Roger Waters – The Dark Ride of the Loon

Posted by Indie Music Finds | Posted in Guest Post, Independent Music Finds, Rock | Posted on 01-12-2011

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Roger Waters The Wall 2012 Tour

When Roger Waters embarked on his Dark Side of the Moon tour back in 2006, a new era in album tributes was born. Those who attended the Dark Side concerts remember a startling visual accompaniment to Waters’ awesome band and their massive sound. Now, in 2012, tickets to Roger Waters The Wall tour are selling out fast as Floyd fans and others clamor to be amazed all over again. The Wall tour revives the iconic 1979 Pink Floyd album of the same name. It is the fragmented history of a rock star named Pink.

Pink suffers from a mixture of psychosis and post-traumtic shock. He struggles to deal with life in the shadow of loneliness by adopting wild and detached behavior. The death of his father during World War II drives the story forward into a crazed materialistic trip littered with dark poetry and violence. The Wall’s most powerful image remains the marching hammers that steamroll their way across a broken landscape like Nazi stormtroopers. Expect to encounter these visions when you see Roger Waters live in concert. The drama of the tale, coupled to some of the best songs of the last thirty years, will once again take audiences deep on an intense voyage that transcends music and creativity; Roger Waters’ own personal history bears many parallels to that of Pink, and this provides a rich fuel for an epic modern journey.

Pink Floyd began life as a spark between Waters and Nick Mason when they met at college in London. Several small mutations later – including the acquisition of one Syd Barrett – Floyd were the resident band at a Kensington all-night club. Their meteoric rise to the leading edge of the British psychedelic movement happened naturally; audiences loved Barrett for his onstage exuberance and over-indulgent flights of fancy. The association with LSD and an artsy, progressive scene was no accident. Led by Barrett, Floyd were ahead of the curve, and their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was packed with images of gnomes, bicycles, fairy stories, witches’ cats and military code.

Floyd went from strength to strength, losing Barrett along the way to mental illness and replacing him with David Gilmour. In time Roger Waters emerged as the true voice of Pink Floyd. It’s fitting that it is Waters who has managed the most impactful concert tours in the years since Floyd disbanded, with Dark Side of the Moon and now The Wall being the crowning glories. Roger Waters tickets are high price tickets, chiefly because they give the audience a full-blown experience rather than just a concert. The recent news that David Gilmour tickets are also on sale for his upcoming tour is an indicator that Pink Floyd may yet reassemble and blow our minds again. But it’s probably just a silly dream. Then again, isn’t all of life just a silly dream?

Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See (UK Tour Dates)

Posted by Indie Music Finds | Posted in Album, Charlie O'Shea, Independent Music Finds, Rock | Posted on 16-06-2011

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Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See Tour Tickets

With the release of Arctic Monkey’s fourth album ‘Suck It and See’, tickets will go on sale tomorrow for a UK tour. ‘Suck It and See’ shows Arctic Monkeys reverting somewhat to the sound of their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ with a more upbeat, stripped back feel. However, I still feel it lacks the everyman-relatable stories we listened to in tracks like ‘From The Ritz To The Rubble’ or ‘Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured’ that made that album such a success.

28 October – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
29 October – O2 Arena, London
1 November – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
2 November –MEN Arena, Manchester
4 November – LG Arena, Birmingham
5 November – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
6 November – AECC, Aberdeen
8 November – SECC Hall 4, Glasgow
9 November – Echo Arena, Liverpool Tickets

Tickets go on sale 17th June 2011 at 09:00.

For US readers, Arctic Monkeys already have a few dates lined up in August and will also be playing at Lollapalooza.

Friendly Fires – Pala + Tour

Posted by Indie Music Finds | Posted in Charlie O'Shea, Independent Music Finds, Rock | Posted on 27-05-2011

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With the release of Friendly Fires’ second album Pala last week, the trio have certainly got a lot on their plate over the next couple of months. There’s word of a music video in the pipeline that’s currently being edited and the band are currently touring North America with a UK tour lined up for November.

The first single from the album ‘Live Those Days Tonight‘ will have a universal appeal and is just downright danceable, even more so than their earlier material. Pala brings us at times a really unusual blend between indie rock, 70s disco and even a tropical sound in places.

Competition to win 1 of 1000 limited edition vinyls of the Friendly Fires cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Strangelove’ here.

Tickets went on sale for the UK tour yesterday and there’re still plenty available. Definitely one of the best live bands out there and well worth seeing. The North American tour is currently in progress up until the 10th of June and you can still find tickets if you know where to look.

Thu 10 Nov – Bristol, O2 Academy
Fri 11 Nov – Birmingham, O2 Academy
Sat 12 Nov – Southampton, Guildhall
Mon 14 Nov – Nottingham, Rock City
Tue 15 Nov – Newcastle, O2 Academy
Thu 17 Nov – Manchester, O2 Apollo
Fri 18 Nov – Glasgow, Barrowlands
Sat 19 Nov – Leeds, O2 Academy
Mon 21 Nov – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Tue 22 Nov – Lincoln, Engine Shed
Fri 25 Nov – London, Brixton Academy

The Top 5 Live Indie Bands List of 2011

Posted by Indie Music Finds | Posted in Guest Post, Independent Music Finds, Rock | Posted on 15-02-2011

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With spring just around the corner (optimistic?!) everyone will be starting to enjoy the lighter evenings and warmer days. So to match everybody’s brighter moods how about some great new music to have a little listen to? We’ve got web editor Callie Morris to recommend her top 5 live acts you should all go and see this year…

 

Fixers

 

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This five piece from Oxford seems to have the ‘psychadelic indie’ genre pinned. Having only got together for a one off show last year they decided to stick it out, stay together and see what else they can get up to. Pretty smart move as they are now set for big things, frequently attracting the interest of various music and media professionals.

If you like nice harmonies (who doesn’t!?) then this band will be right up your street, although everyone else will still enjoy their foot tappingly cheerful music.

 

Spark

 

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Everyone will soon know about Spark. Already a favourite with acts such as Marina and the Diamonds and Diana Vickers she is bursting onto the music scene in a blaze of poppy electro. The awesome East London singer/songwriter will be releasing her debut album this year… As one YouTube commenter said: “2011 will belong to this girl”.

 

The Go! Team

 

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Having been around since 2000 The Go! Team aren’t actually a new band, but I feel they deserve a little place on my list purely because if you haven’t already seen them (and even if you have) then 2011 is the year to do this – their energy on stage is infectious and you’ll definitely be glad you were a part of it. Check out the live video above for an example of the talent involved in this six piece from Brighton.

They draw a lot of influence from Sonic Youth, playground chants and old school hip hop and electro creating a surprisingly good combination.

 

Death Cab For Cutie

 

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Death Cab For Cutie are another band that are in no way new, however their latest album Codes and Keys will be released this year so they can have a little spot on my list as ones to definitely go and see in 2011 – due to the simple fact that they’re awesome. From the bass line in ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ to Ben Gibbardís voice in – well any song, they are definitely not to be missed.

Their last album Narrow Stairs was released in 2008 and reached number 1 on the Billboard 200. Lets see if they can match this success with their imminent next one…

 

Niki And The Dove

 

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Swedish group Niki and the Dove will have you enchanted with their musical offerings and definitely leave you wanting more. Topping many of the rising stars for 2011 lists it’s worth jumping on this bandwagon before everyone else does too!

Fronted by Marin Dahlström who has a voice that is able to make electro-pop sound emotional and enchanting, check out singles ‘DJ, Ease My Mind’ and ‘Under the Bridges’, then get yourself a Niki And The Dove gig ticket!

Keep an eye on their Myspace page for upcoming gig information and general band news.