Islington Academy
The newest Carling Academy is really the old revamped Marquee, but with decent bands playing there. Next to Angel's GAP store, it boasts one of the best PAs in town and holds about 800. Sister venue is that IA2.
Reviewed events
Ron Sexsmith at London Islington Academy, Thu 05 Dec
When did Ron release his first album? I think it sold O.K. Enough for Ron, anyway. A long while ago, it was all 'Elvis Costello's favourite songwriter' and Mojo articles, wasn't it? The Marquee. Not John Mayall or Led Zeppelin, or even Oasis. Islington. I hate it»
Eastern Lane at London Islington Academy, Thu 16 Jan
With the release of ‘Room on Fire’ re-affirming the place of muddy guitar dirges in 2004, you would have thought young, four-piece Eastern Lane would fit in very well, and you’d be right.»
Muse at London Islington Academy, Mon 22 Sep
Halfway through ‘Butterflies and Hurricanes’, the epic centrepiece of Muse’s third studio album, Absolution, it becomes clear that the Devon three-piece really have shaken off the shackles of genre and indeed comparison to any of their contemporaries. With fingers full of arpeggios and a throat full of d»
The Twilight Singers at London Islington Academy, Wed 28 Jan
You got two encores, two hours on stage and a frontman that does everything except bleed for the cause. This is rock at its realest, kids.»
The Rocks, The Barbs, The Needs at London Islington Academy, Wed 18 Feb
Three bands making a very good noise in unsuitable surroundings prove that overbearingly trendy venues can be overcome. The 'Evil Rocks!' tour hits the home stretch.»
Snow Patrol, Jet at London Islington Academy, Fri 27 Feb
So, the New Kings of Rock’n’Roll, what a novel concept for a Channel 4 series. But why are Snow Patrol here? And are Jet really a rock'n'roll band? So many questions and so little soberness...»
Ash at London Islington Academy, Wed 17 Mar
As the only remaining Britpop band of any interest or relevance, Ash, the undoubted Peter Pan of indie, remain on course for interstellar domination despite a few cringe-worthy moments.»
Jonathan Richman at London Islington Academy, Thu 15 Apr
Too weird for pop, too nice for punk, too smart for rock and too beautiful and beatific to be 'got' by the hurried and inattentive world (he doesn't even have a record deal in the UK). A round, round peg in a square, square world. A perennial outsider despite major label deals and Hollywood film roles. Yet despite dwindling record sales and despite never breaking out of cult status, a winner, not a loser in the struggle for creative and artistic freedom. In short, he is a mass of contradictions. Like all great performers. Like everyone.»
Radio 4 at London Islington Academy, Tue 17 Aug
Radio 4 seem to be listening to different frequencies, but we love them for it.»
The Dillinger Escape Plan at London Islington Academy, Thu 26 Aug
Someday, sooner than you might think, those that choose to oppress us will succeed. So God bless our knights of the realm, The Dillinger Escape Plan.»
Luxembourg at London Islington Academy, Tue 23 Nov
Luxembourg. A band of grace, wit and performance, with an all too real chance of making many more dejected punters part of their world.»
Mad Capsule Markets at London Islington Academy, Mon 06 Dec
There was a sign outside the venue instructing patrons not to crowd-surf. Either the owners were being optimistic or they had no idea who'd they'd booked. Mad Capsule Markets + No Crowd Surfing? Does not compute.»
Regina Spektor at London Islington Academy, Thu 12 May
Spektor’s gormlessly cute onstage persona and art-kook dress sense (punky black accessorised with clothes-pegs: clearly the new safety pins) shouldn’t distract from her formidable songwriting skills.»
Hot Snakes at London Islington Academy, Wed 01 Jun
Swami frontliners, Hot Snakes, come to town and blow the roof off the Islington Academy. Reviewer's idiot-like smile remains in place all night. Eardrums ache for days. Doesn't care. Any questions?»
Smog at London Islington Academy, Thu 09 Jun
At the front a sizeable hardcore make their affection for this man – Bill Callahan – entirely clear. Everywhere else, though, there is only the chatter of indifference and the lingering scent of a ligger too many.»
Young Knives, Fleeing New York at London Islington Academy, Thu 21 Jul
At times they’re rocking out like they’re the snarling Southern scamps who’d easily put their aural stamp on any field with a speaker stack and then go backstage to eye up Queens of the Stone Age’s rider. At other times, and there’s many of them, they’re simply making the boldest, most celestial, most life-affirming songs of any band to pick up guitars in the last few years.»
65daysofstatic, Komakino, Mohair, Misty's Big Adventure, Emmy the Great at London Islington Academy, Th
Others will tell you that 65daysofstatic’s time is now, but I disagree: their achievements to date are commendable and no mistake, but there’s another echelon or two to their sound yet to be revealed...»
Hondo Maclean, Bring Me The Horizon, Bleeding Through at London Islington Academy, Fri 20 Jan
This whole metalcore thing really has to be over some time soon. Right? Probably not. With the steady upsurge in emo mentality on the internet quite visible here in the hordes of teenage goons donning their studded belts and ridiculous haircuts this particular metalcore gathering could quite easily be a MySpace convention. It ain’t going anywhere.»
The Boxer Rebellion, Pure Reason Revolution, Lights at London Islington Academy, Wed 19 Apr
As I arrived, Lights took to the stage. I gather it was a stripped down affair - so much so that the drummer sat at the back doing nothing for most of the show. The performance was nothing special, and the singer did not have the talent to match hi»
Pretty Girls Make Graves at London Islington Academy, Thu 06 Jul
A hundred times better than the 100 Club.
“A thousand,” says my date for the evening.
Can you hold this? I need to dance...»
The Rapture at London Islington Academy, Tue 05 Sep
As one-paced as they come, for the most part it simply doesn't matter. All that matters is that there is a pace, and while every beat may skip along - beneath a flattering spray of disco hi-hat - at roughly the same speed I push my way to the bar tonight, it's how they use that stubborn, laconic beat that is vital...»
The Selector 5th Birthday at London Islington Academy, Wed 13 Sep
Guillemots are a freakish pop group, with a million elements that you could turn your nose up at. But have a little faith and they will astound you...»
Satyricon at London Islington Academy, Sat 16 Sep
Black metal! From Norway! ARGH! Run for your life, before they beat you down with an axehandle and eat your brains raw with a lovely redcurrant sauce and sweet potatoes on the side. Right? It’s time to lose all your pre/misconceptions. This is Satyricon...»
Minus The Bear, This Et Al at London Islington Academy, Wed 06 Dec
With citations of their influence on music press-bothering acts – I Was A Cub Scout being the most immediate to spring to mind – spreading, the time’s never been more perfect for Seattle’s Minus The Bear to rise to the challenge laid down by the enormous potential they’ve exhibited since their 2001 formation and finally crack the UK market...»
Kill All Hippies at London Islington Academy, Fri 12 Jan
It was beginning to look like a bit of a dire night - Talk Taxis (who I only caught the end of) seemed to have played to a mostly »
The Blood Brothers, Help She Can't Swim, DiS DJs at London Islington Academy, Mon 22 Jan
Right Now, they’re the one band that matters. Tomorrow they will be replaced by another, but Right Now, The Blood Brothers truly are on fire. Fire. Fire...»
Towers of London at London Islington Academy, Tue 20 Mar
a tiny venue packed to the brim with young, drainpipe clad punks alongside the older rockers, donning their spiked wristbands for »
Pelican, These Arms Are Snakes, An Emergency, DiS DJs at London Islington Academy, Thu 19 Apr
Support bands aren’t meant to be the main draw of an evening’s gig-going. It’s just not polite, delivering a set so electrifying that all synapses are frazzled long before the show’s headliner takes the stage. Clearly nobody went over such protocol with These Arms Are Snakes...»
Coheed and Cambria at London Islington Academy, Thu 27 Sep
Coheed And Cambria are perceived by some to be something of a guilty pleasure. It’s silly really. You get a band who actually enjoy playing music with silly fills and wanky prog moments and ridiculously massive hair and how bloody good they are is totally forgotten...»
Mos Def at London Islington Academy, Sun 25 Nov
It's night two of two for rapper turned actor and sometime rapper Mos Def in London, and DiS is down the front with a rather less-than-bouncing crowd. Too polite? Perhaps Brits just can't dance like the NYC lyricist would like»
Against Me! at London Islington Academy, Thu 17 Apr
Raspy, big-chorus guitar-rock with more hooks than a tackle box is Floridian punk rock outfit Against Me!'s business, and business is good. Forty-five minutes of memorable exploits, and they're off»
