Pup (+Goo + Illuminati Hotties) - The Marble Factory, Bristol - 13/05/2025 (LIVE REVIEW)

Depressing lyrics and utter euphoria combined in a celebration of the underdog at Bristol’s Marble Factory, which hosted Canadian punk-rockers PUP and their frankly dazzling support acts as part of its extended swansong.

Lambrini Girls - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 08/04/25 (LIVE REVIEW)

 

No strangers to touring,

a punk vibe so alluring,

Lambrini Girls are coming to town...

We’ve watched them here before,

From the Brudenell 's sticky floor,

This Brighton-based band won’t let you down.

Evan Dando - (LIVE REVIEW) Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, October 21st 2024

Prior to this show, the not-entirely-positive reviews coming out of recent US tours had given me a sense of foreboding, which was not entirely justified. Strong support came from Ella Raphael; beautiful sunbeam tinged blues, reminiscent of Hope Sandoval at her hazy best; and Juanita Stein (formally of Howling Bells), with her nostalgia soaked, perfectly constructed Americana. 

 

BIG SPECIAL @Key Club, Leeds, May 8th 2024, LIVE REVIEW

West Midlands duo keep it real at Leeds' Key Club

Photo: Isaac Watson 

My only previous Key Club visit was a raucous Saturday afternoon IDLES appearance at a Live @ Leeds festival many moons ago that practically razed the place to the ground. 

 

No pressure then for West Midland duo BIG SPECIAL whose razor-sharp kitchen-sink-full-of-Special-Brew single ‘Shithouse’’ first piqued my interest. With debut long player ‘Post Industrial Hometown Blues’ gleaming on the shelves and a 30-date sell out UK tour underway, things seem to be happening for Walsall based frontman Joe Hicklin and his batshit Brummie mate from college, drummer Callum Moloney.  

Billie Marten - Leeds Brudenell , May 20th 2023 (LIVE REVIEW)

Having experienced hundreds of live shows over the years, in all that time, I could probably count on one hand the number of occasions a band or performer failed to return stage front for an encore. That was until, the spiteful armoured bollock Covid wreaked its havoc, with every post pandemic gig I’ve attended since, suddenly bereft of an encore.