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The Long Blondes, The Lodger at Metropolian University, Leeds

Well... The Lodger Really. Such a necessary evil playing support to the band that energises young listens so much that you get a 18+ stamp on your hand on the way in and such a thankless task.For sure later on Kate, Dorian et al would impress and in the mean time Leeds based The Lodger have to fill ear time.

The come on looking strangely confident and set about a set with steady precision.

Lead guitar and vocals Ben Siddall projects and disinterest turns to curiosity. Feet tap and comparisons are draw. Are The Lodger The Cure mixed with The Wedding Present? Are they Maximo Park from Yorkshire?

A few tracks in and The Lodger seem to have cut away from such guessing and have won over those who made their way from the bar to watch. Siddall's guitar work recalls the jangle of the late 1980s and his kitchen sinkist lyrics are straight out of the big book of Northern Singers.

Single Many Thanks for Your Honest Opinion stands out and the mental note taking when Siddall comments that the album will follow in April is almost audible.

And so quick The Lodger depart leaving a good impression behind - off to slip down some Leeds side streets no doubt.

Heads We Dance, Laura Groves, Sportsday Megaphone Granadaland at The Love Apple, Bradford

It snowed, lots, and for a long time the Love Apple was empty feeling with bodies of people around the sides drinking shorts to keep the sub-zero temperatures at bay.Then it was filled and it was warm and an energy surged through the room as Laura Groves picked at a guitar and powered her voice around the room and everything was touched and everything was illuminated.

Coast was dubbed "A song about Filey" and stood out. Imaginary Flights mingled with the fluttering of what was a blizzard falling idly by outside was as glowing as the faces and moods tucked away from the cold of a wintery Bradford night.

The Radio Dept. at The Cockpit, Leeds

Monday - which is tomorrow - was supposed to be The Radio Dept. at Leeds Cockpit but I guess they had something else to do. From a pension plan point of view this is probably a bad thing - I still by stuff from bands I saw fifteen years ago regards off the quality and TRD could have got on that gravy train and earned a cool £8 every two years - but I'm sure they will cope and frankly I only go to Leeds cause work make me.Oddly enough though in fifteen odd years of going to gigs this is my first cancellation and my first lost booking fee - Thanks Jumbo. I remember after the mid-1990s LA quake a US band failed to turn up for a Duchess of York gig they had planned but I'd only gone to watch the support - Sleeper - so once I had discovered that the band were alive and well I cared not and as I stood at the bar that night a grumpy looking guy sulked up to the bar next to me - it was Dave Gedge of The Wedding Present - and me and he shared a Yorkshire conversation.

DG: [nod]
MW: How do.
DG: Aye.