Gigs.

Off to see Half Man Half Biscuit tonight. I’ve seen them loads of times before but every gig is different. And brilliant.

Longshot but got two tickets to see Jordan Rakei at the Royal Albert Hall tonight but can’t go as got a sick dog which can’t be left alone. Got PDF tickets so if anyone would like them, make me an offer and I’ll email them over.

I’m breaking my no gigs on a Monday rule and going to see Rory A Green support Kessoncoda tonight at YES in Manchester.

Busy week as I’ve also got Big Canvas on Thursday, Alor on Friday, Aeryn, Charlie Ormrod, Yopo & LASH on Saturday and Healy Badger on Sunday! Oh and the usual Button Warehouse Live Lounge on Tuesday 🙂

Australian Pink Floyd at Birmingham Symphony Hall last night – they are excellent at what they do, and had me in tears of nostalgia several times. The stage presence is a bit ‘flat’ – there’s not much interaction with the audience or even introducing the band members – but the music for a couple of thousand mostly ‘past-middle-age’ men was superb. They’re on at Symphony Hall again tonight, and then continue the tour elsewhere, and apparently back in the country in 2025.

Sorry about the quality of the pics, we had seats right up in the Upper Circle, hence rather a long way from the stage.

Took my 14yo daughter and her mate to their first gig to see Alice Cooper last night at the NIA in Birmingham.

Pretty cool to see your kids rocking out and singing along to the same music I listened to (and still do!) at their age.

It’s my 5th or 6th time seeing him since the early 90’s, the dude still rocks at 76!!!

Support from Primal Scream was pretty decent too.

Australian Pink Floyd… then continue the tour elsewhere, and apparently back in the country in 2025

I’m going to see them in November. They tend to tour every year and me and my brothers always go. We used to go with our mum and dad when they were around – dad was a huge fan and chose ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ to be played at his funeral. We always raise a glass to him when they start playing it.

Also got tickets for Electric Six and Fontaines DC in November and early December.

Adult DVD, Turnspit and Fake Dennis at the brudenell last weekend. 3 hours of music for £7, ridiculous. If you like a bit of synth/electro rock, check them out.  I think Adult DVD are going to be big (well, big in a low key way!) B⁠-⁠)

Just managed to pick up a ticket for the 2nd night of biffy clyro’s run in London, already had one for the first- they’re playing the first 3 albums in full, one each night, and I <love> Blackened Sky and Vertigo of Bliss, was there first time round and also got to see them doing this same “one album a night” thing the first time they did it, at king tuts. So excited for these two…

Inconvenient that it’s in London and I live near Edinburgh recently but the Barras shows sold out instantly, on account of biffy fans are all terrifying obsessed cultists. But hey, it’ll make a nice trip.

John Street Revival tonight, Gritstone tomorrow and Legs on Wheels on Saturday 🙂

John Grant last night in Hackney ably supported by Big Special (think a more shouty version of John Cooper Clark and co but just as witty).

Nasty C at the Jazz Cafe done with my son last night. Loved it. We were 2 of just a handful of white boys in the place, great atmosphere, place was kicking! Could hardly see the stage for the phones held up, but I expected it and got over my utter hatred of phones at gigs (for one night only! lol )  . Back to shitty London on Monday for Unkle, which will be rather different!

Squeeze later this week as a celebration of our (MrsS and I) first gig together 42 years ago! I suspect we won’t be bopping as hard as in 1982.

Unkle last night. Hassle of getting into London was worth it. Great sound at Outernet, great visuals and music had me dancin like an old raver for an hour. Then the 2 gigs (home at 1am wail!) in one weekend caught up with me and I retired to the bar. Sound was still good back there. Excellent venue.

@desperatebicycle  – My daughter also struggled in and out of London last night BUT she saw a different artist….hmmm two gigs in a small town like London on a Monday UNLIKELY!!!!   I reckon you were really went to the Omar Rudberg Gig at Heaven!!!

Omar … oh yeah, looks right up my street! I’ve been to Heaven once, saw Factory Floor there in 2017 🙂

Just back from my 2 nights of Biffy Clyro and pretending it’s the early 2000s… first album night was great, second album night was probably the best live show I’ve seen this decade. Just phenomenal stuff, helped along by a properly lunatic obsessive crowd that doesn’t just know all the words but also the weird noises and when to clap and when to open up the pit and when to bounce. One of those shows when you almost feel like you’re one of the instruments, that perfect communal synchronicity thing.

Now to see if I can get any tickets for the next 3 nights in Glasgow 🙂

Public Service Broadcasting last week at Albert Hall, Manchester. Good fun, the set and visuals add an extra dimension. Very polite crowd! A bit of tweed/bowtie cosplay going on as well.

On checking we were a week shy of 42 years since our first gig together! Squeeze was a great show with lots of the old stuff in batches between the new stuff. (2 albums due out early next year one of stuff Tilbrook and Difford wrote in the 70’s and one of newly written music). The voices are starting to go which is not surprising given their ages but no doubting their fitness for a 2 hour show.

Finally a pic from John Grant last week

Been a busy few weeks, beginning of October went to the Eventim Apollo to see Soilwork, In flames, and Arch Enemy, bit of Swedish metal to blow the cobwebs out

Epic gig, forgot how much I loved In Flames, great show by all 3 bands, although i wasnt too excited by Arch Enemy, beyond Alissa White-Gluz being on stage

While I was there I discovered that i could still get tickets to see Sleep Token at the O2, so in for that, definitely a Marmite band but I’m eager to see them live.

Last week i went to see Lacuna Coil at the O2 Academy Bournemouth, fantastic show, the balance of Christina’s crystal clear powerful vocals and Andrea’s guttural growls, like sweet and salty.. amazing show, small venue, great view. Forgot how much i loved this band.

The warm up act was “Blind Channel”, what i saw was a boy band, incredibly cringey, would not recommend ever.. they did their best, and the choreography was on point, not sure they played any instruments… After later research i discovered they were Finland’s Eurovision entry in 2021…..

Next up is Falling in reverse in December…

Saw Bernard Butler at the Castle and Falcon in Birmingham last Sunday.  Great set and his usual modest stage self.

I saw Public Service Broadcasting at Rock City a couple of nights ago – great set as you’d expect, spanning many albums not just their latest stuff. Love the brass trio and the obligatory dancing Spacemen

At the weekend a double of Tindersticks in Sheffield and then a blast from the past – Wendy James at an instore on Sunday

Roddy Woomble ( Idlewild) last night, supported by Haiver ( Billy Kennedy ex Frightened Rabbit) good night of music in a wee venue . Mr Kennedy swears a LOT.

A couple of recent gigs, Seth Lakeman at Frome Cheese & Grain, touring the 20th Anniversary of his first album ‘Kitty Jay’, and excellent he was too…

and last night it was Judie Tzuke touring her new album ‘Jude the Unsinkable’, and a lovely gig it was too, Jude’s voice is still there, although she can’t hit the really high notes, but she’s got her eldest daughter Bailey on backing vocals, and her co-writing partner Chaz Thorogood on guitar and vocals, and a recent additional bass/keys player on vocals, Bailey gets the notes Jude can’t, so it works out well.

Oh, and next week I’ve got Laura Marling at Hackney Church, with her new album just out as well.

Went to see Swedish, experimental psych/rock band, Goat at the Troxy in London on Thursday, loved it.

Off to see Wand on Tues at Moth Club in Hackney for a bit more psychedelic rock.

Yeah, Goat at Manchester academy tonight, best gig I’ve been to for years!

Johnny Jurassic and The Dead Wells tonight. Properly ace 🙂

Next week I’ve got…

Scatterchild

Freya Beer

Bethlehem Casuals

Getner

Cloe Velez

The Memory Club

Llama Llama

Alwyn Jones

Toenails

Chris Tavener

Will probably go to The Button Warehouse Live Lounge and The Whiskey Jar Open Mic too. I wonder why I’m permanently knackered 😉

B. Dolan last night. Joiners. Top.

Final tour cos he’s done his spine in, so he was on great form. Seen him a few times over the years and will miss his live gigs. Top fella.

Big Star at Hackney Church on Thursday ft among others Mike Mills of R.E M.

Well jealous of those of you who got to see Goat. On my list for sure.

Next week: Amyl and the Sniffers in Glasgow; week after that: Nas (Illmatic 30th anniversary); December: KNEECAP

This week I have mostly been listening to…

Lankum

Their headline set at End of the Road on the Garden Stage is probably my (unexpected) gig of the year.  Would have gone to see them this last weekend, but it clashed with John Grant at Del La Warr pavilion.  Who cancelled that morning while we were on the train down.

Anyway – Lankum’s recently released live album is stunning.  Play it loud.

Golden Dregs at a tiny pub in east London a few weeks back.

Then should have been seeing Baloji both in London and Amsterdam.  But both those gigs cancelled 🙁

Through November have Brown Horse (did a brilliant set at EoTR and caught them bottom of the bill at the Brixton Windmill early in the year)  at the Moth Club in Hackney, Liz Lawrence in Camden and Pokey Lafarge in Brixton

Yeah, Goat at Manchester academy tonight, best gig I’ve been to for years!

thats good to hear, got rock city on 16th november.

Just in from Ginger Wildheart in Edinburgh. It’s a strange time to see a Ginger Wildheart, considering he’s also “reformed” the Wildhearts without any of the other key members and with the same guitarist as plays with solo Ginger Wildheart. So what’s the difference, between the Wildhearts and Ginger Wildheart Band? Well basically it is that Ginger plays a telecaster not a les paul.

But, still good fun and some brilliant songs.

Just in from Ginger Wildheart in Edinburgh

I’d never really paid any attention to The Wildhearts until a friend asked me if I wanted to see Ginger in a cafe locally earlier this year. I could see very little, kept tripping over Ginger’s dog, and only knew a few songs but it was an excellent night. It was one of those nights when almost the whole crowd – not very big, maybe 50-100 people – knew every word and you could feel the love in the room. I’ve only experienced that a few times and this time was a band that I didn’t know, but have continued to listen to.

I saw Public Service Broadcasting at Rock City a couple of nights ago – great set as you’d expect

Just got in from seeing them at The Dome in Brighton, fantastic show and my partner who knew nothing about them is a definite fan now.

Y&T at Rock City this Saturday.

Last year’s gig was cancelled due to a band member having cancer treatment.  These sort of things happen to older bands. Or worse.

Hope they’re on top form and top fitness.

@sadexpunk

thats good to hear, got rock city on 16th november.

See you there – although I expect that you’ll be difficult to spot in amongst all the other gentlemen of a certain age 🙂

I’ve also got Nick Cave in Birmingham the day before who I expect to be superb

Aussie Pink Floyd in Harrogate tomorrow night with my brothers, followed by curry and beer.

Goat sadly not playing Glasgow this time around.

Saw the brilliant corto.alto at st Luke’s a few weeks ago, blown away – young folks, from Glasgow, playing jazz, proper jazz to a sell-out crowd! They’ve just announced a show at Barrowland in Jan, that’ll be ace. They reckon they’ll be the first jazz act to headline there. Can’t think of another, need to go down the nearby album pathway and check the ground.

A wee run coming up next week – billy woods on Thursday (sadly clashing with Beak> but I’ve seen them a few times before) then Ezra Collective on Friday (if anyone knows of a spare, please message me, bit of a fight in our house as we’re one short) then Naima Bock on Sunday.

Got the kids tickets for Nas in Edinburgh on Monday, neither have made a move to pay me back yet.

Just got tickets for 808 State at New Century Hall in December. A venue in Manchester I’ve never been to but it looks good. They’re playing 90 in its entirety. I’ve seen them loads of times before and they’re bloody great live!