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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.
Saw Gorillaz last night in Nottingham. Probably the best stadium gig I've been too - fantastic visuals, great musicians and the best sound quality I've heard in a stadium. The bass on Stylo thumping through you was epic.
Tonight 🙂
Just got tickets for Teenage Fanclub at New Century Hall in Manchester in November. Part of a European tour.
If you’ve never seen the Fannies live, one of their gigs is a truly joyous and wonderful thing. Harmony-tastic!
Tickets were a very reasonable 35 quid too.
My Bloody Valentine on Friday, again enjoying it more than expected. Despite having three guitars I much prefer synth pop these days, so it was nice to see Chvrches were playing also, stripped back meant the drummer played keys and the other two main players were on guitars😐🥴. New song sounded more pop punk with a hardcore guitar bassline. It was the only song my liked.
oh and MBV were very loud.
My Bloody Valentine on Friday, again enjoying it more than expected. Despite having three guitars I much prefer synth pop these days, so it was nice to see Chvrches were playing also, stripped back meant the drummer played keys and the other two main players were on guitars😐🥴. New song sounded more pop punk with a hardcore guitar bassline. It was the only song my liked.
oh and MBV were very loud.
Watched Mwsog practice in the local yesterday,
Get Down Services in Carmathen on Friday were great
Lacatillia were awesome the other week in Ponty
John Mouse (the Welsh one) at Afan Ales in Port Talbot was good
Papaya Noon are a new local fave
Kelly Moran was great at the Gate in Cardiff last month
I used to always think there wasn't much going on in South Wales but it seems to be thriving and the more you look the more you find so it's easy to be trying to make a tricky decision come the weekend
Arghh photos at gigs...I'm on the fence with this, I never used to ever ever take a pic or video as a rule, but then half way through last year I got to the point were I couldn't remember half the bands I've seen over the years and it's not like there's ticket stubs anymore so I try to stick my hand up, quickly rattle off 5 pics which are usually terrible and chuck them on my IG after, maybe a 10 sec vid at most (I'm usually up against a wall in the crowd tbh) as I'm seeing small bands more often than not they're reshared by the band or venue after the gig as a tiny bit of promo - I try to keep it to a minimum!
I got to the point were I couldn't remember half the bands I've seen over the years and it's not like there's ticket stubs anymore
Said it before and I'll say it again - log em here on CONCERTARCHIVES. It's a great resource for tracklists etc. and has gigs upcoming, so you can use it as a diary too 🙂
I even uploaded a photo the other day (but I did rob it off Facebook 😛 )
Reminds me, did the Lo Fidelity Allstars the other day - was a fun gig. There's only one original band member left, so was a bit tribute bandy 😯 but didn't know that in advance.
One more gig, By Storm on Weds in Brighton, then a few weeks break. Need it... I'm knackered. March was awesome.
Final gig of a run of amazing shows last night. By Storm were amazing. I thought I was the only person who'd heard of them, but the tiny venue was surprisingly packed. Sounds from the PA were mindblowing and the rap fella was a delight. More electronic and less jazzy than I expected, which was a bonus 🙂 Rest now til end of the month. Phew. #bestyearever
I thought I'd missed the opportunity to see the David Byrne tour and 6 music keeps going on about it being the most life affirming experience ever. But he's coming back in July. The Piece Hall date is sold out but there were still tickets for Cardiff, and a weekend down on the Glamorgan heritage coast is always welcome.
I'll tell you who I won't be seeing - Angine De Poitrine.
Every gig within reach is already sold out, there was one local venue who put tickets up today at 11. At 11:00:05 I loaded the page and pressed two tickets. I was sent into hold/a queue ~ 11:00:20.
By 11:02 my place in the queue came up and they had already all gone.
Damn