Live Review : Barns Courtney + The Struts + James Bruner @ Albert Hall, Manchester on October 1st 2024

Whilst on the face of it this tour may come across as a bit of a hodgepodge of a package, there is a defining factor that links all three acts. That is highly charismatic front men. James Bruner, Luke Spiller and Barns Courtney may all exist in their own distinct musical universes, but they share a compelling magnetism that is absolutely captivating. When each of them are on the stage they are like attention hoovers wielding a gravitational pull that sucks all the interest towards them. They all have the innate ability to hold an audience in their hands and it is that allure that makes this evening so fascinating.

Live Review : The Struts + Cardinal Black @ O2 Ritz, Manchester on July 19th 2022

My first gig was Queen at Wembley Stadium. In equal measure majestic and ethereal, the image of Freddie Mercury is forever imprinted on my brain. He seemed to be hyperreal, burning off the stage in a flurry of kinetic energy. There was something magical about the way he held eighty-odd thousand people in the palm of his hand. I was transfixed and forever smitten.

Live Review : The Struts + King Nun + Kyle Falconer @ The Academy in Manchester on October 11th 2019

There was a time where Kyle Falconer was the bees knees and with his Indie darlings The View was the best big thing. Sadly something happened on the way to paradise and here we are first on at half seven to a half full Academy. Its ballsy angsty acoustic stuff and those who have made it in sing along with gusto.

I'm not one to take umbrage against a band and I usually look for the redeemable features in every act I review, however I may have met my match with King Nun.

Live Review : The Struts + Kelsy Karter @ Academy 2, Manchester on February 23rd 2019

The Struts have been a word of mouth sensation. There has been no big media push, instead news of this young vibrant rock fireball has been passed on covertly by one convert to another. The rumour mill has obviously been working overtime as the Academy 2 is not just sold out tonight, it is utterly rammed and in full sauna mode as everyone is here to experience the young up-starts that their friends won’t stop yapping on about.

Year in Review by Paul Flett

Our life, like the universe, is largely made up of dark matter punctuated by the occasional bright spot. As we stare into the unnatural canvas of brake lights and computer screens, sat in our prescribed clothing trying to remain within prescribed behaviours, is it any wonder how close our demons lurk beneath this veneer? Something as simple as the organised vibration of air particles is enough to lure the beasts from all of us, unleashed and unburdened, a second state of you, fist in the air. Screaming “It has to start somewhere It has to start sometime, what better place than here, what better time than now? All hell can't stop us now”.

Live Review : The Struts + The Second Sons @ Gorilla, Manchester on June 20th 2018.

The groove has gone. It’s been a month, a long time in rock and roll. Friends have fell out, families argued, jobs have changed and life has stamped it’s leaden boot over everyone. The countdown begins, a tradition that might cut short this escape one day. Johann is agitated, tense probably hungry. There’s a rasp in my voice, I’m lethargic from doing fuck all, all day, every day. I can feel Hyde’s shadow creeping through the axons. I want the bands to be terrible, I want the pressure in my head to burst out of my hands and evaporate the keyboard. It’s at this point Johann points out we have fifty miles in the tank and the coolant is leaking out, but he has a 16 seater death wagon somewhere, lurking in our near future.