgent quintet Embrace turn in an impressive career-spanning hits set at the beautiful Liverpool Olympia
Alarm
Marking their 35th year as a band, the Alarm plays to a sizeable crowd supporting the Stranglers at the Liverpool Academy
Happy Mondays
Richard Lewis watches Happy Mondays, touring their classic album 'Pills 'n’ Thrills and Bellyaches' for its twenty-fifth anniversary, play a stunning show at a sold out Liverpool Academy
Scott and Charlene's Wedding
Richard Lewis is riveted by Australian-formed but New York-based group Scott and Charlene's Wedding's shambolic but yet surprisingly tight brand of alternative rock at a show on their first UK tour at the Shipping Forecast in Liverpool
Miscellaneous
Richard Lewis is impressed by a dazzling debut outing for the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, an all-day event headlined by Dead Skeletons, Wolf People, Mugstar and Time and Space Machine
Miscellaneous
Richard Lewis at the three day Liverpool Sound City festival enjoys sets amongst others from Mystery Jets, Dan Croll, Willis Earl Beal and James Vincent McMorrow
Pinkunoizu:
Richard Lewis watches Danish post rockers Pinkunoizu play an unconvincing and messy show at the Shipping Forecast in Liverpool
Miscellaneous
Richard Lewis attends the GIT Awards, which dubbed 'the Scouse Mercury Prize', saw performances from ten of the twelve acts on the shortlist
Francois and the Atlas Mountains
Richard Lewis watches French act Francois and the Atlas Mountains, using their own odd instrumentation at their debut gig in Liverpool, play a complex, but enthralling set
Arctic Monkeys
Richard Lewis watches the Arctic Monkeys play a fiery and crowd-pleasing show at the Liverpool Echo Arena
Miscellaneous
At the three day Liverpool Sound City, Richard Lewis watches sets from among many other the Kooks, Cast, Miles Kane, Dinosaur Pile-Up and Fly with Vampires