Gig Of The Week: Dum Dum Girls / MALE BONDING, Barden’s Boudoir, Thursday
A bumper, bumper week sees the return of our weekly gig guide to what’s happening on London’s live music scene. So bumper that I really struggled to pick a single gig – but the one that has come out on top is a cracker. Get yourselves down to Barden’s Boudoir on Thursday night to check out two of legendary label Sub Pop’s latest signings. From LA there is the awesome Dum Dum Girls, playing in advance of their debut full length, I Will Be, due out in March. Playing too are Dalston’s MALE BONDING – who recently rocked as support for the Vivian Girls on home turf at the Trinity Hall, Dalston. Both bring ferocious pace and lo-fi thrills to the party, expect it fast and loud and Barden’s is a great place to watch it unfold.
Sadly I’ll be missing the show in favour of the live return of Brighton’s Blood Red Shoes who play the regular New Slang show out in Kingston. Box Of Secrets was a joy for me, and remains a regular feature on my playlists and I cannot wait to see what their forthcoming sophomore LP, Fire Like This, will bring. Elsewhere, the ongoing rush of the NME Awards shows continues with New Young Pony Club headlining a bill that also includes the excellent Chew Lips and Teeth on Monday at the Islington Academy. Girls at Scala should be a riot too, and if you fancy something a little quieter try the Jagjaguwar showcase at the Windmill, Brixton on Tuesday. Two big shows in support of the ongoing Haiti Earthquake appeal are obviously for a good cause but the line ups are deeply uninspiring.
Brain-melters Ungdomskulen play The Lexington on Thursday – the busiest day of the week. You could also pick Los Campesinos! at Koko, but if like me you like things a bit more intimate – wait a week and catch them at New Slang, Shearwater (Scala), Casiokids (Barfly) or if you like things a but more retro try Pere Ubu at the Garage. Things slow down a bit as the weekend draws near but Friday sees Xiu Xiu rip up the Luminaire which has to be worth a view. If you’ve got nowt to do all day Saturday there’s an excellent one day festival – Owl Parliament – happening at Union Chapel. Featuring Mount Eerie, Jeremy Walmsley, Aidan Moffat and Darren Hayman amongst others this should be a fantastic day, evening tickets are a little less than all-day ones. Finally, Hot Chip play a couple of nights down at the Brixton Academy.
Photo: MALE BONDING. Taken by Sebastián J @ Barden’s Boudoir, 20/12/09
If you’re struggling to find any of the venues listed, they’re all on our map of London’s gig venues and record shops – here. Read on for all our recommendations this week.
Monday 22 February
Delphic – Cargo
New Young Pony Club / Chew Lips / Teeth – O2 Academy Islington
Tuesday 23 February
Girls – Scala
Japandroids – ICA
Marina & The Diamonds – Bush Hall
We Are Scientists – Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
Wolf People / Johnny Barry Trio / Bert Page – Jagjaguwar Records @ Brixton Windmill
Yeasayer / Javelin – Heaven
Wednesday 24 February
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
Dum Dum Girls / Yuck / La La Vasquez – The Old Blue Last
Fionn Regan – ULU
Hockey – Koko
Thursday 25 February
Blood Red Shoes – New Slang @ The Hippodrome
Broadcast 2000 / Alessi’s Ark – The Luminaire
Casiokids – Camden Barfly
Dum Dum Girls / MALE BONDING – Barden’s Boudoir
Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser ft. Zero 7 / Hexstatic / Stereo MCs / Maxi Jazz – Proud Galleries Camden
Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser ft. KT Tunstall / Paul Weller / The Futureheads / The Maccabees / Seasick Steve & more – The Roundhouse
Hauschka / Hildur Guðnadóttir / ISAN – The Bubbly Blue & Green @ Kings Place
Los Campesinos! / Swanton Bombs – Koko
Pere Ubu – Garage
Shearwater – Scala
The Strange Death Of Liberal England – Underbelly
Ungdomskulen – The Lexington
Friday 26 February
Air – Roundhouse
DD: MM: YYYY – The Windmill, Brixton
Hot Chip / Casiokids – O2 Academy Brixton
Sir Richard Bishop – Whitechapel Gallery
Xiu Xiu – The Luminaire
Saturday 27 February
GZA / Genius – Jazz Cafe
Hot Chip – O2 Academy Brixton
Mt Eerie / The Microphones / Emmy The Great / Jeremy Walmsley / Darren Hayman / Aidan Moffat – Owl Parliament 2010 @ Union Chapel
Sunday 28 February
James Chance & Les Contorsions – The Victoria
Marcus Foster / Alessi’s Ark / Broadcast 2000 & more – Communion: The Compilation Launch @ Notting Hill Arts Club
