Concert pitch – the best live music in Hackney for October’s gig-goers

Luxurious: Shabazz Palaces hit Oval Space in November. Photograph: Victoria Kovios

Luxurious: Shabazz Palaces hit Oval Space in November. Photograph: Victoria Kovios

19 October: Spindrift @ Shacklewell Arms
71 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB

Cowboys from hell Spindrift reconfigure the Western sound of shootin’ and drinkin’ (with a side order of hollerin’) into their own acid rock template, recalling a band that you might dream up in the desert, high on peyote. Somehow, their seven-strong line-up are going to squeeze onto the Shacklewell Arms’ ungenerously sized stage – it’s well worth saddling up for the trip to Dalston. Another bonus: the support slot’s filled with the brilliant pastoral psych of MASS DATURA.

shacklewellarms.com

22 October: Shit and Shine @ Cafe Oto
The Print House, 18-22 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL

Sweary band names are often matched to sweary song and album titles, as I’m sure Kunt and the Gang would agree. Texan Craig Clouse’s project Shit and Shine have a selection of classic song and album names, including Toilet Door Tits, ‘Ass’, and the immortal Find Out What Happens When People Start Being Polite For A Fucking Change? Their music is just as powerful, but bolts its abrasion to a clanking mixture of electric and acoustic beats.

cafeoto.co.uk

24-25 October: Diet Cig @ MOTH Club
Old Trades Hall, Valette Street, E9 6NU

In the songs of Diet Cig, the singlecoil thrash of Japandroids and No Age meets sweet mid-90s synths and cooing vocals, creating a form of pop-punk that doesn’t need teen-boy misogyny or scatology to make an impression. They will play tracks from debut effort Swear I’m Good At This – this half-hour album and a solitary EP constitute their entire ouevre – you’ll have to be in it for a good time, not a long time.

mothclub.co.uk

Alessi's Ark. Photograph: Bella Union

Alessi’s Ark. Photograph: Bella Union

25 October: Alessi’s Ark @ Paper Dress Vintage
352a Mare Street, E8 1HR

West London’s Alessi Laurent-Marke may be a Mumford & Sons associate, a TV producer’s daughter, and supposedly named after the Italian design company – but don’t let that put you off! The Bella Union artist known better as Alessi’s Ark delivers winding chords and thoughtful lyrics; there’s a get-up-and-go drive to her sound that sets her apart from the nearest folk bedwetter.

paperdressvintage.co.uk

6 November: Shabazz Palaces @ Oval Space
29-32 The Oval, E2 9DT

Shabazz Palaces’ latest pair of albums Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines have been hypnotising us here in the Citizen office, so we had to throw this one in the guide despite it falling at the start of November. The duo of ex-Digable Planets rapper Ishmael “Ish” Butler and instrumental wiz Tendai “Baba” Maraire weave luxurious jazzy hip-hop from broken up, abstract sounds, and recreate it live effortlessly.

ovalspace.co.uk