This Week
The leaves have fallen, the clocks have gone back and the Christmas lights are up in Oxford Street…but there’s no rest for the naughty. So it’s full steam ahead, with another packed week of live music across London.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor's recent album, the fantastically named 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! was their first for nearly a decade. Never ones to do things by halves, the Canadian post-rock legends emerged from an eight year hiatus in 2010 to record it and it hit the shelves just two weeks after they announced its completion. We were impressed. They play at the Forum on 4 and 5 November.
Psychedelic Aussies Tame Impala will be showing off their new album, Lonerism, at Brixton Academy on Tuesday. We loved their album, saying: “aural pleasure lurks in every corner of Lonerism…an album of the year contender” and awarded it a massive four-and-a-half stars.
Mercury nominees Roller Trio’s relentless touring schedule brings them to the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone on Monday. The Leeds group only played their first gig about 18 months ago, but their debut album has caused a storm, and also led to them being nominated for best jazz act at the MOBOs. Painting DIY electronica over rock and experimental jazz, their live show is one to behold.
Ex-Metronomy bassist Gabriel Stebbing’s new project, Night Works, will be coming over all spooky on Wednesday for Hallowe'en. Stebbing's off-beat pop songs have an effortlessly infectious undercurrent – check out his debut live show at Sebright Arms.
If you’re after something a little more raucous, head over to Dingwalls on Wednesday for Fierce Panda/Label Fandango new kids, Dingus Khan. The Essex eight-piece will be playing their debut album Support Mistley Swans. They boast two drummers, so they make a heck of a noise. Think Dananananaykroyd.
The best of the rest...
Monday 29 October
The Joy Formidable @ KCLSU
O’Children @ Garage
Roller Trio @ Cockpit Theatre
Coves @ Sebright Arms
Tuesday 30 October
Here We Go Magic // Race Horses @ Dingwalls
Bright Light Bright Light @ Cargo
Peace @ Lexington
Django Django @ Heaven
Bat for Lashes @ Forum
Opossom @ Shacklewell Arms
Efterklang @ Barbican
Tame Impala @ Brixton Academy
Halls @ Birthdays
Wednesday 31 October
Rolo Tomassi @ Koko
Night Works @ Sebright Arms
Dingus Khan @ Dingwalls
The Walkmen @ Rough Trade East (free)
Thursday 1 November
Little Comets @ Koko
Kate Nash @ Shacklewell Arms
World Party @ Royal Albert Hall
Dry The River @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Robyn + Summer Camp @ Brixton Academy
Delphic @ Village Underground
The Walkmen @ Roundhouse
Friday 2 November
Beach House @ Roundhouse
Jack White @ Alexandra Palace
Saturday 3 November
Oscar D’Leon @ Roundhouse
Eliza Carthy @ Cecil Sharp House
Mouth of Ghosts @ Roadtrip Bar
Sunday 4 November
Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ Forum
Animal Collective @ Roundhouse
Paper Aeroplanes @ Lexington
Just Announced
This week Smashing Pumpkins co-founder James Iha announced a mini European tour to mark his first solo album in nearly 15 years. Look To The Sky (which features guests Nick Zinner and Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Televison’s Tom Verlaine and Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara) will be aired under the chandeliers of Bush Hall on 4 December – one of just four European dates.
Fred Perry continues its 60th anniversary celebrations next month with an incredible line-up at the Garage. Tom Vek, Breton, Coves and Charli XCX play on 21 November – and tickets are just £5.
The Prodigy have announced they’ll be waving farewell to 2012 with a two shows at Brixton Academy on 18 and 19 December.
Malian Sidi Toure will play his first UK shows next month. We described his last album, Koima, released on Thrill Jockey, “music of sparse beauty and wonderfully bubbling African rhythms on fantastic instruments”. He’ll perform at Momo on 13 November and Café Oto on 14 November.
