Recent activity

1. lipsticklori is going to Muse with Cosmo Jarvis and The Quails at The Den Teignmouth (04 Sep 09) and Mew with choir of young believers at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (10 Nov 09). 3 months ago
2. The Polyphonic Spree with Last Man Standing at Manchester Academy (16 Aug 05) and Courtney Pine with Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Manchester Academy 2 (02 Dec 04) were added to lipsticklori's gigography. 5 months ago
3. lipsticklori reviewed Courtney Pine with Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Manchester Academy 2 (02 Dec 04) and gave it . 5 months ago

   "Walking down the side of the Student Union building towards Kro Bar for some food, the sound of a jazz saxophonist warming up for his gig wafted over rooftops and mingled with the bustle of people and traffic from Oxford Road, reminding me of the Simpsons episode where Lisa meets Bleeding Gums Murphy. Later, in the SU bar, we mingled with a crowd who were there to see the other gig of the night - Scissor Sisters - and marvelled at their almost universal 'styled by Kelly Osbourne, hair by Kajagoogoo' look. The jazz fans weren't quite as easy to spot. We moved upstairs to the venue and joined an absurdly enthusiastic crowd enjoying the last of the support act's accomplished Spanish-style guitar music. One of the duo explained that the title of the track they were about to play means 'fire' in Catalan and they weren't taking the piss, they just didn't think they'd be playing any English-speaking countries again. Support bands aren't supposed to be good or get you in the mood, surely? I thought they were just there to make the main act look better.

   Courtney Pine and his band came on stage pretty much exactly as billed at 8.50pm and, after some introductions, started to impress straight away. A funky mix of jazz and various related styles, the set was extremely enjoyable whilst also leaving me stunned with their sheer talent. A couple of really special musicians in the band were given their chance to shine with Pine putting down his sax to give them centre stage for a few songs. Cameron Pierre was excellent on guitar playing the first song I recognised, a jazz version of Michael Jackson's Human Nature, but the real star turned out to be the guy with the trombone. If you like your jazz funky, you really must check out Dennis Rollins - who could have guessed the 'bone could be so exciting!

   All in all, the evening was so good that even the trio of mad dancing stoners near where we were standing couldn't spoil it. A couple more songs that I recognised appeared in the first encore (surprisingly Melanie C's Never be the Same Again and Shanks & Bigfoot's Sweet like Chocolate) and, if it hadn't been for the 11pm curfew, I think they could have played all night. At the end of the set Courtney Pine thanked us for supporting UK jazz but, on this evidence, I can't understand why more people don't. (Blogged on 13-Feb-04)"

4. Doves and The Last Broadcast with Longview at Ritz Manchester (28 May 05) was added to lipsticklori's gigography. 5 months ago
5. 5 months ago
6. lipsticklori reviewed none and gave it . 5 months ago

   "I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday of music from opening act Longview performing a cover of the Depeche Mode track Stripped, right through to The Cure ending on Boys Don't Cry. You can't get much better than Keane belting out Somewhere Only We Know in the afternoon sun with an aircraft leaving a pretty vapour trail in the sky above them, or Robert Smith singing Pictures Of You while the sun set."

7. lipsticklori reviewed none and gave it . 5 months ago

   "I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday of music from opening act Longview performing a cover of the Depeche Mode track Stripped, right through to The Cure ending on Boys Don't Cry. You can't get much better than Keane belting out Somewhere Only We Know in the afternoon sun with an aircraft leaving a pretty vapour trail in the sky above them, or Robert Smith singing Pictures Of You while the sun set."

8. Maximo Park with Noisettes and Stricken City at O2 Academy Brixton (26 May 09) was added to lipsticklori's gigography. 5 months ago
9. lipsticklori reviewed Depeche Mode with Fad Gadget at Manchester Evening News Arena (20 Oct 01) and gave it . 5 months ago

   "This was very disappointing. There were huge chunks of the set list that were too slow and the crowd appeared to be getting bored. Definitely not their best tour."

10. Jellyfish at Astoria (21 May 93), Depeche Mode at Wembley Arena (20 Dec 93), and Depeche Mode with Fad Gadget at Manchester Evening News Arena (20 Oct 01) were added to lipsticklori's gigography. 5 months ago