Indie

Jarvis Cocker - album review

Jarvis Cocker

14 Nov 2006

INDIE From the punchy pop of The Long Blondes to Arctic Monkeys’ seedy subject matter and dapper showmanship of Franz Ferdinand, the influence of Jarvis Cocker is everywhere in modern music. Yet after the demise of his old band the Sheffield indie…

Elliot Smith Tribute Night

Mono, Glasgow, Sun 29 Oct

11 Nov 2006

INDIE Almost three years to the day since Elliot Smith took his own life, it’s little surprise that tribute nights have sprung up in his honour. His glowing musical contribution and tragic passing mean that he now sits alongside Jeff Buckley and Kurt…

Hazy Janes, The

The Hazy Janes

12 Oct 2006

What is it with folk from Dundee this month? First it was The View, now more Taysiders are at it, this time the altogether less twisted prospect of this feel good foursome. More concerned with inducing singalongs than sparking a mosh pit anguish they…

View, The

The View

12 Oct 2006

Talk may be cheap, but all the bumping of gums about Dundonian quartet seems to have been good value for money. Coming out with the same homely, organic sensibility that made Arctic Monkeys such a naturally appealing proposition, they apear here with…

Your Sound

King Tut’s, Glasgow, Sun 1 Oct

11 Oct 2006

INDIE Launched earlier this year by the King Tut’s venue, Your Sound is a networking opportunity for local acts to come face-to-face with industry figures. Part-indie club night, part-networking soirée and part promo shindig, Your Sound launched Term…

Your Sound

King Tut’s, Glasgow, Sun 1 Oct

10 Oct 2006

INDIE Launched earlier this year by the King Tut’s venue, Your Sound is a networking opportunity for local acts to come face-to-face with industry figures. Part-indie club night, part-networking soirée and part promo shindig, Your Sound launched Term…

Boyfriends, The - album review

The Boyfriends

10 Oct 2006

INDIE This London-based foursome reckon they make ‘good boyfriend material’ (hence the monicker) and if you like your chaps unashamedly foppish, then you’re certain to agree. The band’s potential suitor rating is enhanced by their dreamy debut…

Larrikin Love - album review

Larrikin Love

2 Oct 2006

INDIE Spawned from the waste The Libertines left in their wake, London four-piece Larrikin Love have taken their dreams of the good ship Albion and sailed into muddy waters. Where songs like ‘Happy as Annie’ are tinged with a charming gypsy-punk…

Hot Club de Paris - album review

Hot Club de Paris

2 Oct 2006

INDIE Modern music’s barmy army has some new recruits. Along with the Mystery Jets and Young Knives, this Liverpool-based trio are the latest act to flaunt their eccentricities with a frenetic debut made up of bizarre song titles, off-kilter…

Milburn

2 Oct 2006

Friends in high places can be a double-edged sword at times. Sheffield’s Milburn came to prominence after the exemplary live shows supporting their local kin Arctic Monkeys. They may have assisted in an initial leg up, but the quartet remains fixed…

Rapture, The

Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Thu 12 Oct

28 Sep 2006

Punk funk: remember that one? It was a little bit new wave, but quite post punk. Well, more post-post-punk. But pre-new rave. Such is the way the musical terminology merry-go-round rapidly spins (largely care of the people at NME), and on it again…

Vincent Vincent and the Villains

Exposure

28 Sep 2006

Imagine if The Libertines were formed not by Carl and Pete, but by a young Chuck Berry and Elvis, both high on the intoxicating potential of this new fangled racket, before subsequent generations mucked around with their blueprint. In all probability it…

Raconteurs, The

The Raconteurs

28 Sep 2006

You get one famous dude That’s right, because the American supergroup features none other than the famous daft clowning buffoon and outrageous singer and guitarist Jack Black... oh, hang on a minute... sorry, what?... oh yeah, our mistake. It’s Jack…

Walkmen, The

The Walkmen,

4 Sep 2006

INDIE The life of a touring indie band involves a hell of a lot of hanging around doing sack all. To fill the hours in the back of the van, bands might invent puerile games, take a PlayStation or even read a book. New York oddballers The Walkmen took…

Peter Bjorn and John - CD review

Peter Bjorn and John

4 Sep 2006

INDIE Find nu-rave nonsensical and hipster bands quite horrifying? Then take comfort in the warm fuzzy guitar pop of this scene-swerving Swedish trio, who, with their third LP, offer up something more substantial. Writer’s Block is by far the band’s…

Beck

Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Tue 22 Aug

4 Sep 2006

INDIE Beck almost threatened to outshine Radiohead in this triumphant support slot. The atmosphere was that of an upbeat funk party complete with dancing bears, cutlery as instruments and puppets galore. For once the flourishes didn’t feel like…

I Fly Spitfires

Barfly, Glasgow, Sat 9 Sep & Sat 16 Sep; Cabaret V

1 Sep 2006

I Fly Spitfires, indie at Glasgow's Barfly and Edinburgh's Cabaret Voltaire