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This month we've taken in Cardiff, Derby, Essex & Suffolk, Isle of Wright, Liverpool, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton and Wolverhampton.
CARDIFF
Lucy Tarry
Gig of The Month: HRVATSKI & JOHN BARNES (Howard Gardens - 7th)
Night of the laptop aliases as Hrvatski, aka Keith Fullerton Whitman and John Barnes, aka Sam from Mountain Men Anonymous, go head to head in a bloody battle of digital jiggery pokery. Expect sparkling electronica and ear-crunching noise splinters.
Also Recommended #1: Speedranch (MS1 club - 13th)
"Noise terror badness" from Planet-Mu's answer to Alec Empire. Has collaborated with Venetian Snares and V/vm. Ouch.
Also Recommended #2: Jarcrew + Caretaker + The Wow (Clwb Ifor Bach - 13th)
Drowned in Sound showcase night featuring local favourites Jarcrew, Fierce Panda darlings Caretaker, and The Wow.
Other Gigs: Melys - Clwb Ifor Bach (3rd), Minor Planet - Barfly (1st), Olympic Lifts - Barfly (3rd), Martini Henry Rifles - Barfly (4th), Biffy Clyro - Newport TJ's (6th), The Kills - Barfly (14th), Jeff Killed John - Newport TJ's (15th), Medium 21 - Barfly (17th), Broken Leaf - Clwb Ifor Bach (20th), Aerogramme - Barfly (20th), Mad Capsule Markets - Newport TJ's (24th), Winnebago Deal - Clwb Ifor Bach (27th).
DERBY
Kate Price
Gig of The Month: THE OSTERMAN WEEKEND + THE LITTLE EXPLORER + CAPE CANAVERAL + PENNY ARCADE (Supanova - 7th)
In aid of the Derby Stop The War Coalition, Supanova is being taken over for an evening of music and dancing. Some of the best bands around plus DJing by White Town's Jyoti Mishra. 8pm - 3am. Tickets £5 on the door.
Also Recommended #1: Hell Is For Heroes + Funeral For A Friend + Imogen (Supanova - 8th)
Melodic rock and emo type stuffs. Expect to get very sweaty...
Also Recommended #2: The Key To Pasadena (Vic - 10th)
Pretty, shouty, twirly rock niceness.
Other Gigs: Scarlet Soho - Vic Inn (3rd), Clearlake - Vic Inn (5th), Mercury Tilt Switch - Vic Inn (6th), Fulc - Vic Inn (8th), Goldblade - Vic Inn (29th).
ESSEX & SUFFOLK
Colin Weston
Gig of The Month: ANTIHERO, THE CRIMEA, THE BROKEN FAMILY BAND & CHEERLEADER (COLCHESTER SOUNDHOUSE - 20th)
Here we come and ya best be ready! The first Dis hijacking of the venue which we take over once a month. Split with 'Do Something Pretty', Antihero light the way for our first gig along with The Crimea
Also Recommended: Bluetones + Ricky (Colchester Arts Centre - 16th)
First date of a 3 month tour for one of the UKs' finest.
Other Gigs: 4ft Fingers + Mr Zippy - Colchester Arts Centre (2nd),
Athlete + Longview - Colchester Arts Centre (4th), Mercury Tilt Switch - Harlow Square (8th), Biffy Clyro - Southend Chinnerys (10th), The Magnets - Felixstowe Spa Pavillion (15 Mar), Shanghi Suprise (ex Sugababe) - Colchester Soundhouse (24th), The Relatives - Harlow Square (29th).
ISLE OF WRIGHT
Steve Gray
Gig of The Month: TRIBUTE TO NOTHING + NEGLECTED YOUTH (Royal Squadron – 7th)
The Tribute To Nothing boys continue the quest to take their Fugazi influenced hardcore to any venue that will have them. Supported by local band Neglected Youth.
Also Recommended: Kody (Royal Squadron – 14th)
Superbly crafted rock from local band.
LIVERPOOL
Tom Carlin
Gig of The Month: THE D4 (Barfly - 9th)
The trashy New Zealand punk lot are supported by The Ceasers and the rather brilliant OK GO, who's mighty single 'Get Over It' will be taking up residency in your head over the next few months.
Also Recommended #1: Athlete (Academy - 8th)
Their new single may sound like Avril Lavigne, but it still manages to extend their unbeaten run of sunny indie-pop classics to four.
Also Recommended #2: Mull Historical Society (Liverpool Academy - 30th)
Colin Macintyre tour to promote second album 'Us'
Other Gigs: Longwave - Barfly (2nd), Clearlake - Barfly (3rd), Aqualung - Academy (9th), Pitchshifter - Academy (17th), Sugababes - Royal Court (27th).
NOTTINGHAM
Dom Gourlay
Gig of The Month: ATHLETE + LONGVIEW + FONDA 500 (The Rescue Rooms - 12th March)
London's finest exponents of melancholic summer breeze tinged pop bring their "Style" to Robin Hood country.
Also Recommended #1: Face (Junktion 7 - 1st
March)
Junktion 7's first birthday party, featuring a live set from Nottingham's own McCabe-ian voyeurs Face, as well as other special guests and live DJ set from local legend Coop. Oh, and it's free to get in.
Also Recommended #2: The Kills (The Rescue Rooms - 16th March)
The White Stripes - so much to answer for? Or should that be thankful for? The Kills may go under the names of "Hotel" and "VV" but don't let that put you off. Imagine PJ Harvey jamming with John Lee Hooker and taping the
results on a handheld dictaphone. Yeah, that good.
Other Gigs: Part Chimp - The Rescue
Rooms (1st), Jet - The Social (5th), The Black Madonnas - The Rescue Rooms (9th), ...And None Of Them Knew They Were Robots - Junktion 7 (14th), Phonenix Down - Junktion 7
(15th), Mercury Tilt Switch - Junktion 7 (19th), Finch - Rock City (25th), The Iditarods - The Rescue Rooms (30th).
PLYMOUTH
Ollie Appleby
Gig of The Month: RECTAL HAEMORRHAGE + THE HEADPLUG + EXIT WOUND (The Phoenix - 3rd)
Dance away your hopes and fears to some brutal NecroCore grind-rock at the up-and-coming live music venue The Phoenix. It's not all Wurzels and Reef down here you know, sometimes the Florida/Scandanavian death metal scene overflows into town in the form of Rectal Haemorrhage. £1 entry.
Also Recommended #1: Serenity + Dayglow + The Blue Room (The Phoenix -
6th)
Something a little lighter later in the week, but rock none the less.
Also Recommended #2: thisGIRL (Plymouth Uni -
14th)
Back in The City after headlining the new Fierce Panda EP out on March 3rd.
Other Gigs: neck79 + Koala Attack + Shooter + Tube - Plymouth Uni (7th) Farse + No Comply + Schism - Union St. Kassa (13th) Battle of the Bands - The Phoenix (22nd - from 2pm), Five Knuckle + The Once Over Twice + winner of the battle of the bands - The Phoenix (29th).
PORTSMOUTH
Steve Gray
Gig of The Month: THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS + THE RISE + ONE PITY (Wedgewood Rooms – 25th)
Bonkers techno metal from Japan. They laid waste to the venue on their last visit with an awe-inspiring attack on the senses.
Also recommended #1: Placebo (Wedgewood Rooms – 8th)
Low key warm up show if you can find a ticket!
Also Recommended #2: Opeth (Wedgewood Rooms – 10th)
Extreme metal for all you headbangers
Other Gigs: Tom McRae – Wedgewood Rooms (4th), Richard Hawley – Wedgewood Rooms (6th), Something Corporate – Wedgewood Rooms (11th), Bryan Ferry – Guildhall (12th), Reef – Pyramids (14th), Ladytron – Wedgewood Rooms (15th), Turin Brakes – Pyramids (15th), The Thrills – Wedgewood Rooms (17th), Biffy Clyro – Wedgewood Rooms (18th), The Bloodbrothers – Wedgewood Rooms (20th), Hazel O’Connor – Wedgewood Rooms (24th), Zion Train – Wedgewood Rooms (27th), Liberty X – Guildhall (27th), Finch – Pyramids (28th), Beth Orton – Guildhall (30th).
READING
Jim Bowes
Gig of The Month: ATHLETE + LONGVIEW + REPAIRMAN (The Fez - 6th)
It's been pretty cold and nasty and there's nothing quite like the mellow tuneful anctics of Athlete to get thoughts of summer high on the agenda!
Also Recommended #1: Hazel O'Connor (South Hill Park, Bracknell - 26th)
OK, so I know this is a weird one but variety is the spice of life. Hazel O'Conner was big in the 80's and I reckon the 80's are where it's at this summer(!).
Also Recommended #2: Pitchshifter + Elviss (The Agincourt, Camberley - 14th)
This should be a fine gig from the Pitchshifter farewell tour. The Agincourt is a wicked 500 capacity venue totally under-used for live music and on a Friday
too!
Other Gigs: Aubrey Lemmon - Reading Bar Oz (2nd), Karn8 - Reading The Fez (12th), Joski - Reading Pavlovs Dog (13th).
SHEFFIELD
Kate Price
Gig of The Month: PITCHSHIFTER + THIS GIRL (Fusion & Foundry - 23rd)
Okay, now all of you who live anywhere near Sheffield need to get to this gig. Officially the last time you'll get to see the band play with OR without regular guitarist Jim Davies, the Indefinite Hiatus Tour marks the end of the band (news). You really cannot afford to miss this final dosage of their trashy, industrial, noisy punk. PLUS support comes from ThisGIRL, who are just good.
Also Recommended #1: Reef (Sheffield Leadmill - 12th)
Perhaps a bit of a step down from their last Sheffield date at the Octagon a few years back, but I think we can still rely on Gary & co to rock like weebles.
Also Recommended #2: Tom Mcrae (Sheffield Leadmill - 26th)
Go prepared for your heart-strings to be well and truly exercised.
Other Gigs: Athlete - Leadmill (1st), Antiflag - Corperation (4th), Imogen - Corperation (6th), Richard Hawley - Leadmill (15th), Finch - Leadmill (16th), Biffy Clyro - Fusion & Foundry (20th), Lightyear - Corperation (21st), Ladytron - Leadmill (24th), One Minute Silence - Leadmill (30th).
SOUTHAMPTON
Steve Gray
Gig of The Month: PITCHSHIFTER (Uni – 26th)
Last chance to catch the band on this farewell tour before they hit us with a gamut of splinter bands. Expect rock, tears and much hugging.
Also Recommended #1: Liberty37 + Stout (Joiners Arms – 29th)
Much overlooked emo-rock from Wales.
Also Recommended #2: Clearlake (Joiners Arms – 18th)
Psychedelic pop with poignant melodies.
Other Gigs: Mohair – Joiners Arms (5th), The Cognition – University (8th), Buffseeds – Joiners Arms (9th), Farse – Joiners Arms (15th), Lender – University (22nd).
WOLVERHAMPTON
Stephanie Mills
Gig of The Month: LIBERTY X (Civic Hall - 30th)
Best thing to come out of reality TV…ever. Don’t pretend you’ve never found yourself humming along to ‘Just A Little’! If you’re half as cool as me you’ll be there.
Also Recommended #1: The Used (Wulfrun Hall – 2nd)
It’s punk; its rock; its melodic; all you need for a nice sweaty mosh.
Also Recommended #2: Pitchshifter (Wulfrun Hall - 16th)
It’s their last tour *sniffle*
Other Gigs: Harry- Little Civic (26th), Beth Orton - Civic Hall (26th), Hyper Hyper Girl Lover – Little Civic (20th),
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