George Glen

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I LOVE Sleater-Kinney so much, but it’s baffling that I never managed to see them live until tonight. Sorted! Still magnificent. I bopped along and sang all the words ’til I was sweaty and hoarse … magic. After a tour break Carrie and Corin seemed really up for this and appeared to enjoy it nearly as much as I and a packed Paradiso did. The level of smiling and grinning all round was a pleasure to see. I always wanted to go to this iconic venue too and was not disappointed.

I’m still gutted that Janet Weiss has left the band (so I must go see her in Quasi asap) but Angie Boylan played all Janet’s big beats superbly, bravo! New songs sounded great and so many of my old favourites were smashed in a brilliant, lengthy set. To hear my favourite song ‘The Fox’ live … my life is now (almost) complete … until I see them again in Glasgow next week!

Attended by George & Karen

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/sleaterkinney/2020/paradiso-grote-zaal-amsterdam-netherlands-6b987a2a.html

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Only last October since I last saw black midi, and this set couldn’t have been much more different. Only 6 songs from their album ‘Schlagenheim’ … crowd pleasers like ‘bmbmbm’ left out and guitarist Matt replaced (temporarily I think) by sax and keys players. The rest of the set was so jazz and jazz/rock I know many people were flummoxed and unhappy with their new musical marmite. A band not afraid to experiment and move on … quickly!

Well I loved it all. I’m completely happy with the jazzy direction and their playing, and Geordie’s singing, is so magnificent they haven’t put a foot wrong for me yet. More, much more to come from black midi.

Attended by George, Andy, Douglas and Paul SF

https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/live-music/reviews/black-midi-liquid-room-edinburgh-17-feb

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Spoken lyrics are a thing now apparently, and a very good thing delivered by Florence over catchy guitar riffs from London’s Dry Cleaning. I’ve listened to them a lot recently so I could follow what she was on about, though even stood right in front the sound was dominated by guitar and unfortunately couldn’t hear her all that clearly. The only downside to a great night.

Attended by George

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I have listened to the music of Sorry a lot recently, great stuff and knowing the words from a new band made such a brilliant show more enjoyable! Led by Asha Lorenz and Louis O’Bryen from London, Sorry have a varied style recorded but sound more straightforward and powerful live, less jazzy, more rocky, but with the clever songs, intelligent intertwining instrumentation and twisted lyrics that make them a bit unusual … and special!

A packed sold out Sneaky Pete’s was also well appreciative and what a great set they got, all the songs I’ve grown to like and some new ones for their album due out in March – on that right away! Asha is so tiny but owns the room with her effortless cool and no little guitar skills. What a band … talented, young and super cool (makes you sick!). Buy the album soon!

Attended by George & Chris

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The show started with a set from Bonny Light Horseman led by Anaïs, Eric D. Johnson (from the band Fruit Bats) and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaufman. I haven’t really been impressed by the re-vamped old folk songs on their album (a bit dull for my taste), but it’s a more enjoyable experience live, particularly the guitar playing of Josh which is superb … a revelation in fact! I must check him out more.

After the interval Anaïs took centre stage for her own material which is what I really love and the band gave added variety to songs I’d heard her sing so often. I still prefer her solo though which she did for a few songs. What I really, really want though is more new original songs from her once she get this Hadestown and BLH stuff out of the way!

Attended by George