Geese at Troxy

Geese

Sky Daddy

Troxy, 2 September 2026

I went to see the much-talked about Geese last night at the second of two sold-out shows at The Troxy and I must admit it was a real mixed bag for me. I was ready to be blown away but left not knowing exactly how I felt about it all. That said the youthful audience were going absolutely crazy throughout so maybe I was a little out of place at this one.

More soon... 

Kevin Morby at Troxy

>Kevin Morby

Liam Kazar

Troxy, 8 July 2026

I finally got to see Kevin Morby do a full band show and it was an absolute blast! Even in the sweltering heat he managed to put on a killer show at London's Troxy, showcasing his fantastic new album Little Wide Open and loads of old favourites too. 

Dinosaur Jr at Troxy

Dinosaur Jr

Naima Bock

Troxy, 23 May 2025

After seeing Dinosaur Jr. play all of one of their most beloved albums (or certainly one of their most successful anyway), Where You Been, just over a year ago, they are back and this time playing all of the follow-up, Without A Sound, for its 30th anniversary at the far more grandiose venue, Troxy.

Jack White at Troxy

Jack White

Gina Birch

Troxy, 28 February 2025

I saw Jack White again tonight at the very much improved Troxy and my ears were blown off in the best possible way! It's easy to see why he's become such an icon and is so beloved, because he really does give it all every show, treating us all to songs from every era of his career.

The Mars Volta at Troxy

The Mars Volta

Teri Gender Bender

Troxy, 18 June 2023

It's crazy to think I haven't seen The Mars Volta live since 2009, when I went absolutely crazy for them and saw them three times in one year including a super intimate gig (only 300 people!) at the ICA. Even though they released two more albums after that, I didn't venture to see them in the couple of years before they split up but I have continued to support the band's two members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in their other projects, At The Drive-In and Antemasque, seeing them live numerous times (as I've written about on this blog) so the last 14 years haven't been completely Volta-free at least.

John Carpenter at Troxy

John Carpenter
Troxy, 1 November 2016

Right or wrong, I grew up watching horror films. It was the era of VHS after all, and for some reason, as long as it didn't have excessive sex in it, my parents saw no harm in my brothers and I indulging in our passion of scary movies, often watching the best ones over and over. One of our absolute filmmakers quickly became John Carpenter.

Anna Calvi at Troxy

Anna Calvi
Woman's Hour
Troxy, 8 February 2014

Out on a cold and windy February night for my first gig of 2014, this time to see the outstanding Anna Calvi who I have wanted to see live since her superb Mercury-nominated debut came out in 2011. I have actually seen Calvi live once before but in her old band Cheap Hotel back in 2007, supporting Jesse Sykes at the Monto Water Rats. Most support acts at the smaller venues are instantly forgettable but while the band itself wasn't anywhere near as good as Calvi's solo work, there was definitely something about Calvi that was memorable: maybe it was her smart style, her strong, clear transfixing vocals but mainly, I think it was the sight of a powerful woman confidently yielding a loud guitar. I admit I didn't fall under her spell back then though but I instantly recognised her when suddenly her first solo effort deservedly began gathering acclaim and by the time her magnificent second LP, One Breath, came out last year I couldn't wait to finally see her live again.

Patti Smith at Troxy

Patti Smith & Her Band
Troxy, 13 September 2012

"There is so much energy here tonight, I actually can feel my blood going: buzzzzz..." Patti tells the audience grinning and I have to believe her. There must be something she's feeding off that enables her, at 65 years of age no less, to display such vivacity still. She continuously dances, theatrically throws out her arms as if preaching to the faithful while singing, often crouches down at the front of the stage to smile and wave to the audience and of course sings her heart out. When she hands over the reins to guitarist and longtime collaborator Lenny Kaye for a couple of numbers, she doesn't use the brief respite to go offstage to rest, she instead uses it as an opportunity to go down to the barrier and shake hands with every person (myself included) in the front row.

Monsters Of Folk at Troxy

Photo from Gigwise

Monsters Of Folk

Troxy, 17 November 2009

The guys in Monsters Of Folk, particularly Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, inspire an almost fanatical, blind devotion, maybe that's why I haven't heard a bad word said about their mammoth live show but for me I was a little underwhelmed by it all.

The Flaming Lips at Troxy

The Flaming Lips
Stardeath And White Dwarfs
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Troxy, 10 November 2009

The morning after seeing The Flaming Lips at the Troxy I picked up my coat and a few handfuls of confetti floated to the floor. That stuff really does get everywhere. In fact after the show the floor of the Troxy (which I liked much more this time around) was completely obscured by the stuff, so much had fallen on us throughout the concert. It was like a carpet of party leftovers: piles of coloured confetti, burst balloons and streamers. But then each Flaming Lips show really is like a huge kids' party (but with way better music, oh and naked girl images on the screen). Even if you've been to their shows before, they are still the most unique concerts you'll ever go to and even the most miserable music fan can't fail to leave without a big grin on their face, it's that much fun.

Wilco at Troxy

 
Wilco
Blitzen Trapper
Troxy, 25 August 2009

Last month a friend-of-a-friend scoffed when I said I loved Wilco and their new album, told me Wilco hadn't been interesting in years. I guess I'm now in the minority thinking Wilco are still cool. Popularity = uncool to many sadly. Of course this guy hadn't seen them live in years and, in my humble opinion, the last time I saw them two years ago they were probably the best Wilco shows I'd ever seen. Whether or not you think they've "matured" or turned all "dad rock", every time I catch them live it convinces me once again they are still an incredible band and without a doubt one of the best live acts out there. And that's why I was especially excited to see them again, my seventh time no less. Plus they had a particularly cool support act lined up: Blitzen Trapper.