Billy Talent

Canadian melodic punk rockers Billy Talent return to Norwich for a show supporting their new album Dead Silence as headlines of the Rock Sound Riot 2012 tour. Plus: Django Django, The Twang.

DJANGO DJANGO

Waterfront, November 5

Hopefully it will be third time lucky on Monday as psychedelic-indie Mercury Prize nominees Django Django, who are one of the few new guitar bands to make great strides this year, with their self-titled debut album gaining rave reviews and building on the success of singles Waveforms and Default, finally play their delayed gig at the Waterfront.

The London-based foursome have come up with something far more unpredictable and playful than bog standard landfill indie on their album that includes some widely imaginative psychedelia that both beguiles and delights, making them the perfect answer to those who’ve written off British guitar music.

Their foundations are a take on the music of the immediate pre-psychedelic era, employing heavily tremeloed surf guitar — oh and coconut halves which form the distinctive beat of their unusual, mantra-like song Love’s Dart.

www.djangodjango.co.uk

THE TWANG

Waterfront, November 6

With a few notable exceptions, times have been tough for guitar music recently, especially the type of indie rock produced by Birmingham band The Twang.

It didn’t help that they were lambasted by the press from day one. However don’t count them out. The sheer love for what they do has kept them going and they’ve got a lively and loyal following.

They return to the Waterfront next week having just released their third album 10:20, follow-up to 2009’s Jewellery Quarter.

The quintet, comprising of lead singer Phil Etheridge, Martin Saunders, Jon Watkin, Ash Sheehan and Stu Hartland, who took the NME-reading world by storm in 2007, have returned to their roots with a lo-fi and more organic sound than their previous albums, taking mild reggae and mod influences to create a mature and contemporary sound.

Though much of the Madchester-attitude is still present — new track We’re A Crowd retains the mid-1990s mentality — the lads present less of a Stone Roses sound this time around, much to the album’s credit.

New tracks Beer Wine And Sunshine, and Woah Man should be real highlights live. Support comes from Wide Eyed and The Problems.

t Further listening: www.thetwang.co.uk

BILLY TALENT

UEA, November 7

Canadian melodic punk rockers Billy Talent return to Norwich for a show supporting their new album Dead Silence as headlines of the Rock Sound Riot 2012 tour.

In May they released a taster of what was to come from the album in the form of huge return-to-form single Viking Death March. The single was met by fans with huge excitement and anticipation for the fourth album, which followed to positive reviews in September.

Following this, they have announced the second single to be released from Dead Silence, Surprise Surprise, will be out on November 12.

Formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D’Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk, the band existed for almost a decade before mainstream success when their sound began to move in a more aggressive, punk direction.

The latest album’s success prompted Rock Sound magazine to install the band as headliners on their Rock Sound Riot 2012. Rock Sound editor Ben Patashnik: “It’s awesome to be working with Billy Talent, a band all at Rock Sound has loved for years, and it’s genuinely thrilling to be taking this step up into big venues.”

Support comes from electronic act Awolnation.

t Further listening: www.billytalent.com

NOVEMBER 2

Sub Focus (electronic) — UEA

Geno Washington (soul) — Arts Centre

Buster James Band + Dirty Tricks (rock/blues) — Brickmakers

Walkway (rock) — King Edward VII

Milly Hurst + Port Isla + Brother The Wolfe (acoustic) — The Birdcage

Rockin’ Devils Blues Band (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades

SkaFace UK (ska) — Moles Rest

The Killer Tomatoes (rock/pop) — Silver Road Cottage

Die You Now (indie/rock) — Blueberry

The Bunkadoos (rock/pop) — Brewery Tap

Lena Black’s Uptown Playboys — Arkwrights

Norwich Folk Club: feat Bob Wood — Christ Church Centre

Backstreet DJs (Northern soul) — Keir Hardie Hall

Lucas (soul) — Old Catton Maids Head

Unlawfully Yours — The Farmhouse

NOVEMBER 3

Seckou Keita Band (world) — Arts Centre

The Pistols + Hotwired + Ziplock (punk/tribute) — Waterfront Studio

Mentallica (metal/tribute) — Brickmakers

To The Last (rock) — King Edward VII

Storm (rock) — Walnut Tree Shades

Moneyshot (rock/pop) — Bluberry

Thin Ice (rock/pop) — The Woolpack

Uprising (rock/pop) — Boundary

Stepback — Arkwrights

Mother Black Cap — Hog In Armour

Eastwood + Spandex Ballet — Golden Star

Craig Powell — Keir Hardie Hall

Tony Cann — Bread & Cheese

Anna Marie — The Farmhouse

Midlife Crisis — Trowel & Hammer

NOVEMBER 4

Shinedown (rock) — UEA

Two Gallants (indie) — Arts Centre

Tea (rock/blues) — King Edward VII

The Broad Cut Drifters (bluegrass/5pm) — Silver Road Cottage

The Decline (pop/world) — The Stanley

Lena Black’s Swing Style Playboys — Hog In Armour

The Cleaving Heavages (risqué rock) — Brewery Tap

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers

NOVEMBER 5

Django Django (indie) — Waterfront

Twin Atlantic + Charlie Simpson (rock) — UEA

Catherine Feeney (folk/indie) — Bicycle Shop

Jakwob (dubstep/electronic) — Waterfront Studio

International Open Mic — Micawbers Tavern

Brickie Session (open mic) — Brickmakers

Jazz Jam: feat Rich Buddie — Walnut Tree Shades

Jazz Jam — Silver Road Cottage

NOVEMBER 6

The Twang (rock) — Waterfront

Catherine Feeney (folk/indie) — Bicycle Shop

Breaking Belief (rock) — Brickmakers

Soft Bullets (indie/rock) — B2

Kristian Borring Quartet (jazz) — Rackheath Green Man

Live Folk — Beehive

NOVEMBER 7

Billy Talent (rock) — UEA

Gong (prog rock) — Arts Centre

Laish (folk/indie) — Bicycle Shop

Jack Pout and The Dirt Level — Walnut Tree Shades

Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers

Open Mic — Garden House

NOVEMBER 8

New Found Glory + Less Than Jake (pop-punk) — UEA

UK Subs + Anti-Nowhere League (punk) — Waterfront

Krystle Warren (singer-songwriter) — Arts Centre

Rory McLeod (multi-instrumentalist) — Bicycle Shop

Scream Don’t Whisper + Third Place Victory (indie/rock) — B2

Laguna Sunrise (metal) — King Edward VII

Cielo (hip hop/pop) — Ten Bells

Thin Ice (rock/pop) — Brickmakers

Johnny Jump Band (blues/country) — Micawbers Tavern

Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Ronnie Del Rio (country) — TA Centre

Bluesdance Collective — The Lounge