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Smashing Pumpkins yesterday in London. Great day out despite security telling my son it was 16+ only when he said he was 14. He is taller than me 12s and under were free entry. Almost tears but was laughing later about it.
Never been a big fan and it was sons choice but I actually really enjoyed them. Both our ears were ringing at the end which I have never had before.
Reading festival next, I have only heard of three bands on the Saturday. Sons choice again and its just u the road.
Smashing Pumpkins yesterday in London. Great day out despite security telling my son it was 16+ only when he said he was 14. He is taller than me 12s and under were free entry. Almost tears but was laughing later about it.
Never been a big fan and it was sons choice but I actually really enjoyed them. Both our ears were ringing at the end which I have never had before.
What a really odd security person that must have been, most of them seem unusually good at that site I thought, last year and this year! I was there too (with our free-entry 11 year old), we only live a few minutes bus away so despite (all our rage) not being massive fans it almost felt rude not to go along when the opportunity is there. Had a great time, Unpeople and Skunk Anansie were really fun too. I was a little surprised they didn't do an encore, they still had plenty of time before the curfew, but maybe West London sleepy family crowds aren't up for it enough for Billy. Checking setlists of earlier in the tour it seems like they generally haven't been doing an encore but they also got about four more songs than we did. Ah well, still felt like a great day.
Reading festival next, I have only heard of three bands on the Saturday. Sons choice again and its just u the road.
May I be as bold to recommend some bands? (if your son allows you to wander away)
Friday - Soft Play, Bloc Party & Chappell Roan
Saturday - Lambrini Girls, Royel Otis, Wunderhorse & Enter Shakiri
Sunday - Amyl & the Sniffers.
We were in early, and it was the guy who appeared to be watching over the metal detector guys who asked him his age. He had to go and ask his boss. We did the Dog day afternoon at Crystal Palace when he was 12, possibly the same promoters, as it was also 12 and under free. I don't like encores, so I was pleased they just played the full set 🙂 Skunk Anansie were much better than I expected.
Lambrini Girls and Enter Shakiri are two of the three 🙂 We watched them at the above-mentioned DDA, Now he is 14 I sure my son is hoping for a similar performance as the last time 🙂
Anyone want a couple of tickets to Forwards Festival in Bristol the weekend 23rd/24th https://www.forwardsbristol.co.uk/ ? I've been the last couple of years and it's a really nice relaxed festival.
It looks like I'm having an op the week before so can't go.
Not a gig but sort of, so I'm claiming it.
My lad's in 'Tommy' the Who musical at the Minack all week. I think drugs were consumed during the writing in 1969, but the Who music is great. And the reason I'm claiming it is because although most of this theatre company's work is local theatres and backing tracks, where it's a big run - seven shows over 5 days in a big venue - they've got a live band who at appropriate times (Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror) have permission to go loud.
Some pics are on the Minack site. My boy is alternating playing Tommy and being ensemble (it's a big vocal stretch for one kid to sing 7 shows plus dress rehearsal so they have split it) so this is other Tommy in the pics, but I'm seeing my lad in the main slot this evening and I might need tissues given his journey to get here. What a venue, what an experience.
https://minack.com/whats-on/whos-tommy
Smashing Pumpkins were very good at the Piece Hall last night. I liked that the setlist was 'we'll play the new stuff early on then give them what they want'.
“Marx and Engels
Gods and Angels”
sisters of mercy@kelvingrove bandstand.
is that an oasis fan?
Just seen YHWH Nailgun in Brighton. Proper mad, moshpit made up almost entirely of girls.. not something I’ve seen before! Great band. New venue to me too, Dust. Nice and small, with functioning air conditioning. Bonus! Glad I’ve got a ticket for tomorrow in Southampton too, Lipworms supporting, should be proper good. (tomorrow being today now: Friday!)
ps.. Have a spare ticket if anyone local fancies it! 😊
I have tickets for UNKLE at Koko on 24th October. They have some 3D holographic thing going so it should be a visual treat. I am hovering over the buy button for tickets to see Daniel Avery at Bristol Beacon in November too.
Last weekend I was at Green Man festival. I saw Gurriers, Kneecap, Jacob Alon, Wet Leg, CMAT, Underworld, Los Campesinos!, Wunderhorse (stormed off stage dead stroppy), Perfume Genius (ablsolutely bonkers or off their tits), Fat Dog, Rocket, Beth Gibbons, Yard Act, Upchuck & Big Special.
It was somewhat brilliant.
YHWH Nailgun even better tonight. I got very sweaty.
Bizarrely two bands that I saw a lot in the early nineties (mainly in London but saw at Glastonbury/Reading as well) both did gigs close to home within a week of each other.
Teenage Fanclub (Bedford Esquires) and The Lemonheads (Northampton Roadmender)
Mainly went because both these gigs were within 15 miles of home and it seemed rude not to. However both left me feeling a bit weird. Basically a massive reminder about how old we have all become, the bands, the audiences and me.
Friday night in Stockholm, probably the largest gig I've been to. A good night out and the city is rather good too.
It was a capacity crowd but our end of the standing area was too far from the food and drink, hence the dancing space.
Reading yesterday.
Missed the Lambrini Girls due to the apprentice drug sniffing dog picking me out. Much to my son’s amusement. “He doesn’t even drink beer” he said. And then I had to find a photo on my phone of my passport or go home. Great start. Not touch any drugs for around 15 years.
But it was nothing like I remembered from1990 the last time I attended.
Most of the bands were ok and being able to walk to another stage and more or less watch bands non stop was good.
But the surprising highlight was Limp Bizkit. Never really listened to them much, son has them playing in his room and occasionally in the van. We were central left behind the "pit" fence were i assumed it would relatively tame. ****ing hell was I wrong. Really enjoyed them. Son thought it was the best thing ever jumping about going mental. Shy boy apparently 😐
But was pretty good value for money. Being picked up by the wife around the corner was ace.
Throwing Muses, hebden bridge trades club..... excellent in spite of poor sound, Kristin's vocal was often lost. Bright Yellow Gun was an outstanding finale
Tickets bought for November in Huddersfield
Gangstagrass - great live band. Enjoy. Checked the tour dates and nowhere near me, but Thekla sounds very tempting.
Bought a ticket for Daniel Avery at Bristol Beacon. That should be a night of pretty intense electronic noise.
Was going to buy tickets for Suede in February but they’re £48 each.
Is it just me or are ticket prices ridiculous these days?
Is it just me or are ticket prices ridiculous these days?
Very much not just you. But you can still see excellent smaller bands in smaller venues for two pints. That said I just shelled out for Tortoise tickets.
Shelled, get it? Because tortoises have... anyway, I'm going out on the bike for a bit before the rain kicks in.
Over the last week or so, Faithless at the Piece Hall, great gig and incorporating Maxi via video worked well IMO
Rock N Roll circus at don Valley bowl Sheffield on Wednesday evening. Mega do, missed some of the support acts due to queuing but Jehnny Beth and The Bug Club were great, Viagra Boys and QOTSA stole the show though..awesome.
The Hives last night in Leeds for a bit of a last minute, pre-official-tour, album launch tour. Short and so, so, so sweet. 45 minutes on stage, no support act, everything stripped back. Absolutely mega.
Tropical F--- Storm in London tomorrow... if my mate responds to my text! Not sure I can be bothered with the London trip on my own at the mo, but they are soooo good live!
https://peakcavern.co.uk/the-orb-saturday-6-june-2026/
The Orb playing in a cave? Yeah, I'm in for some of that. Tickets bought!
I'd booked Dave Stewart doing his new Bob Dylan stuff on Friday coming in Sunderland at the Fire Station for me and the better half.
Hooray!
We now can't go.
Boo!
Due to having a new dog.
Hooray!
It's sold out so I've listed the tickets at face value on Twickets. Any North East locals that are Dave Stewart / Bob Dylan curious, get on and fill your boots. And feel free to tell me how incredible it was afterwards 😀 .
Old Dave Stewart off of Eurythmics? Doing covers of ol Bob Dylan songs? Is that really a thing?? 😀
TFS were superb. Gareth really wrings the shit out of his guitar, like the sort of noises Neil Young used to make in his wilder days. Sound in the Electric Ballroom wasn't the best and had to leave a bit early to get a train. But glad I went... On my own... Should be home about 1am 😴
I need a more reliable gig buddy 🤣
Old Dave Stewart off of Eurythmics? Doing covers of ol Bob Dylan songs? Is that really a thing??
Exactly that - he's got a whole album of Bob Dylan loveliness, it's worth a listen. He must be 70+ and he was born in Sunderland hence the couple of dates at the Fire Station.
Got the Radiohead lottery unlock registered, again son’s choice. We have tickets for Gary Numan on the 21st though. Hopefully you don’t get an unlock code for a specific date.
GN was my first ever gig, Telekon tour 1980 aged 11. The November gig is a Telekon play through. Son only knows who he is from Basement Jaxx😜
Accompanying Mrs Chop to see Alice Roberts talk about Christianity 😳
Dad, son and uncle trio are off to see Leftfield in Bristol on Friday. Any suggestions for the best parking for Document?
Dad, son and uncle trio are off to see Leftfield in Bristol on Friday. Any suggestions for the best parking for Document?
You could park in Portland Square on the edge of St Pauls (parking meters - don't know whether they charge in the evening) and cross Newfoundland Road past the Cabot Circus car park (another option) and walk to Pennywell Road where there are also a number of parking spaces (can't remember whether they are metered)
Just booked to see Chris Helme (of the Seahorses) in a pub in York in December. 40 tickets available - going to be "intimate"! Echobelly and Sleeper at the end of this month/start of next...
Brighton tonight for Girls of the Internet. Anyone else?! Thought not! 😀
Off to see The Tubs in Cardiff next week. I've been utterly obsessed with Cotton Crown since it came out so can't wait to see them live.
Thredd at the Hug & Pint in Glasgow last night, was ace - interesting electronica with the sort of Slowdive vibes I am here for!
Touring with Slow Cooked, who were good as well.
Two good bands for 8 quid.
Superb gig tonight, Girls of the Internet, funky, soulful vocals, great bass. Style-wise, quite a contrast from the last band I saw in the same venue, YHWH Nailgun. 😄
clipping. next. 4th time I’ll have seen them, when covid made me think I never would… can’t wait.
Tickets bought for Baxter Dury in Cardiff in November.
I sometimes think I should go and see some new bands but tomorrow I'm off to see Ricky Warwick from the Almighty, who were the second band I ever saw, and CJ from the Wildhearts who were the third. Still down with the kids
Got tickets for Gorillaz this morning.
The only other gig on the horizon is Biffy Clyro next January.
Oh and Antarctic Monkeys at Thornbridge Brewery!
I sometimes think I should go and see some new bands but tomorrow I'm off to see Ricky Warwick from the Almighty, who were the second band I ever saw, and CJ from the Wildhearts who were the third. Still down with the kids
If that is your era then check out New Wave of Classic Rock FB page - there are loads of new rock bands out there now doing some really good stuff. Two of my favourites are These Wicked Rivers and Florence Black.
Did you guys know that the Tygers of Pan Tang are touring again!? 🤣 🤣 I remember them being the butt of NME jokes when I was a teenager. And there's a market for them to tour again! KKKErrrazy 😀
Same with W.A.S.P.! We didn't take them seriously at the time and they're still knocking around! 🤣
Did you guys know that the Tygers of Pan Tang are touring again!?
I always loved the name and the early album covers, but don't think I know anything they played or even what they sound like. I might have a listen later, to find out what I've been missing for forty-odd years. 🤣
The first CD I ever bought, i think, was a compilation album called Metal Killers which I bought not in a record shop but in the cash-and-carry. It had Straight As A Die on it, and 30 years on that's still the only time I'd ever heard of the Tygers Of Pan Tang or even as far I can recall seen the words written down... til today.