Eels
Despite songs about death and suicide, Anthony Middleton finds the Eels to be surprisingly fun at a show at the Brixton Academy in London
Willy Vlautin
At the London Roundhouse, Anthony Middleton admires Richmond Fontaine singer Willy Vlautin's honesty, humour and insight at a show in which he both played songs solo and also performed readings from his new novel, 'Lean On Pete'
Simone Felice
At the Hawley Arms in London, Anthony Middleton watches the Duke and the King front man Simon Felice put on an intimate and acoutisc rare solo performance
Stephen Fretwell
Anthony Middleton watches Manchester-based singer-songwriter Stephen Fretwell at the Luminaire in London play an occasionally mesmerising set of acoustic, but proving too engaging and ultimately struggling to control his audience
Graham Coxon
After Blur's reunion shows of this summer, Anthony Middleton watches guitarist Graham Coxon at the Barbican in London play an excellent solo set with a backing band that inlcudes in its line-up folk elder statesman Martin Carty and also Robyn Hitchcock
Duke and the King
Anthony Middleton is impressed by rising Americana act the Duke and the King's infectious brand of Americana at show at the Scala in London
Daniel Johnston
At a show at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London, Anthony Middleton watches Daniel Johnston play an erratic, but heartfelt and ultimately compelling set
Howe Gelb
At the London Luminaire, Anthony Middleton watches Howe Gelb manage to pull off the rare trick of being both consumately entertaining and also genuinely experimental and inspirational
Bruce Springsteen
Anthony Midleton watches a superb set from sixties survivor Marianne Faithfull to promote her new album of covers, 'Easy Come, Easy Go', at the Royal Festival Hall in London
Parish Music Box
At the Bedford in London, Anthony Middleton finds that recent Caffe Nero band of the month Parish Music Box able to tap into nerves with their smooth and melodic blend of country rock
Blur
At an intimate gig at Goldsmiths Collge, and their first London show since they reformed, Anthony Middleton watches Blur play a set of surprising emotional and artistic integrity
Eagles of Death Metal
At the Brixton Academy in London Anthony Middleton quickly finds tiresome American garage rock act Eagles of Death Metal on-stage theatricals and leaden humour
Fleet Foxes
At the Roundhouse in London Anthony Middleton discovers that much hyped Seattle-based group the Fleet Foxes' veneer of innocent charm has hidden and unchanneled depths in a perfect evening of music
Herman Dune
Of continental European and Israeli heritage, Herman Dune are one of the leading lights in the Anti-Folk scene. Anthony Middleton enjoys a fun-filled show of unlikely influences at the Scala in London
Miscellaneous
Anthony Middleton watches Scottish folk artist James Yorkston, although suffering from sound problems, play a set of warm and humour to a rapt audience at the magical venue of St Giles' Church in London
Unbending Trees
Fronted by ex-friar Kristof Hajos, Hungarian group the Unbending Trees have recently released their debut album on Everything But the Girl's Ben Watt's Strange Feeling label. Anthony Middleton is impressed by the impassioned intensity of their performance at a show at the Luminaire in London
Shearwater
In the sedate environment of St Giles' church in central London, Chris O' Toole watches acclaimed progressive folk rockers play an emotive, thoroughly engaging set
Fujiya and Miyagi
At a show on their latest tour at the Bush Hall in London, Anthony Middleton finds Fuyiya and Miyagi's wispy electronica intriguing, but also often monotonous
Frightened Rabbit
At a gig at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen as part of the Concrete and Glass festival, Anthony Middleton finds Scottish band's Frightened Rabbit's passionate, desperate and often foul mouthed tales of inadequacy having a lot to offer, but largely lost on an unresponsive crowd
Dodos
Anthony Middleton finds San Francisco group the Dodos a band of contrasts, but enjoys their percussion-heavy tribal folk blues at a show at the ULU in London
Shearwater
Anthony Middleton finds Shearwater's merging of folk and classical sensibilities with rock to have magical quality at a gig at the Bush Hall in London
Sex Pistols
At the end of a summer of playing festivals, Anthony Middleton finds that the reformed Sex Pistols thirty years on still having a lot to offer at a one-off gig at the Hammersmith Apollo in London
Mudhoney
New Pennyblackmusic writer Anthony Middleton is thrilled by Leonard Cohen at his first London show in fourteen years in a happy, thoughtful and emotional evening at the O2
Wave Pictures
At a humid night at the Borderline in London, Anthony Middleton watches Midlands indie pop guitar trio the Wave Pictures play an enthralling set of offbeat songwriting genius