Reviews
Plastiscines, Camden Barfly, London (Rated 3/ 5 )
For a gig by an all-girl punk-pop band which sings about kissing, lipstick and being bitches, there sure are a lot of men packed into the grotty Camden Barfly. In fact, they make up most of the audience and it doesn't take long to realise why: the band in question, Plastiscines, are four super-hot French girls, like young Françoise Hardys, only with more eyeliner and carefully ripped T-shirts. Of course, the men could be here for the music. Much more likely, they're here to stare.
Inside Reviews
Beth Jeans Houghton, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London (Rated 3/ 5 )
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
The next big thing wigs out
The Decemberists, Forum, London (Rated 4/ 5 )
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
The performing of albums in their entirety has been territory reserved by bands boasting earlier seminal albums, but the Decemberists tonight play their newest album released just six months ago. But then the Portland quintet have never had to worry about pursuing trends to ensure a sizeable following.
The Flaming Lips, The Troxy, London (Rated 5/ 5 )
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Even if you're not freaked out, you'll act like you are and that will fill the gap in between," announces Wayne Coyne, after jumping into the crowd in a giant space bubble, which its members gleefully consent to tossing him about in. As the opening of "Race for the Prize" kicks in, Coyne topples off the edge of the stage, in unison with an avalanche of yellow and orange balloons and confetti jet streams, to be returned by fans with cheers only a cult figure receives.
Alexandra Burke, Union Chapel, London (Rated 4/ 5 )
Monday, 23 November 2009
Sitting in the pews of the beautiful Grade II-listed Union Chapel, the drama of The X Factor could not seem further away. Yet, as the country remains gripped in the weekly twists and turns of Simon Cowell's singing competition, this 19th-century chapel is tonight the venue for the first proper headline show from Alexandra Burke, last year's victor.
Monsters Of Folk, Coal Exchange, Cardiff (Rated 4/ 5 )
Monday, 23 November 2009
Europe hails a supergroup
Album: Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster (Polydor)
Sunday, 22 November 2009
All hail this amazing avatar of avant-garde freako fashion
Sonny Rollins, Barbican Hall, London
Sunday, 22 November 2009
He blew like the legend he is – so why am I blubbing?
Album: Leona Lewis, Echo, (Syco/Sony)
Sunday, 22 November 2009
The problem for Lewis on her follow-up album is that while this is the exact point at which she should be marking out her own territory, Echo feels and sounds even more a part of the X Factory than her debut album.
Album: Trio VD, Fill It Up with Ghosts (Babe)
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Remember the Fast Show sketch about the trumpeter who, instead of blowing, sucked?
Album: N-Dubz, Against All Odds (Universal)
Sunday, 22 November 2009
The new N-Dubz album spins bleakly believable stories of urban life over the trio's now-familiar R&B/pop-rap/clubland hybrid.
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The Friday Playlist
Listen to this week's Independent mix
Most popular in Arts & Entertainment
Read
1 Vampires: From freak to chic
3 Last Night's Television - Paradox, BBC1; Cast Offs, Channel 4
4 Two dead authors in line for Costa Prize
5 Twilight: the world's richest bloody franchise
7 First Night: Nation, Olivier, NT
9 Last Night's Television - Gracie! BBC4; School of Saatchi, BBC2
11 NME names top 50 albums of the decade
12 Walter Yetnikoff: On the record
13 Angus Fairhurst: The forgotten man
Emailed
1
Seize the Day, Tricycle Theatre, London
Category B, Tricycle Theatre, London
6 Day In The Life: Guy Holmes, chairman of Gut Recordings
7 Television: Lowbrow and proud of it
9 George Lansbury: at the heart of Old Labour by John Shepherd
10 London's film locations: Time for some new ones?
12
Henry IV, Donmar Warehouse, London
Gone Missing, Gate, London
M.A.D., Bush, London
13 Jade Goody diagnosed with cancer
Commented
1Dominic Lawson: Europe will always be a foreign land for the British
2US 'discussing Iraq regime change' two years before war
3Leading article: The crucial questions that the Iraq inquiry must answer
4Osborne: we will pay people to recycle
5World on course for catastrophic 6° rise, reveal scientists
6George Osborne: The Treasury should lead the fight against climate change
7Italian stallions: The sex lives of Mussolini and Berlusconi
8Peter Popham: Will Knox find justice in Perugia?
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