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Erykah Badu: Apollo, Manchester

Live Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 18 July 2001

I HAVE SEEN Bowie atop a giant glass spider and U2 stuck inside a lemon, but I cannot recall an entrance like Erykah Badu's. ...

Wilco: Star Wars ****

Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 17 July 2015

The Chicago band's ninth album successfully blends Bowie space-glam, Beatles psychedelic singsong and Captain Beefheart weirdness ...

Placebo: Octagon, Sheffield

Live Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 15 February 1997

High on the Placebo effect ...

Declan McKenna: What Do You Think About the Car?

Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 20 July 2017

WITH A MAJOR LABEL DEAL and a super televised Glastonbury appearance under his belt at the age of 18, Declan McKenna has the youthful self-confidence ...

PJ Harvey, Tricky: Red-blooded Chameleon — PJ Harvey, Tricky: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 8 March 1995

Enigmatic as ever, PJ Harvey returns in red satin and fine form, with Tricky in support ...

Secret Machines: Ruby Lounge, Manchester

Live Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 16 February 2009

IN AN IDEAL WORLD, the Secret Machines would be playing in a volcanic crater at Pompeii, or taking the stage in the Rocky Mountains as ...

Janelle Monáe: The Institute, Birmingham

Live Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 9 May 2014

"JANELLE! MON-ÁE!" yells the Birmingham crowd as the singer is pushed on in a wheelchair, wearing a straitjacket. She leaps up, throwing off the garment ...

Mansun: Brighton Beach, Leeds

Live Review by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 12 March 1997

ONCE UPON a time, modernists (ha!) fought running battles with rockers along the seafront at Brighton; now their descendants congregate at Brighton Beach in, um, ...

Hype and glory: How to Create a Buzz

Report by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 20 June 2006

As Alan McGee books a made-up band, Dave Simpson looks at the science of creating a buzz. ...

Morrissey: Heaven knows he's miserable now...

Report and Interview by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 17 July 1998

He lives with his mum, he's been dumped by his label and he's going to court. Finally, Morrissey really has something to be fed up ...

Secret Knowledge: Kris Needs: I Snogged Debbie Harry

Profile and Interview by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 3 August 1999

If you can't be a rock star, you can always get your kicks by hanging out with them. Kris Needs tells Dave Simpson how it's ...

Fall, The: "Excuse me, weren't you in the Fall?"

Retrospective and Interview by Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 5 January 2006

Mark E. Smith's band is legendary for its ever-changing line-up. Dave Simpson made it his quest to track down everyone who has ever been a ...