Hugh Cornwell
On the road to support his recent ‘Moments Of Madness’ LP the former Stranglers frontman, long since turned solo artist Hugh Cornwell shows no sign of slowing down.
Luke Haines and Peter Buck
Denzil Watson at The Brudenell in Leeds enjoys a self-deprecating and black-humoured set of eccentric rock from Luke Haines and Peter Buck.
Stranglers
Following the loss of founder member, keyboardist Dave Greenfield and Covid related rescheduling, punk legends The Stranglers make a blazing return to the stage in Nottingham. Denzil Watson reviews.
Jesus And Mary Chain
At a concert at the Albert Hall in Manchester featuring classics from their brooding 1987 second album, ‘Darklands',’ Denzil Watson finds The Jesus and Mary Chain rendering a refreshingly subtle and dynamic range.
Little Man Tate
Denzil Watson watches indie guitar act Little Man Tate make a triumphant return after a twelve year absence across two nights at the Sheffield O2 Arena.
Spear Of Destiny
Denzil Watson at Yardbirds in Grimsby watches an emotive performance from Spear of Destiny to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their third album, 'World Service'.
New Order
Denzil Watson watches New Order play a gripping set at Heaton Park in Manchester in their first home city gig in over four years.
Dubioza Kolektiv
Denzil Watson watches Balkan ska/punk collective Dubioza Kolektiv play an energetic set at the Academy 3 in Manchester.
Patrick Duff
Denzil Watson witnesses a raw and intimate Sheffield gig by former Strangelove frontman Patrick Duff.
Stranglers
Denzil Watson at the Apollo in Manchester watches the Stranglers play a powerful and often surprising set on the last night of their recent UK tour.
Theatre Of Hate
Theatre Of Hate
Denzil Watson watches reformed 80's post punks Theatre of Hate, despite frontman Kirk Brandon battling a stomach bug, play an impressive set at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham.
Dubiosza Kolektiv
Denzil Watson has fallen in deep, deep like with Balkan ska-rap-punk-Balkan folk act Dubioza Kolektiv. They deliver a barnstorming set in the basement of Manchester Academy.
British Sea Power
Denzil Watson watches British Sea Power play an eccentric but brilliant headline set to commemorate the centenary of the original People's Concert at the Albert Hall in Manchester
Paul Draper
Denzil Watson at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds watches ex-Mansun vocalist Paul Draper make an understated but impressive return after an absence of fourteen years to full live work to promote 'Spooky Action', his debut solo album.
Kirk Brandon
Denzil Watson catches the opening night of Kirk Brandon taking his extensive back-catalogue of songs with Spear of Destiny and Theatre of Hate on the road in stripped-down form with vocals, guitar and cello from Sam Sansbury.
Stranglers
Denzil Watson watches the Stranglers play a powerful set of their hits and also little known material at Rock City in Nottingham
Spear Of Destiny
Denzil Watson watches 80's cult band Spear of Destiny play an explosive set at the Greystones in Sheffield to promote their latest album, '31'
Paul Westerberg
Denzil Watson watches the reformed New Order, even without the presence of iconic bassist Peter Hook, play an ultimately magical set at the Apollo in Manchester
Billy Bragg
Having already played one gig at an Occupy Sheffield demo earlier that day, Denzil Watson finds Billy Bragg to be on still fiery form at a show at the Sheffield Leadmill
Jessie J
Denzil Watson finds Magazine to be as relevant now as they were in their late 70's/early 80's heyday at show to promote their first album in twenty eight years, 'No Thyself', at the Plug in Sheffield
Young Knives
Denzil Watson enjoys eccentric former Mercury Music Prize nominees Young Knives' refreshingly unique brand of indie rock at a show at the Venue in Derby
Arctic Monkeys
In the first of two home shows in Sheffield in two years, Denzil Watson watches local heroes the Arctic Monkeys play an explosive, yet playful set to promote their new 'Suck It and See' album
Magnetic Fields
At the Leadmill in Sheffield Denzil Watson watches Bad Lieutenant, the post-New Order band of Bernard Sumner, play a distinctive set which unfolds to include his past exploits as well as his new group's first album
Last Shadow Puppets
At a homecoming show before they return to their day jobs in the Arctic Monkeys and the Rascals, Denzil Watson finds Alex Turner and Miles Kane's side project the Last Shadow Puppets' orchestral pop to be absolutely magical
Amanda Palmer
With her foot in plaster after an accident one gig into a European tour, Denzil Watson sees Amanda Palmer, one half of Brechtian punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, go against the odds and play a fantastic set at the Sheffield Academy
That Uncertain Feeling
In their first gig in fourteen years at the Dirty Water Club in London , Denzil Watson finds innovative Derry five-piece That Petrol Emotion to have lost none of their chemistry or explosive energy
Artery
Massively underrated at the time, Sheffield new wave band Artery broke up in 1985 and included a young Jarvis Cocker amongst their fans. Reformed especially to play Cocker's Meltdown Festival, Denzil Watson watches them play a creditable, but intense warm up gig at the Sheffield Boardwalk
Arctic Monkeys
At a packed out, instantly sold out second date at the Sheffield Leadmill, Denzil Watson watches Britain's biggest indie band the Arctic Monkeys play an unforgettable set to their home crowd
Pulp
In the second night of a two evening residency at Sheffield's the Plug, Denzil Watson watches former Pulp star Jarvis Cocker, in his first home town gigs in eight years, play a stunning set
Luke Haines
Luke Haines has never chosen easy targets on which to base his song writing. Denzil Watson finds that the former Auteurs and Black Box Recorder star on typically abrasive form in an empassioned performance at the Boardwalk in Sheffield
Arctic Monkeys
With tickets exchanging hands at £80 each outside, and hysteria at fever pitch inside, Denzil Watson watches Sheffield's the Arctic Monkeys in the week they have reached number one play their final British show of the year at new hometown venue The Plug
Richard Hawley
In the two years since he last played his native Sheffield Richard Hawley has toured the world with REM. Back on his home patch to promote his third album 'Coles Corner', Denzil Watson watches him play an unashamedly retro and shorn of pretence set
Codeine
At the new Wireless Festival in Hyde Park in London, Denzil Watson watches varying sets from New Order, Moby, the Bravery, Graham Coxon and others
Wonder Stuff
18 years on from last seeing them, Denzil Watson at the Sheffield Leadmill finds that time has been kind to the reformed Wonder Stuff and vocalist and chief protagonist, back on the road to promote their new album 'Escape from Rubbish Island'
Stranglers
It's been fourteen years since Hugh Cornwell walked out on the Stranglers. Denzil Watson finds time to be the greatest mellower, and Cornwell, with a new autobiography out, paying greater tribute to his former band than in his previous live shows
Miscellaneous
..while on its last day Denzil Watson watches performances among others to the 5, 6, 7, 8s, the New York Dolls, Franz Ferdinand, Morrissey, the Libertines and the White Stripes
Violent Femmes
Seminal cult act the Violent Femmes' recent Nottingham show was downsized from the bigger Rock City to the smaller Rescue Rooms. In intimate circumstances, Denzil Watson pays witness to something very unique
British Sea Power
At Club Zero in Sheffield Denzil Watson watches the much acclaimed British Sea Power celebrate the finer points of Great British eccentricity and make it an art form
Stranglers
Since Hugh Cornwall left 13 years ago, the Stranglers have been written off many times. Back on the comeback trail with a stunning new album and replacement Paul Roberts, Denzil Watson finds they have convincingly managed to reinvent themselves
Undertones
Nearly 30 years on after first forming, and back with a new frontman Paul McLoone, the reformed Undertones still manage to "sound fresh as daisies" in a set that merges the old with the new at the Sheffield Casbah
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
With back-lighting, dry ice and regulation black, Denzil Watson finds himself happily transported back to 1986 at a recent Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gig at the Sheffield University Octagon
Miscellaneous
Denzil Watson meanwhile makes his annual day trip to Reading's counterpart in Leeds and watches mixed performances by the Libertines, the Kills. Doves, Beck, Black Motorcycle Rebel Club and Blur
Richard Hawley
Having previously postponed his hometown gig twice due to a finger injury, it was third time lucky for Richard Hawley. Denzil Watson finds his back-to-the-basics approach to music and unashamedly retro set has much to merit it
Buzzcocks
Nearly 27 years on since the release of their first seminal 'Spiral Scratch' EP, the Buzzcocks are still going strong and are back with what many say is their best LP since the 70's. Denzil Watson watches them play am excellent show in Sheffield
Six By Seven
Despite recently being dropped by Mantra Records, shortly after releasing their critically acclaimed third album, 'The Way I Feel Today', Six by Seven have lost none of their passion.. Denzil Watson catches them in intense form at the Sheffield Leadmill
Damned
Always chaotic, the Damned have been making musical mayhem for twenty five years now . Denzil Watson at the Sheffield Leadmill finds that they have not mellowed in the slightest with age