Kim Gordon at Koko

Kim Gordon

Crimewave

Koko, 25 June 2024 

Can you believe I got to see both Kim Gordon and Kim Deal doing incredible live shows within days of each other? How lucky am I? But this show from Ms Gordon really was something spectacular and I feel blessed by the punk rock gods to have witnessed it. 

Margo Price at Koko

Margo Price

Kelsey Waldon 

Koko, 30 January 2024

Last year I saw Margo Price absolutely blow the roof off Lafayette, so when she announced another show at the always beautiful Koko with another of my favourites, Kelsey Waldon, supporting, I couldn't get tickets fast enough. Good thing too, as not surprisingly, the show was completely sold out.

Jenny Lewis at Koko

Jenny Lewis
Christian Lee Hutson & Jason Crosby
Koko, 14 August 2018

It feels like ages since I last went to a concert and that coupled with the recent heatwave left me a reluctant gig goer today but such is the healing power of music that my frown was quickly turned upside down. Of course it helps that I was seeing an artist and entertainer as brilliant as Jenny Lewis and the show turned out to be one of the best, if not the best gig I've been to this year.

Mark Lanegan at Koko

Mark Lanegan
Joe Cardamone
Duke Garwood
Koko, 12 December 2017

Once again I venture out into the cold, dark, winter night to see Mark Lanegan, my 19th time seeing him live no less. It's actually been five years since I saw him, the last time when his excellent album Blues Funeral came out and he's been oddly prolific since then so there are a lot of Lanegan tunes I've yet to experience live.

Angel Olsen at Koko

Angel Olsen
Little Wings
Koko, 17 October 2016

It's clear that in the couple of years since her last album Angel Olsen has become a little less lo-fi and a little more indie star. It's notable when her band arrive on stage wearing matching blue suits (boasting no less than two badass female musicians!) and the lights swirl like an arena show as the audience eagerly anticipate her long-awaited entrance. I sense the crowd getting excited as she emerges, all sulky pout and pointy, pin-up girl eyebrows. This is something you can only get away when you get to a certain level and judging by tonight's show (and another already booked for next year at the far bigger Roundhouse), Olsen is clearly on the up and on her way towards pop stardom.

The Afghan Whigs at Koko

The Afghan Whigs
Koko, 4 February 2015

I think one of the reasons I love going to see Greg Dulli so much, no matter which band he's playing with (and there has been a few), is just to witness his little dance moves as he groves along to each song. This is a man not immune to a hip wiggle, a shoulder shake, even a Beyonce-esque wagging finger (accompanied of course with a attitude-filled pout). I can't deny it's amusing and makes me break out in a big grin but it's also kind of what makes Dulli so cool, in the same way that when Jagger struts around the stage, it's funny but awesome too.

The Pierces at Koko

The Pierces
The Half Earth
Koko, 11 June 2014

I was thinking earlier that The Pierces are like the 30-something, Radio Two version of First Aid Kit, or even Haim given the more pop sound of their latest singles: beautiful sisters who obviously grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac and have those melting harmonies that only siblings have. Judging by the slightly older audience here tonight I feel I'm not that far off in my observation although The Pierces definitely have something of their own that makes them uniquely them.

The Afghan Whigs at Koko

The Afghan Whigs
Oupa
Koko, 19 August 2012

Damn Dulli. I really don't know how you do it. 

There was a moment during tonight's show, during the instrumental middle of Fountain & Fairfax (the above clip) where it sounded so perfect and special that I felt myself close to tears. Given all the hundreds of shows I've been to and how few times that has actually happened to me, probably only three or four times in all, that should give you some idea of how incredible and moving and fun this gig was.

She & Him at Koko

She & Him
The Chapin Sisters
Koko, 7 May 2010

Before they come on I overhear someone mention The Watson Twins in reference to support act The Chapin Sisters and when they finally emerge, it's apparent there's plenty of truth to the comparison beyond simply being another pair of singing siblings.

Ben Kweller at Koko

 
Ben Kweller
Koko, 15 May 2009

I have to admit I was pretty ill attending this gig: thinking I have never missed a show due to illness, like a trooper I turned up, albeit rather late, and caught the end of Ben's excellent set (the following week though, as for a while I got even sicker, I did indeed miss my first ever gig, A.C. Newman at Luminaire, which I'm really sad about).