One of the things about being allowed to air your opinions publicly, is that you have to take any honest and open criticism that comes your way as well.

So when I was contacted, on-line from someone using text speak, false avatar and made up name, I felt duty bound to respond to their criticism.

The accusation levelled was that they felt that the often jocular nature of my weekly musings was actually undermining the scene I was supposed to be championing, even that I was belittling the musicians themselves.

Right. I do occasionally have a little dig at some of the local talent (and Rich Millin) but am respectful enough, I believe, to only fire off salvos at people I know well enough.

That way at best, they will laugh with me, at worst, just be glad they got their name in the papers; musicians are shallow beasts.

Mind you, have you met some of these people? Serious is often not an option.

Then the absurdity of it struck me, someone who, as far as I am aware, has never met me, was getting outraged on behalf of people who have never complained about the situation.

So thank you to “outraged of internet land” for at least reminding my why I don’t buy The Daily Mail. Ridiculous.

I will now lay out this week’s recommended musical morsels without any hint of humour or irony, I will then reconcile the Russians and the Chinese, single-handedly build a box girder bridge and form my own cover band.

If proof were needed that Good Things Happen in Bad Towns, then get up to the Victoria tonight to catch the band of the same name, sandwiched on the bill between that brilliant country pop, pirate- fixated eight-legged party machine, The Shudders and Oxford’s funky punks The Black Hats.

If you prefer something a bit more by way of ska-punk and haven’t been to enough album launches this month, check out Slagerij at the 12 Bar. Staring At The Sun and the, seemingly ubiquitous, Disco Pirates make this an eclectic line up of bands.

Tempting as all that is, if you have never seen a folk-punk-skiffle-cabaret band, then you need to restrain from the aforementioned delights and get your dancing trousers on and head for the Beehive for the quite stunning Inflatable Buddha.

Friday shapes up nicely in the form of two brilliant gigs. Imagine if Stevie Wonder was white, from Wiltshire and grew up on rock music. Hard to picture? Well, if you catch the Jon Trowbridge Band at the Victoria tonight then you will know just what I mean. Brilliant support comes in the form of the Frank Turner endorsed country pop vibes of The Dawn Chorus and the infectious soul pop groove of Stopgosixty.

Adding to the dilemma of where to party in the pre-club hours, Mortdelamer bring some highly original heavy progressive rock to the Rolleston. Someone needs to invent cloning for nights such as these.

If anyone is after blackmail material, Saturday night is the chance you have been waiting for. There is a good chance I will be watching a tribute band – and after all the disparaging remarks I make about the subject. In my defence, the band in question are Volkerstein, a tribute to Rammstein and also my new favourite band Eye For An Eye are looking after support slot duties. Be at the Victoria for good music and hush money.

That said, I equally would like to get down to the 12 Bar for a band that sounds like a full on rave, Old School Tie. If high octane dance beats and heavy slabs of bass, anthemic vocal deliveries and euphoric tunes from one of the hardest working live acts ticks a few boxes, you know where to be.

Over at the “award-winning” Riffs Bar (the novelty will wear off soon) Lord Bishop Rocks struts into town to blast out his voodoo sex rock and roll sound and to judge the Battle of The Bands final taking place there.

Final brief mentions also for The Immediate Sect at the Beehive on Sunday and The Creatures of Love at The Victoria on Tuesday, both well worth checking out.

There, not a drop of sarcasm in sight. Yeah, right!