Live Reviews

Here Are The Old Men: Unexpected Pleasures At Hooky’s Joy Division Tribute

The very idea of Peter Hook's new band The Light playing _Unknown Pleasures_ and early Joy Division attracted an elephant's herd of derisive snorts. Yet Mick Middles cautions against your cynicism.

At London’s Scala, We Witness The Continuing Rise Of Omar Souleyman

Put on your kaffiyeh, get down and praise the lord! Luke Turner is set in motion by Omar Souleyman's funk motor. Live ATP pictures by Andy Ennis for Shot2Bits.net

All Tomorrow’s Parties Reviewed: All Hail Matt Groening

Luke Turner and John Doran raise a glass to Matt Groening and Barry and Deborah at ATP for one of the most enjoyably eclectic festival line-ups they've ever witnessed. All photos by Maria Jefferis, Andy Ennis and Edd Westmacott for Shot2Bits.net

Bringing The Balmy & Barmy To Life: Animal Collective’s ODDSAC Reviewed

Daniel Ross takes in Animal Collective's new visual album at the ICA, and suggests that to take the Baltimore band too seriously is to miss the point altogether

Autechre Live: A Self-Reflexive Brock Out

Angus Finlayson braves over-zealous bouncers to experience the joy of an Autechre performance - and attempts to explain exactly what makes them so engaging live

Flashboys Killing It: Suede Slay Their Demons With An Emphatic Return

At their trio of gigs in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, Suede lay to rest the ghosts of Britpop and _that_ guitarist, says Luke Turner

Gene Genie: Why Playing A Gig In A Shopping Centre Brings Kiss Alive

It might not be the original line-up, but Jimmy Martin is still in thrall to the ridiculous might of Kiss at their recent Islington Academy gig

The Woodentops Live: Back On The Love Train At Last

"You’ve always been at the back of my mind…" Wyndham Wallace welcomes The Woodentops to Berlin’s Lido Club.

The Ex Marks The Spot: Netherlands Legends Live In Manchester

30 years since they first formed, John Robb is thrilled to see The Ex keeping the visionary spirit alive

Rammstein: Industrial Immolation Live In Manchester

Flamethrowers, exploding babies and a sonic apocalypse: John Robb proclaims Rammstein's current tour the greatest show you will see this year

John Robb On Vini Reilly And The Durutti Column Live In Manchester

John Robb salutes a Manchester legend as he watches the Durutti Column live

Factory Floor Live: Beyond The Industrial Production Line

Luke Turner sees Factory Floor crushing their former contemporaries in East London's post punk poser scenes beneath their post-industrial might

M For Montreal: A Quest For New Canadian Sounds & Leonard Cohen’s House

Chris Roberts travels to the M For Montreal festival in Canada to take in the country's finest sights, bands and night life... Photograph by Alexandre Bedard

Them Crooked Vultures Live In Berlin: Carrion Rocking

Rock of all ages: Wyndham Wallace checks out Them Crooked Vultures in Berlin and finds something sadly lacking

A-Ha Live At The O2: Synths For The Boys

Laugh all you like. "Norway, douze points", declares Joel McIver

Eternally Yours: Sonic Youth Grow Old Gracefully, Live In Berlin

Wyndham Wallace reports from Berlin’s Columbiahalle as Sonic Youth kick off their European tour. Live picture gallery by Keith Nealy

Incubate In Review: A Design For Life

All pictures Stu K Green/Shot2Bits.net. Reconstructed from notes written on the backs of beer mats by John Doran

Flora, Fauna And Fractals: Green Man Review And Gallery

Le Homme Du Belgium/America Charles Ubaghs descends on idyllic Welsh festival Le Homme Vert and likes what he sees. All pictures courtesy of Shot2bits.net

La Route Du Rock: My Bloody Valentine And The Jolie Laide Festival

L'Homme Du Hackney, Jeremy Allen, recently took the ferry to France and the Route Du Rock festival. MBV pictures, Maria Jefferis/shot2bits.net

Reading & Leeds Preview: Radiohead Triumph In Prague

Wyndham Wallace reports from Radiohead's show outside the Výstaviště Exhibition Centre in Prague as the band gear up for their Reading and Leeds Festival headline slots

Oneida And Teeth Of The Sea: Psych In The Head

John Doran and Luke Turner are feeling very psych and ill today as they experience the celestial headfuck of TOTS and Oneida live. Pictures: Maria Jefferis _www.shot2bits.net_

U2 Live Under A Slate Grey Claw: Chris Roberts Reports From Wembley

Giant contraption fails to divert attention away from the fact that Irish megastars aren't quite as good as they used to be. Gallery of band close-ups, Jim Dyson

A Field Day Festival Photographic Review

The Quietus went to Field Day, got wet, and had a bloody lovely time. Here we present a gallery of photos and words from the festival

Supersonic In Review: Podcast And Photo Gallery

Our favourite extreme/alt festival, Supersonic, was a corker this year. Here's our podcast and gallery of highlights

Traena: The World’s Remotest Festival Reviewed

Off the North West coast of Norway, in the Arctic Cirlce, Traena is worth the journey. John Doran burns his return ticket

Latitude Festival Review: The Quietus Gets Saucy In Southwold

The Quietus bored by Yorke but tentage to Grace Jones, Pet Shop Boys and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the driest wet festival of the year. Photographs by Lucy Johnston.

Wir Funktionieren Automatisch: The Immortality Of Kraftwerk

Watching Kraftwerk play by a Croatian lake, Luke Turner says their electronic messages need never cease. Photographs by Lucy Johnston.

Throbbing Gristle Live: Genesis In Heaven, London

The Quietus were blown away by Throbbing Gristle at the weekend. Luke Turner reflects on musical modernity. Pictures courtesy of Mr Stuart Green

The Language Of Violence – The Pixies Play Live

The Pixies played live in an art gallery this week. John Doran found himself flung into a world of torrid text and the imagist poetry of violence. Live gallery by Maria Jefferis of Shot2Bits.net

All Tomorrow’s Parties Reviewed: Breeders And Fans Strike Back II

The Quietus (in the form of John Doran, Luke Turner, Jeremy Allen, Phil Hebblethwaite, Andrzej Lukowski, Maria Jefferis, Stu Green, Andy Ennis and Edd Westmacott) stumble around Minehead Butlins snapping and scribbling. The luckiest are the ones that died first . . .

BLOC 2009 Reviewed: Aphex Twin, Kode9 & More Hit The Beaches

The Quietus does like to be beside the seaside, especially when its noggin resembles a pillbox shattered by the unrelenting barrage of an invading force of some of the freshest names in electronic music

Metallica’s ‘Intimate’ O2 Gig Reviewed With Reference To Roger Scruton