Looking for local gigs to go to during November? Here are our top picks for the month, listing a number of great gigs to check out – at a range of prices, venues, and styles.
Who? Traams
Where? The Joiners, Southampton
When? Wednesday 2nd November
Why? They formed in 2011, after meeting at a club night started by vocalist and guitarist Stu Hopkins’ reaction to their city’s nightlife – the only options for a night out were ‘boring clubs and bars which only played boring music, ‘there was no incentive to be at these places other than to drink. We wanted to put on something where we could play the records we likes really loud and have fun’. They went down a treat at Talinn Music Week in Estonia, and are an incredibly exciting band, especially live. Tickets are available here.
Who? Jimmy Eat World
Where? O2 Guildhall, Southampton
When? Friday 4th November
Why? American rock band Jimmy Eat World have been playing since the mid-90s, evolving from punk/punk pop to alt and indie rock. In 1999, the single ‘Lucky Denver Mint’ from their album Clarity was on the soundtrack of the romcom Never Been Kissed, shooting them to mainstream popularity. Their album Bleed American got them known worldwide, with ‘The Middle’ making it to number five on the Billboard Hot 100. They’ve got eight studio albums in total and any band who list Mr. T Experience as an influence are bound to be incredible. Tickets here!
Who? The Courteeners
Where? O2 Guildhall, Southampton
When? Friday 11th November
Why? They’re the band who should be more well-known than they are – “We’re not big, or famous but we’re connecting with just enough people for it to matter.” Their fanbase is small but loyal and passionate. They don’t get played on Radio 1, they’ve never been on Jools Holland – but they’re a delightful northern indie rock band coming to Southampton in mid-November.
Who? The Specials
Where? O2 Guildhall
When? Monday 7th November
Why? You might still be thinking ‘who?’, but you’ll definitely have heard their songs. ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘A Message To You Rudy’ are classic ska hits and if you haven’t heard them before then I would advise getting in touch for a musical education. Formed in the late seventies in Coventry, they’ve had more members than Southampton has clubs. They’re punk, they’re ska, they’re political – they’re worth going to see even if you see nobody else this month.
Who? JPNSGRLS
Where? The Joiners, Southampton
When? Thursday 17th November
Why? They’re indie rock but not in a boring way. Canadian band JPNSGRLS, pronounced ‘Japanese Girls’, reached huge success following their 2014 LP Circulation. They have performed at The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City and CMJ just to name a few major events and festivals, and have toured both Canada and internationally. Their second album, Divorce, was released in July and has had positive and strong reviews, with maturity and progression noted amongst reviewers. One of the producers of the album was David Schiffman, who’s worked with Rage Against the Machine, Biffy Clyro and Red Hot Chili Peppers. These guys WILL be the next big thing in indie rock, as long as they keep doing what they’re doing with their unorthodox love songs and continue to keep away from predictable clichés. Tickets are available here.
Who? The Front Bottoms
Where? The 1865
When? Tuesday 29th November
Why? Indie rock pop punk babes with trumpets The Front Bottoms are back in Southampton (three times in two years?! They’re spoiling us). They formed in August 2007 and spent the next few years touring New Jersey, releasing a handmade five-song tape, featuring three songs which ended up on their self-titled album – ‘Father’, ‘Swimming Pool’ and ‘The Beers’. They signed with Bar/None Records, released two studio albums and the first in the ‘Grandma’ series of EPs, Rose (some early, independent, rerecorded releases). In June 2015, they were signed to Fueled By Ramen. Their third studio album, Back On Top, was released in September 2015 and they’ve recently released some demos for that album on YouTube. They’re fantastic live – you can trust me, I’m live editor. Tickets here!
