The War On Drugs – aka mostly Philadelphian frontman Adam Granduciel – are many things: woozy, epic space-out indie rock; uplifting and melancholic simultaneously; and if you quit with your ears for a moment, ever so slightly a little bit Dire Straits, in a good way. Last year’s Lost in the Dream was a total triumph, mega-single Under The Pressure the song to catch last year on the festival circuit, both of which make this London show at the Academy and absolute must-not-miss.
When: Feb 24 / 7pm
Where: Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL
Cost: £23
Tube: Brixton
Web: Brixton-academy.co.uk
Will and the People – Feb 26
This bonkers four-piece are, simply put, one of the best live acts currently touring this little land of ours. How so? Well, that’d be their ace songs that make you grin from one ear to another; their eccentric humour (and dress sense); their unpredictability (they have toured with Girls Aloud and played for the first democratically elected President of Nigeria); and their characteristically feelgood, rock-your-world way with a stage performance sort of thing. We are big fans.
They’ve skanked, bopped and pogo-d their way over four continents in the last few years, dazzling all and sundry in the process, not least with their latest and third long player, Whistleblower. It’ll be a blast of a show!
When: Feb 26 / 7pm
Where: Jazz Café, NW1 7PG
Cost: £10
Tube: Camden Town
Web: willandthepeople.com
The Decemberists – Feb 21
The indie darlings from the home land – that’d be ground zero for acoustic-ish indie rock Portland, Oregon – drop in on their latest world tour. They’ve not been over to this side of the pond for five years, or there abouts, and they have a new album out titled What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World. Because presumably they either can’t make up their minds which it is, or they think it is both. When they take the stage, it’s the former for sure!
When: Feb 21 / 7pm
Where: O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL
Cost: £21
Tube: Brixton
Web: Brixton-academy.co.uk
Charlatans at Brooklyn Bowl – BRIT Week – Feb 20
As part of the series of gigs taking place across the capital at the moment in the run up to Wednesday Fen 25th’s BRIT Awards, Nineties stalwarts, The Charlatans will be playing a very special one-off gig at this O2-adjacent venue. Celebrating 25 years since the release of their debut Some Friendly as well as the release of their 12th LP Modern Nature (which is out this week!), Tim Burgess and co will be cranking out the hits such as One To Another as well as showcasing their new material. Far from a retro-tinged affair, the Charlatans are very much of the now. Check ‘em out. Support comes from We Are Ocean and Superfood with a proportion of the ticket sales going towards War Child, too.
When: Feb 20 / 7pm
Where: Brooklyn Bowl, SE10 0DX
Cost: £20
Tube: North Greenwich
Web: London.brooklynbowl.com
The boys from Will and the People taking a well deserved sit down
Pond – Feb 25
The five piece psych-rockers from Perth released their sixth LP, Man It Feels Like Space Again, which, with its full on spaced-out stylings, tells you a lot about their tripped out indie vibes. Fine fabulous fun.
When: Feb 25 / 7pm
Where: Electric Ballroom, NW1 8QP
Cost: £15
Tube: Camden Town
Web: electricballroom.co.uk
