About Londonist_Laura

The big day has arrived! I couldn’t be happier that never again in this country will I have to play a gig in a smoky room, but it is going to be interesting to see what side effects the new smoking ban has. Scaremongers are …

I’ve discussed my disinclination to leave my house to see live music in this column before, along with the irony that I expect others to do the exact same thing to see me play. What can I say, I’m a fickle artist! It’s not that …

The epitome of mythical, mysterious, magical, Blonde Redhead are back with their seventh album “23″ and played Koko this week at the end of a UK tour before jetting off to perform in Europe, Israel, Australia, Japan and the US. The subdued lighting, ornate backdrop …

Scout Niblett takes to the stage without a fuss, arranging her guitar pedals and setting out handwritten pages on the floor. Dressed in red, she and her drummer don’t begin to fill Bush Hall’s tiny stage but as new single “Dinosaur Egg” kicks off the …

Thoughtful, haunting and slightly odd, Scout Niblett’s music is the kind that creeps up on you unawares and sinks its beautiful, fuzzy-guitared teeth in. With a new EP out on Monday and a show at Bush Hall the same night, Scout’s a busy woman but …

There’s no question in my mind that My Space is a wonderful thing but I find it alternately inspiring and overwhelming when you get a glimpse of the sheer number of bands and promoters are out there trying to do their thing. It doesn’t help …

Those of you familiar with the superb Canada-based band Metric (see here and here and indeed here for past mentions) will know that frontwoman Emily Haines recently released a solo album full of deliciously dark piano ballads called “Knives Don’t Have Your Back”. You’ll also …

Sick and tired of wading through the bleepings and scratchings of super trendy MySpace-famous outfits we thought we’d offer you a break from them, too, with a good old-fashioned dose of angular noise from the truly fabulous Popular Workshop. They’ve played more gigs than you’ve …

Remember those brave/crazy Flora London Marathon runners we talked to last week (click on their names below to read their interviews)…? Well, they did it! So, how was it? Incredible. Exhausting, exhilarating. The crowds were inspirational and somehow spurred me on to a 3 hrs …

And so the big day arrives with a bang! I’m up early and cycling through quiet city streets already dappled with sunlight, cameras slung around my shoulders. I switch to public transport to make my way over to the Red Start in Greenwich Park and …