Bon Iver and Radiohead gigs

BON IVER is the stage and recording name of indie folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. His independently-released debut album, FOR EMMA, FOREVER AGO, mostly recorded during four months in a remote cabin in WISCONSIN, was received to critical acclaim, and subsequently picked up by indie-rock label JAGJAGUWAR, which re-released it in early 2008. During the JUNE bank holiday Monday we caught his trio perform in TRIPOD ..thanks to the fact that MICHÉAL gave me what is a great album the previous week.

In the UK, Emma received 5/5 and "Album of the Month" reviews in both UNCUT magazine and MOJO which said '...it's like a skin that has been shed...despite the wilderness, introspection and hermit mystique that characterises this mucis 'For Emma, forever ago' ..reaches out and demands attention. It is a powerful act of transformation, isolation doesn't get more splendid than this'.

Bon Iver supported IRON & WINE at the Kentish Town Forum, London, in May 2008. I'd very highly recommend checking-out his appearance on LATER...WITH JOOLS HOLLAND, he performs my favourite, SKINNY LOVE.

Thanks also to DREW who brough a crew of us to catch RADIOHEAD perform in MALAHIDE CASTLE a few weeks back. It was a wicked gig and the lighting-design was something else - though it started off tame enough it belied what was pretty impressive technology behind the scenes. The skies held out nicely for Saturday's performance - the sets for both nights varied to the extent that I heard no complaints from hardened fans who compared notes from alternate nights.