Old Man Blues

26/11/2023

New review Robocobra Quartet COAL MOB live in Leeds

Coal Mob - "With a seriously good imaginative drummer to keep the beats interesting, and an intense feel to the vocals, a taste for a touch of psyche with the synth in particular, and a generally rich musical tapestry, there was a lot to draw out from this performance"

Robocobra Quartet - "engaging and entrapping, you wanted to simultaneously hear more, but also hang onto that beat and rhythm a while longer".

What a sheer joy to have a sneaky night of live music on a school night. It’s the adult equivalent of a snog and and a balloon behind the bike sheds (choose in what order). On a day where it …

16/11/2023

New review Tom A Smith live at Leeds Hyde Park Book Club.

Grab a ticket for Tom's current tour if you can....

Having followed the social media pages of rising musician Tom A Smith for the past couple of years, I know from his posts and occasional dm’s that this 19 year old man is driven by trying to …

12/11/2023

I read a Marvin’s Revenge review the other night. The thrust of the write up was that Marvin’s Revenge are dope. After having given the Nottingham based band’s new EP VR P**n a fe…

04/11/2023

I can be the deep, thoughtful brooding kind, and West Yorkshire band Rain in Death Valley hit that spot perfectly with their new release No Reason Why. The song is in the style of a grand punk rock…

25/10/2023

Right from its almost psych grunge heavy guitar start, three piece Nottingham based Marvin’s Revenge give me a hard hitting surf punk vibe, with new release (October 23) Jack (Let Go Of The D…

14/10/2023

New review Tom A Smith Fading Away

So the song and indeed the video evokes the spirit (but not the sound) of David Bowie Space Oddity, particularly with its theme and overlaid NASA style countdown. The song offers a vision of someone lost in space, or in emotion, groping and hoping to find his way out of the predicament. It’s major, Tom.

It’s not that often when a song and accompanying video can be simultaniously described as cool, thought provoking and sweet, but such is the talent of Tom A Smith and his latest (October 2023…

14/10/2023

New review Red Shakes Angel

Oops rubbish at posting things on FB

With earlier tracks, Red Shakes often utilises something of a fundamental solid rock n roll type sound as a base, but here with Angel, the vocal phrasing and pace has a more of the current feel to it. Punchy, but smooth around the edges.

Bradford based Red Shakes (Sam Da Silva) always has a bright feel-good aspect to his music, and new (October 2023) track Angel definitely keeps to that tradition. Angel gives off a distinct loved u…

26/09/2023

New review Silverfish Bored.

The second single by Silverfish (September 2023), Bored is out now and its a lovely ear-worm of a song.

I remember thinking when I listened to and reviewed Leeds based Silverfish’s tasty debut single DeVito, I wanted to catch more of this band to try to understand what truly makes them tick. We…

04/08/2023

New review The Slates What Have You Done?

Louis Barnes has one of the best vocals in upcoming indie at the moment, and What Have You Got? only cements that view.

If anything What Have You Done? is even more about guitar, with a soaring memorable high-down-the-neck well controlled solo from Joe Briggs. Meanwhile Jude Wales and Zak Oldroyd keep things heavy, fast and beaty in the way we have become accustomed to with The Slates.

Those West Yorkshire banger makers The Slates have returned with their biggest tune yet. What Have You Done? is both a completely quality backdrop for slamming yourself around the mosh but it also …

29/07/2023

Loved last week's Tramlines Weekend Fringe Festival 2023 (and the fb page was so useful). Here's the write up:

Featuring The Mercians Private Reg Fuzz Lightyear Dan Ottewell Hollows SCUM BAND Red Shakes Revivalry Band

The good people of Sheffield know both how to throw a party and to party. Each time I come down, I promise myself that this time “it’s going to be a quiet one”. Each time Sheffiel…

23/07/2023

There’s something special going on in the city and, more widely, in West Yorkshire at the moment. It’s been the ‘go to’ place for a while now but this is something different. The saying goes ‘if yo…

18/07/2023

I love genuine and honest albums, and I’m guessing that by year end I won’t have found much to beat Ian Spiller’s debut album, Mixing Love & Politics. While I am horribly behi…

01/07/2023

New review Tom A Smith EP 3

The only criminal thing about Tom’s musical output is that there is yet to be any vinyl.

Anyone thinking that EP3 had already shown its big guns in the sunshine need to revisit that idea. Those new tracks fire a punch too.

In the midst of a blistering summer for Tom A Smith, comes the presence of yet more memorable music in the form of EP 3. Unsurprisingly as the title suggests, this is the third collection of tracks…

01/07/2023

New review Thomas Collier Tidjy - Breakfast in Bed

I adore observation in a song and there is a lot in Breakfast in Bed packed into 200 seconds.

We all have our soft squishy side even though we often rarely expose it. Leeds based solo artist Tidjy’s debut single Breakfast in Bed provides a classic dose of feeling totally loved up. As …

17/06/2023

It's been a week since Long Division fest. Here's the review I wrote in the week, of such a brilliant day. Still buzzing tbh

Opus Kink
mi mye
Van Houten
Thank
jellyskin
The Lovely Eggs

Legacy. It’s one of those things that we all aspire to create from our labours. For one, those truly beautiful minds behind Wakefield’s Long Division city festival can be proud of their…

27/05/2023

New review by The Lathums live at Blackburn St George's Hall

Beautifully written (haha it wasn't me).

Ryan Rooney At least it wasn’t just me that had headed into deepest, darkest Lancashire. Supporting The Lathums, and on his first tour, was Ryan Rooney (yes, he did receive the expected football ch…

19/05/2023

New review Tom A Smith Weirdo

"The theme of the song is irresistible; we are both weird, lets get together and lets take on the world. Take on board Tom’s distinctive strong vocals and we have a strong contender for one of the tracks of 2023".

19 year old Sunderland lad Tom A Smith continues to go from strength to strength with his new single Weirdo. Tom has already released three EP’s over this past year (I am including a very wor…

17/05/2023

New review Hot Liquor Tank No Way Out.

Far too classy for my little blog this tune x

"In terms of style, with Far From Now, I kind of get a UK alt folk-rock style. I’m a big fan of the likes of Elliott Smith. While there’s no Americana in Far From Now, there is nevertheless that similar vibe style and polish – that emotion, and that ear for guitar melody".

Take a little time out of this reviewing lark and you can never catch up. There is such a steady stream of unmissable tunes out there. One single I wanted to give a shout out to though is the debut…

02/05/2023

A new review Alex Spencer for his debut banger A Night To Waste.

A Night To Waste is instantly likable with a great catchy hookline and a youthful vocal which gives tale to a strong musical range and although there’s spike to Spencer’s voice, there’s also a soothing tone.

I can only imagine how great and versatile Alex’s voice will be in a few years time.

Someone who knows his way around the streets, there’s definitely something about the raw edge of Jake Bugg or Sam Fender here.

There’s definitely that spark and energy of impatient youth but with an experienced rounded edge too. Kind of the real deal in fact.

I won’t bore with the detail but at present my life is decidedly not my own. However, while fashionably late after release date here, I just had to drop a few thoughts on 16 year old Manchest…

01/05/2023

New live review PET NEEDS The Lottery Winners live at Leeds Brudenell 20.04.2023

Musically tight, Pet Needs metaphorically threw us around their set, bouncing us from song to song with the tempo of a runaway train.

It was a fantastic gig. Energetic, entertaining, engaging and full of wit and humour with the Lottery Winners at the top of their game musically.

Whoever schedules these tours and books support acts needs a huge round of applause for making a perfect match. Pet Needs, although of a different musical genre, are just as entertaining on stage a…

28/04/2023

New review BACKSPACE Come Round

Backspace’s Come Round has a real quality swingy jazzy feel within an indie heart.

I recall when I wrote my first Backspace review for my mates at Halfway 2 Nowhere, wayback in 2018 for the bands first single, I was completely taken with these young folks’ sense of space. A…

18/04/2023

New review Splint Awaiting Hills

Splint embrace both urgent and circumstantial at the same time. The result is a full and rich tale, but in a compelling song that has no spare fat.

There’s something of the mesmerizing quality of Joy Division with Splint – a band you have to tear your eyes from, a band with raw emotion. The overall sound also reminds me of those urgent energy packed New York bands of the mid 70’s – where you just know something has got to happen.

I’m probably going to say something silly here, but Bogacki reminds me of someone like Springsteen, someone with a knack for making an ordinary tale real, and giving an honest voice to those struggling grafters.

One of the new bands that I’ve been particularly excited for is Manchester/Hebden Bridge formed Splint. I first caught an early version of Splint live around 18 months ago, where they played …

07/04/2023

New review - Bradford based Red Shakes has released a bouncy banger Doubt.

Red Shakes is building up a hard fast following and he has promised to get a Red Shakes tattoo if his tune gets to 1000 hits over the weekend. I’m not going to suggest numbing cream – make your own mind up feller…. but there’s no doubt this lad is getting tattooed.

Back in my youth, the cool kids were generally portent seers of doom; scowling at the camera and the world. Refreshing then that Bradford’s Red Shakes (Sam Da Silva) has a lyrical message whe…

07/04/2023

Delighted that Ian Dunphy has come on holiday to Old Man Blues and dropped a review of the excellent Barbara and their new single.

As usual with Barbara there is a dramatic, musical theatre feel to the song mixed with a very seventies US, FM radio sound. It’s the sort of song that if you were driving across the States listening to your radio then you wouldn’t be surprised if you heard it sandwiched between Supertramp and Wings.

Enduring Love Artwork by Oliver Brooks. Most famously Kate Bush did it with Wuthering Heights. The Cure did it with Charlotte Sometimes. Parts of A Clockwork Orange inspired the name of a pop group…

19/03/2023

New review DUVET Rodeo

"Despite the name, Duvet are not a covers band."

"While there is a dash of post punk experiment here, Rodeo also has a strong mosh pit/ dance floor sensitivity. This would be such a strong live anthem".

I had a recent chance meeting chat with Jimmi from Duvet band at a Lounge Society gig, and also read something for International Women’s day, the contents of both resonated with me. The Women…

17/03/2023

New review Wolforna Break You

Wolforna capture that tricky rapture in Break You without it feeling icky, and I’m not surprised that when this song came together in a few hours at the tag end of last year it was fast tracked for a hard hitting, ear catching single.

Chaotic Earthy Energy. Those are the sole three words I jotted down when I first listened to those Leeds noisesmiths Wolforna and their hard punching new (March 2023) single Break You. Having liste…

13/03/2023

New review BATHTUB Gameplay

I love the flowing rhythms in Gameplay- never let it be said that drums and bass together doesn’t mean complex.

It always amazes me how much this band’s sound has developed, although the consistent theme of hard and heavy always shines through.

Angry can be good sometimes as it can be a catalyst for change if it is channeled in a positive way. In any case, angry certainly makes for strong and challenging music as that noisy duo of upstart…

01/03/2023

New review The Lounge Society live at Loafers

The Lounge Society have to be the fastest guitarists on the block, both in terms of actually playing them and for tossing them to each other to play between songs. It’s not often the lead guitarist becomes the bassist for the next tune, the singer is both guitarist and bassist (and sometimes keys player too (although not tonight), and the load is pretty evenly distributed between the three.

One of the bands I love to see live at the moment is Hebden Bridge/Tod based The Lounge Society. So, I spotted and quickly snaffled a ticket for their exclusive gig at Loafers record shop in Halifa…

21/02/2023

New review Walking Contradiction Tongue Tied

There’s an intense force at the heart of this tune.

The Tongue Tied lyrics tell their own mortifying tale of that horrible palm sweaty, rabbit in a headlight moment when you are called upon to speak. Your mind moves into panic mode and you are left gasping for words.

I always look forward to exploring a new Walking Contradiction track, and getting to know the first new tune of 2023 Tongue Tied is no exception. Louie Kaye is the main man behind Walking Contradic…

17/02/2023

New review The Avelles 10:45

As an anthem for hedonistic living 10:45 delivers perfectly. I listen to this song and I can sniff summer nights bouncing around being a bit mad.

It’s quite a task for any new artist; creating their own distinctive band style, but at the same time not making their musical output too samey. Three released Spotify tracks in, Leeds (Menst…

10/02/2023

New review Tom A Smith Little Bits.

Need some inspiration for your day - look no further. Fighting talk here.

It perhaps feels just a little bit wrong to write about Tom A Smith’s Little Bits, but let me assure you this is just the title of the Sunderland 18 year old’s latest storming pounding …

08/02/2023

New review Sam Hutchinson Innocence

As you might expect from a Sam Hutchinson song, Innocence has a strong timeless vocal sound, and what to my ear sounds like an current almost back to the future 1980’s retro full on rock sound.

Leeds based Sam Hutchinson has refreshed and developed his sound for a new year, and it’s a a great call. I know Sam has been hard at work with other local musicians, and the first new track …

08/02/2023

New review Brother Vice Damage. So solid this tune.

Y’know those old 90’s posters of solid men gently melting their hearts through looking at the trusting puppy on its back in his solid arms? That’s kind of Damage, a rock solid dependable quality, but also not afraid to show a softer side.

Northern Ireland’s Brother Vice have definitely prepared a musical meal smelling rich and deliciously home cooked with their new single Damage. It’s tasty good and Brother Vice are quic…

13/01/2023

New review BACKSPACE Lottery of Life.
..this track Lottery of Life is beaty cool coffee bar folk jazz, but with a fresh indie bee sting right up its arse.

I thought the most recent Backspace single Hold was a pretty perfect 200 seconds of spiky indie pop, so I hoped the young Leeds based band would draw a solid six numbers for their new single Lotter…

05/01/2023

New review Alright - okay Idle and Motivated

"alright (okay) are a band comfortable in their musical skin; there’s room both for a framework of a loose heavy style, but also for experiment".

I fell off a little cliff and took a little unanticipated reviewing time out in December, so I’m only just getting around to thinking about Liverpool’s alright (okay)’s new track …

18/12/2022

New live review Heartsink Calva Louise at the Huddersfield Parish

Top night top vibes x

Each time I start to wonder whether I’ve finally moved to the age where I must force myself to go to sleepy boring jazz lounge bars and learn how to finger tap with enthusiasm, along comes another …

08/11/2022

New review Wolforna Reset

Here Wolforna have captured dramatic and interesting rather than just to push the dial up to 11 for the sake of it. This song is a true blast.

I always heard it said back in the day that Metal was the Country and Western of the UK. That was certainly true back in the home country (South Wales). So, I’ve always had a bit of a soft sp…

01/11/2022

New review. The stellar EP launch for San Francisco band

Oh I interviewed Iwan too.

The supports and were a revelation also.

"Musically San Francisco were bouncy, fun and relatable. While their recorded sound can sometimes feel a little more introspective (a solid heart to heart with a mate perhaps), live there was a bigger bounce"

I knew it was going to be special, so on a dark Thursday evening, I left my beloved and the cats and dragged my sagging carcass over to Leeds to Oporto bar to see Leeds foursome San Francisco in th…

24/10/2022

New review Alright - okay Heavy Chair.

While each released track has its own identity, there’s a strong force of intensity which consistently flows through Alright (okay)’s work.

‘…you missed the moon as you were waving goodbye….’ A band that definitely needs more love and exposure is Liverpool based Alright (okay). In my fantasy Tiggerliggerland, th…

11/10/2022

Love this track San Francisco band. Genuinely excited for these guys.

"I think what’s special is how San Francisco make everyday subjects we all can relate to, and they turn them into something magical. It’s almost like when you see Nigella cooking up egg and chips. Amazing egg and chips."

Listen to the title track of the new San Francisco EP – 513 and then tell me you aren’t excited for this band’s future and I’ll call you a cheeky little fibber. In fact I& #8…