Gigs.

Nation of Language a few weeks back – at the foundry Sheffield.

Fantastic US ’80s-done-well’ band.

Such a good venue!

New Album is mint. ‘Strange Disciple’.

Two gigs for me tonight. Love living in Macc 🙂

Skindred at the Leadmill for me tonight.

Yeah boi!

Original Pirate Material 😊

A varied few weeks for me coming up!

Sasha and Digweed tomorrow night

Queens of the Stone Age next week

Belle and Sebastian at the start of December

The Mary Wallopers on Sunday in Tramshed, Cardiff.  £18 per ticket, including booking fee. I’m sure that last year in the back room of a pub it was £12. Outrageous inflation! 😀

Last year they were excellent, so I’m hoping that will carry over to a bigger room.

Going to Perth tonight to see Karine Polwart. Must be my age but I’m looking forward to a quiet, sit down gig.

I’m off to Queens of the Stone Age in manchester next week. First gig in many years!

Going to see Corey Taylor tomorrow night in Manchester 

Man On Man last night in Edinburgh- wasn’t really paying a lot of attention in advance to this one, heard a couple of songs, perceived the extremely high gayness but not that half the band is Roddy Bottum from Faith No More, which is odd in a venue the size of my living room. And it was brilliant- massive walls of noise from 2 guitars/guitar and keys over backing tracks- like Carter USM collaborating with the loudest bits of Mogwai. Also I forgot my ticket and had to get another one on the door and it was still worth it. Still a few unsold out dates on the tour, totally worth checking out.

(excitingly, Sneaky Pete’s has demolished the wall in the middle that made it such an incredibly awful live venue. It’s still not good, but now at least it’s not disastrous. Back here in a month for Pet Needs so that’s good)

Next week, off to Manchester to see Symposium and A. And then off to London to see Symposium and A. This is settling in to be a brilliantly middle-aged couple of shows, they’ve even announced all the stage times this far in advance so we know we can get to bed nice and early.

I’m going to continue my run of only going to gigs that I can walk to so think I’ll pop into the Nag’s Head tonight for a bit of rock and then Rodina at MASH tomorrow night. Oh and maybe Samantha Lloyd at the Button Warehouse on Sunday 🙂

I was supposed to see Gentleman’s Dub Club last night and Dreadzone tonight but stomach cramps have put paid to both those plans.  I couldn’t face being around people and I think the smell of beer would make me vomit.  Bloody annoyed!

Went to see Malevolence on Wednesday in Manchester, I have absolutely never seen a crowd like it. I’m not even a big fan of them, mainly went to see their main support in Sylosis. The atmosphere was brilliant though and one of the best gigs I’ve been to down to how much the crowd loved it.

Got another gig at the same venue on Saturday, Stray From The Path,  favourite band and drummer of the moment. Cannot wait.

I saw Death Cult in Rock City on Monday night, really impressive. A good mix of Death Cult, early Cult and a bit of SDC. Much better thatn last time I saw The Cult.

Last time I saw The Cult was at Rock City, and they were superb. The Mission were allegedly support but the fog machines were so overdone it could have been four mannikins and a tape deck. Nothing happened till about 10.30 because practically everyone there had started their evening round the corner at the Royal Concert Hall for the Banshees gig. Siouxsie had a broken leg and perched on a high stool all night. Proper night out!

@kayak23 – prepare for some jumping around and flying beer if you’re anywhere near the front! Haven’t booked up for this round of the Streets but have seen him a couple of times before 🙂

Ben Folds tonight for me at the Sage in Gateshead – now called the Glasshouse.

This is the Kit next Wednesday.

And Seth Lakeman the Wednesday after!

Cultural Wednesdays 🙂

Personal Trainer at The Joiners Southampton on Sunday. Hopefully as good as they were in Spring. Hopefully the beer offer is as good as last time at The Joiners – so rare to get decent beer at any venue.

We went to see Queens of the Stone Age at Manchester Arena last night. They were awesome! It’s years since I’ve been to a ‘big’ gig as they’re not usually my bag, but some bands really do that kind of venue justice. Absolutely loved it! The mosh pit was bedlam but I’m too old for that nonsense 😂

I really fancied the Death Cult gig at the Albert Halls as I bloody love the Cult (it was my first ‘proper’ gig in 1985) and love that venue, so it’s a dream combination, but unfortunately we were away

@binners I was there too, 2nd time seeing them this year after the Piece hall gig afew months back. Shame I missed the support acts (bloody M62 closure) but an brilliant gig none the less

@halifaxpete – it was a top night. I went with our kid who came up from London for it. She got the train back this afternoon and is seeing them at the O2 tonight. She’s a bit of a fan! 😂

We went as well! Excellent gig, you’re right about them doing the venue justice. We were chuffed to see the Chats too, they’re a bit of a family favourite, and did a great job. The first support band, Deep Tan, were pretty good although it must be bloody tough playing a venue that size when it’s half empty!

Looking forward to BC Camplight at Albert Hall tomorrow as well. 

@wooobob – we’re away or we’d have been there too. We’ve seen him loads of times and he always puts on a proper show, but that’s my favourite venue. It’ll be blinding!

Yeah! Just managed to get tickets for Glastonbury – the first time since 2015 (well I had a ticket in 2016 but couldn’t go). 🙂

Tom Maguire and the Brassholes at The Garage, Islington last night. Cracking gig; tight, funky and energetic.

Does anyone want a couple of tickets to see Embrace at the Leadmill tonight for a few beer tokens or a donation to something worthwhile?

Bought ages ago and was supposed to be at The O2 earlier in the month (which is now closed) and rescheduled to tonight. Mrs STR and I both CBA, so they are going begging.

They are playing The Good Will Out set

Does anyone want a couple of tickets to see Embrace at the Leadmill tonight

I went to the London date on Friday. Would wholeheartedly recommend – either to someone to pick up the tickets or for Mr & Mrs STR to get over their CBA 😉

@halifaxpete Deep Tan were ok, but The Chats ( I think ) were poor IMO. QOTSA were superb. Really enjoyed it.

Took my 13 year old to see QOTSA at the O2 – his first proper gig (if you don’t count Latitude). He loved it.

No more gigs for me this year. Tool & Smashing Pumpkins booked for next year. And the wife has The Wonderstuff & James.

Back from Personal Trainer at The Joiners. Took a group of 8 this time. They were great. Really tight and just seem to be always really having a great time. @wooobob – were they supporting BC Camplight?

Symposium and A absolutely ****ing magnificent in Manchester, honestly one of the best gigs I’ve ever seen (and superb crowd, which obviously adds a lot) I mean, I like A but the last few times I’ve seen them it was pretty low-energy and a bit phoned in, turns out the trick is to get JP to take off his raincoat and they’re suddenly 10 years younger. And Symposium just straight out killed it. I mean, massively fanservicey but that’s just fine by me when the songs still sound this good.

Couldn’t really walk the next day mind. Wasn’t as good in London, A were back on more normal form and the crowd was a lot harder work- more crushy, less bouncy and joyous. But still fab. We’re all doing pretty well for a bunch of old bastards I think.

Maybe time to get out of the rut of seeing old bands though. (checks diary. Next show is The Almighty. Ah well, so mich for that!)

@vd No, BC Camplight support were called Peaness. They were better than the name suggested, 90s-esque guitar pop.

Went to A and Symposium in Camden too. Watched A from the balcony and headed down in the break, ended up a couple from the front so went with it. Not done that in ages, still a bit sore this morning. I’m happy to go and see them play every November if they want to keep doing it!

Saw Ben Folds at Royal Albert Hall on Monday too, good setup with the band and guests even if his playing was suffering a bit (rest of euro tour cancelled with tendinitis). Hadn’t heard of Tall Heights, who were being his guitarist and cellist, but I’ve listened to them a lot this week, really enjoying. Bit gutted I can’t make it to their own show tonight.

Bob Vylan on Weds, if my mate can get away from his jet-setting lifestyle to get with the punk/rock/rap programme for a night 😛

QOTSA IN Glasgow was absolutely insane. Perfect from start to finish. Despite being 46 I charged into the pit for the finale of Song For The Dead. Joyous carnage

I haven’t seen a band in years but went along to the Mission at the roundhouse.
Somehow I managed to get 3 beers in me and I was well up for it.
Headed down the front and it was just people standing there. No pushing or anything.
The Mish were a dirge but I still had a great evening.
So next year I’m looking for young bands in small venues with an enthusiastic following and hoping it goes off.
Any London recommendations?

From recent shows i’ve seen.

Personal Trainer and Pip Blom, wherever they are. The Bug Club. Pale Blue Eyes. Courting.

Hardworking bands, so they’ll be playing somewhere nearby before long.

In fact:

Courting, Dingwalls 9th Feb

TBC, Village Underground 1st Mar

Personal Trainer, Shep Bush Empire THIS THURSDAY 23rd (do it!!)

Pip Blom, Heaven, 21st Feb

Pale Blue Eyes, just toured so no new dates yet.

Jacob Yates & the Pearly Gate Lockpickers at the Rum Shack in Glasgow last Thursday, so brilliant even with hipsters loudly talking pish near the bar. Dark ain’t the word.
Belle & Sebastian on a Friday in a few weeks followed by Arab Strap on the Saturday – like stepping back in time 25 years, bit odd.

Fever Ray are touring in March, but only playing Manchester, London and Bristol. Weighing up which will make for the best trip. Manchester on a Friday night feels like the front-runner!

Off to see Prodigy tonight in Brighton. Haven’t seen them since 97, at Glastonbury. Don’t know what is happening re: Keef Flint. Replaced him, or sampled his original input, maybe?

Soft Play are supporting, so looking forward to seeing them too.

Off to see Prodigy tonight in Brighton.

I love The Prodigy, but I can’t imagine them without Keith Flint. I saw them back in 2002 at the Leeds Festival and ended up in the mosh pit. I have never been so exhausted and bruised before or since! It was great fun 🙂