A Wednesday or two ago, while the sports fans went in their hundreds to get drunk at Varsity, the more disco-inclined got drunk in the depths of Cavern. English Disco Lovers run nights all over the country, aiming to re-appropriate the meaning of ‘EDL’ from the racist English Defence League to something that’s all about […]
Talking fans and plans: an interview with The Stranglers
This week I had the pleasure of talking to Baz Warne, lead singer of The Stranglers since 2006, and possibly the nicest man to ever pick up a guitar. Before their 18 date tour of the UK – followed by dates in New Zealand and Australia – the legendary four piece came together in the […]
The best music videos of 2015
When Taylor Swift started announcing the ridiculously star-studded line up for her blockbuster “Bad Blood” video, her fans and skeptics alike waited for what promised to be the best music video of the year. It had everything: Selena Gomez in a wig, Ellie Goulding holding a bazooka, and Kendrick Lamar in a see through car. […]
Album Review: Kylie Minogue – Kylie Christmas
Kylie Minogue Kylie Christmas 13 November 2013, Parlophone It’s almost Christmas time. You’re Kylie Minogue. You have friends and family and maids and cooks to buy presents for, and the bank account has been emptying faster than it’s being refilled. Seeing as your last truly successful song was years ago, there’s only one thing to […]
The Vaccines at Plymouth Pavilions, 3/12/15
On a disgustingly wet and rainy Thursday evening, it seemed the local schools had been let out early enough that the prepubescent wannabe-indie youth could come and see The Vaccines. Waiting for the band to come on, I looked around and felt old and jaded, having seen the band one too many times to be […]
ExTunes at the Old Firehouse, 29/11/15
As the nights get progressively darker and colder, taking refuge in the Old Firehouse becomes more and more appealing, especially with the live music on a Sunday night. This week there was a veritable feast for the ears (and the mouth, thanks to the BBQ Pulled Pork pizza): Acoustic sets! Musical Theatre! Acapella! There was […]
Gaining ground and shedding skin: An interview with Ghostpoet
It took me about thirty seconds of speaking to Ghostpoet to decide he was intimidatingly cool. Throughout the interview – which took place the day after his headline tour finished, before setting out to support alt-J in Exeter – I got the impression that this is an artist for which music is everything. Not that […]
One Direction: Made in the AfterMath
Since their conception on the X Factor in 2010, One Direction have released five albums, completed four world tours, had three billion cumulative hits on Youtube, starred in two movies and lost one member. They’re the only band in the world to have four consecutive albums reach number one, with their debut selling over two million copies to date. Their film This […]
Song, stylists and sexism: An interview with Misty Miller
Feminism has, in recent times, had somewhat of a comeback in the mainstream media. In recent years, artists within the music industry have shed the dead skin of the ‘angry lesbian’ feminist, and shut down the offensive ‘feminazi’ label, to highlight inequality within the music business. As a young woman who refuses to admit she’s an […]
Making and breaking: An interview with The Staves
Sister act extraordinaire The Staves released their third album If I Was last year to massive critical acclaim. This album signaled a change in direction for the band, who, as eldest of the three members Emily told me, were able to increase their “sonic palette” by working with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon in his home […]