This Week's Live Picks
Posted on: 07 Nov 2016We deliver a hot-five hit-list with this round-up of the best of this week's burgeoning musical offerings in Bristol, taking including everything from post-punk to deep house. Read (and rave) on.
Sleaford Mods - O2 Academy, 8.11.16
Sleaford Mods are the musical equivalent of Ken Loach. Witheringly critical of contemporary society, the Nottingham duo pair jagged electronic backing with the punk howl of sharp-tongued front man Jason Williams. Their four albums to date are packed full of greyscale social commentary which betray no light, save for the flashes of caustic humour which litter the tracks like fag butts. Their current tour comes in support of new EP TCR, and with it a chance that Williamson might lighten up a bit during their stopover in the city he described as “Bristol, lovely Bristol - if I had the money I’d move.”
Preoccupations - The Exchange, 8.11.16
Known pre-Preoccupations as Viet Cong, the four-piece from Calgary, Canada were forced to change their name last year amid controversy and allegations of cultural appropriation. Back with a name that is only likely to cause offense through its naff-ness, they have put out an intelligently-crafted second record every bit as good as their stunning debut which had deservedly put them beside Ought as the joint rulers of Canada’s thriving post-punk scene. Check ‘em out at the Exchange tomorrow.
KING - Thekla, 8.11.16
If neither of those sound like they would float your boat, hopefully this next lot will - quite literally, it really would be a shame to see HMS Thekla sink after all these years. KING clamber aboard tomorrow evening, bringing with them an altogether more melodic noise of alternative R&B. The trio, comprised of twins Amber and Paris Strother, and mate Anita Bias have hopped across the Pond again for another handful of UK shows, which will coat the likes of The Village Underground in London and Glasgow’s Stereo. Neither of these are quite as cool as Thekla though.
Regina Spektor - Colston Hall, 12.11.16
A weather-beaten resident of New York’s anti-folk scene since emigrating from Moscow at the age of nine, Regina Spektor writes songs which are often giddily romantic though tempered by her myriad eccentricities and a premature wisdom. This balance has struck a chord with the discerning pop music fan and film-makers alike, with her falsetto accompanying many of the wittier rom-coms to have appeared in recent years. It will also accompany a capacity crowd at Colston Hall on Saturday, the date coming smack bang in the middle of her biggest UK tour to date.
Joy Orbison - Marble Factory, 12.11.16
Joy Orbison, née Peter O’Grady, is one of the finest all-around DJs that this country has ever produced, with his production acumen (which has proffered tracks as important as ‘Hyph Mngo’) only matched by his extraordinary ability to select. He is the latest guest of the fabulous An Evening With… series, which allocates a whole night to one disk jockey, who in the past have included Floating Points, Ben Klock and Bicep. Whilst Katy B is giving it large in Motion’s main room, those who know will be next door in the Marble Factory where Joy O will be spinning from doors until lights. Not to be missed.