Manchester gigs of the month: November

As the clocks go back and daylight hours visibly shorten, Getintothis’ Mark Rowley picks the best of what’s on in Manchester through the dark, cold (and probably rainy) nights of November.

October was a fine month for music, with Manchester Neighbourhood Festival being the standout event . November promises to offer plenty, including acts as diverse as Alice Cooper and Gerry and the Pacemakers through to Wolf Alice and Zola Jesus.

As ever, there’s more to choose from than you can shake a sticky brown stick at and so, in this month’s picks of where to go and who to see in Manchester, we cut the preamble right down, and get straight to what’s on and who to see, which includes something for practically everyone.

Peter Perrett, Manchester Gorilla, November 2

Having spent more than half a lifetime battling drug addiction and its associated demons (and health ills), the erstwhile The Only Ones frontman is back to tell us How the West Was Won.

With his Lou Reed-style story-telling drawl, Perrett will take us on a journey (with his recently acquired pensioner’s travel pass) to find Another Girl, Another Planet; which, in 2017, more than likely refers to either Kim Kardashian or J.Lo, (possibly on Mars)!

Goat Girl, Manchester Gullivers, November 6

A four-piece band from South London signed to Rough Trade, Goat Girl are making great waves around our blighted shores. They most definitely have an edge and (in this writer’s humble opinion), are the very best of a healthy crop of all-female bands currently doing the rounds.

Their 2016 single, Country Sleaze, with its brash vocals and nonchalant power-riff blasts, is already a modern classic. You would be really foolish to miss this show.

Kagoule, Manchester Soup Kitchen, November 11

Nottingham-based alt-punk 3-piece, Kagoule have been flying under the radar for too long and deserve greater recognition than they currently receive.

Their 2015-album, Urth is a quality offering, featuring outstanding tracks, Open Mouth, Glue and Adjust The Way Of The World. New single, Monsieur Automation is a no brain, pop-tinged punk belter!

If you don’t know them yet, go check them out. If you do, see you there.

Julie Byrne, Manchester Band On The Wall, November 12

Singer, songwriter and guitarist from Buffalo, New York, Julie Byrne has such a beautiful and deep, soothing voice you are sure to be enchanted and mesmerised in equal measures. Complemented by the calming, mellow tones of her acoustic guitar finger-picking, and the harmonies and instrumentation of her backing musicians, she explores themes of a personal nature which seemingly float on a gentle breeze around us.

Take a listen to her latest album, Not Even Happiness, which she will be no doubt be showcasing songs from, at this show.

Thundercat, Manchester Albert Hall November 15

Multi-genre bass guitarist, Stephen Bruner, better known as Thundercat, has a very rich pedigree of musical achievements, productions and collaborations.

An extremely talented and accomplished musician, inspired by the jazz musicianship of Miles Davis and jazz-fusion bass guitarists, Stanley Collins and George Duke, Bruner puts on a formidable show and is an exceptional musician. Essential viewing.

Badbadnotgood, Manchester O2 Ritz November 16

Serial collaborators and highly respected exponents of jazz improvisation, Badbadnotgood are a must see band in their own right.

They are ably led and driven by world class drummer, Alexander Sowinski, and interweave spell-binding keyboard, bass guitar and saxophone inflections into an utterly enticing and seductive set.

Future Islands, Manchester O2 Apollo November 24

On a balmy night at Green Man Festival last August, Samuel T. Herring introduced his band, saying ‘we are Future Islands and this is just what the hell we do … play on the road, sleep on the road, and record on the road’ … And so their endless tour rolls on!

Herring moves and grooves like no other and has one of the most soulful voices of the 21^st century. Future Islands‘ sound is an infectious mix of pounding bass, dance-synth melodies and powerful, emotive vocals. Highly recommended!

Meatraffle, Yassassin, Autobon, USA Nails, White Hotel (Salford) November 25

This night promises to be an epic encounter with DJs spinning tunes until 4am Sunday. Doors open at 6pm for a night of bands seemingly recruited at Pysch Fest, back in September.

Featuring psych-socialists Meatraffle, Yassassin (who have a retro New York Dolls look), Leeds post-industrial punks, Autobon and USA Nails (who state on their Facebook page, ‘We are not a nail bar. We are a band’); expect this to get messy!

Rumours abound that a group of mini-keyboard terrorists will be attending in some guise or other, to make this event especially memorable. Let’s hope so!

Edit: This bill just got bigger, with Starlight Magic Hour, Photophobes, MOLD, Big Lad and Drahla added.

Paves, Manchester Jimmy’s November 26

Promoting their current single Baby, Paves‘ sound is a very modern take of 1960s-inspired rhythm and blues. With a distinctive Rolling Stones, Who and Kinks rolled-into-one big sound; toe-tapping will quickly lead on to full leg-shake spasms.

You’ll enjoy them more in a sweaty Jimmy’s on a This Feeling night than you ever will on the Main Stage at Leeds and Reading. So, get down there!

Charles Howl, Manchester Soup Kitchen, November 30

Charles Howl is the moniker of singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Nellis. Also bass player in The Proper Ornaments (which includes members of Toy and Veronica Falls), in Charles Howl he teams up with the Ornaments‘ drummer Bobby Syme, who also produces the new album, My Idol Family.

Charles Howl’s new release nudges further away from his early psych-punk leanings to embrace twangy guitar, earworm keyboards and glorious orchestration.

Also recommended:

• The Pastels, (plus Spinning Coin, Peaness) White Hotel (Salford), November 10
• Ghostpoet, Manchester Academy 2, November 11
• Trudy And The Romance, Manchester Gullivers, November 14
• Queens Of The Stone Age, Manchester Arena, November 19
• The Moonlandingz, Manchester O2 Ritz, November 21
• John Mayall, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, November 21
• Fleet Foxes, Manchester O2 Apollo, November 23
• Jane Weaver, (plus Pictish Trail and She Drew The Gun) Manchester O2 Ritz, November 30

https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/rickjleach1961/playlist/1K7XE8H8svxt1gZ3oZnU5U

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