In a week defined by the rescue of 33 Chilean miners, London welcomed their country-mates Panico to our shores. Having recently released their Kick album, they confirmed their brilliance as a live band, appearing at Club Motherfucker's south of the river debut at Corsica Studios. But that was last week. That's history. Let's think about the future. These are some of the best gigs coming up this week.
Gigs Of The Week: 18-24 Oct
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – The Slaughtered Lamb, London – 18 Oct
Twenty-one year old York native Leftwich recently landed in our consciousness with the gentle, acoustic swirl of his single, Atlas Hands. Having supported the likes of I Am Kloot and Fionn Regan, first impressions are of a sensitive soul with a keen ear for a melody fitting neatly into the Elliot Smith/Jose Gonzales singer/songwriter mould. This week will also find him in Glasgow, York and Oxford.
More details on his MySpace.
Joe Satriani – Hammersmith Apollo, London - 19 Oct
Those who like their guitar a bit more raucous should head to one of Satriani’s dates this week. Founder and mainstay of the epic axe-wielding act G3, he’s regarded as a technical wizard in his genre, and we can probably blame the air guitar trend squarely on him and his rock legend friends (Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett are among those he used to teach).
With his supergroup Chickenfoot between albums, not one to sit about he’s here on the back of Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards, his 14th solo album release. His tour also takes him to Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Glasgow and Birmingham.
Here's his website.
Yeasayer – Roundhouse, London – 21 Oct
Yeasayer’s second album Odd Blood has been one of 2010’s most enjoyable pleasures. Shrugging off any difficult second album concerns they reemerged with an invigorated new upbeat pop direction and a string of addictive singles. A safe set of hands in a live setting, these are the Brooklyn band’s biggest UK headlining dates this year, and will also include stops in Dublin, Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Yeasayer's website.
These New Puritans – Barbican Hall, London – 23 Oct
The idea behind this concert is to recreate the sound of Hidden, one of the defining albums of 2010 as authentically as possible in a live setting. The 4-piece from Southend-on-Sea will be accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia, with a 15-piece brass and woodwind ensemble being combined with the rhythm of giant Japanese taiko drums to try to find the same dark, rhythmic and boundary-pushing sound. This is the only scheduled UK date, with just two more following in The Hague and in Paris.
Hidden Live details.
Also Recommended:
- Kate Nash – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 18 Oct
- Soap&Skin – Union Chapel, London – 18 Oct
- Perfume Genius – Cecil Sharp House, London – 19 Oct
- KT Tunstall – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 20 Oct
- The Good The Bad – Peter Parker’s Rock’n’Roll Club, London – 21 Oct
- Robyn – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 22 Oct
- Morcheeba – Roundhouse, London – 23 Oct
- My Chemical Romance – Hammersmith Apollo, London – 23 Oct
Just Announced
Little Noise Sessions
This year's Little Noise Sessions lineup is taking shape. Headliners so far announced are Tom Jones, Paolo Nutini, Hurts, The Kooks and Ellie Goulding (impressive progress - last year she was fourth on the bill). Support acts will include big 2011 tips Clare Maguire and Rumer, and reliable turns from We Are Scientists and Stornoway. With proceeds going to Mencap, this is a series of gigs that always stands on its own merits rather than simply being a charity event. They'll once again be held at the Union Chapel, this year between 15-20 November.
The Radio Dept
This superb Swedish band, their style a heady mix of indie-pop and shoegaze, will be back on our shores for a gig ahead of a singles compilation album due out early next year. Catch them at the Scala in London on 5 December.
Book tickets here.
Everything Everything
Having completed a nationwide tour proving that they can deliver as a headline act, the Everything boys will be reproducing their Man Alive album in its entirety, rearranged and scored for a 13-piece classical ensemble. This will of course be utterly amazing. Make sure you’re either at the Royal Northern College of Music (whose students will be providing the 13 ensemble members) in Manchester on 13 December, or at London's Union Chapel on 15 December.
Ticket info here.
