Tag Archives: o2 Academy

New Model Army, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Birmingham.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2009.

New Model Army have gone through so many different genres they could almost appeal to every live music lover,

Whether it is the rock/folk era that the fans like or the early punk days, during which they enjoyed critical success, every taste was appeared to be catered for.

Touring on the back of their new studio album, Today is a Good Day, NMA mainstay and frontman Justin Sullivan wasted no time getting down to the business of making as much noise and good music as possible.

New Model Army, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Birmingham. full post

(220 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)

Bowling For Soup, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Birmingham.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2009.

It is easy to see why Bowling For Soup remain firm fan favourites on the punk-pop circuit.

At Birmingham’s o2 Academy they tore up the rule book and played outstanding music with little or no pretensions and seemingly took a bucketload of pleasure from seeing the capaicity crowd enjoy what was on offer.

By opening the set with I’m Gay from the Great Burrito Experiment album and Almost from a Hangover You Don’t Deserve the Texas foursome set the standard for the evening.

Bowling For Soup, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Birmingham. full post

(145 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)

Eagles Of Death Metal, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 2nd 2009.

Even if you don’t know anything by the band it is well worth checking out the fantastic Eagles of Death Metal when they come back to Britain on their next tour, for as they constantly prove, they are among the best rock acts around today. They show right from the start of a gig that they are out to give a performance that will be remembered fondly by their fans and newcomers alike for a long time.

Eagles Of Death Metal, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(322 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

Electric Six, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2009.

It is not often a big band come to a city twice within a calendar year but the superb Electric Six have never really stood on tradition or been fans of sticking to the routine.

Electric Six are a band that you cannot ignore. You might love their genre blurring music, one minute electro pop, the next hard rock or you could find them irritating and beyond the pale but you cannot dismiss them. With a fun night in the offering the Detroit musicians opened the night with the storming Body Shot from the new studio album Kill but they never let the heat die down once during the night from that moment.

Electric Six, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(350 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Not Advised, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 12th 2010.

Not Advised may come from an unfashionable setting when it comes to music but there is sense of youthful expertise that will surely see them become one of the best musical talents to come out of the Southampton/New Forest area.

The lads opened up the set with the electrifying Right Now and A Red Light Situation, both of which did enough to dispel any lingering doubts that the young Southampton band’s own taste in music would not cross the North- South rock divide.

Not Advised, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(302 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Mercury Midnight at the o2 Academy in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 11th 2010.

One of the surprises of the summer, in terms of new bands coming to Liverpool and doing well could be the sensational Mercury Midnight. Fronted by vocalist Claire Louise Sheridan, the band exudes a confidence that betrays their youth and the lack of time they have been together.

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(314 words, 1 image, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Paul Heaton, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2010.

Paul Heaton is one of those rare enigma’s in the music industry, much loved by all those who have followed his career from the days of the Housemartins and through to the heady days of chart success with The Beautiful South and now someone who, even though primarily a very private man, wears his heart and beliefs on his sleeve when making his own brand of music.

By kicking off his tour to promote his new album Acid Country in Liverpool, Paul almost guaranteed that the first night would be one of the finest and well supported nights.

Paul Heaton, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(385 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Bowling For Soup, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 21st 2010.

Perhaps it’s ironic that Bowling for Soup brought their particular brand of rock to Liverpool on the night that the city was hosting the MOBO awards for the first time. In one corner of the city the corporate and glitzy glamour that is always associated with ceremonies throughout the world and in the other, four lads from Texas, plying their trade the only way they know how, with a room full of eager, sweaty, loyal fans and one hell of a party atmosphere.

Bowling For Soup, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(334 words, 1 image, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Big Country, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 9th 2011.

Apart from a reunion tour in 2007, the band Big Country has been out of the public eye for the best part of a decade. With their lives being shook by the untimely passing of former band mate Stuart Adamson it is reassuring and a pleasure to see the other three original members and their two very special guests play to packed out venues and getting the reviews that a band of such stature deserves.

Big Country, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Proxies, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 17th 2011.

If 2010 was a good a year for unsigned young bands like Mercury Midnight and Not Advised then 2011 seems to be carrying on in the same vein. One of the bands to come to the public’s attention recently is the Proxies. The band is an eclectic mix of decent, hard hitting rock and electronica fused with an incredible and justified belief in themselves and their music.

Proxies, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(276 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)