Steve B
@wordsbysteve.bsky.social
Occasional mutterings mainly on music, books and sport
Perfume Genius were absolutely excellent at the Roundhouse tonight. I've been really enjoying this year's Glory LP, but tonight strongly suggests a need for me to properly revisit the older albums, Otherside going into Describe was simply stunning.
November 11, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Perfume Genius were absolutely excellent at the Roundhouse tonight. I've been really enjoying this year's Glory LP, but tonight strongly suggests a need for me to properly revisit the older albums, Otherside going into Describe was simply stunning.
McKinley Dixon at the Lexington was easily one of the best gigs I've seen this year (despite a frustrating 15 minute technical stuff up towards the end). An energetic, hugely engaging performance with a joyous 'We're Outside, Rejoice!' and a visceral 'Mezzanine Tippin' highpoints.
October 20, 2025 at 10:15 PM
McKinley Dixon at the Lexington was easily one of the best gigs I've seen this year (despite a frustrating 15 minute technical stuff up towards the end). An energetic, hugely engaging performance with a joyous 'We're Outside, Rejoice!' and a visceral 'Mezzanine Tippin' highpoints.
The Loft split just before I started going regularly to gigs, so it was lovely to see them in fine fettle tonight at The Moth Club. Great renditions of their older songs (Winter sounded particularly good), with lots to like from the new/debut LP. Autocamper were reliably fantastic in support.
October 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The Loft split just before I started going regularly to gigs, so it was lovely to see them in fine fettle tonight at The Moth Club. Great renditions of their older songs (Winter sounded particularly good), with lots to like from the new/debut LP. Autocamper were reliably fantastic in support.
Absolutely loved Lande Hekt at the Lexington tonight. Lande's songwriting is a lovely blend of melancholy and joy and next January's LP promises to be rather special. Hopefully there will be more shows then. The always fun Sassyhiya and Perfect Binding were both really good as support too.
October 15, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Absolutely loved Lande Hekt at the Lexington tonight. Lande's songwriting is a lovely blend of melancholy and joy and next January's LP promises to be rather special. Hopefully there will be more shows then. The always fun Sassyhiya and Perfect Binding were both really good as support too.
Robert Forster was wonderful tonight at the Union Chapel. Brilliantly chosen setlist covering plenty of solo and Go-Betweens tunes. His Swedish Band excelled, with Peter Moren's guitar just superb. Getting to hear Spring Rain live a massive treat.
October 11, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Robert Forster was wonderful tonight at the Union Chapel. Brilliantly chosen setlist covering plenty of solo and Go-Betweens tunes. His Swedish Band excelled, with Peter Moren's guitar just superb. Getting to hear Spring Rain live a massive treat.
Utterly joyous, life-affirming celebration of Edwyn Collins at the Royal Festival Hall last night, genuine privilege to be there. Edwyn on great form, truly beautiful on Low Expectations in the encore. James Kirk and Steven Daly joining for a triumphant Felicity/Blue Boy finale was a delight.
October 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Utterly joyous, life-affirming celebration of Edwyn Collins at the Royal Festival Hall last night, genuine privilege to be there. Edwyn on great form, truly beautiful on Low Expectations in the encore. James Kirk and Steven Daly joining for a triumphant Felicity/Blue Boy finale was a delight.
I was starting to worry that The Cords debut LP couldn't live up to expectations, and dear me if it doesn't end up going way beyond. Utterly perfect pop music backed up by a blindingly good set at the Betsey Trotwood tonight, genuinely very special. Would-be-Goods were excellent as support too.
September 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I was starting to worry that The Cords debut LP couldn't live up to expectations, and dear me if it doesn't end up going way beyond. Utterly perfect pop music backed up by a blindingly good set at the Betsey Trotwood tonight, genuinely very special. Would-be-Goods were excellent as support too.
Clara Mann was superb in the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room tonight. Rift has been one of the very best albums of the year and songs from it were beautifully performed with perfect accompaniment from Owen Spafford. Great to have a handful of new songs too. Lovely support from Watch Paint Dry.
September 25, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Clara Mann was superb in the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room tonight. Rift has been one of the very best albums of the year and songs from it were beautifully performed with perfect accompaniment from Owen Spafford. Great to have a handful of new songs too. Lovely support from Watch Paint Dry.
Saw Black Country, New Road at the Albert Hall last night. What a fantastic venue with a great audience completely into things including Titanic who were excellent as support. BCNR were wonderful live, inventive and engaging. Forever Howlong is an LP that repays regular listening.
September 14, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Saw Black Country, New Road at the Albert Hall last night. What a fantastic venue with a great audience completely into things including Titanic who were excellent as support. BCNR were wonderful live, inventive and engaging. Forever Howlong is an LP that repays regular listening.
Ben Watt & Tracey Thorn at the Moth Club were magical last night. A deep dive into their solo and EBTG songbooks, beautifully performed with Rex Horan and son, Blake. Seems unfair to pick highlights but Winter's Eve and Bridget St John's Song To Keep You Company were superb. Just a lovely night.
September 2, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Ben Watt & Tracey Thorn at the Moth Club were magical last night. A deep dive into their solo and EBTG songbooks, beautifully performed with Rex Horan and son, Blake. Seems unfair to pick highlights but Winter's Eve and Bridget St John's Song To Keep You Company were superb. Just a lovely night.
Great Lost Map records showcase at the Shacklewell Arms last night as part of Label Mates festival. Sara Wolff's solo set was fantastic, and Dominie Hooper was excellent, looking forward to the LP to be released on Halloween and full band show at the Moth Club. Both promise to be rather special.
August 18, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Great Lost Map records showcase at the Shacklewell Arms last night as part of Label Mates festival. Sara Wolff's solo set was fantastic, and Dominie Hooper was excellent, looking forward to the LP to be released on Halloween and full band show at the Moth Club. Both promise to be rather special.
Heavenly were on excellent form at Islington Assembly Hall tonight, a cracking set with a sprinkling of great sounding new songs which went down a storm. Very much enjoyed Lightheaded's set too. Coming home with a couple of fanzines and a 7" feels pleasingly familiar too.
July 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Heavenly were on excellent form at Islington Assembly Hall tonight, a cracking set with a sprinkling of great sounding new songs which went down a storm. Very much enjoyed Lightheaded's set too. Coming home with a couple of fanzines and a 7" feels pleasingly familiar too.
Blown away by how good Poor Creature were this evening at Rough Trade East. Spellbinding performances of songs from their fantastic debut LP 'All Smiles Tonight. They have a beautiful but slightly out of focus quality which is quite magical. @poorcreaturemusic.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Blown away by how good Poor Creature were this evening at Rough Trade East. Spellbinding performances of songs from their fantastic debut LP 'All Smiles Tonight. They have a beautiful but slightly out of focus quality which is quite magical. @poorcreaturemusic.bsky.social
Hugely enjoyable Daylight Music show at St John's in Leytonstone. Wonderful performance from Faith Eliott, beautiful, wry, deeply affecting songs, far to say I absolutely adore them. Dryas is a truly brilliant LP. Fell were great and Owen & The Eyeballs the party band I didn't know I needed.
July 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Hugely enjoyable Daylight Music show at St John's in Leytonstone. Wonderful performance from Faith Eliott, beautiful, wry, deeply affecting songs, far to say I absolutely adore them. Dryas is a truly brilliant LP. Fell were great and Owen & The Eyeballs the party band I didn't know I needed.
Kassi Valazza was utterly magical at St Pancras Old Church this evening, a wonderful band performance and an amazing voice. Highlights were Kassi performing solo accompanied by the 10pm church bells and an exceptional version of Matty Groves in the encore. Magnificent stuff.
June 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Kassi Valazza was utterly magical at St Pancras Old Church this evening, a wonderful band performance and an amazing voice. Highlights were Kassi performing solo accompanied by the 10pm church bells and an exceptional version of Matty Groves in the encore. Magnificent stuff.
Really enjoyed Cassandra Jenkins at Koko tonight, a great band all round but I particularly liked Adam Brusbin's stellar guitar work, equally good when gentle and angular. Magical support set from Anna B Savage, who is a phenomenal live performer.
June 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Really enjoyed Cassandra Jenkins at Koko tonight, a great band all round but I particularly liked Adam Brusbin's stellar guitar work, equally good when gentle and angular. Magical support set from Anna B Savage, who is a phenomenal live performer.
What a night at Signature Brew Haggerston! Kristin Hersh was totally mesmeric, an absolute privilege to see her so close up. Memorials are my favourite live band right now, skronky kraut pop, right up my street. Graham Reynolds mix of unhinged percussion and cinematic piano an excellent start too.
June 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
What a night at Signature Brew Haggerston! Kristin Hersh was totally mesmeric, an absolute privilege to see her so close up. Memorials are my favourite live band right now, skronky kraut pop, right up my street. Graham Reynolds mix of unhinged percussion and cinematic piano an excellent start too.
Did someone mention Patchwork? youtube.com/watch?v=IgEo...
Tindersticks - 01-Patchwork (live MTV Studios)
YouTube video by Mehr Licht!
youtube.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Did someone mention Patchwork? youtube.com/watch?v=IgEo...
Where to start with Wide Awake, so many highlights. Daniel Avery, Marie Davidson, Gurriers, Acopia, English Teacher all superb. Emotionally though Jasmine.4.t, particularly a beautiful and utterly poignant rendition of 'Woman' hit hard. Great day out, long may it continue.
May 24, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Where to start with Wide Awake, so many highlights. Daniel Avery, Marie Davidson, Gurriers, Acopia, English Teacher all superb. Emotionally though Jasmine.4.t, particularly a beautiful and utterly poignant rendition of 'Woman' hit hard. Great day out, long may it continue.
Lovely to catch up with the super talented Fran, now performing as Mezanmi at SJQ this evening. Great short set supporting Mariam The Believer, new song sounded brilliant. Tickets for what promises to be a special headline show at the same venue in October released today.
May 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Lovely to catch up with the super talented Fran, now performing as Mezanmi at SJQ this evening. Great short set supporting Mariam The Believer, new song sounded brilliant. Tickets for what promises to be a special headline show at the same venue in October released today.
Massively enjoyed Jenny Hval at Islington Assembly Hall last night. Loved the stripped back presentation which really allowed the songs and Jenny's incredible voice to take centre stage. Both in her own right and as Lost Girls, she's put together a stellar run of albums over the last five years.
May 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Massively enjoyed Jenny Hval at Islington Assembly Hall last night. Loved the stripped back presentation which really allowed the songs and Jenny's incredible voice to take centre stage. Both in her own right and as Lost Girls, she's put together a stellar run of albums over the last five years.
In terms of overstuffing a 1of100 Modern Musette, I can't say I'd recommend trying to carry home seven LPs and four back issues of Disco Pogo from the Independent Record Market, but here we are... 😬 @weare1of100.bsky.social @discopogo.bsky.social
May 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In terms of overstuffing a 1of100 Modern Musette, I can't say I'd recommend trying to carry home seven LPs and four back issues of Disco Pogo from the Independent Record Market, but here we are... 😬 @weare1of100.bsky.social @discopogo.bsky.social
Absolutely absorbed by the Necks performance at Cafe Oto this afternoon, incredible to watch the interplay between three remarkable musicians building layer upon layer of their two long pieces.
May 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Absolutely absorbed by the Necks performance at Cafe Oto this afternoon, incredible to watch the interplay between three remarkable musicians building layer upon layer of their two long pieces.
The Pogues were joyous at Brixton Academy for the 40th anniversary of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (and of my first seeing them at the Leadmill). Guest vocalists were all fab, highlight for me Iona Zajac's superb performance of I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday. Lots of aching bodies in the morning.
May 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The Pogues were joyous at Brixton Academy for the 40th anniversary of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (and of my first seeing them at the Leadmill). Guest vocalists were all fab, highlight for me Iona Zajac's superb performance of I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday. Lots of aching bodies in the morning.
A magical evening with the incomparable Rich(ard) Dawson at Clapham Grand. I'm not at all ashamed to say I've started to cry at gigs in a manner not dissimilar to Keith on the Pottery Throw Down, Gondola setting off my third gig blub in a week.
April 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A magical evening with the incomparable Rich(ard) Dawson at Clapham Grand. I'm not at all ashamed to say I've started to cry at gigs in a manner not dissimilar to Keith on the Pottery Throw Down, Gondola setting off my third gig blub in a week.