MC50
Chris O'Toole at the Shepherd's Bush Empire finds founding member Wayne Kramer's supergroup playing superb tribute to the MC5's classic 1968 debut album 'Kick out the Jams' fifty years after it was released.
Black Angels
Chris O'Toole finds much-acclaimed psychedelic rockers the Black Angels unconvincing at a gig at the Forum in London.
Radiophonic Workshop
Chris O'Toole at the Science Museum in London enjoys a night of archival sound effects and TV programme soundtracks from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Grandaddy
Chris O'Toole enjoys a wistful and understated set at the Roundhouse in London from critically acclaimed California-formed indie act Grandaddy
Wand
Chris O' Toole watches Los Angeles-based psychedelic rockers Wand play an eclectic but ultimately unsatisfactory set at the Boston Music Rooms in London
Lightning Bolt
Chris O' Toole watches American noise rock duo Lightning Bolt play a furious set at the Electric Ballroom in London
Lonelady
Chris O'Toole watches Manchester-based electro folk artist LoneLady, despite initial technical problems, make an energetic return to the stage at the Electrowerkz in London to promote her forthcoming first album in five years, 'Hinterland'
Aristullus
Chris O'Toole watches foemer Galaxie 500 and Luna front man Dean Wareham play a surprisingly increasingly upbeat set at the Islington Assembly Hall in London
Therapy ?
Chris O'Toole at the Scala in London watches Irish alternative rock trio Therapy? play a euphoric set to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their bestselling 1994 second album 'Troublegum'
Okkervil River
Chris O' Toole watches acclaimed Americana act Okkervil River play a disappointing set at the Islington Assembly Hall in London
Black Pus
Black Pus is the solo project of chaotic Rhode Island duo Lightning Bolt drummer Brian Chippendale. Chris O'Toole watches him play a dazzling and surprisingly pop-oriented show at the Dome in London
Moon Duo
Chris O' Toole enjoys a set of blissed out guitar/keyboard rock from San Francisco-based group Moon Duo at a show at the Dome in London
Veronica Lipgloss and the Evil
Chris O'Toole finds melodic American noise rock duo Pissed Jeans on dynamic form in a razor sharp, short set at the Electric Ballroom in London
Stereo Total
Chris O' Toole sees reformed post-punk giants Swans play an intense, but ultimately cathartic show at at the KOKO in London
Swans
Chrisn O' Toole watches reformed American post-punks Swans play an intense, but brilliant set at the KOKO in London
EMA
Chris O' Toole watches EMA, the moniker of Californian singer-songwriter and former Amps for Christ front woman Erika Anderson, play a set of violent, cathartic rock in an intense, but compelling show at the Scala in London
Moonface
Chris O'Toole at Cargo in London expresses surprise at Spencer Krug's recent formulaic approach to lyric writing with Moonface despite the fantastical nature of much of his previous work
M Gira
Chris O'Toole finds industrial rock outfit Swans' front man to be an apocalyptic and terrifying presence in a quietly intense acoutsic gig at the Cafe Oto in London
Shearwater
Chris O'Toole watches still underappreciated dark folk rockers Shearwater play a superb set in their biggest gig to date yet at the Scala in London
Asobi Seksu
At a show to promote their latest album 'Fluoresence' with a new robust line-up, Chris O' Toole at the XOYO in London finds New York shoegazing band Asobi Seksu failing to build on or create new ground
Barn Owl
Chris O'Toole is disappointed by an inconsequential and derivative set from drone guitar duo Barn Owl at the City Arts and Music Project in London
Timbre Timbre
Chris O' Toole at the ICA in London finds still undiscovered Canadian trio Timber Timbre's unique brand of experimental blues absolutely compelling
Sleepy Sun
While their front woman Rachel Fannan has recently left the band, Chris O' Toole watches San Francisco group Sleepy Sun now operating as a five piece rise against the odds and play an awe-striking and epic set of psychedelia
Xiu Xiu
Chris O' Toole watches Californian avant-garde duo Xiu Xiu play a confrontational, but compelling show at the new venue of the XOYO in London
Mountain Goats
While often only basic in their singing skills and guitar ability, Chris O' Toole finds both witty and inspiring a performance from the Mountain Goats, the group led by Indiana-based musician John Darnielle, at the KOKO in London
Silver Apples
Now just reduced to a single member, Chris O' Toole at the Luminaire watches a riveting performance from seminal 60's electronic act, Silver Apples
Fucked Up
Chris O' Toole at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen in London watches a celebratory, yet terrifying set peformance from Canadain hardcore outfit F**ked Up
Bonnie Prince Billy
Chris O' Toole wonders if Bonnie Prince Billy's long period of creative energy has finally come to an end after watching a sluggish show with the Cairo Gang at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London
Boredoms
Boredoms are a Japanese avant-garde group centered around guitarist Yamantaka Eye and a revolving assortment of drummers. At the Forum in London, Chris O' Toole watches an amazing spectacle from an eight piece line-up of the group
Client
Chris O' Toole is impressed by the Clientele's distinctive sound and tranquil melancholy at a home town gig at the Luminaire in London.
Cave Singers
On the last night of a British tour, Chris o' Toole finds whisky-stained country rockers, the Cave Singers, in celebratory mood at a show at the Cargo in London
Big Pink
At a show at the Electic Ballroom in London, Chris O' Toole refuses to believe the hype and finds little to be excited after watching a performance from much acclaimed electro rockers, the Big Pink
Bill Callahan
Chris O'Toole finds former Smog star, Bill Callahan, despite a new found buoyancy, aloof and rigid with his audience at a show at the Union Chapel in London
Camera Obscura
Chris O' Toole watches Glaswegian pop-ensemble Camera Obscura play a a rewarding, but also strangely downbeat show at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London
Crystal Antlers
Chris O' Toole finds much hyped psychedelic blues act Crystal Antlers to be a band of boundless energy and ideas, but as yet lacking the ability to focus them in a live context at Madame Jojo's in London
Thermals
With disastrous weather conditions outside, Chris O' Toole at the Lexington in London finds Portland, Oregon three piece the Thermals' brand of brash, taut performance worth fihgting against the cold and snow for
Torche
Chris O' Toole enjoys high adrenalin sets from both gloom rockers Isis, and their support act rising pop metal outfit Torche at a show at the London Scala
Calexico
At a superb show at the Forum in London, Chris O' Toole discovers eclectic and erratic form of charming south-western Americana to be impossible to classify on record or stage
Fuck Buttons
At the Hammersmith Apollo in London Chris O' Toole finds promising Bristol duo avant garde F*ck Buttons, on a support date to Mogwai, used to playing smaller venues, struggling to translate their sound to a bigger audience
Cave Singers
The Cave Singers is the new project of hardcore act Pretty Girls Make Graves' front man, Derek Fudesco. At the Cargo in London Chris O' Toole finds their pastoral and off-kilter blend of folk rock both riveting and compelling
Yeasayer
Chris O' Toole is enthralled by Brooklyn-based experimentalists' Yeasayer's mercurial take on modern pop at a show at King's College in London
Liquid Liquid
Chris O' Toole at the London Barbican finds New York minimal funk pioneers Liquid Liquid's comeback after 25 years apart most welcome, but wonders if a more appropriate setting could have been chosen for their return
Mudhoney
At their only show this year in Britain, Chris O' Toole at gig at the Forum in London finds pioneers of grunge Mudhoney's primitive, explosive rock to have lost none of their bite
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes have received deafening acclaim for their wondrous harmonies and classic rock sound. On their first British tour at a packed show at the London ULU Anthony Dhanendran living up to the grand wave of expectation that has preceeded them
Bon Ivor
At the Forum in London Chris O' Toole watches Wisconsin singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, who works under the musicial moniker of Bon Ivor, take his rustic, threadbare tales of rural life and transform them into a rollicking live show
Dodos
Chris O' Toole finds that, in contrast to their reserved and controlled studio recordings, sundrenched avant-garde American group the Dodos are a loose, faintly shambolic, but ultimately revelatory experience at a show at the Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen in London
Breeders
After a seven year absence, the Breeders rectely returned with just their fourth album, 'Mountain Battles'. Chris O' Toole finds the illusive, but charming Deal sisters' show lacking bite at a gig at the KOKO in London
HEALTH
Chris O' Toole is impressed by both experimental Los Angeles' quartet HEALTH's force and volume at a show at the Luminaire in London
Malcolm Middleton
In London's spectacular Union Chapel venue, Chris O' Toole sees Scottish singer-songwriter Malcolm Middleton perform a witty and polished, but surprisingly subdued concert
Fuck Buttons
Chris O' Toole is impressed by Bristol-based duo F**k Buttons' loud and confrontational avant-garde experimentalism, but nevertheless finds it too controlled at a gig at the ICA in London
Hawk And A Hacksaw
Chris O' Toole finds A Hawk and A Hacksaw's blend of Eastern European folk and jazz intriguing and beguiling, but hammpered by their audience at a gig at the one-off venue of Club Zigana Romanian Restaurant in London
Beirut
Chris O' Toole is impressed by the carnivalesque nature and passion of Beirut and frontman Zach Condon's performance at the London Roundhouse
St Vincent
St Vincent, the moniker for American musician Annie Clark, has won much acclaim for her debut album, 'Marry Me'. Chris O' Toole finds St Vincent's set rewarding, but over complicated and too unpredictable at the Bush Hall in London
Animal Collective
At gig at the London Coronet Club, Chris O' Toole enjoys seeing electro pioneers the Animal Collective play an enthrallingly experimental set
Bees
Despite being dropped recently by EMI, Chris O' Toole is convinced that the Bees still have a bright future after watching them play a triumphant set of their unqiue blend of reggae, psychedelic rock, Americana and swing at the Mermaid Theatre in London
Dan Deacon
At the London Cargo Chris O' Toole watches Dan Deacon whip up and win over a particulary sour faced crowd with his hyper form of pop electronica