Author Archives: Liam

American Hi-Fi were one of my personal favourite bands in the early 2000’s (and beyond). Despite a couple of reasonable sized hits in the US and some key appearances on soundtracks of films that were cult classics on either side of the Atlantic, the band didn’t have the same recognition that some of their peersContinueContinue reading “Wednesday 7th May 2014 – American Hi-Fi w / The Hype Theory and Sykes at The 100 Club, London”

In the early to mid 2010’s I’d landed upon a renewed interest in some of the punk rock bands whose existence had predated me getting into the genre ten years earlier. I think this was in part due to playing in a ‘punk’ band again, accessibility of their music was probably a huge factor too,ContinueContinue reading “Sunday 27th April 2014 – Alkaline Trio w/ Bayside at Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth”

And so we reach the first of many Less Than Jake entries. To be precise this is number 21 of 36 (so far). In almost 19 years of going to LTJ shows, there have only been 6 without. 2013 was one of those years, making this gig 14 months since I’d last seen them (notContinueContinue reading “Wednesday 12th February 2014 – Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish w/ Zebrahead at Portsmouth Guildhall”

I wrote about how Motion City Soundtrack’s My Dinosaur Life soundtracked the early days of my relationship with Sam, another album playing on repeat at this time was Tegan & Sara’s Sainthood. It was released a couple of months earlier and I’d just picked up a copy on CD. Unbeknown to me Sam had downloaded it from iTunes.ContinueContinue reading “Tuesday 11th June 2013 – Tegan And Sara w/ Waxahatchee at The Troxy, London”

I didn’t get into Bouncing Souls in their early years. It wasn’t until 2006 and The Gold Record album cycle when that they finally arrived on my radar. I got to see them at Reading Festival that same year, then didn’t get chance again for another six years, Between 2012 and 2013 I saw themContinueContinue reading “Sunday 10th March 2013 – Bouncing Souls w/ Cheap Girls and Luther at Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth”

This is a gig I probably shouldn’t have gone to. Ten years on, with everything we’ve learnt in this pandemic era, there’s no way I would have. I was unwell. Classic common cold in Summertime. If you’re reading this and thinking “yeah, I felt like shit after that show actually!” I apologise for my irresponsibleContinueContinue reading “Wednesday 20th June 2012 – Less Than Jake at The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth”

I’ve seen Sam Duckworth live a number of times over the years, I really should compile a complete list. Many of those shows have stood apart from the early Get Cape set up of Sam, Mikey (cornet) and Andy (drums). Other than playing solo acoustic, or with the laptop, this tour and album campaign wasContinueContinue reading “Tuesday 15th May 2012 – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly w/ at The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth”

At beginning of the album campaign for their fifth record Go, Motion City Soundtrack played each of their previous four albums across two nights at XOYO in London. The lead single True Romance had been released shortly before these dates and they played it live for the first time at this gig. It was an instant classic forContinueContinue reading “Wednesday 18th April 2012 – Motion City Soundtrack at XOYO, London”

This is a timely post about transport. At the time of writing we’re in the midst of rail strikes and rocketing petrol prices. Back in June 2011 I was still driving my first car, a 1997 white Ford Fiesta that was ten years old when I bought it, with a pink/purple gradient go faster stripeContinueContinue reading “Wednesday 22nd June 2011 – Jimmy Eat World at HMV Forum, Kentish Town”