The Dwarves – The Hip Priests Live at The Underworld, Camden UK


 

The Hip Priests open proceedings for the evening as the sole support and the small crowd around for when they arrive welcomes them quite warmly. While the numbers grow slowly but steadily through their set, this warmth continues throughout, with the newcomers showing a respectable level of appreciation for what is a well-played, in your face Punk set. They are tight and well up for the gig, doing themselves justice with their performance, with the Midlands five-piece giving their all despite the lower turnout by the time of their set, with at least one of their songs surely known by those around me, given their split single with our evening’s headliners, The Dwarves, they deserve a bigger crowd than they have, but at least do have some new fans to show for it!Continue reading


Tramlines Fringe Festival Live at Sheffield City Hall


I arrive to find Trigger Thumb just on stage, with a quite busy and appreciative crowd in front of them. The room is already warm and echoing, though neither of these things seems to put off either audience nor band, despite the slight disservice done to Trigger Thumb by this. Even from the third song in, there are noticeably more heads nodding along and more movement in the crowd from earlier, as the Bradford 3-piece start to quickly work over the crowd, with vocalist/guitarist Arron’s self-deprecation between songs raising a number of smiles around the room, as he says, We are Trigger Thumb and we are losers”. Musically, they veer between noisy Math Rock and some quite delicate guitar and vocals, showing an homage, at least, to The Mars Volta, whilst nods to the likes of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Faith No More pop through at various times. They perform their set with a minimum of fuss and thoroughly earned the loud applause they garner at the end of their set.

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PODCAST: EPISODE 27 – Sal from A Pale Horse Named Death Talks Life, Death, and Doom


Ghost Cult’s DJ Astrocreep recently caught up with Sal Abruscato of A Pale Horse Named Death while on tour in the UK. APHND’s new album When The World Becomes Undone was released via Long Branch Records/SPV this past January. Sal was in a reflective mood and chatted about a wide range of topics such as the new album, his writing habits, changes in his personal life, touring, how bands make money (or not) in 2019, highlights from his entire career and more! Pick up the bands’ album, catch them on tour soon, or later in the year when they are back in Europe for Damnation Festival. Check it out!Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode 16 – Dead Witches Talks Up Their New Album “The Final Exorcism”


Ghost Cult’s DJ Astrocreep caught up with the members of Dead Witches at the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest earlier this year in London. The band is a low key Stoner Doom supergroup (ex-Electric Wizard, With The Dead, Psychedelic Witchcraft, Sea Bastard), with a fascinating lineage and power songs. Their new album The Final Exorcism is out now via Heavy Psych Sounds. Check it out! Continue reading


The Lazys – The Standstills Live At the Star and Garter, Manchester UK


A clash with both a European football match and Metal goddess Doro were ill omens for the potential attendance of my next gig in Australian up and comers The Lazys, with Canadian two-piece The Standstills in support. I head on over to Manchester to catch the two acts, with The Standstills on their first playing visit to British soil, to see what the bands can serve up for us.Continue reading


Stiff Little Fingers – Eddie And The Hotrods Live at Birmingham O2 Academy


A 40th-anniversary tour is nothing to sniff at in times of such disposable music, so a back catalogue like Stiff Little Fingers have is certainly nothing to sniff at. With support from the Eddie and the Hot Rods crowd, a trip to Birmingham is on the cards for a gig of two high octane punk acts, with the rather more punk n roll nature of the support being a good foil to the energy and pip of our headliners. A delayed journey later, I arrive in time to get into the venue and a drink before our support act. Continue reading


The Ruts DC – The Professionals Live at O2 Ritz, Manchester UK


A Punk gig draws me across to Manchester tonight, as The Ruts DC are touring with support from Punk heyday act The Professionals, themselves reformed four years previously, with drummer Paul Cook having formed the band with Steve Jones, following the break up of The Sex Pistols. As support acts go, I could certainly imagine worse! With that in mind, I head across for a more energetic gig than some I’ve partaken in recently, with the two Punk bands known for their raw energy and attitude as strong as ever.Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode 5 Jean-Paul Gaster of Clutch Talks Touring, Drumkit Specs and More!


Clutch continues to tour in support of their excellent 2018 album, Book of Bad Decisions (Weathermaker Music). Recently, Ghost Cult scribe DJ Astrocreep caught up with drummer Jean-Paul Gaster at the O2 Academy in Manchester, UK to chat about the band, how his approaches his live drum sound, the specs of his kit, the bands’ own label Weathermaker hitting the ten year mark, the twenty-fifth anniversary of their debut Transnational Speedway League (EastWest), recording in the same place as their heroes and contemporaries Melvins and Sleep, being influenced by Jazz drummers, and much more! Check it out! Continue reading


Buckcherry – Hoobastank – Adelita’s Way: Live at O2 Ritz, Manchester (UK)


Another early doors gig, as Hoobastank and Buckcherry hit Manchester, with support from Adelita’s Way. A bit warmer than my visit a week or two earlier and time for a chat with joint headliner Hoobastank prior to the gig – with Doug and Dan proving to be excellent company for the almost 30 minutes I end up chatting with them, the results of which will be on an upcoming Ghost Cult Podcast. After the chat, it is back down the stairs to take up what almost feels like my reserved spot at the barrier, ready for some entertainment.Continue reading


The Dandy Warhols – Juniore: Live at Albert Hall, Manchester (UK)


Sub-zero temperatures are the norm at the moment, so after having to cancel a gig last-minute the previous night due to travel issues, I redoubled my effort to make it for The Dandy Warhols, touring for their 25th anniversary. A single support band, in the form of French Psych-Pop outfit Juniore were around to warm up the crowd, so I braved the cold and head on across to Manchester’s Albert Hall for the evening’s entertainment. It’s also my first time at the venue, and being a Grade 2 listed building means that accessibility help is hard for them, but they bend over backwards to help however they can (even when I only asked for help on arrival), which they deserve a lot of praise for, while the setting itself is stunning, providing a great backdrop for the evening’s music. Continue reading