This is a big week for fans of early-’00s Scottish cult band Life Without Buildings. Sleaford Mods’ new album The Demise of Planet X includes song “No Touch” which features LWB singer Sue Tompkins, which is one of the few things shes done since the band broke up in 2002. Now Life Without Buildings have announced their first show in 24 years.
It happens at London’s KOKO on November 20 is part of independent record store chain Rough Trade’s 50th anniversary celebration this year. They’re calling it an “exclusive reformation show” and tickets go on sale Friday, January 16 at 10 AM UK time.
Life Without Buildings were only together for a couple years, long enough to release their debut album, Any Other City, in 2001, and break up soon after. The band had a very unique sound, with singer Sue Tompkins’ stream-of-conscious sprechgesang poetry flowing overtop atmospheric, mathy post-punk. The record has gained a cult following over the years, but was shoved into the spotlight back in 2021 when the band’s debut single, “The Leanover,” became an unlikely viral TikTok hit, with hundreds of thousands of videos using the song. Listen to the album below.
Let’s hope this leads to more shows as, at least according to Setlist.fm, they only played a dozen shows during their original run.
Last year, Life Without Buildings’ rarity “Love Trinity,” was reissued on 7″.
