Chris O'Toole - Live Reviews


MC50

MC50 - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, 12/11/2018

Chris O'Toole at the Shepherd's Bush Empire finds founding member Wayne Kramer's supergroup playing superb tribute to the MC5's classic 1968 debut album 'Kick out the Jams' fifty years after it was released.


Black Angels

Black Angels - Forum, London, 22/9/2017

Chris O'Toole finds much-acclaimed psychedelic rockers the Black Angels unconvincing at a gig at the Forum in London.


Radiophonic Workshop

Radiophonic Workshop - Science Museum, London, 26/6/2017

Chris O'Toole at the Science Museum in London enjoys a night of archival sound effects and TV programme soundtracks from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop


Grandaddy

Grandaddy - Roundhouse, London, 3/4/2017

Chris O'Toole enjoys a wistful and understated set at the Roundhouse in London from critically acclaimed California-formed indie act Grandaddy


Wand

Wand - Boston Music Room, London, 4/11/2016

Chris O' Toole watches Los Angeles-based psychedelic rockers Wand play an eclectic but ultimately unsatisfactory set at the Boston Music Rooms in London


Lightning Bolt

Lightning Bolt - Electric Ballroom, London, 26/11/2015

Chris O' Toole watches American noise rock duo Lightning Bolt play a furious set at the Electric Ballroom in London


Lonelady

Lonelady - Electrowerkz, London, 24/2/2015

Chris O'Toole watches Manchester-based electro folk artist LoneLady, despite initial technical problems, make an energetic return to the stage at the Electrowerkz in London to promote her forthcoming first album in five years, 'Hinterland'


Aristullus

Aristullus - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 23/5/2014

Chris O'Toole watches foemer Galaxie 500 and Luna front man Dean Wareham play a surprisingly increasingly upbeat set at the Islington Assembly Hall in London


Therapy ?

Therapy ? - Scala, London, 9/4/2014

Chris O'Toole at the Scala in London watches Irish alternative rock trio Therapy? play a euphoric set to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their bestselling 1994 second album 'Troublegum'


Okkervil River

Okkervil River - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 27/11/2013

Chris O' Toole watches acclaimed Americana act Okkervil River play a disappointing set at the Islington Assembly Hall in London


Black Pus

Black Pus - Dome, London, 23/9/2013

Black Pus is the solo project of chaotic Rhode Island duo Lightning Bolt drummer Brian Chippendale. Chris O'Toole watches him play a dazzling and surprisingly pop-oriented show at the Dome in London


Moon Duo

Moon Duo - Dome, London, 17/7/2013

Chris O' Toole enjoys a set of blissed out guitar/keyboard rock from San Francisco-based group Moon Duo at a show at the Dome in London


Veronica Lipgloss and the Evil

Veronica Lipgloss and the Evil - Electric Ballroom, London, 5/7/2013

Chris O'Toole finds melodic American noise rock duo Pissed Jeans on dynamic form in a razor sharp, short set at the Electric Ballroom in London


Stereo Total



Chris O' Toole sees reformed post-punk giants Swans play an intense, but ultimately cathartic show at at the KOKO in London


Swans



Chrisn O' Toole watches reformed American post-punks Swans play an intense, but brilliant set at the KOKO in London


EMA

EMA - Scala, London, 15/52012

Chris O' Toole watches EMA, the moniker of Californian singer-songwriter and former Amps for Christ front woman Erika Anderson, play a set of violent, cathartic rock in an intense, but compelling show at the Scala in London


Moonface

Moonface - Cargo, London, 29/5/2012

Chris O'Toole at Cargo in London expresses surprise at Spencer Krug's recent formulaic approach to lyric writing with Moonface despite the fantastical nature of much of his previous work


M Gira

M Gira - Cafe Oto, London, 7/4/2012

Chris O'Toole finds industrial rock outfit Swans' front man to be an apocalyptic and terrifying presence in a quietly intense acoutsic gig at the Cafe Oto in London


Shearwater

Shearwater - Scala, London, 3/4/2012

Chris O'Toole watches still underappreciated dark folk rockers Shearwater play a superb set in their biggest gig to date yet at the Scala in London


Asobi Seksu

Asobi Seksu - XOYO, London, 19/4/2011

At a show to promote their latest album 'Fluoresence' with a new robust line-up, Chris O' Toole at the XOYO in London finds New York shoegazing band Asobi Seksu failing to build on or create new ground