Gig: Benjamin Gibbard

As the man behind Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service, Ben Gibbard is as close to indie rock royalty as it is possible to find.

He’s been making music since the mid-Nineties, which makes it most surprising that Former Lives, out last month, is his first bona fide solo record.

Gibbard started Death Cab as a solo project, and didn’t sign up full-time band members until after the release of his first LP under this name, You Can Play These Songs With Chords (1997).

Their sweet, melodic and sincere indie rock earned a steady fan base, and the fourth album, Transatlanticism, mainstream success, before the band developed into a Grammy-nominated outfit with seven albums to their name.

Gibbard, arguably, found greater success, though, with the electronic-tinged side-project The Postal Service.

Created with Jimmy Tamborello, also known as Dntel, their album Give Up was label Sub Pop’s best-selling release since Nirvana’s Bleach.

Former Lives though is more like Gibbard’s former work (guitars lead the way), albeit one that shows the breadth and diversity of his musical tastes.

“These songs span eight years, three relationships, living in two different places, drinking then not drinking,” Gibbard says of the album. “They’re a side story not a new chapter.”

As a snapshot of his life, the album’s considered and reflective, and dips in and out of many different musical genres – pop, indie, folk, acoustic and even country.

It maintains his trademark lyrical traits and unmistakable way with a melody. There’s no finer London venue to catch him.

Union Chapel, N1 2HD
mon, Dec 3 | Doors at 7.30pm |  £21+
Tube | Highbury & Islington 
unionchapel.org.uk

 

Gig: Florence + The Machine

The little lady has wasted no time in establishing herself as one of this decade’s biggest stars.

Just two albums into her career after being nominated for 2009’s BBC Sound Of shortlist, she’s already headlining not one but two nights at the capital’s premiere enormo dome with her gothic, bombastic glamour pop. Good work.

Dec 5 & 6. 6.30pm £29.50, The O2
Peninsula Square, SE10 0DXL
Tube | North Greenwich 
theo2.co.uk

 

 

Gig: Dirty Three

The Aussie instrumental legends have been delighting critics with their impressively unpredictable output since their 1993 self-titled debut.

They’ve toured the world, been described by Nick Cave as his favourite live band, and made eight further albums, including this year’s Towards The Low Sun, their first in seven years.

Wed Nov 28. 7pm, £19.50
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Shepherd’s Bush, W12 8TT 
Tube | Shepherd’s Bush 
o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk

 

Gig: James Iha

Iha, who formed Smashing Pumpkins with Billy Corgan many, many moons ago, followed up his 1998 debut solo album with a new alt-rock offering in September’s Look To The Sky, complete with a host of guest performers including Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O, Nina Persson from The Cardigans and Sara, of Tegan and Sara.

Tues Dec 4. 7.30pm £17.50, Bush Hall
310 Uxbridge Road, W12 7LJ
Tube | Shepherd’s Bush 
bushhallmusic.co.uk

 

Club: The Upfront Project

Promising a journey through 30 years of electronic music, indie record label and party-starters Audio Doughnut celebrate their second anniversary as part of The Upfront Project.

There will be a cornucopia of talent lining up for the night, including Roy Davis Jr, MK (Marc Kinchen), Marshall Jefferson, Ossie (above) and more.

Fri Nov 30. 9pm-7am £15+ `

Fire & Lightbox
SW8 1RT & SW8 1SP
Tube | Vauxhall 
theupfrontproject.com

 

Club: 4 Weddings and a Disco Xmas Party

Australia’s number one wedding DJ, Bruce Dunny, breaks out the Christmas tunes as soon as possible this year, with a full 24 days of festive December fun still to go.

Expect a top night of pop, party tunes, a ‘first dance’ for one couple, and pineapple and cheese on a stick for the first 50 in the door. Congratulations!

Sat Dec 1. 10pm-3am £6+, The Phoenix
377 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP
Tube | Oxford Circus 
feelingloomy.com

 

Club: Circus LDN – Laurent Garnier presents LBS

The French pioneer Laurent Garnier will be bringing the final ever London performance of his LBS project to Egg, a combination of DJing and live instrumentation that has pushed the musical envelope.

Yousef will be on hand as support, with Circus’ Recording’s Acid Monkeys popping in, too, for an unmissable night.

Fri Nov 30. 10pm-8am £15+
Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX
Tube | King’s Cross 
egglondon.net

 

Photos: Getty, Ryan Russell