Gig: At The Drive-In
They were one of the most influential, ground-breaking bands of the past 15 years, their legacy coming to define the post-hardcore landscape, as well as land the band on various ‘best albums of the last year/decade/all-time’ lists for their swansong Relationship Of Command.
After an 11-year absence, and much speculation, the El Paso five-piece are back for this highly anticipated reunion.
Peaking critically and commercially with 2000’s Command, Drive-In were a law unto themselves – a cacophonous, speaker-stock leaping ball of energy, tunes, and searing self-confidence.
It was a recipe never captured by any of their post-breakup units; guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala ventured forth into the prog-dementia of The Mars Volta, with sets filled with no more than a handful of extended jams, and the others into the more formulaic Sparta.
Since Drive-In disbanded back in 2001, just three albums to their name, none of the various side projects was ever viewed as anything more than stop-gaps until they all got back to their day jobs.
Despite this reunion, though, there’s no official word on new material, with various members saying it will definitely, not in a million years, ever, ever happen.
Then again, several of them said the likelihood of them sharing a stage again and tearing through One Armed Scissor and the likes was equally far-fetched, so you never know.
At The Drive-In have just this one UK show ahead of their Reading/ Leeds festival appearances next weekend, so catch them while you can.
Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL
Tues, Aug 28 | Doors at 7pm | £35
o2academybrixton.co.uk
Festival Watch: Greenbelt
Asian Dub Foundation, Charlie Simpson, Frank Skinner and Speech Debelle are just a handful of the acts at this arts, faith and justice festival that has been going for more than 40 years.
It has a vibe unlike most other festivals you’ll encounter this year, with a healthy line-up of musical acts rubbing shoulders with comedy and theatre acts, and talks and debates to challenge the mind, too, instead of just getting off your head for three days straight.
Cheltenham Racecourse, GL50 4SH. £120. Aug 24-27
Station | Cheltenham Spa
http://www.greenbelt.org.uk
Gig: Bush
No matter how hard they tried, selling millions of copies of their debut in the US never translated into credibility for these grunge-apeing west London boys.
Frontman Gavin Rossdale and the odd surving original member are back, playing Nineties classics and tracks from 2011’s The Sea Of Memories.
Thurs, Aug 30. 7.30pm £27.50
Koko, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE
Station | Mornington Crescent
koko.uk.com
Gig: The Guillemots
Fyfe Dangerfield and his cohorts have decided, ambitiously, to shun the record-tour merry-go-round in favour of relocating to rural Norway to write not one, but four records – each one inspired by the changing of the seasons.
Their second LP from this endeavour will be available to buy at this free in-store gig, too.
Tues, Aug 28. 7pm, free
Rough Trade East, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
Tube | Aldgate East
roughtrade.com
Gig: Less Than Jake
The ska-punkers, who started touring the globe together back in 1992, are less a household commodity than they once were, but their desire to create top skanking tunes has not dimmed.
Favouring EPs over albums now, their latest being February’s Seasons Greetings From Less Than Jake, the boys hit Camden tonight.
Thurs, Aug 23. 7pm £20
Barfly, 2 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BL
Station | Chalk Farm
barflyclub.com
Club: We Fear Silence: Jeff Mills & James Ruskin
Cable gets the bank holiday weekend off to a bang with this night of ‘future-facing techno’, featuring two of its biggest stars: tech-legend Jeff Mills, who is celebrating 20 years of his Axis label, and Blueprint’s James Ruskin, on hand for a night of extended sets and uncompromising techno genius.
Sat, Aug 25. 10pm-6am £15
Cable, 33 Bermondsey Street Tunnel, SE1 3JW
Tube | London Bridge
http://www.cable-london.com
Club: Warehouse Presents…
The launch night for this newly refurbed venue – which puts light and sound atop its priority list to ensure an unsurpassable experience boating warehouse energy without the usual drawbacks – is headlined by Kerri Chandler, with Colin Chiddle, Jaxx, Alex Champman, Rob Charles and Ollie Gibson in support.
Aug 25-26. 11pm-7am £10+
Warehouse, Unit H9, 35 Harbert Road, N18 3HT
Station | Tottenham Hale
warehouseldn.com
Club: Bass Heavy
One Nation and Innovation present London’s biggest drum ‘n’ bass night this summer with Hazard, TC, Original Sin, Magistrate, Sub Zero, Grooverider and more.
There’s a kick-ass sound system, too, as well as a vibrating dancefloor and stunning light shows to make this an even bigger night than last year’s full-on event.
Sun, Aug 26. 9pm-6am £20,
Proud 2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DY
Station | North Greenwich
proud2.com
Photos: Getty
