Neko Case/Kathryn Joseph – Barbican (8 November 2018)

My mate loved everything about Kathryn Joseph but the fact she was (solo) accompanying herself on electric paino. I really wished she’d shut up as the plonging (y’know that weird near dulcimer tone you get from the ‘leccy joanna) was really rather pleasant and hypnotic. The sub-Bush warbling I could take or leave. Preferably the latter.

Neko Case was a gloriously mercurial as ever. At times there were six guitars (not counting the bass) on the go at one time. At best this locked in a Velvety/near-kraut rocking-out groove to some of the songs. A welcome addition

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Damo Suzuki – The Lexington (4 November 2018)

I’ll be honest; it had been a very long drunken weekend. Can’t say for certain. But, I do remember thinking Who are this third-rate britpop band he’s got backing him? [fin]

Capri Batterie & Stewart Lee – Cafe Oto (4 November 2018)

“Not the kind of jazz you like” said Lee. Which is what this is. Love it. (Especially the bits with no brass)

Acid mothers Temple – Garage (3 November 2018)

first time seeing them. Probably the last. I was assured this was an atypically dull gig by the AMT veteran I went with [fin]

Mark Thomas, Check Up: Our NHS at 70 – Arcola Theatre (30 October 2018)

Well, if you were coming to be cheered up, you came to the wrong place [fin]

The Handsome Family – Nell’s Jazz & Blues Club (22 October 2018)

20th anniversary of Through The Trees playing the album tour. European leg. Squeeze another London gig in there. I’m fine with that. It’s the end of school, so they actually abandon the playing the album thing and do a full retrospective set. I’m even more fine with that. The excellent sound in this inconvenient, odd venue making it magical 🙂

The Nightingales/Stewart Lee (3 October 2018)

Lee doing an old set and pulling it apart in the fashion you would expect. Jam-packing the venue. Then the hipsters file out before the headliners…

Who (one of Lee’s favourite bands) are fantastic. No pauses. Straight through. My current listening making me join the dots to Beefheart from a lot of the indie I loved as a kid.