Part of 2008’s Levi’s OnesToWatch 5 Night Revue, which last year boasted such as-yet unknowns as Foals, The Wombats and Ida Maria, the acts on this particular bill couldn’t really have been much further apart stylistically.
The deal with Micachu is this. Micachu is a young lady who seems to record as Micachu. But Micachu also seems to be a band comprised of Micachu and a keyboardist and a drummer, who go by the name of The Shapes. So on the poster they’re called Micachu, but from the stage lead singer Mica (left - click image to enlarge) refers to them as Micachu and The Shapes. How very confusing it all is.
Anyway, whoever the hell Micachu is/are, it’s a fascinating spectacle to see them onstage. Mica uses a wee guitar, with what appears to be a shoelace as a guitar strap, and sings in that accented east London manner we’ve become used to over the last few years.
Keyboardist Raisa applies synthy flourishes but also joins in on percussion, banging away on a couple of upturned wine bottles. Drummer Marc, meanwhile, controls the bewildering changes of time signature while sprinkling helpings of cowbell and old tin cans over the whole confection.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Wednesday September 24th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

As I walked to the tube station last night I overheard a Radiohead fan bemoaning a couple of tracks that weren’t played on the first of their two nights at London’s Victoria Park. “That’s it, I’m going to be spending the rest of night thinking about what they didn’t play,” he continued.
You’re not that only one, buddy. While Radiohead occupy a unique place as one of the only bands who have become even bigger after becoming more musically obtuse, it wasn’t unreasonable to assume that an outdoor enormo-gig would bring out whatever crowd-pleasing tendencies they may retain from the Glasto-slaying days of the late 90s.
The reality was a set heavy on tracks from Kid A onwards, leaving fans in no doubt that, hey, if you’re a real Radiohead fan that’s what you’re supposed to be listening to these days.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Wednesday June 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am

Susi Weaser, editor of Shiny Shiny, went to check out cheery old moustached lizard Nick Cave the other night. I wonder, was he as good as the number of times his album’s been played in our office would suggest? Let’s find out.
How did you rate the venue?
Um, can I just copy and paste what I wrote when I saw Gogol Bordello? OK, so this is what I think/thought: I quite like the Hammersmith Apollo. I’ve never had a bad night there. It’s sloped towards the stage so it’s easy to get a good view, and it’s not so big you lose any atmosphere.
What were the crowd like?
Less gothic-looking than I expected. I suppose everyone has grown up. It was mostly an older crowd, a side effect of which is that they were also a very tall crowd.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Friday May 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am

Clare Joslin, My Chemical Toilet’s resident Hoosiers defender, went to see The Wombats the other night. Here she shares what she thought of the perky Anglo-Norwegian Liverpudlians…
How did you rate the venue?
Great. It’s big enough to fit everyone in and put on big artists, but open enough for everyone to see - unless you choose to stand behind the barriers by the bar. But if you do that’s up to you, isn’t it.

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Posted by Clare Joslin on Wednesday May 7th, 2008 at 10:29 am

Jaz Cummins is a Senior Account Executive (and frequent blogger) at Shiny Red, a very Web 2.0-ish PR consultancy. The other week she went along to Camden’s Barfly to check out charmingly-monikored gypsy-punk types The Fighting Cocks. Here is what she thunk.
How did you rate the venue?
Good n’ indie. Last time I went to the Barfly was during the Camden Crawl. It was much nicer than that time, what with it being a civilised Sunday evening.

What were the crowd like?
A mixture of hardcore Fighting Cocks groupies doing their duty of crazy dancing and crowd participation… and confused-looking people who’d never seen them before.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Monday March 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am

Isabelle O’Carroll, editor of men’s fashion authority Brandish, went to a gig last night and set aside a few moments of her valuable time to tell us - and you - yes YOU - all about it. Watch out for her new adjective for gentlemen wearing inappropriately skinny jeans.
How did you rate the venue?
Last time I was at the Buffalo Bar I was so tired I had to watch The Chap with my eyes closed in one of their nice comfy banquettes. I love a good banquette.
What were the crowd like?
A few really horrible alcohol-bloated, parsnip-legged sub-Libertines wankers; but mostly a crowd of good-humoured, slightly geeky gorgeous people.

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Friday February 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm