29.10.18: As I’ve said previously about Lensmen that they are one of the best bands on the independent music circuit at the moment. I finally got to see them perform live Monday evening. A fair collection of vagabonds, strays and inquisitive minds are here tonight to witness them perform which is surprising given its a bitterly cold Monday evening outside. Lensmen are providing the headline set under the SongSmith event, which promotes new and emerging Bristol talent. Its a really solid performance, brooding bass, synths and beats hovering below twisted storytelling that grows in confidence as the set progresses. For those who prefer their music with intelligence then cast your eyes and ears in the direction of Lensmen. You will not be disappointed in my honest and humble opinion. My previous write up with links to the Lensmen’s music, future dates and adventures can be found here.
For those who haven’t yet experienced the raw, gritty soul of Bristol’s Thekla, imagine an old ship moored deep in the Mud Dock, its wooden bones creaking under the weight of decades of music history. Bands who step on its stage shed any illusions of comfort — there’s no hiding here. Over the years, I’ve witnessed countless artists emerge from bedrooms, garages, and studios only to have their craft tested, stretched, and laid bare against the harsh, unforgiving elements of this floating fortress.
Tonight, the atmosphere buzzes with a tangible electricity. The 400-capacity room is packed to the rafters, a sell-out crowd buzzing with anticipation for Glasvegas—a band returning to the stage to perform their self-titled, platinum-selling debut album from 2008 in its entirety. A decade has slipped away since that landmark release, yet the album still resonates like a classic, effortlessly blending layers of swirling guitar feedback with harmonies reminiscent of the Ronettes. Frontman James Allan’s lyrics—brittle, raw, and steeped in loneliness, love, and loss—cut deep, proving timeless in their emotional weight.
From the moment the first chords ring out, there’s no sinking into the depths tonight. The opening thirty minutes unfold as near-perfect rock ‘n’ roll theater—tight, passionate, and filled with a palpable urgency. As the night progresses, something extraordinary happens. Four hundred voices rise in unison, singing word for word, line for line. The crowd’s devotion is so overwhelming that the band themselves pause, stepping back from their instruments to soak in the moment, the feedback, the powerful connection.
Glasvegas hasn’t just played their seminal album—they’ve resurrected it, reminding everyone in the room why this record still matters, why these songs still cut to the bone. Tonight, the old ship didn’t creak under the weight of nostalgia—it soared.
Ding, ding — round two. Back in the ring with Idles.
After first catching their incendiary performance on April 8th at the Komedia in Bath, six months later it’s clear: this band is on a rocket-fueled trajectory. Since then, Idles have dropped their second album, smashing into the UK Top Five, stormed the globe on tour, flooded TV and radio waves, and now, with a sold-out UK tour under their belt, they’ve firmly cemented themselves as the most vital band to emerge from these shores in recent memory.
Tonight, at SWX in Bristol, the volume is cranked, the pace relentless. Support band, Heavy Lungs impress with their raw, jagged sound, but it’s clear where the night’s true pulse lies. Idles tear through their set with the manic energy of the Village People on acid — chaotic, exuberant, utterly uncontainable.
At Bath, their live energy carried them through, but here? With an ever-growing and wildly responsive crowd, their confidence is sky-high — and rightly so. It takes guts to invite fans onstage; it takes pure, unshakeable confidence to hand over your instruments to them. What follows is glorious mayhem — a glorious, beautiful shambles — feeding the band’s raw, unfiltered energy, making this performance feel like a living, breathing beast.
There’s a rare and electric bond between band and audience tonight, a connection that harks back to punk’s wild heyday in the late ’70s, or the anarchic stage invasions at early Smiths gigs. Idles shows are celebrations of life — raw, flawed, unapologetic — a much-needed antidote in an era where hate and division have become disturbingly mainstream.
Sure, rock bands have always had their audiences eating from their hands. But in today’s sterile, overproduced musical landscape, it’s a rare gift to witness a band that means more than just the product they sell. Tonight, that gift belongs to Idles.
Something for the weekend? For lovers of guitar driven rock two of my favourite bands, which I got to connect with through Bandcamp have recently released some new material, Mouth Reader from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and The Sharp Medicine from Los Angeles, California. Enjoy the noise.
I recall four female musicians/singers from the glory years of punk in the UK 1976/79. These were Siouxsie Sioux, Gaye Advert, Pauline Murray and Poly Styrene of whom this BBC Arena programme from 1979 is about.
Medium Mystic are a Brooklyn, New York garage band who have released a five track selection under the title Demo, which consists of catchy hooks and very competent songwriting. You can listen to Demo through the link below, which is also available on a name your price basis.
Great to see and hear new material from Sharp Medicine.
Released August 9, 2016. Written and arranged by Andrew Stein and The Sharp Medicine
Vocals & Guitar: Andrew Stein
Bass & Vocals: Anthony Vancture
Drums: Mike Krol
Guitar and drums recorded at Downtown Rehearsal Studios in Los Angeles. Lead vocals recorded at Formosa Studios in Santa Monica. Bass guitar, backing vocals and synth recorded in Anthony Vancture’s closet.
Irregular Frequencies 