Wed 3 Sep – Santogold

Summer holidays and other commitments have kept me away from gigs for an abnormally long time. I rectified that last night by slipping into the packed Koko nightclub in Camden to catch hot new singer Santogold. I was keen to see her, having not known anything about her when I caught the last two songs of her opening slot for M.I.A. last year.

Check out the rest of my review on my blog.

Thu 24 Jul – Tom Waits

There’s one more big musical tick in the box: yesterday I Eurostarred to see Tom Waits, currently doing his Glitter and Doom tour, play the first of two shows at the Grand Rex in Paris.

Waits’s formidable songwriting is obvious. His completely individual character is no surprise. I’d hoped that what I heard on his albums wasn’t all put on for production, and I was right: he comes across, live, with genuine, timeless, vaudeville grace.

See the rest of my review here on my blog.

Mon 7 Jul – Alice Smith

I joined some pals at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen last night to catch Alice Smith again. It was an even better show than the other night. It was livelier, hotter, and a less sterile (i.e., bar) environment. Alice gave it a little more oomph, and looked funky in her ’50s-ish polka-dot skirt. Make sure you catch her the next time she’s close to you.

Sat 5 Jul – An Honest Jon's Chop Up!

I was at the Barbican Hall for a special musical event: Honest Jon’s Chop Up. Honest Jons is a music shop in Ladbroke Grove that’s always specialised in funk, reggae, R&B, and - lately- African music. In 2002 Honest Jon’s created a label to release some of the music they thought was important. Mali Music, an album of collaboration with Blur/Gorillaz’s Damon Albarn and several west-African musicians, was the first release on that label but there have been many since, covering Afrobeat, R&B, folk and more. Last night’s event at the…

Thu 3 Jul – Duran Duran

Who would have thought that the band that defined ’80s New Wave - Duran Duran - would still be playing stadiums decades later? Actually, at the time, we all did: they were huge and cool and good-looking and made for video. We thought they were the pinnacle of pop. Every generation thinks it finds the music and fashion that will be the ones to last, and Duran Duran were huge enough to convince us that they were it.

They were, and they weren’t.

Read the rest of my review here.

Tue 1 Jul – Alice Smith

When the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm was renovated a few years ago they included a lot more than just a central performance hall. There are also studios available to under-25 artists, and a smaller for-hire performance space called the FREEDM Room. It was in that latter space that I found myself last night for a smooth performance by American singer Alice Smith.

Before I go on, some disclosure: I’m friends with Smith’s guitarist, Thom Loubet. I was at his wedding a few weeks ago. He’s staying at my place right now. In fact, he’s…

Tue 24 Jun – Radiohead

I need to thank Radiohead for growing up with me.

My first and only previous time seeing them perform live was in Ottawa, Canada, in August 1997. OK Computer had been placed on the Very Important Album podium. Portishead opened for them. It was big and important and moving.

Last night in east London’s Victoria Park I expected a ramp of that grandness. I got something different, but subtly better.

Read the rest of the review on my blog.

Mon 9 Jun – Sons and Daughters

Three years ago the Scotsman made me go see a band called Sons and Daughters. I was blown away. I picked up their second album, The Repulsion Box and liked it. I recently picked up their new album, the well-reviewed This Gift, and liked it too. So I tubed over to King’s Cross last night to catch them again at the Scala…

Full review here.

Thu 29 May – Mark Knopfler

I am at an age where describing the Mark Knopfler concert I attended last night will get me funny looks from both twentysomethings and fiftysomethings. When I say that it was smooth and warming and, in places, brilliant, the twentysomethings will sigh and call me old and say what a lame song “So Far Away” was, even for the ’80s. When I say that it was so bland in spots that I started to think about work and that it was just okay overall, the fiftysomethings will accuse me of being a short-attentioned whippersnapper…

Tue 27 May – Saul Williams
I ambled up to King’s Cross last night to meet up with some chums for a pint or two before heading to the Scala to see Saul Williams. The pint or two meant we missed whomever the opening act was.

I first saw Saul in July 2005 when he opened for Nine Inch Nails. That was ostensibly a musical performance although it had lots of spoken-word stuff, and was only him and his DJ/noise generator Cx KiDTRONiK on stage. I last saw Saul in February but he was only doing poetry at that show.…