The support for Maximo Park, Art Brut were rather good. They may have been an inspiration for Big Special, very similar styles.
Maximo Park played a good mix of songs from their 20 years and my daughter now understands Apply Some Pressure rather better than when she was 16.My back was a bit niggly next day after 3 hours bopping/standing. It's me age!!
Vader, were simply outstanding.
props to the lighting and sound bods, but the band conjoured up such a tight and articulate sound.
i was hoping to hear ‘The Whisper’ and ‘Dark Transmission’.…not tonight, Josephine.
And the headliners, Kataclysm.
rockin the 28 years later style.
reminded me of the melodic Swedish death metal, but the drums were a bit mushy, and the guitars lacked a lot of bite and incision.
On a slightly different note, I’ve got a ticket for Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks at Bath Forum in September. Having got pissed off with the internal politics of Yes, and recovered from a serious illness, he’s collaborating with a band of musicians who can play like Yes, so he’s touring doing a set that covers classic Yes along with his own solo material.
I saw Yes four times back in the 70’s, on the Close To The Edge, Topgraphic Oceans, and Relayer tours, and headlining Reading, I’m really looking forward to this gig, his voice is still really strong, so should be a great gig, but without all the flamboyant theatrics and clothes - I’m looking at you, Wakeman!
A bit like Nick Mason’s Saucer Full Of Secrets gigs playing all the old Floyd stuff.
Kataklysm! Woah , we used to wake our mate up by blasting their tunes next to his head. Hope your ears are alright!
Ah, so that’s why I’ve got those Mogwai Cds! They were superb. Once again Pompey Guildhall PA delivers. ****ing loud, but crystal clear.
Forest Swords was excellent, Mogwai magnificent. Great gig.
Ah, so that’s why I’ve got those Mogwai Cds! They were superb. Once again Pompey Guildhall PA delivers. ****ing loud, but crystal clear.
Forest Swords was excellent, Mogwai magnificent. Great gig.
Saw them at Bristol Beacon on Sunday night - as you say ******* loud, but a great gig! Glad I'd taken my earplugs.
Second gig on consecutive nights at the Beacon - saw Of Monsters and Men on Saturday which was also superb.
Wednesday at the Roundhouse last night. Clear blue water between their ‘country’ stuff and the loud tending cathartic noise/primal scream. Very good. Cannot believe that in nigh-on 50 years of gig going this was my first time at the venue. Really lovely space, good sound and lighting.
Booked tickets for Sammy Hagar at the NEC, Little Angels at Wolverhampton and Shinedown at the NEC.
Very tempted by the Little Angels, never saw them first time round...
@Philby that setlist for Bristol is just awesome... I love that they still change the setlists around to keep it fresher but it does make some nights straight up better than others, yours looks about perfect. Like, sod it, just give me We're No Here and Helicon and Fear Satan and they can play 100 minutes of sampled fart noises otherwise and I'll still go home happy.
The Wave Pictures at Glasgow were excellent last night. See them if you can. Three musicians at the top of their game, and humble with it.
Someone gave me their ticket to see a sold out Getdown Services at Portsmouth's Kola.... Couldn't move when I went in the venue, absolutely packed. Support was on, bit novelty... Main band came on... intro music was Status Quo and the crowd started clapping along. I got worried. They did some kind bad of comedy act for 10 minutes.... then they played a couple of novelty rock songs.. so I left. Ah well, good to try out local gigs, but that was shit.
Potentially 10 gigs this month, if I get tickets for something tomorrow, gotta be a record for me!
Currently back in Kola for the 2nd...waiting for Monster Florence. Not heard much by them, so hopefully better than the last one!
A good weekend in Brum, Saturday was Debase Invaders at Actress n Bishop then up to Rock n roll Brewhouse for The Courtesy Group who were totally mad and brilliant.A very energetic singer,intense thrashy guitarist,Saxophone honking over the top, two bass guitars and a drumstick breaking drummer.
Sunday was a new thing at Rock n Roll called Rock Of Ages,two live bands from Brum Radios Rock Of Ages show. Mehiga were up first, three lads from London self described as fuzz rock....from space, I got a bit of Prog Rock with a good bass solo.Second band were Phwoar, a Brummie drum n guitar duo, more Slaves/Warm Play than White Stripes.
Finished off back at Actress N Bishop with Midnight City ,local soul covers band doing their normal excellent gig.
Monster Florence
...were excellent. Couple of top musicians contributing to their UK rap sound. Proper performers. Loved it 🙂
Very tempted by the Little Angels, never saw them first time round...
Last time I saw them was when they supported Van Halen in '93!!
Now 11 gigs for this month! I really can't take any more... Can't they spread them out a bit better? I've had to book a week off work! Next is one my mate got tickets for (he might not turn up, busy man!) for TVAM , they sound ok and it's in the Hope & Ruin in Brighton which is a cool venue.
I saw the Bunnymen in Holmfirth on Monday, I was a little worried that Mac's voice wasn't up to it any more but he still sounded good. They had an interval after 20mins, which I didn't think was a good sign, but they bought everyone a drink so I'll forgive them.
I have a ticket to see Faithless in Bristol this summer with Kosheen supporting. I am expecting the crowd to be full of older people pretending they are still young. Mainly because that's what I am.
Off to London for our annual cult gathering for teh Hold Steady, 4 shows in 4 nights. The first night of which will probably be not that great tbf but at least one of the others will be absolutely amazing. But I guess we're doing the whole set just because we've done every one of these since I think 2017 so it'd be a shame to break the run.
Also got tickets for the Wildhearts in Edinburgh in May. Do I still give a crap about the Wildhearts in 2026, with Ginger And The Three Randos? Honestly, not really. But it's easy to get to so it'd be rude not to. Maybe it'll be great?
Hanging Stars in Guildford on Sunday.
Aircooled in Bexhill April 2.
Ist Ist Brighton on the 25th
Balaam and the angel sometime in May and the Mission in October ( I think)
Would love to do NMA and Chameleons in December but we ground ourselves to try and stay well for the Christmas rush .
Taking of Rush ,shall see them next March.
I've just got tickets for Eagles of Death Metal in November at Leeds Uni. Should be fun.
Couple of good ones in the last week:
- Armand Hammer (ELUCID and billy woods) at SWG3 last night, supported by Gabe Nandez, who's on an album by Preservation that I really like. Seen billy woods a load in the last year, he's amazing. Your favourite rapper's favourite rapper! Great show, properly loud.
- Andrew Wasylyk at St Lukes last Friday, his band complete with electric piano, Moog, drums, viola, cello, flute, trumpet and bass guitar. Really gentle and lovely. Added bonus of the wonderful Kathryn Joseph as solo support (with piano), preceded by Bill Wells. Value for money!
Counting down to next weekend - bar italia on the Friday, Geese on the Saturday. YAAASSSSS!
Dead jealous of Armand Hammer! Saw them in the daylight of an festival afternoon last year. Weird atmosphere, but still brilliant.
Funnily enough, Bar Italia played the same festival. Thought they were crap! 😀
Got GUMDROP locally on Sat eve for my next, then following week RIP Magic, ****ers* (twice) and James Lavelle DJ set.
* 
Well, I’ll be listening to something on the headphones whilst scoffing roasted chestnuts
Off to realise a dream ive had since uni- a few of us are off to see Wu-Tang Clan in Manchester next week!
Bleech 93 and Keo at Camden electric ballroom last night. It's going to be tough to top that this year.
I've not seen a support band, with only 3 tracks released, recieve such support from the crowd and create such pandemonium in the mosh. Often supports play to half empty venues. But the place was packed for bleech, everyone wanted to get there early and get involved with this band.
Keo get better each time. Only 1 EP released and they can pack the 1500 capacity venue two nights in a row.
I booked tickets for Del Amitri in November this morning. Cardiff Students Union, it came to about £45 per ticket, but the SU gave an option for an upgrade at £27, which amounted to entry into the venue an hour early, 10% off food and drink, access to merch and a complementary drink of prosecco, soft drink or house lager.
First, wtf calls it 'house' lager? Second, we all have access to merch. Third, for most of my giggling life I've deliberately aimed to get to the venue as late as is optimally possible so that I don't have to pay extortionate prices* at an overcrowded and normally crap bar. Paying £27 for this crap sounds desperate.
*even 10% discount won't make most venues as affordable as the bars down the road.
Saw Franz Ferdinand last Friday in Brum - banger of a gig apart from the people who reminded me why we usually try to get down the front.
Excited to have got tickets for Transvision Vamp in October - never got to see them first time round. Even my daughters are looking forward to it.
Just bought tickets to see Cake at the Roundhouse, it's not 'till October though so a bit of a wait!
Transvision Vamp
Not sure if serious...
Oh yes - serious 🙂
She doesn't look like she used to you know 😛
banger of a gig apart from the people who reminded me why we usually try to get down the front.
Says the person with their camera out, taking pictures...
Bleech 93 and Keo at Camden electric ballroom last night. It's going to be tough to top that this year.
My daughter went, I headed up later on...sadly last time she went to a gig in Camden she got a bit of unwanted attention from some lads so I met her afterwards outside. No trouble this time, she said it was boisterous but good natured and she got chatting to a few people around her so didnt stand out as a single girl at a gig.
Sad that's even a consideration in this day and age. I hope you bring your boys up to be better than that (not you specifically, I mean as a society)
Vaccines tonight at Brixton with her. Not entirely my cup of tea, but looking forward to it.
I saw Stiff Little Fingers at Manchester Academy last night – I only went as I had taken my daughter across to see Asha Banks so thought I'd get a ticket whilst I was there. They were okay (but, in fairness, I don't know a great deal by them), but the support act (The Meffs) were great – they really got the crowd going from the off and made a brilliant noise just with vocals, one guitar and some drums. If you like punk, then they are certainly worth checking out.
Says the person with their camera out, taking pictures..
..of people with their cameras out, taking pictures? That is ****ing classic!
I took a photo!
The marvellous Gumdrop at Heartbreakers last night. 4 bands for £8. 3 of em (Chimp and One Lung being the others I liked) great fun. Only problem was loads of people left before the main band, which left about 20 people watching them! The leavers missed out! Gumdrop are loud and slightly mad, worth catching if they are near you
My daughter went, I headed up later on...sadly last time she went to a gig in Camden she got a bit of unwanted attention from some lads so I met her afterwards outside. No trouble this time, she said it was boisterous but good natured and she got chatting to a few people around her so didnt stand out as a single girl at a gig.
Sad that's even a consideration in this day and age.
It's not good that she has to go through that. There are too many idiots around. I hope it doesn't prevent her doing the things she enjoys.
London gig goers seem to have a mission to ruin the gig for everyone around them.
This Autumn I’ll be attending Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy performing Life’s Rich Pageant by R.E.M. ,Swervedriver and finally the Surfrajettes
Saw Echo & the Bunnymen at Bristol Beacon on Friday - much better than I anticipated having seen reviews of some earlier gigs, and also hearing (belatedly) that they'd cancelled their Manchester gig the previous night at the last minute. Probably could have done more that one song for an encore as finished 15-20 minutes before Bristol Beacon's cut-off time of 11.00pm. McCulloch was obviously suffering from back pain and had to use a chair for the last third of the gig which was possibly the reason for the short encore.
This should interest some of you lot - got my usual what's on email notification - appears you can not only see old people tour now, but dead ones too!
RIP Magic last night were proper good. Danced, got very sweaty, forgot spare t-shirt (should've bought one off the band!) had to drive home sweaty, but on a high! 😀 For a band with a buzz about them currently, venue wasn’t too packed. Nice venue too - ALPHABET, in Brighton.
Says the person with their camera out, taking pictures...
I was well aware of the irony when I was posting it - & I do usually take a couple of pictures at a gig, & have no issue with peope taking a couple of pics.
I just don't get people filming it or constantly taking pics.
Well I guess I do give a bit more of a crap about that Wildhearts show now! Weird to imagine a world without Ginger in it. I'd be a different person.
saw Drugdealer at Manchester Gorilla (good venue) this time last week. Best gig in ages, great atmosphere. Dunno why they're (he's) not huge though they seem happy where they are.
(You'd not know it but the trajectory is from an arty/experimental background now landing in mid-70s Laurel Canyon. Works for me...)
Editing to add this 70-odd views...
Electric six at the weekend. They were good, but the Dairy Brothers were better. Can’t beat songs about baboons….
Just added another to this year’s list, Metric/Broken Social Scene/Stars, nice all Canadian lineup, also IIRC the first Canadian bands I heard on 6Music in the early 2000’s. Brixton Academy in September. 😁👌🏻
I’ve seen Metric and Stars before, but not BSS, they’re pretty much formed from members of other bands.
Finally secured tickets for Belle & Sebastian paying If You're Feeling Sinister at the Royal Albert Hall next month. Excited as not seen them for donkeys years.
Lots of tickets coming up on Twickets, but was holding out for for decent seats as some at the Albert Hall are 'interesting' in terms of view. Realised in writing that that I'm breaking my own "no sitting at gigs ever" rule, but needs must!
last night, album launch at Patterns, we had a spot at the front, nice dancing room. Great to see them in such a small venue. Drove home sweaty again, but remembered spare t this time 😊 They cancelled Thursday, so my potential 5 gigs this week, looks more like 2, far more sensible. Took a pic, but only when they'd finished.
Geese are the saviours of rock n roll. That is all.
Also saw Jehnny Beth on Sunday night - I've always loved the first Savages album, her solo work not so much but it was a great show. One of those "not what I'd listen to in the house, but an enjoyable live spectacle" ones.
In amongst a busy gig weekend I also saw a piano recital which included a piece by Mache (me neither) for 2 pianos played by 6 pianists. Quite incredible to witness.
Mrs BigJohn and I are going back to back to our youth, when in the early '70s we listened to Camembert Electrique, Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible) and Pothead Pixies. (And now it's us in our early 70s).
Yes, Gong are touring again and it's tomorrow night for us at the Hare & Hounds in Brum.
Geese are the saviours of rock n roll. That is all.
Very excited about seeing them tomorrow at Hammersmith, but even more excited about seeing Westside Cowboy again.
Mrs BigJohn and I are going back to back to our youth, when in the early '70s we listened to Camembert Electrique, Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible) and Pothead Pixies. (And now it's us in our early 70s).
Yes, Gong are touring again and it's tomorrow night for us at the Hare & Hounds in Brum.
Wow, I saw them in the early nineties and they were getting on a bit even then. I must listed to Camenbert Electrique again, its been a long time. Enjoy the gig.
Just booked camping for Stour Jam in June, mainly free gigs in 15 venues. Lots of bands we only see rarely in Brum.
Well, that was mad. Mandy, Indiana at Heaven in London. Changed the support and I probably wouldn't have done the journey if it had been just Mandy, Indiana I was keen on seeing. Turned out they were incredible, so glad I made the journey. Mind totally blown. 🤯
TOMORA
Well, that was mad. Mandy, Indiana at Heaven in London. Changed the support and I probably wouldn't have done the journey if it had been just Mandy, Indiana I was keen on seeing. Turned out they were incredible, so glad I made the journey. Mind totally blown.
saw them supporting Idles a couple of years ago and sadly didnt pay much attention to them, you know how it goes, "these arent very shouty/punky, why have Idles got them as support?".
twas only after hearing them again on 6 music over the last few months that i thought I really should have paid more attention, theyre great! i did the same for Fat Dog supporting Viagra Boys. "yeah they sound ok, now what were we talking about?" 🙄 now i love them!
all support bands have to start somewhere, just shows the importance of getting there early and seeing a few rather than just going for the main band.
If you like a bit of '70s psychedelic Avant garde space-rock prog, get to a Gong gig. Brilliant amazing stuff. How they make those sounds from a Squier Jazzmaster (P90) and Fender Strat I've no idea. Kavus Torabi is a bit of a virtuoso!
Shame I can’t make any of the dates
They were having SO much fun... I can't see this tour and album being a one off... strongly suspect there will be more to come.
… theyre great
Ah, mate…live they are unbelievable . The singer came down into the crowd a couple of times (spoke to me the second time 😊 ) - everyone turned to watch her dancing about in the middle - I just kept watching the band! And dancing like a loon… My new fave guitarist! and drummer! A lot of the time you can’t tell if the noises are coming from the keyboards or the guitar…such mad, brilliant noises! I did see them a few years ago in the tiny Green Door Store in Brighton, but this was a step up. Heaven indeed.
I very nearly managed to get some last minute *very* (as in booking fee only) cheap tickets for Gorrilaz in Leeds last night, but didn't click quite quickly enough – most frustrated. I have got tickets for Hayseed Dixie at the end of the year though – that'll be a laugh.
Next up for me, though, is 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷
Blimey, just been reminded, got another tomorrow- old skool big beat with the Lo Fidelity Allstars in Brighton.
all support bands have to start somewhere, just shows the importance of getting there early and seeing a few rather than just going for the main band.
If I’d done that when I saw Hole in London, I’d have missed Queens Of The Stone Age!
This evening I saw Howling Bells at The Fleece, in Bristol, lost count of how many times I’ve seen them, five, six, maybe seven, over twenty years or so, and they’re always excellent. Originally from Australia, based in London for most of that time. Not as many people there as I’d have expected, but everyone had a great time.
I saw Jehnny Beth at Boom in Leeds. A really energetic performance in a 200 capacity venue but somewhat spoiled by the guy in front of me. During the support act he was constantly taking photos using the torch and flash on his phone and manage to spill his beer over a very fancy looking bit of electronic equipment before disappearing at the interval. About 5 songs into Jehnny Beths set it stopped working! The band were pretty upset about that. I also heard that stuff was stolen from their merch stand.
I doubt she'll return to Leeds.
spoiled by the guy in front of me. During the support act he was constantly taking photos
Yep, taking photos at gigs is bollocks in every way. Nobody is interested in them, they are invariably shit and ...put your phone away and JUST GET INTO THE MUSIC!
The Mandy Indiana official photos on FB are a million times better than anything I could've taken.