LIVE BLOG: SHOCKWAVES NME AWARDS TOUR @ O2 ACADEMY
This year’s Shockwaves NME Awards Tour kicks off at the O2 Academy in Newcastle tonight with live sets from The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and The Drums. I managed to get my hands on a couple of complimentary tickets (thanks Matt) so can avoid the usual ‘am I/aren’t I’ guestlist shenanigans and bring you all the action as it happens. It’s my first attempt at liveblogging anything so there’s a pretty hefty chance that it’ll go tits up. Point your browser back here at around 7pm and see for yourself.
6:58pm: Still in the house listening to My Bloody Valentine and drinking Stella. Hope we haven’t missed the bus.
7:32pm: Bloody hell, have you seen the queue outside the Academy? We’re going for a pint.
8:10pm: A couple of songs into The Drums’ set and the New York City boys let fly with a brand new indie-pop firecracker.
8:26pm: Short but sweet, The Drums incandescent Big Apple indie rocked the Academy.
8:44pm: The Big Pink unleash their stomach-churning drone-fuzz on Newcastle. Pure genius.
8:50pm: The duo riff around The Breeders masterpiece Cannonball. I LOVE Cannonball.
9:03pm: It’s decided then. The Big Pink are mega. Pounding synthesized beats and shoegaze guitars. What more could you want?
9:19pm: Seven quid odd for two pints? Christ, the Academy must be raking it in. Or am I just getting old? I remember when you could get drunk in town on a tenner.
9:30pm: Bombay Bicycle Club open up with a punchy barrage of riff-laden slouch-rock. Cool,
9:41pm: The London-based outfit’s singalong geek-pop has the indie kids bouncing. The hipsters are at the back trying to find the singer from The Drums.
10:08pm: Bombay Bicycle Club’s last song has the whole crowd clapping along. I’m won over. These kids have talent.
10:21pm: Sod The Maccabees. We’re going for chips.
