Looking for local gigs to go to during January? It’s a slow time for gigs as everyone’s busy writing for lovely new albums and the festival season, but I’ve found a few gems so here are my top picks for the month, listing a number of great gigs to check out – at a range of prices, venues, and styles. All across Hampshire, all local, and what better time could there be to go gigging when January is the month of Independent Venue Week?
Who? Subhumans
Where? Talking Heads, Southampton
When? Saturday 14th January
Why? From Wiltshire, this eighties anarcho-punk band might possibly be my highlight of the month. They founded their own label, Bluurg! and released such lovely EPs and albums as Rats and Internal Riot. They split in 1985 but they’ve been back together since 2004 – please don’t leave us again. Like Leftover Crack? You’ll love these guys. Tickets here!
Who? The King Blues
Where? Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
When? Wednesday 25th January
Why? Influenced by The Skints, this political ska/punk band is one of the best of its kind. London-based and featuring Jonny Fox and Dean Ashton, just two of their five members, they split in 2012 but came back this year with Off With Their Heads. The video for the title track got itself 250,000 views in one day; Facebook banned the video and Apple wouldn’t release it on iTunes for the first week of its release. They’re not one to miss this month, and I guarantee you’ll find me there! Tickets are available here.
Who? Devil You Know
Where? The Joiners, Southampton
When? Wednesday 25th January
Why? A heavier end to the month than others, Devil You Know are guaranteed to be a fantastic night. They’re an LA metalcore group who formed in 2012 when John Sankey, Devolved’s drummer and Francesco Artusato, guitarist of All Shall Perish, starting writing together. Forty song ideas later, they began looking for a vocalist and sent some early demos to Howard Jones, who shortly joined. They’ve recorded with Logan Mader, a producer, former guitarist for Machine Head who had mixed Five Finger Death Punch’s debut. They’re fantastic if you like that sort of thing, they’re ridiculously fun live, tickets are available here!
Who? The Floyd Effect
Where? The Point, Eastleigh
When? Saturday 28th January
Why? I won’t lie to you, I really bloody despise tribute acts and cover bands. They’re never as good, never. But this one… They’re so accurate in their performance, everything they play down to the last note is the same as what was done by Pink Floyd and it makes for a genuine and immersive show. I wasn’t able to make it to see Pink Floyd due to the unfortunate fact that I wasn’t alive, or able to go to their one-off reunion, but this is meant to be as real as it could possibly be without the boys themselves being there. It’ll be worth going all the way to Eastleigh, promise. Tickets are available here.
