Good afternoon there! Another This Week’s 10 Must-See London Gigs is upon us and we’ve got a short, but riveting, week of live entertainment lined up for you. Of course, December has most certainly arrived, we know because Chris Rea is being pumped unrelentingly into Supermarket aisles, so be prepared for icy pavements and transport delays en route to these must-see events. Also, in the more immediate future, be prepared for a story by this week’s 10 unmissable acts, which sees a bubbly, Brummie comic and an almost-First Lady behaving rather oddly indeed…
(DISCLAIMER: All characters and events in this story – even those based on real individuals – are entirely fictional…)
(1) The warm and tender (2) Lenny Henry (3) met the depraved, sexual and predatory (4) Tipper Gore (5) in in a galaxy far, far away; (6) he gave her a lesson on the intricacies of doing business with the Chinese (7) and said to her: “Hundreds of people go missing every year from cruise ships. What do you think happens to them?” (8) She said to him: ” I have five pigeons in my car”; and (9) the consequence was that the insides of the windows became covered in a fine condensation, and the world said, (10) “What a shame. This just goes to show that people shouldn’t meddle in each other’s affairs as much and should instead concentrate on positive freedom: what you CAN do, not what you can’t.”
(NOTE: Click on the segment to listen to its author)
(1) On Monday (Dec 3rd), Upset The Rhythm presents otherworldly multi-instrumentalist NAYTRONIX at Dalston’s Birthdays. This, the brainchild of tUnE-yArDs bassist Nate Brenner, is sure to be a brilliantly surreal experience in the flesh and one that will indeed see him showcase the excellent, post-apocalyptic pop of this year’s debut album ‘Dirty Glow’. Head to WeGotTickets now.
(2) However, if something more rugged and riotous is required, then look no further than hotly-tipped Kent two-piece SLAVES; they’ll be bringing their tireless, scuzzy punk to the Barfly in Camden that night, in support of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster offshoot Bad For Lazarus. For blood, sweat and rock n roll visit TicketWeb.
(3) ATP Presents Brooklyn’s Yeasayer at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Tuesday (Dec 4th), although it’s the line-up addition of brooding, night pop project GLASS ANIMALS - fresh from the release of critically lauded debut EP ‘Leaflings’ – that’s most exciting about the rescheduled date. Gigantic have tickets.
(4) Alternatively that night, LA’s FIDLAR will be summoning late-70s spirit with a youthful, three-chord surf racket at Dingwalls near Camden Lock. With support from rollicking newcomers Drenge, this show will be sure to keep the hazy, fading memory of summer firmly alive. Seetickets have more information.
(5) Tuesday also sees Daniel O’Sullivan’s MOTHLITE, supported by eery goth-wave trio Creatures Of Love, at Birthdays. After his beguiling, SBTRKT-ish debut ‘Dark Age’, this will be the ideal opportunity to see an engaging new talent in intimate surrounds. Ents24 have more details.
(6) Wednesday (Dec 5th) also poses a dilemma, but you wouldn’t have any regrets if you spent it at the Village Underground in the company of Canada’s SUUNS. Their ethereal and experimental, post-punk on ‘Zeroes QC’ was mind-warping, so expect a live show which is both hypnotic and intense. Book now through Bird On The Wire Events.
(7) If a consecutive night in Camden isn’t off-putting, then woozy romanticists THE WAVE PICTURES will be a marvellous option (once again) at Dingwalls. David Tattersall & Co have released a slew of excellent, alternative rock records since their inception in 1998, so guarantee a blistering live outing by visiting Seetickets.
(8) If you’re all bout sleek, future chart-toppers though, perhaps Watford popstress KYLA LA GRANGE is the ticket for you. She rolls into town that evening to support French eccentric Sébastien Tellier at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and you can book your place to see the live execution of her perfectly-formed debut LP ‘Ashes’ via Seatwave.
(9) Goldsmiths’ alumni THUMPERS, create spacey, future hits that sound like Wayne Coyne, and his giant hands, have seized control of a Los Campesinos! recording session. The London-based duo are supporting tropical-pop tykes Theme Park at the Electrowerkz on Thursday (Dec 6th) and we strongly urge you attend. Seetickets have all the details.
(10) That said, we’re still undecided between that and avant-garde foursome GET PEOPLE at The Lexington. Not only are they innovative pop musicians, but their visual aesthetic is outstanding – we recommend you start with the Chris Vickers-directed ‘Rain Tears’ and work through to ‘Cupid’s Curse’ for the full, vivid experience. Not sold? The stellar line-up also includes Cave Painting and, previous must-see gig artist, Ivory Seas. Get tickets for this Clash Magazine Xmas Party show via Popular.
