Tag: rock
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Psychedelic Porn Crumpets live at NUSU review – rapid-fire riffs hit like a drug
Kick-starting their umpteenth UK tour, the Crumpets are very much a well-buttered machine these days. A strong ninth album has only bolstered their set list of precision-tooled riffs and prog rock neck-breakers. NUSU’s paltry sound system simply couldn’t keep up.
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Cory Wong: Lost In The Wonder review – a lacklustre collection of singles from funk’s busiest guitarist
Known for his signature guitar riffs, superhuman turnout of albums, and wider collaborative efforts, Cory Wong is well-established within the funk sphere. But with his latest release he’s perhaps gotten too comfortable, suggests Matthew Rowe.
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Undertone’s best songs of 2025
It’s time again for Undertone’s yearly roundup of my 40 favourite songs released this year.
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Westside Cowboy live at the Crescent review – new kids on the block are the real deal
Their claims of genre invention may be a little dubious, but no bother – this fresh-faced Manchester band already has a wealth of perfectly imperfect indie rock zingers, delivered in a succinct York set that promised much bigger stages to come.
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Model/Actriz live at Brudenell Social Club review – high camp horror from a true one-off
In the heteronormative world of punk music New Yorkers Model/Actriz offer something genuinely new and transgressive – techno-fuelled post-punk tracks about gender dysphoria, diva worship and repressed homosexuality. Cole Haden’s magnetic stage presence and his band’s supernaturally tight industrial grooves made for a truly singular performance at the Brude.
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Maruja live at the Wardrobe review – more like an exorcism than a gig
Last year in Newcastle Maruja were great, but now with a brilliant debut album under their belt the Manchester experimental rock group are truly astounding. Equally capable of fiercely political belters and quiet moments of spiritual transcendence, never has a gig made me feel quite so much.
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Jessica Winter live at Headrow House review – life-affirming joy from a soon-to-be superstar
Unfazed by poor ticket sales, faulty lighting and a microphone mishap, on a rainy night in Leeds the Portsmouth upstart proved herself to be a hugely promising popstar. This show came packed with slick choreo, magnetic onstage charisma, versatile vocals – and a thrilling Undertone first…
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Twisterella 2025 review – a rewarding potpourri of fresh talent
Now in its 11th year, Middlesborough’s fabulous one-day festival continues to showcase a host of promising, forward-thinking talent from the North East and beyond. Highlights of this year’s edition include the country croon of Our Man In The Field and gilt-edged alt rock of Legss, but it’s Roller Disco Death Party that really get the…
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The Beths live at Project House review – dependable as ever, now with added recorders
New Zealand band the Beths aren’t exactly reinventing the indie rock wheel, but they remain a thoroughly reliable live act. With another rewarding album under her belt, Liz Stokes is an undeniably talented songwriter, although this set lacked the punk oomph you feel could take the band to the next level.
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Black Country, New Road live at the Glasshouse review – not what it once was
The boundary-pushing Cambridge band have boldly ventured forth into a third album after departing frontman Isaac Wood left a gaping hole in the lineup. Three years on, the band’s spectacular glory days still cast a long shadow over this middling live set in Gateshead.
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Parcels: LOVED review – playful pop from a band best served live
Existing fans of the renowned pop group will find a healthy offering of funky foot-tappers on Parcels’ light-hearted new album, which will no doubt be morphed into dazzling showstoppers for the band’s huge upcoming shows – it’s just a shame so little of their big-stage theatrics seeped through onto the record.
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Olivia Rodrigo live at Co-op Live review – post-Glasto victory lap is a teenage dream
Inexhaustible despite an exceptionally busy few days, the American pop phenom’s Manchester set felt every bit like a showcase from one of present-day pop’s greatest stars. Don’t be fooled by her early Disney career or the adoring audience of young girls – Rodrigo’s music is thoughtful, sophisticated, and surprisingly grungy.
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jasmine.4.t live at the Deaf Institute review – triumph and world-weariness from unbreakable trans singer
Returning to her hometown of Manchester after a breakout year, the Boygenius collaborator was let down by poor acoustics in an understandably tired-feeling performance. Still, she can dig into a thrashing System of a Down cover like the best of ’em.
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PUP live at Project House review – propulsive pop punk pandemonium
The Canadian racket-makers specialise in gloomy songs about hopelessness and self-loathing, but this thrilling blitz of bangers in Leeds brought nothing but joy to an amped up crowd eager to throw their drinks – and each other – in the air.
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‘Often the first thought you have is the best one’: Divorce on their instinctive, brilliant debut album
Felix and Kasper from Divorce discuss their critically acclaimed new album and the key to its occasionally baffling lyrics.
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