It’s rare to see a band at the Norwich Arts Centre after seeing them twice at the UEA LCR, however for The Automatic I’ll consider it a treat to get to see them at such an intimate venue. Kick starting the evening with recent single Interstate which the vocal reminds me heavily of James Dean Bradfield. Quickly firing through old favourites such Raoul and Recover, along with a few new tunes. Monster appeared mid set to a rather lacklustre crowd response (shame on you Norwich). However set closer Steve McQueen was met with a much better response, so perhaps the young crowd are recently acquired fans.

Lets see The Automatic return soon to a larger stage and a fuller crowd, in the mean time we’ll enjoy the new album Tear The Signs Down.

View The Automatic photos on flickr here

Got to go and shoot photos for work the other night at this year’s NME Awards Tour, which featured The Maccabees (above), Bombay Bicycle Club, Big Pink and The Drums. I ended up also having to write a review as my journalist friend forgot that he was away on a training course all week, you can read my review here. it’s rather satisfying seeing your name in a newspaper, even when you have worked for one for nearly seven years.

Photos from the gig can be found on flickr

Last night saw the launch gig for the Cold Hands debut EP at the Marquee in Norwich. The night started well with My Gay Boy (half of My Boy My Girl) and Magpied warming the crowd up. However it was a shame that some of the energy got lost during their technical problems with a bass amp. Despite this the songs the did play were full of energy with a brilliant last two songs bringing the crowd on to the stage and a ceremonial leap into the drum kit ending, from singer Cameron Black.

Check out some more photos on flickr.

The Brownies

The King Edward VII on Aylsham Road, played host to a large selection of bands on Sunday that were originally destined for to play in the nearby Waterloo Park. The all day event which for a few reasons transplanted itself into the pub and garden of the pub, started with an afternoon of mostly acoustic treats in the garden. Then progressed inside the pub with some more punk based rock.

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Back to the Arts Centre last night for “The Electric Busker” night, featuring Rory McVicar, Lowery, Alex Carson, Jess Morgan, Girl in a Thunderbolt and Lucy Elliot in the main room. Then Francis & Louis, Sam James Hill, Scraps and others in the bar. After a brilliant night on Saturday at B2 with Shakeout and Tommy Twist, last night failed to hit the spot for me with small fun gems occasionally shining through, nothing caught my ear enough.

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The Kabeedies - Katie

Soulful melodies, flannel shirt clad grunge, guest appearances from a pair of Cold Hands, short sharp straight up punk and a Michael Jackson cover. All lead up to Norwich darlings the Kabeedies taking to the stage to deliver their energetic ska punk pop and waltzy ballads about Vaseline.

An awesome start to what promises to be a wonderful nine days of gigs across the city.

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Wave Machines brought their rather interesting yet gimmicky masks along with their wonderful sound and energy, to the Norwich Arts Centre last night. The bouncy drum machine and synth fun of recent iTunes Single of the Week, I Go I Go I Go got the crowd moving and shouting the catchy chorus over and over. They slowed it down with the seductive Keep the Lights On before finishing with the anthemic Punk Spirit. Click Read More to see more photos.

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Last night was another great Tilting Sky night at the Waterfront with Loyal Few headlining treating us to some of their upbeat, catchy, hook laden songs such as Shameless (which you can download from their website). They were then set to drive through the night to Dover on en-route to their Paris gig tomorrow.

The Delaney kicked off the night with Lost Prophets style fun power pop rock, with the frontman treating the ladies in the crowd to a couple of songs topless. Next up were The Barlights who were playing “sans-piano” while it’s at the menders so current single Ticking lost its intro but Graham Horne’s powerful vocal soon made you forget about the piano. Finally London trio Daylight Faded brought their powerful chunk of rock and a double bass to the stage to make sure the crowd were awake, before making way for the Loyal Few.

For photos of the whole night check out the flickr set.

I went to see The Barlights at their album launch a while ago at the Arts Centre, where they impressed me so much I bought their album for £3.67 (drunken haggling with my change from the night). I’ve been listening to If It Wasn’t For The Light, The Dark Would Have Killed Us, ever since and it’s still impressing me. I’m even finding myself reciting lyrics from their rather catchy songs. Head on over to NRONE Records website and buy the album for £5. Then stand out tracks Sometimes, Bend and Break and When I’m Bored will soon be embedded in your mind.

Listen to The Barlights on iTunes.

Lowestoft trio Faster Than Robots ventured over to the big city to play the Edward VII in Norwich last night, having managed to miss several of their previous gigs I was glad they were playing just down the road from where I live, gave me no excuses not to go. Boy am I glad I went, despite the guy before singing songs about Woody Allen, The Goonies and comparing women to broken gas boilers. Faster Than Robots played a brilliantly energetic set, they are playing the Waterfront on 28th May so I’ll be sure to make that one too. Check out the flickr set for more photos.