I Like Trains, Her Name Is Calla – Jazz Cafe, Wednesday

The very name “Post-rock ” as a genre sounds old-fashioned now.

Hard to believe it was once as futuristic-sounding as – well, “futurism” and look where that ended up.

Impossible to believe that I Like Trains are celebrating – if that’s the right word – a decade together

This gig looks unmissable for fans of a certain brooding type of soundscape, with the excellent Her Name Is Calla supporting.

I think it’s safe to say security will not be having too many problems at this gig, which is in no way meant as a derogatory comment on the majestic, thoughtful, and at times uplifting music. This ain’t rock’n’roll though.

Temples, Cheatahs – McCluskys, Kingston, Thursday

This is the big one this week as far as I’m concerned. Both of these bands release their superb debut albums this week.

Temples are the band attracting the bigger buzz for now, with their loverly dreamy psychedelic indie perfectly capturing current fashon.

This is a live “in session” version of “Sun Structures”, a bit more ballsy than the album version

But Cheatahs are worth a punt too , similar psychedelic overtones but with a brattish, shoegazy underpinning that will ensure Temples have to work hard to follow them. I’m confidently expecti ng this to be a great gig – see you dahn the front!

Laura Cantrell – Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Friday

Change of pace now with a bit of proper country music from the excellent Laura Cantrell.

There’s a simplicity and directness in her music that’s a million miles away from yer showbiz country, and at the same time, doesn’t ever fall into the “alt.country” category. A real joy.

She’s touring all over the UK for the next week or so.

Damo Suzuki – Windmill, Saturday

Damo Suzuki fronted the legendary Krautrock band Can between 1971 and 1973.

With him in the lineup, Can produced their most enduring and innovative work, including classic albums like 1971’s Tago Mago, 1972’s Ege Bamyasi and 1973’s Future Days’. He then left, aged 23, explaining in his characteristically enigmatic style that he was ‘much more curious about another life’.

What Damo does, pretty much, is fetch up in a town to do improvised sets backed by interesting local musicians – in this case, Eat Lights Become Lights.

Damo’s intense live performances are informed by a band of “sound carriers”: spontaneous
collaborations which aim to create an off-the-cuff musical ‘conversation’; liberated, lavish jams which result in an exclusivity of each and every performance.

This will be interesting to say the least.

Pete Morton – Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre, Walthamstow

Walthamstow Folk presents folk singer-songwriter Pete Morton, a superb performer who includes folk rapping in his repertoire (or “Frapping” 8=) )

Cage The Elephant – Electric Ballroom, Monday

Kentucky swamp-blues rockers Cage The Elephant touring the newalbum “Melophobia”.

The title, disappointingly, turns out NOT to be a fear of becoming too laid back and mellow on the difficult third album, but rather a fear of music, which I feel I should have known before.

But I know it now, and so do you. If you take nothing else from this gig guide, at least you now have a possible extra point in a future pub quiz.

Hatcham Social – Lexington, Tuesday

Hard to believe Hatcham Social are also on their third album “Cutting Out The Present Leaks Out The Future”.

Dark and experimental, the new album shows a raw and brooding band expanding on their songwriting craft. This recent live clip bodes very well indeed, I reckon.

Enjoy yer live giggage this week. I intend to! And check out the Beat City New Music Podcast. It’s really good. But then I WOULD say that.

www.podomatic.com/beatcity