One of the most popular Catalan bands in recent years, straight outta Barcelona, with charismatic frontman David Carabén, it’s Mishima with their modern classic Christmastime concert, tonight at Apolo, celebrating the venue’s 75th anniversary. The band – Carabén (vocals and guitar), Marc Lloret (keyboards), Dani Vega (guitar), Xavi Caparrós (bass) and Alfons Serra (drums) – present their eighth album, ‘Ara i res’ (2017).
So, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines on their fourth LP? After the 2015 release of English Graffiti, a hyper-stylized dream-pop reinvention of sound, and the departure of drummer Pete Robertson in 2016, the British indie-rock band left us not really knowing what to expect at all. But since the release of ‘I Can’t Quit’ and the four more singles that followed, it has quickly become clear that what we could expect from The Vaccines was a return to a guitar-driven, classic rock feel. Combat Sports takes The Vaccines back to that foundation of their original sound, while also mixing in vibrant 70s and 80s pop and glam-rock influences. The result is an energetic compilation of music that seems to hit a sweet spot for the group in terms of finding their sound in hopes to be more than “just another indie-rock band.” Tonight in concert at Razzmatazz.
In times of apathy and half-hearted music, IDLES’ motorik is geared towards sweat. Apathy, half-heartedness and inertia? Fold. Excitement, devotion and chaos? All in. From their first EP Welcome (2012) to their debut album Brutalism, this five-piece band has firmly established itself in a brand of sharp English irony and guitars that reject the post-punk label and venture into the realms of grime and nocturnal revolution. Brutal honesty to laugh in the adversary’s face, to pogo until you lose your phone crushing underfoot… because we all know the only good phone is a smashed one. Tonight they will play at La2 Apolo.
The KVB is the nom de plume of Nick Wood and his partner Kat Day, a two-piece outfit from the UK who combine an electronic-shoegaze-industrial garage musical aesthetic with an intense visual live show. In the beginning The KVB was Wood’s bedroom project, an opportunity for him to explore different sonic textures outside of the confines of his ‘regular’ musical projects.
The KVB will perform tonight their sixth album, the follow up to 2016’s Of Desire titled Only Now Forever, at Sidecar.
U.S. Girls, an experimental project of Meghan Remy’s, is in Barcelona to present her latest album, ‘In a Poem Unlimited’ (2018). The versatile Illinois-born artist showcases her powerful and political album, which has underlined her status as one of the most brilliant and singular minds of the new psychedelia. Tonight at La2 Apolo.
Johnny Marr had the good fortune (or misfortune, depending on your point of view) of starting The Smiths along with Morrissey, whom he later fell out with seemingly forever. Since The Smiths broke up in 1987, Marr has been a member of groups such as The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs. Now he comes to Barcelona on his own to perform his third solo album, ‘Call the Comet’ (2018). Today in concert at sala Bikini.
Danielle Aykroyd is Vera Sola; a poet, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. A self-described drifter, Aykroyd has worked on a number of projects over the years with other artists; including touring with singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins, writing film scores, and creating music for theater productions and performance art pieces. When she did perform solo; she donned a pseudonym and chose dimly-lit settings where she could remain anonymous.
Sola’s sound is captivating; almost hallucinatory. Her voice sends shivers throughout the body, as she stands with resilience and ethereal grace; at times flashing a knowing smile. Uniting the surreal and the deeply innate, Sola taps into the spiritual subconscious; conjuring an alternative, (in my interpretation, distinctly Lynch-ian) universe, while elucidating something hidden within ourselves. We are enveloped in a poetic narrative, as though traversing an uncharted environment. She has just released her debut album “Shades”. Tonight in concert at Razzmatazz.
