Stage Times: Cast
John Power of Cast looks back on his most memorable gigs – from making history with Oasis at Knebworth to dodging apples with U2 in Leeds
The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons review | The Hives make an almighty return
It’s safe to say that guitar music of The Hives’ full-throttle brand has been notable by its scarcity. Certainly, more so than when the band dropped Les Hives in 2011. If it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder, then somehow the return of the Swedish rock quintet feels...
End Of The Day | Courtney Barnett turns her attention to ambient mood-setting
If you’re looking for Courtney Barnett’s trademark sound (think: sparkling wit wed to the sort of slacker jangle that gets the heart pounding), then you might be disappointed by End Of The Day. This is very much not that record. In fact, this
Stage Times: Metric
It’s very ‘Metric’ for things to be so absurd,” announces Metric’s singer and multi-instrumentalist Emily Haines with a smile. “We went from being up to our ears in snow for three years, listening to all these French records – Air, Sébastien Tellier, and so on – to finishing the album in Paris at Motorbass Studios with Jimmy [Shaw – guitarist] playing Frank Zappa’s Les Paul!”
Kevin Rowland: “In Dexys, I’m the leader. If I’m not happy… we ain’t doing it.”
Dexys’ Kevin Rowland is in no mood to entertain untruths. He doesn’t so much gently pour cold water but upend a bucket of it when I raise an anecdote that Blur’s Alex James has been circulating about him (“Utter rubbish. I don’t know what he’s on about,” he scoffs). You get the sense that his fire remains beautifully intact.
‘No one gave me the finger more than David Crosby!’ Legendary photographer Henry Diltz on shooting music’s giants
‘Sometimes,” says Henry Diltz, “the great picture is the one that happens before you set everything up.” The legendary music photographer, speaking from his home in north Hollywood, has taken shots that became stamped into the annals of rock history.
Debbie: ‘I realised I am very insecure’
Following her recent breakout success, we speak to rising artist Debbie about collaborating with Stormzy, signing to 0207 Def Jam and her late introduction to the all-time greats.
R&B star Nippa on why Tottenham is a breeding ground for good music
Blessed with a honeyed vocal and a truckload of charisma, British R&B prospect Nippa is making friends in all the right places. Despite only releasing music since late 2020, the 22-year-old has already captured the attention of celebrated super-producer Boi-1da (Drake, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar).
Public Service Broadcasting: “We wouldn’t be a band without 6 Music”
“I can see how we would divide opinion,” concedes J. Willgoose Esq, figurehead of art rock instrumentalists Public Service Broadcasting. Since 2013’s Inform – Educate – Entertain, the London collective have been high of ambition and high-browed of intent, extolling the Reithian principles of their debut’s title.
Interview: Mull Historical Society
No one could accuse Colin MacIntyre, the driving force behind Scottish indie-pop band Mull Historical Society, of lacking ambition. Aside from being MHS’s mastermind, he’s a celebrated novelist whose debut novel, The Letters Of Ivor Punch, bagged the 2015 Edinburgh Book Festival First Book Award.
Bruno Major: 'I sent him the song. We cried for three hours then never spoke about it again'
A few days before our interview, Bruno Major takes to Twitter to make a statement. It’s to the point and provocative. He looks cautious as we raise it tentatively over Zoom. Wary, even. “Was it one of my drunk tweets? I have this thing about drunk tweeting, and I nearly always regret it,” the singer-songwriter pleads.
Yusuf / Cat Stevens at Glastonbury 2023 review | Wise soul taps into Worthy Farm’s spiritual roots
There’s something cleansing about witnessing Yusuf / Cat Stevens wander onto the stage in his 75th year and strum through his soulful repertoire. It’s an experience that triggers an emotional response.
Maybe it’s the earnestness through which he still speaks, or the age-defying wisdom that courses through his classic early ‘70s work. Or maybe it’s the fact his new material shows an unwavering commitment to the spiritual cause; his passion and devotion undimmed by time’s incessant march.
Whatev
Guns N’ Roses at Glastonbury 2023 review | A carnival float of ‘80s excess and hard rock cliché
Amid tech and vocal difficulties, Guns N’ Roses put on a hit-and-miss display that felt as though it belonged to a different era – albeit with some worthy headline moments, writes Greg Wetherall.
Ben Folds: "Pop music is like an animal. But you lose that"
Almost retiring into teaching before returning with his best album in years – Ben Folds talks the highs and lows of being a middle-aged rockstar
But Here We Are review | Foo Fighters work through grief on tremendous latter-day album
It’s heartbreaking, but Dave Grohl has been here before. When his bandmate, the Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, took his own life in 1994, Grohl looked to music to ameliorate the grief.
Live review: Blur in Colchester
When news emerged last month that Blur were going on a modest trek around the UK as a warm-up for their Wembley gigs in the summer, not many would have anticipated that a new album would be on the cards too.
Tim Gallagher: ‘My mindset to just keep going has been the most important thing’
Tim Gallagher might now be labelmates with Headie One and Bad Boy Chiller Crew, and boast a significant online presence, but he’s more than paid his dues to get there.
Death Cab For Cutie at Royal Albert Hall review | Pent-up prowess
Ben Gibbard seemed to be in a reflective mood at the Royal Albert Hall. The Death Cab for Cutie frontman peered out at the hallowed surroundings in awe and with gratitude flashing across his face. “This isn’t just a band highlight; this is a life highlight,” he said as the band drew the curtain on a two-hour set that charted...
From Nothing To A Little Bit More review | The Lathums’ sophomore album doesn’t quite hit the heights of their debut
In the days of yore, maybe not quite back to the time when carriages were drawn by horses, but a time that feels distant enough in our digital streaming world to feel remote, you might recall that...
Reverend and the Makers at Islington Assembly Hall review | Write them off at your peril
“This is the quickest selling London gig we’ve ever had. It sold out in no time,” announced The Reverend, aka John McClure, a frisson of pride and accomplishment glancing across his face.
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