Mountain Goats
Daniel Cressey watches Americana act the Mountain Goats play a bleak but compelling show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London to promote their latest album 'Beat the Champ' on which front man John Darnielle’s songwriting focuses on the professional wrestling world
Justin Townes Earle
Dan Cressey finds Justin Townes Earle, despite his mournful form of alt-country, to be surprisingly charming in an accomplished performance at the Union Chapel in London
Felice Brothers
Dan Cressey finds Americana outfit the Felice Brothers to be a contender for the all American everyman band of choice at a superb show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London
Osaka Ramones
Dan Cressey at Cargo on London watches Japanese all female punk trio Shonen Knife under the moniker of the Osaka Ramones play an incredible set of Ramones covers...
Magnetic North
Despite poor sound quality and the cramped feel of the Islington Academy in London, Dan Cressey finds Welsh punk band Exit International, who were playing their first tour, to be a better band than the night deserved
David Garland
Dan Cressey watches the Felice Bothers combine old-time instrumental sing-a-longs and experimentalism in an ultimately triumphant gig at the KOKO in London
Computers
Dan Cressey is impressed by the Computers' explosive combination of fifties rock and punk hardcore in a gig in support to Pulled Apart By Horses at the Electric Ballroom in London
Dawes
Dan Cressey sees American folk rock act Dawes perform a heartfelt and enthralling set at the Brixton Windmill in London
Billy Bragg
Dan Cressey finds that supergroup King Mob, which includes Glen Matlock and Chris Spedding in its line-up, are the most exciting new rock band of the year at their first gig at the 229 in London
Mountain Goats
Despite tackling issues such as loss, despair, drugs and madness, Daniel Cressey at the KOKO in London finds that Californian act the Mountain Goats continuing to be oddly comforting as well as totally compelling
Iron And Wine
With front man Sam Beam choked with cold, Dan Cressey watches Iron and Wine play a somehwat shaky set at the Roundhouse in London
JT and the Clouds
On a Sunday evening at the Half Moon in Putney, Dan Cressey watches soul/R 'n' B-influenced group JT and the Clouds, in front of an all-seated crowd, many of them eating meals, play an invigorating, if somewhat ramshackle set
Miscellaneous
In an evening that was postponed from April as a result of the volcanic ash disruption, Dan Cressey enjoys a night of death metal from Scandinavian bands, Solstafir, Thunderstone and Kvelertak
Legendary Shack Shakers
At the Garage in London Daniel Cressey enjoys a manic set of blues punk from energetic Nashville-based rockers, the Legendary Shack Shakers
M Ward
At a show at the Borderline in London and the only British date on his current European tour, Dan Cressey is captivated by M Ward's unique and unfeasibly beautiful blend of alt-folk and alt-country
Apocalyptica
A five piece Finnish group consisting of four cellists and a drummer, Apocalyptica play surprisingly faithful renditions of metal classics. While moving close towards kitsch at times, Daniel Cressey finds them rocking hard at the London Astoria
Michael Franti and Spearhead
At the London KOKO Dan Cressey finds reggae-pop act Michael Franti and Spearhead's happy vibes and positivity both surprisingly infectious and winning
Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
Despite the pessimistic and miserablist leanings of Californian musician Owen Ashworth, Dan Cressey is both charmed and enjoys his solo electronic project Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's show at the Bush Hall in London
Murcof
Dan Cressey watches Californian musician play an enthralling set of his ethereal, abstract electronica against a background of specially commissioned abstract films at the Corsica in London
Chris Morris
Dan Cressey watches folk-rocker Chris TT play a stroppy, but shambolic set at 93 Feet East in London
Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
The Agnostic Gospel Mountain Choir are obviously capable of serious force with their fierce gospe-esquel blues, but at the 12 Bar in London Dan Cressey finds them on strangely subdued form
New Pornographers
Dan Cressey believes Canadian group the New Pornographers to be one of the most exciting bands around, but finds their set almost destroyed by abysmal sound quality at a show at the KOKO in London
Mogwai
In a gig at London's Somerset House, Dan Cressey watches Scots post-rockers Mogwai play a soaring and relentlessly powerful set
Ghost
Over in Britain to promote their ninth album 'In Stormy Nights', Daniel Cressey watches durable Japanese group Ghost perform a hypnotic set of swirling psychedelic rock
Dan Sartain
Dan Cressey finds acclaimed Alabama-based singer-songwriter Dan Sartain to be like a reincarnated Bill Haley in a fantastic show at the 100 Club in London
Frank Turner
At a show at the Borderline in London, Dan Cressey finds punk-turned-folk singer and former Million Dead front man Frank Turner's vitriolic form of song writing as brutally sharp as ever, but the back slapping between him and his audience somewhat muting the impact of his performance
Sound Team
At the London KOKO, while waiting for delayed headliners the Walkmen, Daniel Cressey finds support band the Sound Team's syth-driven unashamed pop the silver lining in the cloud
Matchbox Romance
Daniel Cressey watches American punks Matchbook Romance play a safe set to a largelly early adolescent audience at London's Brixton Academy
Aggrolites
Daniel Cressey watches American ska/reggae act the Aggrolites play a stunning set to the sadly only partly-filled 333 Club in London
Miscellaneous
Rock god extraordinaire Jesse Hughes recently brought his Eagles of Death Metal to London. Daniel Cressey is transfixed at their show there at the Carling Academy
National
Often classified as an alt.country band, Daniel Cressey, however, finds a digusied pop-sensibility in American band the National's first-rate show at the Koko in London
Million Dead
Never afraid to show his influences, former Million Dead frontman Frank Turner incorporates both country/folk numbers and also acoustic anthemic rockers. Dan Cressey enjoys an energetic, but short set at London's Lock 17
Mountain Goats
Family conflict, drunkenness and unrequited love affairs are familar subject matter for indie guitar rockers the Mountain Goats. At a gig at the London Scala, Dan Cressey , however, finds them also to have a riotous sense of humour
Sunshine
Dan Cressey watches T Model Ford live up to his reputation as "the boss of the blues" by putting on a sprightly performance at the London Spitz's new Festival of Blues
Dwarves
American shock rockers the Dwarves are the sort of act most people feel that they should have grown out of by now. Daniel Cressey finds them able "to carry it all off, blasting through their rock posturing in a hugely entertaining way"
Holly Golightly
"Holly Golightly is an artist so determined to avoid being modern that she was still recording albums that weren’t in stereo in the 90's." Daniel Cressey finds 'her retro obsession...far from slavish ' at a chaotic but compelling show in London
Miscellaneous
The latest recruits to the Digital Hardcore label, Panik DHH are enough to send Slipknot running for their mothers. Daniel Cressey watches them transform the London Garage into "a soundscape of white noise, black noise and just plain noise"
Bouncing Souls
On a hot night in the surroundings of the unsalubrious London Garage, Daniel Cressey watches American punks the Bouncing Souls show off their particulary twisted brand of humour to their hardcore audience
Miscellaneous
Now in its 30th year, Bristol’s Ashton Court Festival is one of the more under-rated of British musical festivals. Over the course of a hot weekend Daniel Cressey enjoys and intriguing mixture of local annd not-so-local bands
Miscellaneous
A band with a title like Audio Karate seem guaranteed to give your ears a good pounding. Daniel Cressey finds them thankfully living up to their name at the London Barfly
Miscellaneous
All-girl rock ‘n’ rollers the 5,6,7,8’s now seem guaranteed success after their appearance in the first 'Kill Bill' film. Daniel Cressey watches them play a snappy set at the London Dirty Water Club
Features
Tennessee pop rock act the Features recently played a headlining British tour. In the newly air-conditioned and now smoke-free London 100 Club, Daniel Cressey finds them able to maintain a distinct edge
Jesse Sykes And Sweet Hereafter
Melancholic singer-songwriter Jesse Sykes struggles with equipment problems at the London Borderline, but Daniel Cressey finds her able to turn it to her advantage and to perfect the art of misery
Mountain Goats
Lo fi act the Mountain Goats have gained a strong reputation for their songs "of catchy, alt-country bitterness". Daniel Cressey watches them play "a wonderfully intimate gig" at the London ICA