Also I'm getting to a part in my life now at 40 where walking into a gig on my own is becoming a little uncomfortable due to not being anywhere near in my 20's.
I think probably Regina Spektor in July, at the Cambridge Corn Exchange - was very awesome. That was the end to what I called Awesome Music Week; I saw Frank Turner, James and Belle & Sebastian at Latitude Festival the weekend before, and then in the middle of Latitude and Regina, I saw Seth Lakeman and the Levellers at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Next one at the end of October is 3 Daft Monkeys at London Borderline, and then Frank Turner up in Oxford in December, wooo :)
(I am perhaps a folk junkie, can you tell?)
Now bracing myself for Einsturzende Neubauten at the Forum on 16 Oct.
Do comedians count?
I used to go to tons of gigs but this made me realise the last gig I went to was either Underworld at the Roundhouse in 2007
I was only there for Saturday, but what I saw of it made me want to be there all weekend - and next year, finances depending, I will be :)I think probably Regina Spektor in July, at the Cambridge Corn Exchange - was very awesome. That was the end to what I called Awesome Music Week; I saw Frank Turner, James and Belle & Sebastian at Latitude Festival the weekend before, and then in the middle of Latitude and Regina, I saw Seth Lakeman and the Levellers at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Next one at the end of October is 3 Daft Monkeys at London Borderline, and then Frank Turner up in Oxford in December, wooo :)
(I am perhaps a folk junkie, can you tell?)
How was Latitude? I was looking at a festival for next year, and I'd prefer a smaller, friendlier atmosphere than fancy Glastonbury or Leeds/Reading or any of the mega-festivals My two top choices (End of the Road and Green Man) both clash with other stuff, sadly, so Latitude has appeared on the radar - it's also less distance to travel from here in the boonies.
I was only there for Saturday, but what I saw of it made me want to be there all weekend - and next year, finances depending, I will be :)I think probably Regina Spektor in July, at the Cambridge Corn Exchange - was very awesome. That was the end to what I called Awesome Music Week; I saw Frank Turner, James and Belle & Sebastian at Latitude Festival the weekend before, and then in the middle of Latitude and Regina, I saw Seth Lakeman and the Levellers at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Next one at the end of October is 3 Daft Monkeys at London Borderline, and then Frank Turner up in Oxford in December, wooo :)
(I am perhaps a folk junkie, can you tell?)
How was Latitude? I was looking at a festival for next year, and I'd prefer a smaller, friendlier atmosphere than fancy Glastonbury or Leeds/Reading or any of the mega-festivals My two top choices (End of the Road and Green Man) both clash with other stuff, sadly, so Latitude has appeared on the radar - it's also less distance to travel from here in the boonies.
Do comedians count?
I used to go to tons of gigs but this made me realise the last gig I went to was either Underworld at the Roundhouse in 2007
I was there too. I have flac files of the gig if you are interested ( I owe you a favour)
Complete with the high-pitch feedback squeal that nearly blew Karls ears out?
I can't remember which night I went, but it was a good gig. Quite civilised compared to their gigs in the late 90's.
Their new album isn't that good tho
The new album is rubbish. The half-baked experimental stuff the release on their website is better and more interesting than this dance pap. All their albums have been patchy affairs since Second Toughest.. but this is particularly weak.
Half Man Half Biscuit in Bilston.
It was an "I was there" type of gig, as Dean Friedman came on stage and did a song as a riposte to The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman - followed, of course, by said song. Amazing!
They don't gig often, but it's worth a trip to see them.
Joey and the Deacons (http://www.myspace.com/joeythedeacons)That's just wrong.
I saw them in Leamington - 3 miles away - in January, and did an overnighter in Cambridge in late March, so I've got 3 gigs under me belt this year. The ones later in the year are a bit trickier to get to seeing as they're all oop north...
I saw them in Leamington - 3 miles away - in January, and did an overnighter in Cambridge in late March, so I've got 3 gigs under me belt this year. The ones later in the year are a bit trickier to get to seeing as they're all oop north...
That's why I was so pleased to see a Durham gig added - much less far to travel, and I might even be able to catch the last train, if Nigel wants to scarper for a quick cuppa before bed.
I saw them in Leamington - 3 miles away - in January, and did an overnighter in Cambridge in late March, so I've got 3 gigs under me belt this year. The ones later in the year are a bit trickier to get to seeing as they're all oop north...
That's why I was so pleased to see a Durham gig added - much less far to travel, and I might even be able to catch the last train, if Nigel wants to scarper for a quick cuppa before bed.
Just hope that nb57 has recovered from his laryngitis by then - last night's gig in Preston was cancelled.
I saw them in Leamington - 3 miles away - in January, and did an overnighter in Cambridge in late March, so I've got 3 gigs under me belt this year. The ones later in the year are a bit trickier to get to seeing as they're all oop north...
That's why I was so pleased to see a Durham gig added - much less far to travel, and I might even be able to catch the last train, if Nigel wants to scarper for a quick cuppa before bed.
Just hope that nb57 has recovered from his laryngitis by then - last night's gig in Preston was cancelled.
He's got until 25th November - hopefully long enough!
Last gig I can recall going to was Snake Davis & The Charmers at York Arts Centre in 1993 (a couple of years after leaving working there).
James last night in Manchester, Tim Booth is absolute class & they played my favourite James tune, Just like Fred Astaire :)
Probably Joe Brown & the Bruvvers, supported by Susan Maughan but could have included Billy Fury as well.
Jeffrey Lewis and Peter Stampfel, The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe
Runrig at the Barrowlands on Sat night. For those south of the Border who may not have heard of either, Runrig is Scotland's coolest band and the Barrowlands is Scotland's coolest venue. ;)
Jeffrey Lewis and Peter Stampfel, The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe
I so nearly went to that! It's my favourite restaurant, and Crusty was going to take me as a birthday treat, but I over-exfoliated my face on the road and decided against.
Oh, well, at least I know what I missed. I've been very tempted by some of the gigs there but never get round to it.
...Levelling the Land ...20 years old :o
The Edge seems to have gone straight to the gig from redecorating his lounge :D.
Monsters of Rock 1982 at Castle Donnington
Status Quo
Gillan
Saxon
Hawkwind
Uriah Heep
Anvil
My memories of the event get mixed up with "This is Spinal Tap" but my overriding memory is of trying to find my mate's Mini, parked in one of the many surrounding fields, at night, amongst about 2000 other Minis when the gig was over.
John Grant Exeter Phoenix, last night.
Very good, if different from most of what I've seem before.
Strongly recommend the Queen of Denmark album.
Monsters of Rock 1982 at Castle Donnington
Status Quo
Gillan
Saxon
Hawkwind
Uriah Heep
Anvil
My memories of the event get mixed up with "This is Spinal Tap" but my overriding memory is of trying to find my mate's Mini, parked in one of the many surrounding fields, at night, amongst about 2000 other Minis when the gig was over.
I was at that one! I don't think that was the year that my idiot mate Iain "The Duck" Smith failed to switch off the lights on his Mini and flattened the battery though. Four people trying to sleep in a Mini is a Bad Thing, especially when one of them earlier fell over, hurt her knee and won't stop whimpering :(
Elbow in Cardiff. Excellent uplifting gig. They made a large venue feel incredibly intimate. Guy needs to loose some weight I feel. Adrian Jones will probably never be quite the same again.
Elbow in Cardiff. Excellent uplifting gig. They made a large venue feel incredibly intimate. Guy needs to loose some weight I feel. Adrian Jones will probably never be quite the same again.
Just as good at the O2 on Monday night. The between song banter is always entertaining.
Monsters of Rock 1982 at Castle Donnington
Status Quo
Gillan
Saxon
Hawkwind
Uriah Heep
Anvil
My memories of the event get mixed up with "This is Spinal Tap" but my overriding memory is of trying to find my mate's Mini, parked in one of the many surrounding fields, at night, amongst about 2000 other Minis when the gig was over.
I was at that one! I don't think that was the year that my idiot mate Iain "The Duck" Smith failed to switch off the lights on his Mini and flattened the battery though. Four people trying to sleep in a Mini is a Bad Thing, especially when one of them earlier fell over, hurt her knee and won't stop whimpering :(
My favourite moment was when Tommy Vance appealed to the "good nature of the rock audience" to stop them throwing plastic cider bottles full of pee at some of the lesser bands.
Five seconds later the sky went dark with plastic cider bottles full of pee aimed at Tommy Vance.
The sound of his turntables under the barrage was a forerunner of the Hip-Hop scratching sound to follow just a few years later, ironically a sound that would consign these bands to history.
I went to the one in (I think) '96 when Skid Row came on and were so dire that the "Flight of the Piss Bottles" started earlier than normal. At the end of the song, urine still flying everywhere Sebastian Bach says "This is cool, I'm not sure what it means but it is so cool" What it means, sunny Jim, is that you are shit.
ETA: It was '95, not '96
I went to the one in (I think) '96 when Skid Row came on and were so dire that the "Flight of the Piss Bottles" started earlier than normal. At the end of the song, urine still flying everywhere Sebastian Bach says "This is cool, I'm not sure what it means but it is so cool" What it means, sunny Jim, is that you are shit.
ETA: It was '95, not '96
I was there too. Don't remember that, but then I'd rather not remember Skid Row! :)
I went to the one in (I think) '96 when Skid Row came on and were so dire that the "Flight of the Piss Bottles" started earlier than normal. At the end of the song, urine still flying everywhere Sebastian Bach says "This is cool, I'm not sure what it means but it is so cool" What it means, sunny Jim, is that you are shit.
ETA: It was '95, not '96
I was there too. Don't remember that, but then I'd rather not remember Skid Row! :)
Really? I remember the rain had just stopped, SB ran on stage from the left and nearly exited right when he slipped on puddled water.
They did about 3 songs then the bottles started. TBF I think the majority of people that were there only wanted to see them do their one "hit" (18 and life)and were pissed off that they were doing loads of other crap before playing it....
Alabama 3, Newcastle. A long time ago, a bit too loud. A very diverse audience, some of them may well have been nice people.
BB King at Manchester Apollo last night.
Absolutely fantastic. The man is a true legend.
And none of the shirt selection from Glastonbury either, the whole band were dressed in dinner jackets and black tie.
BB King at Manchester Apollo last night.
Absolutely fantastic. The man is a true legend.
And none of the shirt selection from Glastonbury either, the whole band were dressed in dinner jackets and black tie.
I have mentioned before that, of all the greats I worked with, it is only BB King who I asked for an autograph. He seemed so frail then (though not especially old, but having had an intense life) that I couldn't believe he would ever be able to tour again.
That was c.1985. And here he is, still on the road, and still making mesmerising music, in his late eighties.
Kings Of Leon last Sunday at Murrayfield.
They weren't very exciting, the sound wasn't that great, we could see sod all and we were surrounded by completely pissed up yoof who'd been drinking since 1.30pm.
We left early and went to the pub instead.
We are officially too old for stadium rawk. :-[
Seemed to be in the same vein as Henry Rollins, but maybe with a bit less angst.
I got taken to see this lot...
by LindaG and Crusty, at The Cluny 2. Which meant that I got to spot the Transporter bridge silhouette on the way there, and got to walk over the millenium bridge and admire the rest of the bridges at night (twice). And the band were absolutely fabulous too.
Top stuff.
Nicknack, I love Lonnie Donegan, too and will be doing several of his songs in the pub tonight. Do you like Joe Brown? He does a really good show and is on tour at the moment. I'm hoping to catch him in Halifax in March.
We're a London based lively folk / bluegrass band, with dollops of doom based country, fiddles, mandolins, nasty songs of death, poor parenting skills, cuckoos and electric geese
The Green Rock River Band, in a dingy railway arch in Horley.Quote
We're a London based lively folk / bluegrass band, with dollops of doom based country, fiddles, mandolins, nasty songs of death, poor parenting skills, cuckoos and electric geese
What's not to like? And I danced with someone I was at school with. Last time I danced with her it was in Country Dancing lessons back in 1971.
Rammstein, at the London O2 last friday. The sound was actually quite decent (for a change), I had a reasonable view of the stage in floor standing, and was about 10 ft from the riser platform nearer the centre of the floor where the band made their entrance, and later returned to for one song and some crowd-wetting..
Mancs are never happy in Yorkshire, innit.
Lacuna Coil, supported by This Is She, at Koko in Mornington Crescent.
Absolutely amazing performances from both bands. Lacuna Coil were playing the final UK gig of their 15 year anniversary tour and were mindblowingly good.
Also, credit to the sound crew, who were either too new to the business to have lost their hearing, or very dedicated, very skilled or very lucky. Or some combination of all of those. Lacuna Coil have what must be a difficult sound to set up which combines very, very deep bass, two highly distorted guitars, an operatic-style female singer and a metal-screaming male singer.
Lacuna Coil, supported by This Is She, at Koko in Mornington Crescent.
Absolutely amazing performances from both bands. Lacuna Coil were playing the final UK gig of their 15 year anniversary tour and were mindblowingly good.
Also, credit to the sound crew, who were either too new to the business to have lost their hearing, or very dedicated, very skilled or very lucky. Or some combination of all of those. Lacuna Coil have what must be a difficult sound to set up which combines very, very deep bass, two highly distorted guitars, an operatic-style female singer and a metal-screaming male singer.
If it was Art, he has very good hearing, work with him a lot :) Very skilled and dedicated :) Sometimes likes things a bit too loud though. I reckon he forgets that sometimes he has fucking good ear plugs in with a bit too much attenuation lol.
On a side note I may end up being in house engineer for kokoLacuna Coil, supported by This Is She, at Koko in Mornington Crescent.
Absolutely amazing performances from both bands. Lacuna Coil were playing the final UK gig of their 15 year anniversary tour and were mindblowingly good.
Also, credit to the sound crew, who were either too new to the business to have lost their hearing, or very dedicated, very skilled or very lucky. Or some combination of all of those. Lacuna Coil have what must be a difficult sound to set up which combines very, very deep bass, two highly distorted guitars, an operatic-style female singer and a metal-screaming male singer.
If it was Art, he has very good hearing, work with him a lot :) Very skilled and dedicated :) Sometimes likes things a bit too loud though. I reckon he forgets that sometimes he has fucking good ear plugs in with a bit too much attenuation lol.
Ah, well in that case, please pass on my commendations for setting up the best sound I have heard at a gig in so long that I couldn't actually tell you when I last heard something so well done.
I was wearing EA20s which, now that I read that lubricating them for insertion reduces their effectiveness, are brilliant earplugs.
Any prizes for guessing the colour?Depends...
Not many people there :o
;)
Rufus Wainwright, at York Barbican.
http://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/performance/19648.aspx
99% amazing. Should have trusted my instincts on the encore thobut. The set of treads from stage to auditorium had rung a loud warning bell for me when we first went in, and yes indeed the encore made use of them. Audience participation before December and without a Dame and an apparently dyspraxic equine/bovine on the stage should be illegal. I half wished they'd made it up to us in the balcony with their 'everyone has to stand up now' nonsense so I could tell 'em so, rather more succinctly and less politely. Finish the set 25 minutes before the published running order has told your audience you are going to, and then make them stand for 5 minutes before you let half the band grace the stage, then send on a bloke in a nappy and angel wings to summon the god of music, Rufus Apollo? See that shark mate? You just jumped it. Astonishing line up who didn't need any of that shite. Mind, even with a couple of dozen audience members and a giant foam sandwich and a quite astonishing pink glittery bikini all featuring on stage, the last three minutes sounded pretty gorgeous. If you shut your eyes.
*goes off to google/spotify various other members of the band/support acts*
Rufus can sing - there was a heartbreaking rendition of the Art Teacher with just him and a piano.Ho yuss.
There was a whole sons-of-famous-parents thing going on, cos as well as Rufus Wainwright, we had support from Teddy Thompson and Adam Cohen.Indeed - the people we were sitting next to (whose son is in the same class as the EldestCub - small world, York!) had only gone because of Teddy Thompson. Who I would have quite happily gone to listen to for a couple of hours!
I hadn't heard of Adam Cohen before, but given the rest of the line-up, I should probably have guessed that he was Leonard's lad. I did enjoy what we saw of his set, so I should check out his music.I hadn't either, but that's no surprise to anyone that knows how ignorant I am. He was indeed splendid. Krystle Warren's the one that has made it onto the breakfast playlist though. Her solo number and the version they did of his dad's song were two of the real highlights for me. Although the opening song was amazing too. And the one with piano. And, well, all of it really apart from the silly encore which was, admittedly, funny. Just not funny enough for how long it was.
Did Rufus do Sans Souci? I like Rufus but I suppose I'm always going to prefer his ancestors. "Go Leave" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle is a desert island song for me.
"Go Leave" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle is a desert island song for me.
"Go Leave" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle is a desert island song for me.
Oh dear. :'(
Bit smoky in here all of a sudden.
Last week - Weevil Zappa playing his dad's stuff!
"Go Leave" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle is a desert island song for me.
Oh dear. :'(
Bit smoky in here all of a sudden.
Now try their version of 'Heart like a wheel'
"Some say love,
Is just like a wheel,
If you bend it, you cannot mend it."
So appropriate for a cyclist
Did Rufus do Sans Souci? I like Rufus but I suppose I'm always going to prefer his ancestors. "Go Leave" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle is a desert island song for me.
However, he thinks I look like 'a Russian skull'. Does anyone have any idea what a Russian skull is?
Off to gig on my tod. However I may have found a partner in crime. The one with the birthday, if he can get over from harrogate in time!
Well, I might end up getting stood up for a 4th time, so wait and see!
4 for 4!
Meh. He missed the train. This place is tiny!
Omg. It's full of young ppl!
They have a pre-support act warm up act!
He's not bad. Particularly if he's the opener on a 4 act bill.
The compere just did a slot. A song entitled "Northern Rail Would Like To Apologise". Every bit as silly as it sounds. I think that the first guy (singing, guitar, stamping) may have been theoretically the first band and have experienced artistic differences from some of the asides :-D Littlemores are ok. But I went to the bar anyway.
They all look about 11!
Shocking lack of bassist gurning. Although the drummer is worth watching ;-)
Oh, compere chap is back. With bongo backing track. And random guitar chap was just a random extra so we are about to get the second support band. Apparently!
Yebbut we've had random bloke with guitar, then the compere doing a number called Northern Rail Would like To Apologise, then support act #1 and now support act#2 are setting up. For a fiver. Vfm anyway...
Buggrit. I skipped the compere's second slot to go to the bar and the second tallest man at the gig nicked my spot near the front as I was battling through all the cool kids blocking the stairs and the doorway. I may have a view of a shoulder when the next lot play.
Apologies. He was only the third tallest. Second tallest was sat in front of him. Note the was...
He moved! This lot look at least 18 anyway. The buccaneers. They're not bad actually!
Note to venue technical staff. Gaffer tape is.not an appropriate fixing method for stage lighting. When it falls on an audience member leaving it dangling by the power cord while you retrieve scissors and masking tape to effect a repair fails to inspire confidence.
Where is kim when you need her!
So buccaneers in a nutshell... drummer too pretty and he knows it, plenty of tortured effort faces or extreme chewing antics tho. Bassist facial hair shockingly tidy. Sounded quite good.
Uh oh. Compere again.... will he sing another?
Humour! That's better!
Cello!
They were ok!
There was a support act. They were all right, a pretty girl with a nice voice and a boy with woolly hair on drums and someone playing a guitar.
There was a support act. They were all right, a pretty girl with a nice voice and a boy with woolly hair on drums and someone playing a guitar.
I think I've worked with them.
Many times ::-)
In the late night moment of joy,
I just want to say... Wow.
In the early morning with a clear head,
I just want, to say, Wow...
Handsome Family. Brudenell Social Club, Leeds.
Muse at The Emirates.
Support was Bastille who were good and Dizee Rascal who should be renamed Talentless Twat.
Muse were their usual fab self.
Muse at The Emirates.
Support was Bastille who were good and Dizee Rascal who should be renamed Talentless Twat.
Muse were their usual fab self.
You are a prog fan aicmfp
Despite impressive facial hair he got possibly the best audience heckle of the night, from a lady sat at the table just in front of me, when he announced a song called 'When I was Young'... "What do you mean? You're about 10!"
Wave Pictures, @the Basement. Thesecondthird night of a three night residency.
Manchester International Liz Frazer
I have no doubt that a fuller review will appear in due course ...
Laura Cantrell, the Little Theatre in Gateshead. SmallestCub is quite jealous, but has forgiven me because I told him that she didn't sing his favourite - Big Wheel.
Absolutely adorable venue. Got knobbled by the promoter beforehand who was robbing smokes for the guitarist who, I learnt, doesn't like a certain square pizza with a particular cheese on. Support was someone-or-another Smith who I wanted to like but didn't really. Laura Cantrell was superb, as was the thieving guitarist. A handful of old favourites, a generous sprinkling of gems from her new album, and a few (apparently) well known covers. I realised once more the depths of my ignorance as I didn't have a clue about the covers or any of the famous people she told tales of (apart from her gossiping about Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric, which I knew about cos I went to see them play in a Gateshead pub) or her tales from the Grand Ole Opry or any of that stuff. I have no idea or insight into where she fits into the country hall of fame, I just know that every single note she sang sounded amazing and I could have listened to her for hours :)
Thursday night - first gig for a new band - Fleetwood Trax. As the name suggests, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Guitarist (acoustic) and 2 girl singers. Guitarist laid down bass/rythm & 'percussion' loops at the beginning of each song. A couple of nervous mistakes during the first 2 songs, but great once they gained confidence.
Saturday night - Dirty/DC. An AC/DC tribute act who have been playing the circuit for a few years, so they know what they're doing and were obviously enjoying themselves - as were the village hall full of aging rockers (a suprising number of them female). The band were LOUD...
...VERY, BLOODY LOUD! :thumbsup:
Hayseed Dixie last Friday in Cambridge.Great shots. Saw them in a rather smaller venue in Guildford Monday night (the aptly named Boileroom), again an excellent show.
As usual, they were brilliant - I think this is the seventh or eighth time I've seen them and this time, I managed to wedge myself up at the front with a camera.
Martin Simpson @ An Lanntair, Stornoway on Tuesday 12th
Martin Simpson @ An Lanntair, Stornoway on Tuesday 12th
That'll be THE Martin Simpson, with his guitar? Banjo as well? Is he still as good as ever?
Been there a few times - I seem to remember it has a sloping floor?
I'm really looking forward to next Tuesday - The Wonder Stuff, PWEI & Jesus Jones in the Edinburgh Picture House. Dinner in Yummi Tori just up the hill and then into the mosh pit for the first time in 20 years. I may even break out my vintage Tank Girl T-Shirt!
I'm really looking forward to next Tuesday - The Wonder Stuff, PWEI & Jesus Jones in the Edinburgh Picture House. Dinner in Yummi Tori just up the hill and then into the mosh pit for the first time in 20 years. I may even break out my vintage Tank Girl T-Shirt!I'd probably wear a Ned's T-shirt - just for the lulz ;)
Well, that's a first. Didn't bother staying to the end!
A gig that failed my newly invented 'elbow test'; historically the similarly subjective 'arse test' is one I deploy as a method of assessing theatre, dating from the time I studied theatre at Lancaster and saw a lot of shows in the rather uncomfortably-chaired Nuffield Theatre there. It more or less comprises of asking oneself "did I notice that these chairs are really uncomfortable or was the performance engrossing enough that I got through the (three hour interval-less modernist theatre meisterwerk) show without my arse complaining". I shall in future apply a similar test to gigs... do I like 'em enough to not care about the amount of being trodden on, walked through and, specifically, elbowed in the face. By this measure I can tell you that Otway, where I got my left tit groped, must be really quite good because I didn't care too much. Allo Darlin' in Islington just landed on the right side of the line despite lurchy-groping-couple-bouncing-into-me-specifically-the-wrong-elbow-a-lot. Patti Smith was worth "Waving Pink Gin Girl" - although admittedly in that case I didn't actually get hit on the head with the bottle, unlike Ruthie.
So... last night, the joy of Fibbers. We'd seen one section of the audience get kicked out of the pub round the corner 5 minutes earlier. It was full of happy bouncy people, most of whom were very tall. Fibbers gives the average shortarse three choices in these circumstances - at the front and very squished, at the back in the talky bar bit where you can't hear or see or somewhere in between, hoping to hear above the chatter and maybe see some of the time and we opted for the latter. I occasionally got a glimpse of some hair... A Very Enthusiastic Fan did offer me a lift onto his shoulders, which was kind, but I'm not that generous to the region's chiropractors and declined. Very many very tall people (seriously, they should have a special enclosure for 'em) including the tallest man at the gig - immediately in front of me, natch - who was obviously a handy waymarker for people navigating between friends and bar/bogs since everyone seemed to treat him as a kind of roundabout. He was also very, very elbow-y. And the elbows were nose height. There was a lot of dancing and bouncing and cheering and stomping, by an audience who were clearly listening to the prior knowledge of the music in their heads, unlike me. Bright side, we missed the Blueprints (I've done my 2013 quota of BPs gigs) and nearly all of the other support who didn't seem very good at all.
Electric 6 headlining, btw. Who I can't tell if I like or not because I could neither hear nor see 'em. The curse of Fibbers. Went back to the pub after track no 5 and had a jolly fine pint of Bad Kitty and a nice natter with the landord instead.
Anyhoo - last Wednesday was the Wave Pictures, once more at the Brudenell. Support was the same lot as supported 'em in York one time last year - Finnsummatoranother - but now with added drummer and keyboards. I spent most of their set worrying about the bassist wandering perilously close to the edge of the stage and wondering why they'd got the lass on keyboards because I didn't see the point. They ended with their best song which, like last time, was actually quite good. Then the rest of the band left the singer/guitar chap on his own and he sang some incomprehensible dirge that went on too long. Adequate.Finnmark, I believe it was.
Yowser. That were good!
Last week (I think) was Micah P Hinson, at the Brudenell. Support was summed up by That Deano as 'at least they aren't Snow Apple. I don't remember anything else about them other than I think there was a cello and a smoke machine. And they probably began with a b. Micah P was rather more memorable, with his omnipresent e-cig and a pint of milk on one end of the keyboard. It felt a bit precarious at times - most notably when his wife joined him for a couple of songs. Her voice seemed sweet enough but was lost beside the power of his. As for the drumming... it was a bit 'Freschard on lead guitar' really. Interzen will know what I mean. But I liked Mr Hinson, overall.
'Twas, indeed, a good night.
As mentioned, due to a cock up (by me) WRT the time of doors, I arrived in York $TOO_EARLY, so set about having a few pints (something I don't normally get to do as I am, normally, DES for concerts). A pint of Titanic Plum Porter in York Taps went down beutifully, the Kirkstall Smaked Black Boy Porter in the Maltings much less so, in fact I left the last quarter of that. On to the Lendal Cellars, which was mercifully quiet, for a couple of pints of Yorkshire Sparkle (not an alcoholic Gliterberry clone, but rather a very nice Blond Ale), and NO PHONE SIGNAL!!! All worked out in the end, though.
I thought Idol Dead were good, had a little bit of a "Bullet For My Valentine" thing going on, but I won't hold that against them. They had a great line in banter and were obviously really enjoying themselves.
As CL says, I am "A Bit Of A Fan" when it comes to Terrorvision, having followed them, on and off, for nearly 20 years now (might be longer, but certainly since "Formaldehyde" came out) and love Tony's stage style. Self deprecating, cracking jokes and generally having one hell of a party, which he wants you all to join in with. A few notable highlights of the evening, song wise:
"Party Over Here, F*** you over there" was complete with a member of the audience stood inbetween Tony and Milly.
"Tequila" was cut right back (as you might expect when all they had, instruments wise, was 2 guitars and a keyboard) and felt like it had when they first recorded it (and not that heretical remix)
The Laika Dog* song they did worked really well, too.
I would have loved to hear them do a couple of old songs, one which was a B-side (Hard To Feel) and one which is another Laika Dog song (Daddy What's Your Soul?)
*Laika Dog is Tony's side project, or one of them at least. In common with a lot of the smaller bands (and some larger bands) the members don't just commit to one band, they spread themselves about a bit!
| The Grey Earls | Their best set yet |
| The Lottery Winners | Rather Fun. Norty Northerners doing music and rude jokes |
| Kiki Dee & Carmeli | Earnestly dull |
| The Feeling | Didn't feel much at all. Especially during the elongated covers section |
| Suzanne Vega | As Kiki Dee but on a bigger stage |
| Sophie Ellis-Baxters Soup Dragon | Luckily only managed to see the last song |
| Jools Holland and Guests | Rather Good. Marc Almond was rather flat and sounded a bit dry. Mel C was stunning |
| Southside Johnny | So reliable and timeless it was brilliant |
| The Dualers | No thanks |
| Rusty Shackle | Mumford and Sons without their mum watching and with a drummer |
| Nina Nesbit | One to watch |
| Scouting for Girls | One trick rabble rousing wonders |
| Simple Minds | Clinically good |
| Gabby Young and other Animals | Quirky and not on the list of bands to see again |
| Kid Creole and the coconuts | He still wears his trousers high. You know why. |
| Sam Bailey | Screechily forgettable |
| 10cc | Simple but exceptional. A capella Donna stunning. |
| Hotei | How to not take yourself seriously and blow the crowd away, definitely a see again |
| The Grey Earls | Audience loved it, but the tension from difficulties with the monitors showed up those of us that know the band. |
| 9Bach | Interesting. Don't think I've every heard Welsh music before. Current ranking of traditional music: Scottish : Welsh : English. |
| Bernie Krause | Fascinating talk on how music may have developed from sounds in the natural world. Also how sound recording can be used to show how man's works on the planet affects animal life. |
| Debademba | High energy African 'rock' music |
| Magic Drum Orchestra | An orchestra made up of lots of drummers. Magic. |
| Richard Thompson | Earnestly dull. Only lasted a track and a half before retiring to the bar. |
| Swing Zazou | Sort of French tinged 30's flapper band with a bloke who seemed to be meant to be Eno, but didn't have the hair or the talent. When I remarked that we'd heard the 6th track already once there was general agreement. After a couple of pints it was bed time. |
| Siyaya | Didn't grab me |
| Snarky Puppy | Started 15 mins late, so played a truncated set. They were struggling with the monitors. Fantastic musicians, playing together extraordinarily well, but with music that doesn't hit with me. Their last European set, but I'm sure they'll be back. |
| Trombone Shorty | The standout set. Musicianship and showmanship tangled together in a high energy embrace. Filled the house, then brought it down. A thoroughly charming man too. |
Not seen yet but in the offing for this year-
Rewind at Henley (the Sunday line up).
Royal Festival Hall - Underworld Dubnobasswithmyheadman 20th anniversary concert.Missed out on that one. But I've got a ticket for Hammersmith in March :)
Bunch of 40 and 50 year olds, giving it everything and pretending we were all 21 again.
Danny Boyle (he who made Underworld a million selling act) was in the row behind us dancing and singing along like a loon.
Fantastic night - nothing beyond the mid 90s in the set. Still an incredible live act. Karl is still sensational up front (and he is 57!).
Lost power to their racks at one point, they dealt with it just fine.
Amazing and certainly took me back to my very misspent youth.
Otway and Willy Willy Barrett at the Basement in York on Tuesday.
It was excellent, again, though Otway was a fair bit more restrained than even recent shows. And we were blessed to be in the presence of the World's Happiest Man, just to our right, who laughed at everything and was having Officially the Best Time Ever ;D
Just for a change I saw Half Man Half Biscuit at the Robin2 in Bilston. Urge for Offal, their new album was on sale. Irritatingly I've pre-ordered it, so will have to wait. Despite other people's good reviews, I thought it was rather subdued, but then I do enjoy a good mosh and it never really got going. Saw lots of familiar faces and met some new people too. Roll on Leicester in a fortnight.
They're back at The Ritz in Manchester next month. G'wan, g'wan, g'wan...Just for a change I saw Half Man Half Biscuit at the Robin2 in Bilston.Saw Half Man Half Biscuit at Manchester Uni in 1988 .. brilliant
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook on their The At Odds Couple tour last night at The Hexagon, Reading.
I loved Squeeze back in the day and they played all the staples (Tempted, Pulling Mussels, Black Coffee in Bed, Labeled with Love etc).
Their playing is still crisp and enjoyable and the voices remain as good as ever.
A good night out.
Rory McLeod at the Rose & Crown in ve 'stow. He was this: excellent. Unfortunately the venue doubles as a folk club, thus ensuring a ready supply of "support" acts who were not excellent. Mostly I was reminded of what Tom Lehrer had to say on the subject. And we each paid a tenner >:(
cat expresses how we felt at the floor show at the Rory McLeod gig
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7506/15795026746_902afaa649_o.jpg)
John Mayall is immortal. I shall be very sad if I am ever proved wrong about this.
Great place for an album cover.....
Robyn Hitchcock at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland, a couple of weeks ago.
(http://i.imgur.com/RXf5XoM.jpg)
They spelled his name "Robert" on the announcement in the restaurant next door. :-\
Finally heard a set by The Lungs (thought of Kim)
One of whom is otp, of course. :D
Dean, I'm shocked.(click to show/hide)
I think Deano collects tame hipsters at gigs, as if they are guided to him by some mystic force - all the way from Carlisle, if need be. There was one who kept turning up like a stripey-shirted and beard-be-wisped bad (although actually perfectly pleasant) penny.
... supported by Vintage Trouble, a good old style Soul band all the way from the US of A. They were good, ...
Just got back fro,m seeing Paloma Faith, supported by Vintage Trouble, a good old style Soul band all the way from the US of A. They were good, Paloma even better (TLD was in awe as PF is her favourite singer, ever!). The event hit a high note, literally and figuratively, with the closing song, that being a BELTING cover of "River Deep, Mountain High"
Just back in from Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Two hours of teh Aces. My feet hurt.
Just in from seeing Rory McLeod at the Green Note in Camden, where the stage is about the same size as my bathroom and about three inches above nominal ground level. Fortunately we were able to perch on stools some five feet from Mr McLeod and thus had an unparalleled view of his left armpit. To call him a folkie or even a singer/songwriter would be to do him a disservice as he spends at least a third of the average gig telling stories and generally making the audience cry with laughter. Ably backed up in the second half by Bob on clarinet and saxophone and Diego on harp. Top stuff.
Just in from seeing Rory McLeod at the Green Note in Camden, where the stage is about the same size as my bathroom and about three inches above nominal ground level. Fortunately we were able to perch on stools some five feet from Mr McLeod and thus had an unparalleled view of his left armpit. To call him a folkie or even a singer/songwriter would be to do him a disservice as he spends at least a third of the average gig telling stories and generally making the audience cry with laughter. Ably backed up in the second half by Bob on clarinet and saxophone and Diego on harp. Top stuff.
Bill Laurance Project @ The Lantern (formerly Colston 2) in Brisl last night. Really astonishing.I expect jaded could explain exactly how much hair is needed just to put on this gig.
Here's (https://youtu.be/W1bX9_RG9Mk) a bit of the awesomeness that was on show last night.
Mothership, Snarky Puppy, are touring UK early October. Get your tickets NOW. jaded doesn't have to bother, he's connected.
Ted Nugent? He's not loud; not for the size of hall he plays in. Plus he's a cunt. He wears earplugs. What's the point of having all that volume if you can't hear it?
Quote from: LemmyTed Nugent? He's not loud; not for the size of hall he plays in. Plus he's a cunt. He wears earplugs. What's the point of having all that volume if you can't hear it?
A very pregnant Amanda Palmer in Leeds. She is very, very funny live. I can take or leave the uke songs but she's amazing on piano.
Having expected to miss all their dates on the current tours, an unexpected last minute-ish plan formed to catch The Burning Hell at Arden Road Social Club on Friday and The Wave Pictures at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge on Saturday.
Silly trains, 1:30am kebab shops in Leeds city centre, spectacularly vomiting drunks on the last TPE out ofdodgeLeeds and getting home after 3am and the Halifax trip was absolutely worth it. Friendly welcome from the promoter on the door - they were relatively impressed with Dean travelling from Darlo for the evening, but he was trumped by the guy who'd come from Brighton. Nice enough venue although, as Deano commented, it was more set up for a bingo night than a gig. And at the top of a bloody big hill. They seem to get some decent acts in though, so I'll probably keep an eye on it...
First support was a solo slot by the BH's bassist, Nick Ferrio who I quite liked but maybe didn't see at his best - I suspect it was a tough-ish space/audience for a bloke with a guitar and a turn for the whimsical. Good call from the venue to switch the glitter ball for this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHiix4p1mZ8
https://youtu.be/yHiix4p1mZ8
Next up was From the Woods, who were OK (although I couldn't make out a word and generally speaking the lyrics are Quite Important to me) and I wouldn't have minded listening to a song or three by them. Shame they seemed to do the same one on repeat, really. Shortening both support sets and getting the headliners on rather earlier would, I think, have improved the evening generally as well as meaning I could have been home by 1am not 3. But The Burning Hell were utterly splendid while working damn hard to get what felt like a very mixed (and very talk-y) crowd on side and on their feet, and did so most successfully - especially when they came back for an encore and threw in a new one, a quiet little duet by Mathias and Ariel telling the story of when they met. I don't think it had a title. Bloody good it was. Seen 'em three times in three spaces now and I think that might have been my favourite so far. Plus also they 'liked' my facebook comment.
A Saturday of dashing about meant a later-than-ideal train to Hebden Bridge, straight up a bloody cliff face (the innocuous sounding Birchcliffe Road) to find the hostel and drop off a bag then more or less straight back down the hill to town where we found Peter, or he found us, and we headed to the Trades Club. The running order on the wall made it clear that Peter would have a choice of seeing the main attraction or catching his train home and made me very glad that the scheduled bus replacement service out of Leeds after midnight meant that I was staying overnight and didn't have to make that decision. Turns out that the event was basically a promo for an upcoming local festival, and they'd booked three bands of differing flavours from the line up for that.
First up, Bird to Beast. Bloke with assorted stringed things and singing, woman with a voice and occasional keyboards. Oh, and a tambourine for one of them. I liked her best when she was playing something as the "expressive" hands were a touch off putting. "Accomplished" was the word that sprang to mind - I'd turn up to listen to them again, possibly even as headliners, although I wouldn't catch a train for them. Astonishingly good for the opening act in a three band line up, I started to wonder if we might be in for a real corker of a night. They were followed by something-with-Foxy-in-the-name, who were loud, numerous and easily young enough to be my kids. Seemed to be going down well with much of the audience but I was not unpleased when the assembled company suggested retiring to the other room where conversation was just about possible. Apparently this meant that we missed the punch up on the dance floor, which is always an added bonus.
Regretfully Peter stuck to his plan to catch the train to make a tram connection and get home and so missed the Wave Pictures who were, as on every occasion that I've seen them, jolly splendid indeed, and gave us a good hour and a quarter which meant I was very glad indeed to have that bed in the hostel as we were way beyond last train territory. I still think I really shouldn't like them all that much, with their guitar solos and the drum solos and the male vocalists which are none of 'em things that usually flick my bic. But I really like them anyway :D
I'm here before doors with 75p to my name!(It's been an expensive month)
And the black swan is packed, and roasting hot!
First support, Chris Laycock. Liked. Likable. With bonus added female vocalist who was lovely. Second lot, currently nameless. They can get tae fuck. Accomplished. Tedious AND pompous tho, and shamerican twang to boot. Same dirge on repeat. And started late. Want to know name tho. For avoidance.
Chris and Chris. That doesn't really help. Middle act syndrome strikes again!
A yacf bidon of tap water :-D(In reply to the query "What drinks can you get for 75p then?)
She was fab :-)(Ms Williams, that was. And she was, too!)
She did a generous set too. Apparently the mystery Chris was Chris Helme. I thought he was shite. So did two women from Scarborough that I talked to outside. Mercian+carradice chap enjoyed him tho.(Generous as in a handful of favourites then the entire new album then another favourite then hiding behind her own hands in a well-advertised pretence at leaving the 'stage' prior to a rousing Little Black Number then a cover for the encore)
All his listings have (seahorses) after his name. Also, he appears to be facebook friends with [insert names of two of my mates].
Suffice to say I thought the first Chris was much better :-DAnd that Kathryn Williams was simply splendid!
(Googles)(Is unconvinced)
- Not mods
- Not from Sleaford
- Described as "UKIP for angry liberals"1
1: By the Torygraph :o
Middle oaf went to see Judas Priest last night, supported by Michael Schenker, grumble grumble.
Though I have seen both Scorpions and UFO live, I have never seen Michael Schenker :(
And I've never seen Priest, either, which is surprising. :(
Limehouse Lizzy again tonight at one of the smallest venues they play - The Grapes at Bury St Edmunds - a small-town pub. :thumbsup:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/wobblyjohn/Limehouse%20Lizzy%202015_zpsa6f1dspc.jpg)
Might have them come and play at the Limehouse Town Hall soon :)
Might have them come and play at the Limehouse Town Hall soon :)
:thumbsup:
Sign upto their newsletter - they sometimes decide they can fit an extra gig in and put out a 'Anybody got a venue in the XXXX area we can play next week' appeal.
They Might be Giants. Fun, loud, high energy and pretty funny interactions with audience. Thye have a big back catalogue and were on stage over 2 hrs. We had to leave in 2nd encore, it was a school night. Recommended :thumbsup:
They Might be Giants. Fun, loud, high energy and pretty funny interactions with audience. Thye have a big back catalogue and were on stage over 2 hrs. We had to leave in 2nd encore, it was a school night. Recommended :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: I saw them in 1990, just after "Flood" came out. One of the best gigs I have ever been to!
Woo, we haz Explosions In The Sky ticquets for that Manchester :)
Woo, we haz Explosions In The Sky ticquets for that Manchester :)
Theyre playing in glasgow also. Barrowlands, I don't think its sold out. I got a ticket just the other day.
Ooooh me feet! Just in from a bangin' evening of blues-rock courtesy of Stevie Nimmo & Ben Poole. Stevie is the older brother of King King frontman Alan and hav a very interesting Stratocaster (right-handed body, left-handed neck, non-standard bridge pickup). Ben Poole is a small skinny square-faced youngster who can play guitar more than just a bit. Stevie was up first, then Ben, with the same bassist (Douglas Adams' little bother, from the look of him) and drummer, plus a different Stevie on keyboards. And all five for a cracking rendition of 'Goin' Down' as an encore. They're playing the Forum Music Centre in Darlingtontomorrowtonight if any of the Darlo Massive is at a loose end...
ETA: afterwards some clot asked me if I was Tom Araya, bassist/shouter with USAnian thrash metal bozos Slayer :o
Ooooh me feet! Just in from a bangin' evening of blues-rock courtesy of Stevie Nimmo & Ben Poole. Stevie is the older brother of King King frontman Alan and hav a very interesting Stratocaster (right-handed body, left-handed neck, non-standard bridge pickup). Ben Poole is a small skinny square-faced youngster who can play guitar more than just a bit. Stevie was up first, then Ben, with the same bassist (Douglas Adams' little bother, from the look of him) and drummer, plus a different Stevie on keyboards. And all five for a cracking rendition of 'Goin' Down' as an encore. They're playing the Forum Music Centre in Darlingtontomorrowtonight if any of the Darlo Massive is at a loose end...
Bugger, we could've made that.
QuoteETA: afterwards some clot asked me if I was Tom Araya, bassist/shouter with USAnian thrash metal bozos Slayer :o
And what was your answer?
Two-gig weekend - first up, the Wave Pictures at the Crescent in York, accompanied by CrinklyLion and CrinklyCub the Elder (I mean we went to the gig together, they weren't the support act). I think CCtE enjoyed his first club gig (the venue is a former working men's club in the middle of York), though it was a very late night for him.
I think CrinklyLion came down on the side of liking the support act, but I'm still broadly undecided.Although probably much too clever for me, she kind of won me over. Definitely not Snow Apple (http://www.snowapple.nl/), at least :D
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1594/25061529812_5773fda3ca_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/EbATFA)I don't particularly like male voices (strongly prefer the sound of women singing) and don't really 'get' instrumental stuff (not clever enough, see above...), and there was quite a lot of both. But this was unbelievably beautiful and for the second time, albeit for very different reasons, Yorkston nearly made me cry.
Go and see it if you can, it's nowhere near as worthy middle-class as I've probably made it sound. Apart from the support.
http://yorkstonthornekhan.com
Woo, we haz Explosions In The Sky ticquets for that Manchester :)
Puscifer at the Bridgewater Hall on 30th May (the May bank holiday). Hey Tiermat, if you want to go, I'll go halves on petrol?
WTAF is going on? No gigs forever and then everyone we like suddenly decides they're going to play Manchester in the same month - not on the same weekend we're down there unfortunately....
My parents are coming up to stay with us and babysitting - it'll be our first date night for 9 months!
Messrs Wilkinson & Watt-Roy (of the Canvey Island Watt-Roys) are jolly good. They may make it big one day.
Explosions In The Sky :thumbsup: Hurrah except for the arsehole mentioned in the RANT thread.
Explosions In The Sky :thumbsup:
Messrs Wilkinson & Watt-Roy (of the Canvey Island Watt-Roys) are jolly good. They may make it big one day.
They're playing Cornbury this year. I hope Wilko has some choice words for any members of The Lizard Alliance who might happen to turn up.
Explosions In The Sky :thumbsup: Hurrah except for the arsehole mentioned in the RANT thread.
an Adam and the Ants tribute act
Jeffrey Lewis. [...] Is this man a genius?
Jeffrey Lewis. [...] Is this man a genius?
Yes. Yes, he is.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/DSC_2547.jpg)
Mark Radcliffe's Galleon Blast
Our art is energy and our hope is unity
Low Anthem at the O2, Oxford.
Probably the most challenging gig I've been to. Moving from Eno/ Budd-esque ambient sounds to self indulgent thrash via some beautiful pastoral sounds it was varied to say the least!
If you're expecting the tranquil sounds of "Charlie Darwin" you'll be disappointed but they've evolved from there and it had some incredible moments. Still trying to work out whether I enjoyed it or not....
Black mountain tonight.
Currently at the Church in Leeds: The Membranes are supporting The Jesus and Mary Chain. What year am I in?Saw the Membranes supporting Therapy? last year, jolly good they were too. Had I not been sick, I'd have enjoyed them supporting Killing Joke in November.
Couple of weeks ago: Wilko Johnson. I'd never seen him live before so I was muchly looking forward to this gig. They didn't disappoint. Plus point was having a seat almost right above Norman Watt-Roy so I could watch the bass demi-god in action.
Last Friday: Caro Emerald. She was, of course, brilliant but I hope I don't upset fans when I report that my favourite part was when van der Leeuw was off stage and her band performed an incredible version of Duke Ellington's Caravan. Bonus points for coordinated dancing by sax, trumpet and guitar throughout.
They are good aren't they :thumbsup:
Night two of Kraftwerk at the Albert Hall last night. Wunderbar! 3D effects very impressive- pin sharp & not cheesy in any way, great set list with a few tweaks from studio versions, excellent sound. Ralf Hütter as chatty as ever: he said something about their TDf prologue show in Dusseldorf, send-off 'Good Night. Auf wiedersehen'. I should complain, got five words not four in 2004 :)
Just been to a concert at which Angus Dei by Samuel Barber was sung by a choir split into groups around the audience. One of the most remarkable performances I've ever seen.
Hunter and the Bear
Good old rock. I thought their more anthemic songs were better.
I remembered some songs from the last time I saw them - which usually indicates good material, well perfomed!
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/IMG_0677.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/IMG_0658.jpg)
Hunter and the Bear
Good old rock. I thought their more anthemic songs were better.
I remembered some songs from the last time I saw them - which usually indicates good material, well perfomed!
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/IMG_0677.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/IMG_0658.jpg)
Missed these in Stornoway recently (my admin asst raves about them) - truth is I was too slow buying a ticket and it sold out.
Went to a 'comedy'
What a heap of nasty misogynist shit.
<Thora Hird> Well you're easily pleased!</Thora Hird>Songs of Praise was more her thing ;)
Sigur Ros at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith last night. No support act, but played two sets with an intermission featuring old and new stuff. No encores though. I have a fair few of their albums but I didn't recognise about half of what they played. Blooming awesome noise for three blokes though. On paper, there shouldn't be anything good about a band led by a chap singing in Icelandic and a made up language in falsetto whilst frantically sawing at a guitar with a bow. In practice - totally amazing wall of sound. Some obvious omissions in the set list - no Von, Ara Batur, Hafsol or Hoppipolla; any of which would have been crowd pleasers, but they did do some corking well known tunes like Glosoli.
Jonsi's voice sounded excellent. At one point during Festival, he held a note for something like 20-25 seconds, so everyone clapped. But he carried on. All the other instruments had stopped and he must have held it for something in the order of 40 seconds. Big round of applause at that point. Great lighting and visuals. Recommended.
Looking forward to Public Service Broadcasting next month now.
You Can’t Polish A Nerd will see Helen, Matt and Steve putting the “oooh” into zoology, the “fun” into fundamental theorem of calculus and the “recursion” into recursion with a veritable Periodic Table of new science, songs, and spreadsheets.
Just got in from GY!BE. Best I've seem 'em :thumbsup:
Off to see Wolf Alice in Southampton tonight, just in case anyone else is going.
Will report back in in due course.
Samantha Fish at the Borderline. La Fish can play guitar like ringing a bell and sings like someone way older, larger and, frankly, more black, but the enjoyment was tempered by the ham-fisted clod of a sound man who drowned the guitar with the parping of a trumpet and a floor-shaking Adolphe Sax-o-Phone that looked like the offspring of an unholy liaison between an oil refinery and a V8 Moto-Guzzi's exhaust system.
Bah!
Pat, if you are a fan of harmony singing, I'm sure you are aware of these gods?:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAOxxP6iOM0
Sounds up my street but no scottish dates.
I'm watching this week's UC semi-final, where one team clearly has no-one who knows the lyrics to R.E.M.'s It's the end of the world ...
What is the world coming to? In fact, it really must be the end of the world.
Don McLean at the London Palladium, last night.
...In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this was the worst gig by a major artist that I've attended since I endured Genesis at Wembley Arena in 1981.
Don McLean at the London Palladium, last night.
...In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this was the worst gig by a major artist that I've attended since I endured Genesis at Wembley Arena in 1981.
I'd love to hear your review of that, if it was worse! I suppose that must have been Abacab-ish?
Just been to see Gomez playing Bring it On (and some other things), 20 years on. Still really rather good.
Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk
Sowing the seeds of discontent.
David Byrne at the Hydro in glasgow. What a fantastic show, the dance and music were excellent, and made it a gig unlike any I've been to before. 11 musicians on stage with DB, each of them either with their own instrument or were singing and dancing. If you go, make sure you get a good view of the stage, sadly at the Hydro the seating wasn't tiered and there was lots of very tall folks in as ever. The big screens don't capture the big picture of the whole stage.
A very different show from the techno lights/screen spectacular which is more the norm. The atmosphere was the best I've felt in the Hydro.
Top marks, and strongly recommended.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/44786968234_a249a4f4ab.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu)David Byrne at the Hydro (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu) by sg310 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/), on Flickr
I think that'll be Gesualdo, the guy who murdered his own name - amongst other more tangible beings!
David Byrne at the Hydro in glasgow. What a fantastic show, the dance and music were excellent, and made it a gig unlike any I've been to before. 11 musicians on stage with DB, each of them either with their own instrument or were singing and dancing. If you go, make sure you get a good view of the stage, sadly at the Hydro the seating wasn't tiered and there was lots of very tall folks in as ever. The big screens don't capture the big picture of the whole stage.
A very different show from the techno lights/screen spectacular which is more the norm. The atmosphere was the best I've felt in the Hydro.
Top marks, and strongly recommended.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/44786968234_a249a4f4ab.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu)David Byrne at the Hydro (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu) by sg310 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/), on Flickr
As nentioned upthread we saw this in June and were impressed :)
I think that'll be Gesualdo, the guy who murdered his own name - amongst other more tangible beings!
I think you are right. I don't know now whether that was fatigue, clumsiness or pure ignorance. Could well have been all three.
This time tomorrow, the lst gig I went to will be Christine And The Queens at 'Ammersmith Apollo :thumbsup:And it was great.
Great Lake Swimmers at Broadcast on sauchiehall street. Great little venue and the band were really good. Played a lot of their new album and some older ones including a lot from Ongiara. Very enjoyable night out. Was sat next to the band in the bar upstairs before the gig :thumbsup:
(I wonder how long before my tinnitus settles down to the normal levels of ringing.)
Saw King Crimson tonight. More of a concert than a gig, with a good sound that allowed all the instruments their space. Three drummers provided complexity and power. I still think the old ones are the best, and they played a number of them. But not Cat Food >:(
You are only supposed to take photos right at the end when they start taking photos of you.
The B52's on Thursday in Berlin at the same place were also good. Wasn't too sure what to expect from a 'party band' in their 70's but they can still belt them out, even if the dancing was relatively restrained.
The crowd made up for that though. I've never seen so many blokes dancing at a gig before, and they were mostly quite groovy grannies & grandads :)
Was a good laugh.
You are only supposed to take photos right at the end when they start taking photos of you.
A Crinkly Lion moment from Saturday.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48162827016_72810bb02e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gnZ5vf)
IMG_3371_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2gnZ5vf) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Last night, for 2 1/2 hours, I was 14 again
Ok - the Maestros at work.:thumbsup: Saw the brothers in Brighton and Hammersmith last year. Missed them on the Wonky touring, those were my first shows since 2009. Damn good to have them back. And that staging is brilliant...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Jul%2028%202019%20P7282215.jpg)
Drop dead stunning, on an elevated platform with video screen in-front below and behind above.
Divine Comedy in Brighton. Jolly good!
Divine Comedy in Brighton. Jolly good!
Did they do Queuejumper? Always reminds me of cycle commuting!
Divine Comedy in Brighton. Jolly good!
Did they do Queuejumper? Always reminds me of cycle commuting!
Mrs Rob and Rob junior going tonight. They seem to have managed to get on the guestlist.
Don't bloody test my memory! They might have sung it. Did lots of songs. Good evening, so it was.
Don't bloody test my memory! They might have sung it. Did lots of songs. Good evening, so it was.
Don't bloody test my memory! They might have sung it. Did lots of songs. Good evening, so it was.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-divine-comedy/2019/brighton-dome-brighton-england-1b9dfd18.html
Amanda Palmer in Cambridge.
Not a traditional music gig. Half a standup routine, half a music number, half a life story on stage. Yes, that's too many halves, but then she is a big personality, with a big voice.
Took me a minute to realise that when she strolled through the audience singing, she wasn't miked up. Bloody hell, that is a set of lungs. Filled the venue with sound.
Well worth seeing. Not everyone's cup of tea, some quite gut wrenching stories, there were people weeping throughout.
Johnathan Pie in Glasgow. I really like his shorter videos and although the longer gig was good, it never reached the same levels as the videos.We're going to see him tomorrow
Rhiannon Giddens, RFH on Friday. Really rather good.
(And it appears she was doing good works the night before - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/22/wormwood-scrubs-blues-inside-the-gig-mixing-prisoners-with-the-free)
John Cooper Clark.
Significantly less substances than last time I saw him.
I'm a member of the Southend Bach Choir, and we practise each Tuesday. The Southend Festival Chorus practises on a Wednesday. Next term they are singing Haydn's Nelson mass, which I don't know, and the Mozart Great C minor mass, which is a wonderful work that my choir sang last year, so I know it well. I think I will join the as well for next term just to see how I get on.
As mentioned in another thread, my little sister got tickets for I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue at the Wimbledon Theatre. I'm just on my way back now. It was a touring show, rather than recorded for broadcast as far as I understand, but just as brilliant. Tim Brooke Taylor and Richard Osman vs Tony Hawks and Miles Jupp. Samantha couldn't be there as she was getting her attic insulated. Insert smutty remark about getting felt in the loft here.I was so late getting tickets that mrs and little miss hatler were towards the back of the circle. Bizarrely mrs h bumped into the grown up children of friends from Haywards Heath and another set of friends from just down the road. Bumping into a T Hall as well might have proved overwhelming. :-)
We were issued with kazoos, which got put to use and brought the size of my kazoo collection to two.
Wonderfully, Mornington Crescent made reference to Finsbury Park backwards being krapy rubsnif.
I did not spot any hatlers.
hah! We were way up in the circle too. Row M. It's a long steep way up. I had to lean forwards so I could look through the long distance part of my varifocals.As mentioned in another thread, my little sister got tickets for I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue at the Wimbledon Theatre. I'm just on my way back now. It was a touring show, rather than recorded for broadcast as far as I understand, but just as brilliant. Tim Brooke Taylor and Richard Osman vs Tony Hawks and Miles Jupp. Samantha couldn't be there as she was getting her attic insulated. Insert smutty remark about getting felt in the loft here.I was so late getting tickets that mrs and little miss hatler were towards the back of the circle. Bizarrely mrs h bumped into the grown up children of friends from Haywards Heath and another set of friends from just down the road. Bumping into a T Hall as well might have proved overwhelming. :-)
We were issued with kazoos, which got put to use and brought the size of my kazoo collection to two.
Wonderfully, Mornington Crescent made reference to Finsbury Park backwards being krapy rubsnif.
I did not spot any hatlers.
Explosions in the sky were on good form last night. Not the best I've seen them, but still very much enjoyed the night.
All-seated concert @ glasgow royal concert hall: It felt like everyone in the central 20 seats got up to the toilets and/or bar about 10 fukkin times tho
Explosions in the sky were on good form last night. Not the best I've seen them, but still very much enjoyed the night.
All-seated concert @ glasgow royal concert hall: It felt like everyone in the central 20 seats got up to the toilets and/or bar about 10 fukkin times tho
We're going to see them in May, glad to hear they're on good form :)
Samantha Fish last night at the Brudenell Social Club Leeds.
Fantastic gig. Loads of energy and blistering guitar work. Plus great pie peas and mash in the bar beforehand and plenty of real ale to choose from, what's not to like!
Did she have the trumpet & sax players this time? We saw her at the Borderline a couple of years ago and they were so loud they drowned La Fish's guitar. Seeing her on Thursday.
The Laurence Jones Band at Oslo in darkest Hackney. Fine blues-rock Stuffs from Mr Jones and his girly-pink Strat. He has acquired a backing singer since last I saw him; the unfortunate Abby being squeezed into a tiny corner next to the drummer where her exuberant style threatened to bring things crashing down on his head. Obligatory hipster on (5-string) bass and a keyboard player who is the spitting image of TV's Simon Banton - rr will know who I mean - if he has a time machine.Late to this, Simon's on TV!! I do sort of remember going on an astrosoc pub crawl with him that had far reaching consequences for me.
Strict 10 pm curfew at the venue so the buggers switched off all the lights when Mr Jones tried to do a second encore :(
As noted by pcolbeck, Ms Fish on fine form last night too. Her four-string cigar box guitar is the most evil-sounding example of the species I think I've ever heard. Shout-out to support act Felix Rabin who, in spite of looking like he has school today, did not let a broken string spoil his attack on "Voodo Chile (Slight Return)".
As noted by pcolbeck, Ms Fish on fine form last night too. Her four-string cigar box guitar is the most evil-sounding example of the species I think I've ever heard.Oh yeah, she's good, isn't she?
Explosions in the sky were on good form last night. Not the best I've seen them, but still very much enjoyed the night.
All-seated concert @ glasgow royal concert hall: It felt like everyone in the central 20 seats got up to the toilets and/or bar about 10 fukkin times tho
David Byrne at the Hydro in glasgow. What a fantastic show, the dance and music were excellent, and made it a gig unlike any I've been to before. 11 musicians on stage with DB, each of them either with their own instrument or were singing and dancing. If you go, make sure you get a good view of the stage, sadly at the Hydro the seating wasn't tiered and there was lots of very tall folks in as ever. The big screens don't capture the big picture of the whole stage.
A very different show from the techno lights/screen spectacular which is more the norm. The atmosphere was the best I've felt in the Hydro.
Top marks, and strongly recommended.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/44786968234_a249a4f4ab.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu)David Byrne at the Hydro (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu) by sg310 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/), on Flickr
David Byrne at the Hydro in glasgow. What a fantastic show, the dance and music were excellent, and made it a gig unlike any I've been to before. 11 musicians on stage with DB, each of them either with their own instrument or were singing and dancing. If you go, make sure you get a good view of the stage, sadly at the Hydro the seating wasn't tiered and there was lots of very tall folks in as ever. The big screens don't capture the big picture of the whole stage.
A very different show from the techno lights/screen spectacular which is more the norm. The atmosphere was the best I've felt in the Hydro.
Top marks, and strongly recommended.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/44786968234_a249a4f4ab.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu)David Byrne at the Hydro (https://flic.kr/p/2beEViu) by sg310 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/), on Flickr
Bought the DVD of this and we watched it tonight. Loved it. You do miss being able to concentrate on 1 person, but its still a superb show. The dancing and choreography are the best I've seen. "David Byrne's American Utopia"
A nice bonus is the cycling scene at the end where the cast go on a ride around NY.
Graham Gouldman.
A fun evening through 50 years or so of popular songs..
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Graham%20Gouldman.jpg)
PSB. Exeter. Half an hour ago. Brilliant.
And they fucking talked the whole way through the quiet bits :facepalm:
We've just been to see PSB at the Music Hall in Furrybootoon. They were good. The audience seemed quite excited to be out. Someone had to be shown the door.When I saw them at Exeter a couple of weeks ago I was one of only about four who was wearing a mask.
Despite the mandatory mask policy the standing area was >80% maskless. And they fucking talked the whole way through the quiet bits :facepalm:
That must have been a fabulous experience!It was. It's our 40th wedding anniversary weekend away. We didn't realise it was on until we got here. It was sold out but they snuck us in round the side.
waif-like post-Amy Winehouse charisma and powerful voice dealing out a thirty minute set of great classic pop songs. The band are razor tight with ska chopsThe set was longer, the beehive was splendid.
Been a busy couple of weeks.
Billy Bragg at the Roundhouse last night, Peat and Diesel (Stornoway folk-punk) at the Garage on Tuesday, Seasick Steve at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh on the 13th, and Public Service Broadcasting at Brixton Academy on the 10th.
Some glistening men.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Nights.jpg)
It turns out it's a thing to dress up as Abe Lincoln to go to an E6 gig, as he's depicted in the Gay Bar video. Well I never!
It turns out it's a thing to dress up as Abe Lincoln to go to an E6 gig, as he's depicted in the Gay Bar video. Well I never!
Famous bisexuals, innit.
Wilko, tonight. Bloody marvellous.Presumably the manic, robotic guitar person from Canvey Island,rather than the high street shop. In which case I am v jealous.
Wilko, tonight. Bloody marvellous.Presumably the manic, robotic guitar person from Canvey Island,rather than the high street shop. In which case I am v jealous.
Nubiyan Twist, a Leeds/London Jazz/Funk/Soul/Afro combo
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Nubiyan%20Twist%202.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Nubiyan%20Twist%201.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Nubiyan%20Twist%203.jpg)
Jaded, when are you going to publish a book of some of your best photos? You've certainly got enough for a 'look at them now' of 70s - 90s artists who are still working the circuit.
Jaded, when are you going to publish a book of some of your best photos? You've certainly got enough for a 'look at them now' of 70s - 90s artists who are still working the circuit.
Orange Goblin at Camden Underworld last night. Cracking show, fingers crossed that things somehow work out to make sure it's not too long for the next one.
I now have a mental image of him duetting with Delia Smith at Carrow Road! :o
So, a few more from the weekend...
George Thorogood at SEC Armadillo. Great night of music at OAP pace ;)
The mighty Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the Electric Ballroom. Front and centre. w00t :thumbsup:
He has just cancelled his Polish gigs after opening his trap about Ukraine
He has just cancelled his Polish gigs after opening his trap about Ukraine
Yeah I saw that but I thought it was Poland / venue that cancelled them
Saw them – assuming it's the same bunch of wacky Scousers – around the turn of the millennium. Eeep.
Saw them – assuming it's the same bunch of wacky Scousers – around the turn of the millennium. Eeep.
Worth going to just to see Gavin Harrison.
Did they play Bonnie the Cat?
The Orb, doing U.F.Orb (and a few other bits). An enjoyable evening’s dancing, just what i needed after this week. Some floaty violin, who was also support. I’ve ordered her CD. Good fun. I met the previous big boss on the way out, he’d enjoyed it too.
The Orb, doing U.F.Orb (and a few other bits).
Gong and Ozric Tentacles in Brighton last night.
I’ve never really got into Gong, but enjoyed them more than I was expecting. Ozrics are an old favourite from the early 90s Pongmaster days
The Orb, doing U.F.Orb (and a few other bits).
Crikey. I saw them just after that first came out. Quite a long time ago. Wasn’t a great gig for me - I’d smoked something herbal and spent most of the gig sat on the floor, too close to the speakers, but unable to move. I still remember the feeling of the monster bass rumbling through my entire body. Surprised all my teeth didn’t fall out.
I first saw them after adventures beyond the ultraworld, in Manchester. I’d had something fungal, and thoroughly enjoyed the night :)The Orb, doing U.F.Orb (and a few other bits).
Crikey. I saw them just after that first came out. Quite a long time ago. Wasn’t a great gig for me - I’d smoked something herbal and spent most of the gig sat on the floor, too close to the speakers, but unable to move. I still remember the feeling of the monster bass rumbling through my entire body. Surprised all my teeth didn’t fall out.
Almost, Mogwai at the barrowlands - but I had to pass on it due to only just getting over the lurgy, and the fear of picking up something new. Gutted. Never having seen them live was something I was really hoping to put right.
And last Friday, Oysterband. Who I had never heard of...
Esteemed English Ceilidh band. To my mind not as authentic as a Scottish Ceilidh band...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Oysterband%201.jpg)
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Oysterband%202.jpg)
Spotty oik and guitar-bothering prodigy Toby Lee at the Half Moon in exotic Putney.
Edit: https://www.facebook.com/tobyleeguitar/videos/488076896572392/ – dunno if this’ll work if you ent got an account in Mr Zuckerberg’s Walled Garden, mind. It's got me in though :thumbsup:
Spotty oik and guitar-bothering prodigy Toby Lee at the Half Moon in exotic Putney.
Edit: https://www.facebook.com/tobyleeguitar/videos/488076896572392/ – dunno if this’ll work if you ent got an account in Mr Zuckerberg’s Walled Garden, mind. It's got me in though :thumbsup:
I knew that name was familiar...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/toby_lee.jpg)
Just in from front and centre for the mighty Half Man Half Biscuit at the 'leccy Ballroom. Though we had a nice barrier to lean on the efforts of the (unsponsored) mosh pit immediately behind us proved too much for Miss von Brandenburg, who had to be unceremoniously hauled out by the security lads.Did they do It's Clichéd to be Cynical at Christmas?
Band on top form, drummer Carl Henry has gone all hairy during Teh Plague, new-ish guitarist Karl Benson is a lot more lively than his predecessor Ken Hancock, Neil Crossley confirmed my long-held opinion that he's amazeballs on the bass and NB10 on top sardonic form. And he broke out the Airstream Caravan guitar for the encores.
Happy now :D
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52639286936_b552174ef4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ocy75G)
Half Man Half Biscuit, 2023-01-20 (https://flic.kr/p/2ocy75G) by Miss von Brandenburg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/) after she baled out.
Spotty oik and guitar-bothering prodigy Toby Lee at the Half Moon in exotic Putney.He is coming in March to our venue as a guest of Ana Popovic.
Did they do It's Clichéd to be Cynical at Christmas?
Tonight, I are been mostly watching Toby Lee and Ana Popovic
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Toby%20Lee.jpg)
Hayseed Dixie at St Luke’s. Don’t fear the reaper was the highlight of a good show
Tonight, I are been mostly watching Toby Lee and Ana Popovic
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Toby%20Lee.jpg)
This one just turned up on my Farcebok wossname on account of following young Master Lee :thumbsup:
Make of this what you will, but...The Now Show, Shirley? I think The One Show is a TV offering.
The live recording of Radio 4 comedy show 'The One Show', at the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, in That London.
There was even a Dalek in the lobby to keep an eye on us.
Make of this what you will, but...The Now Show, Shirley? I think The One Show is a TV offering.
The live recording of Radio 4 comedy show 'The One Show', at the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, in That London.
There was even a Dalek in the lobby to keep an eye on us.
Tonight, I are been mostly watching Toby Lee and Ana Popovic
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Toby%20Lee.jpg)
This one just turned up on my Farcebok wossname on account of following young Master Lee :thumbsup:
Thanks for posting, I drop in and out of Farcebook and could have missed this!
(It is one of my favourite photos...)
Colin Stetson at the Attenborough Centre in Brighton. Your eyes tell you it's one person with a saxophone, your ears tell you it's a sizeable ensemble from Betelgeuse. Astonishing!Feeling a bit jealous here. :)
Feeling a bit jealous here. :)There's a new album in a couple of weeks...
Worth going to just to see Gavin Harrison...
Venues by Ryan Air?;D
The Who
on the Badminton estate, which was interesting. It was billed as being 'Bristol', which it wasn't. I would say they probably had 1/3 to 1/2 fewer people than they were set up for.
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/The%20Who.jpg)
So, I am sat here, two and a half hours later, still not understanding what I have just seen.I think Flatus put it more concisely.
Apparently "’The Comet Is Coming’ is a London-based band who incorporate elements of jazz, electronica, funk and psychedelic rock."
Well, no. That's like saying The Beatles are a Popular Beat Combo. M'Lud.
Astounding set. One of the best I've ever seen.
Thumpy techno grinding electronic keyboard bass with a thrashy edgy drum kit. All overlaid with industrial saxaphone.
Basically, this is Van der Graaf Generator updated without the Prog or the Rock. Or the vocals.
So, I am sat here, two and a half hours later, still not understanding what I have just seen.Just seen The Comet Is Coming in the ruins of Reading Abbey. Brain-scrambling!
You are lucky. This is their final tour.Yes. I'd booked before the news came out. Shabaka Hutchings seems to be planning to stop playing sax, at least for a while.
You are lucky. This is their final tour.Yes. I'd booked before the news came out. Shabaka Hutchings seems to be planning to stop playing sax, at least for a while.
(Not sure where my original post has gone. I suspect Fat Finger Syndrome on my part)
The Spooky Men's Chorale last night at Kings Place in That London.
I've seen them a few times before but not for a while. Acapella Orstraylians doing a mix of cover versions (Jolene anyone? Bohemain Rhapsody like you've not heard before), Georgian (not the Mason-Dixon one) folk songs, a couple from Ukraine and finishing up with Tennyson's Crossing The Bar. The last was really moving. Great fun.
I didnt realise you liked this sort of stuff. As you probably know there is a huge scene in London, Bristol etc with often very interchangeable groups.Thanks for the recommendations. Like what I've heard of MadMadMad. My next gig in this general part of the musical map will be Get The Blessing at Moth Club in London
If you get the chance, go and see Sarathy Korwar and MadMadMad.
Equally, please post up if you see something worth sharing
Passamezzo (http://passamezzo.uk) in the Hall here (https://www.athelhampton.com).
Music from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, in a building of the same era. Rather wonderful.
We came home with three music books and a CD, which probably says something.
Many years ago I saw Swiss* metl mayhem merchants Krokus at the Lyceum in London Town Devine. Stop laughing at the back. As was the norm in those days, there was a drum solo. As was not the norm, bassist Chris von Rohr joined in using a separate rack on tom-toms.
* Though singer Marc Storace was, and I think still is, Maltese
A gig in the broadest sense: a sidetracked magazine creators tour event. I had little idea of who or what would be there, but “in person” were Cal Major and Jenny Tough. And some films. And quite a lot of thoughtful talk of metal health and the environment, rather than adrenaline and woo go me. Which was nice. I’d recommend it, if they’re coming your way.
S Club at the Utilita in Sheffield. Everything you could want from a reunion gig - all the very best old songs, plenty of nostalgia improved with modern tech - the quality of the big screen pictures was outstanding, but that may be showing how long since I last went to a gig with a big screen. Only went to look after my daughter. Mind you, she's approaching 30 now.Everything you could want from a reunion gig... including a hefty dose of covid from mixing with the hoi polloi
The Orb, in Brighton. Two hours of happy dancing, found some old friends. They seemed to be enjoying themselves too.
https://mastodon.social/@between_beyond/111516021146048392 (https://mastodon.social/@between_beyond/111516021146048392)
Edit to add, as I didn’t mention it before:
I also saw Ozric Tentacles in the week. Who were also good fun. I was less fussed about Gong though.
The Orb, in Brighton. Two hours of happy dancing, found some old friends. They seemed to be enjoying themselves too.
https://mastodon.social/@between_beyond/111516021146048392 (https://mastodon.social/@between_beyond/111516021146048392)
Any good?
I've seen them on two or three occasions over 25 years and on one they were OK, one quite bad, and the other unspeakably awful. They are playing here in February, but it's £25 which is a lot to pay if they don't deliver.QuoteEdit to add, as I didn’t mention it before:
I also saw Ozric Tentacles in the week. Who were also good fun. I was less fussed about Gong though.
Funnily enough I was talking to someone yesterday who had seen them in Gloucester and said exactly the same thing.
I first saw Ozrics in 1991, and then a few times over the following decade. They were always really tight, and really high energy.
Kosheen.I was quite a big fan BITD. Thought they'd disbanded.
Never heard of them, but they are Bristol contemporaries of Portishead. More poppy than the latter, but quite interesting.
Last night, a recording of the next two episodes of ISIHAC at Dorking Halls.
Fred McCauley, Lucy Porter, Milton Jones and Omid Djalili on the panel, guest appearances by both the Lovely Samantha and the Immaculate Sven.
I've been to a recording before, and as happened then, the first episode seemed to drag a bit and felt slightly forced. Second one was much better.
I doubt Lucy Porter's entry for "elixir" in the Uxbridge English Dictionary will make it to broadcast somehow.
Airing Monday 11 and 18 December, which is rapid.
Last night, a recording of the next two episodes of ISIHAC at Dorking Halls.
Fred McCauley, Lucy Porter, Milton Jones and Omid Djalili on the panel, guest appearances by both the Lovely Samantha and the Immaculate Sven.
I've been to a recording before, and as happened then, the first episode seemed to drag a bit and felt slightly forced. Second one was much better.
I doubt Lucy Porter's entry for "elixir" in the Uxbridge English Dictionary will make it to broadcast somehow.
Billy Bragg at Rock City on Saturday. Bloody awesome.
Nail. Head. I suspect her rejoinder to Fred McCauley singing "We're no strangers to love. You know the rules and so do I"Last night, a recording of the next two episodes of ISIHAC at Dorking Halls.
Fred McCauley, Lucy Porter, Milton Jones and Omid Djalili on the panel, guest appearances by both the Lovely Samantha and the Immaculate Sven.
I've been to a recording before, and as happened then, the first episode seemed to drag a bit and felt slightly forced. Second one was much better.
I doubt Lucy Porter's entry for "elixir" in the Uxbridge English Dictionary will make it to broadcast somehow.
Presumably because it was an exercise in cunning linguistics, as it were... :P :demon: ;D
Billy Bragg at Rock City on Saturday. Bloody awesome.
Oh goody! Miss von Brandenburg and I are seeing him on Thursday.
A friend saw them in Leeds about a month ago and said they were great. Friend is deaf, so this is probably more of a recommendation for a night out in Leeds than the actual music.The Orb, in Brighton. Two hours of happy dancing, found some old friends. They seemed to be enjoying themselves too.
https://mastodon.social/@between_beyond/111516021146048392 (https://mastodon.social/@between_beyond/111516021146048392)
Any good?
I've seen them on two or three occasions over 25 years and on one they were OK, one quite bad, and the other unspeakably awful. They are playing here in February, but it's £25 which is a lot to pay if they don't deliver.
Some Penguins...
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/Penguin%20Cafe.jpg)
Billy Bragg at the shiny new Bristol Beacon which only reopened at the weekend (formerly known as the Colston Hall) and is very much improved.Sounds great, I clearly should have gone to this and just to mention that Adam Buxton had Billy Bragg on as his podcast guest a few weeks back - worth a listen. Good to hear that the Beacon upgrade has worked out well.
The world would be a better place with more Billys in it. A forty minute film about his work followed by two and a quarter hours of musical and political passion, without a break. The encore was a performance of his entire first album (all 17 minutes of it) which ended with a rousing singalong of 'New England'. What a bloke.
Would very much like to see Lankum. But I was elsewhere tonight, at the Barbican for fellow Mercury nominees Jockstrap. Bloody brilliant they were too. They were accompanied by a string section and percussionist, and alongside his usual bank of synths, Taylor Skye had a grand piano and a harpsichord.
It’s Georgia’s voice that makes them special though, and she sounded incredible.
Would very much like to see Lankum. But I was elsewhere tonight, at the Barbican for fellow Mercury nominees Jockstrap. Bloody brilliant they were too. They were accompanied by a string section and percussionist, and alongside his usual bank of synths, Taylor Skye had a grand piano and a harpsichord.
It’s Georgia’s voice that makes them special though, and she sounded incredible.
That Jockstrap gig got a rare 5 star review in The Times today.
Onipa.Your pictures aer all excellent, but that's an absolute banger!
High energy.
You were wrong there! ;DNail. Head. I suspect her rejoinder to Fred McCauley singing "We're no strangers to love. You know the rules and so do I"Last night, a recording of the next two episodes of ISIHAC at Dorking Halls.
Fred McCauley, Lucy Porter, Milton Jones and Omid Djalili on the panel, guest appearances by both the Lovely Samantha and the Immaculate Sven.
I've been to a recording before, and as happened then, the first episode seemed to drag a bit and felt slightly forced. Second one was much better.
I doubt Lucy Porter's entry for "elixir" in the Uxbridge English Dictionary will make it to broadcast somehow.
Presumably because it was an exercise in cunning linguistics, as it were... :P :demon: ;D
of "No anal" may suffer the same fate.
Onipa.Your pictures aer all excellent, but that's an absolute banger!
High energy.
Onipa.Your pictures aer all excellent, but that's an absolute banger!
High energy.
Second gig night in a row last night - Warmduscher at the 100 Club, which could hardly be more of a contrast to the Barbican as a venue (but both iconic in their own ways).
I am physically wrecked this morning - haven't been this bruised after a gig for a long, long time. Mainly a result of getting bashed against the edge of the stage a lot - even got knocked over onto the stage a couple of times. At one point I was bundled over and my head came down on the guitarist's monitor so I got a blast straight into my left ear, which is still ringing this morning.
It was fucking awesome. Gig of the year by a country mile.
Onipa.Your pictures aer all excellent, but that's an absolute banger!
High energy.
I was going to say exactly the same. Cracking pic!
Depeche Mode at the O2 arena. A good show, still got the voice.
I’m not warming to huge venues as I get older, though. But I don’t suppose we’d all fit in the Empire.
I enjoyed her, without knowing the songs before. Mrs Dan wondered if PJ Harvey’s lawyers were in the audience. I suspect a smaller venue would be more interesting for that sort of thing.Depeche Mode at the O2 arena. A good show, still got the voice.
I’m not warming to huge venues as I get older, though. But I don’t suppose we’d all fit in the Empire.
What did you reckon to the support, Nadine Shah?
Saw her in Edinburgh tonight (she's clearly busy, fitting in her own gig between DM in London and in Manchester), and while she's got a great voice I'm not wholly convinced by the doom pop (come on, it's not really rock ...) tracks.
Trying to work out if I liked her enough to go to the album launch session in London next month - gig+CD, no-brainer, but that's sold out and only the gig+LtdEdition-coloured-vinyl tickets are left1.
ETA - I did spend a disproportionate proportion of the gig wondering if the impressively hirsute bass player was indicatatatative of the likely result if an incautious scientist attempted to meld the wild Larrington and the native Wowbagger, while failing to put a STOP boundary on the experiment.
ETFA - 1: fuckit, it's only money.
Trying to work out if I liked her enough to go to the album launch session in London next month - gig+CD, no-brainer, but that's sold out and only the gig+LtdEdition-coloured-vinyl tickets are left1.
Tomorrow night is first gig of the year - English Teacher in Margate. Very much looking forward to this. They’re kind of identikit post-punk but a bit more interesting than most of the current crop of this ilk. Lily Fontaine has a cracking voice. And a great name.
Trying to work out if I liked her enough to go to the album launch session in London next month - gig+CD, no-brainer, but that's sold out and only the gig+LtdEdition-coloured-vinyl tickets are left1.
Where’s that? I’m on the mailing list for Rough Trade East so get notified of a lot of these things but not that one so maybe it’s elsewhere. I would have gone though - I do like her. Not enough to pay silly money for vinyl though.
I’m seeing Jane Weaver doing an acoustic set at Rough Trade East next month - would happily pay big money to see her, she’s one of my top favourites. Will be interesting to see how her electronica translates to acoustic.
Tomorrow night is first gig of the year - English Teacher in Margate. Very much looking forward to this. They’re kind of identikit post-punk but a bit more interesting than most of the current crop of this ilk. Lily Fontaine has a cracking voice. And a great name.
Nadine Shah - yes, Rough Trade East. Mailing lists can be a funny thing though. Tickets through Dice if that makes any difference, and they're running a waiting list. Playing at Heaven at the beginning of May too.
Jane Weaver - new to me. Sounds interesting on the first pass, not wholly convinced yet.
English Teacher - London gig end of March by the looks of it. Electric Brixton
They were superb last night. Played several new tracks off their forthcoming album that all sounded excellent. The title track off the album, This Could Be Texas, is a belter.
Rafael Anton Irisarri at Cafe Oto. Ambient like a hurricane
I’m seeing Jane Weaver doing an acoustic set at Rough Trade East next month - would happily pay big money to see her, she’s one of my top favourites. Will be interesting to see how her electronica translates to acoustic.
Yard Act not so great. It felt like they were just pissing about.
Underworld at Ally Pally. Two and a half hours of excellence.
Indeed. Last couple of tours, Rick did a 90 minute DJ set. Whatever they're on seems to be working.Underworld at Ally Pally. Two and a half hours of excellence.
All the more so since they are nearly 70 ;D
Haven't seen them for maybe 16 years, but prior to that innumerable times. Great band.
I’m seeing Jane Weaver doing an acoustic set at Rough Trade East next month - would happily pay big money to see her, she’s one of my top favourites. Will be interesting to see how her electronica translates to acoustic.
That’s finally coming up this Tuesday.