Venue:

The Pavilion, Exmouth

Date: 09/12/2019

Apparently it went something like this…Exmouth Pavilion had a phone call to say that Robert Plant was looking to put together a short tour of small venues and would they have any dates available? Bless ‘em, the management of our local venue, whose usual fare is tribute acts and musical theatre, could indeed oblige and thus it was that Percy got to play with his new outfit in my home town. I was tipped the wink by a mate who works there and thus bagged front row seats as soon as they went on sale, and thus it came to pass that on Monday I was sat right in front of the legendary singer as he treated us to his latest new direction.

There was very little on line to suggest what to expect, although a set list from earlier this year turned out to be pretty much on the money – a couple of songs from 2010’s Band Of Joy and one from Raising Sand, a couple of psychedelic era covers and some old songs from the American Appalachian/country canon, and not a Led Zep cover in sight. The band is a » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Date: 07/12/2019

Hopes were high for this. Even navigating my way into central Nottingham in the dark didn’t put me off.

The Rescue Rooms is round the back of Rock City (which was hosting a sold-out show by Elvana – think Dread Zepplin doing the songs of Kurt Cobain), entered through the bar, across a patio/courtyard and though a door into a room not hugely bigger than the Cambridge Portland Arms but with a full-size stage and a massive PA system. Gig curfew of 10:15pm (so the nightclub could begin) meant early (6:30pm) doors.

Support act Sink Ya Teeth made one of my favourite albums of 2018. Their short but sweet set of bass-driven electro-pop included all the hits: Petrol Blue, first single If You See Me, Substitutes, Complicated, Control, a couple of new ones from forthcoming album, Two, including new single The Hot House. They came on at 7:30pm prompt, and were off again half an hour later.

ACR came on a little after 8:30pm. First track was an instrumental with guitarist/trumpeter Martin on drums and drummer Donald on bongos. Then a segue from the Bootsy intro into Do The Du (this is on » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Islington Assembly Hall, London

Date: 21/11/2019

‘Some artists would be thrown by having an election during their tour – I am not one of those people’ proclaims The Bard Of Barking as he launches into a firey ‘Thatcherites’ on the 1st night of his three night run in the capital. Coldplay aren’t the only ones who are trying to tour with an eye on their carbon footprint although I think it makes more sense when he’s playing the States and flying to each venue.

The format of the tour is first night – career spanning set, 2nd night – Life’s A Riot/Brewing Up/Taxman and last night – Playtime/Don’t Try This/Bloke – although not played in their entirety, just ‘selections from’. Some of the in between song “raps” each night are similar as he addresses the current political and social malaise but 42 different songs are aired across the run (43 if you count a radically reworked with modern references ‘Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards’ on Night 1)

It really interesting to see a progression of his song writing from the social and political themes to the more personal politics of life. Not to say that his » Continue Reading.

Venue:

The Tuning Fork, Auckland NZ

Date: 26/11/2019

A letter from the future to my 16 year old self would contain some really good, well-meaning advice – but of course, I wouldn’t have listened. I don’t trust 53 year old me, because he’s probably been oppressed, exploited and had his spirit crushed by the Man, yeah? Well, yes – spot on, spotty! Past and present versions of me have read enough academic papers* about relativity to know enough not to mess with even the smallest decisions I have made, so the whole exercise would be useless.

Apart from this little detail – I would have been interested to know that 53 year old me was in New Zealand (huh?) and was thoroughly entertained by group of young American men pretending to be Depeche Mode from 30 years before. How could that possibly happen?

Well it happened like this – in a smallish venue (perhaps 500 in the audience) Strangelove wandered onto the stage fairly causally and set up the first song, World in my Eyes. The real Depeche Mode whip up the anticipation by emerging eventually after a massive intro sequence. Pretend Dave was remarkable – the physical resemblance to » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Hen and Chicken, Bristol

Date: 26/11/2019

I posted on a Blogger Takeover thread about Geraint Watkins most recent album ‘Rush of Blood’ – a wonderful thing, full of invention and romance. This gig, with a small and hugely talented band, was an absolute delight. Singing and piano playing from Geraint of the highest quality featuring new and old original material and impeccably reworked covers. The band playing only whats needed and nothing more. And he’s very funny!

The audience:

The band are not in the first flush of youth and neither were the audience!

It made me think..

Anybody who hasn’t heard Geraint’s music really should. Try the videos on his facebook page.

Venue:

Band on the Wall, Manchester

Date: 17/11/2019

The track listing for the Lankum albums and that of their previous incarnation as Lynched, might appear overfamiliar to the eye of the regular folk fan. By and large, the themes and tales are trad standards. For crying out loud, they open with that favourite of weddings and karaokes, The Wild Rover. Except that your expectations are not even given lip service from the opening notes, clanging and clashing cyclically. This is not so far from New York minimalism or trance dance, but the roots are unwaveringly folk, as are the instruments – concertina, uillean pipes, fiddle, shruti box. Then there are the voices. The Brothers Lynch undoubtedly have that magic that comes from family members singing together, vocals almost visibly honed in countless Dublin pubs. At times, Cormac Dermody breaks his silence so that all four are making rare harmonies twisting round themselves. But what gets the audience rapt, transcendent, are the songs where Radie Peat breaks out, stark, uncompromising, beautiful. I am told that hers is a classic travelling community style of singing, and it is little surprise that Lisa o’Neill is an associate. It’s harsh, weathered; it wouldn’t » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Islington Assembly Hall

Date: 14/11/2019

No, they are not related to Blues virtuoso Sonny Landreth. Joey and his brother, Dave, are from Winnipeg, Canada. They front a wonderful 4-piece band, keyboards & vocals provided by support act Liam Duncan. The venue was plenty busy enough for a Thursday night, although the chattering during Duncan’s acoustic set was incredibly annoying. The band came on stage on time, plugged in and, BAM, we were off to the races. Joey Landreth is one of my favourite slide players. The fact that he also has the voice of an angel makes him the complete package. His brother is a nimble, nifty bass player and also sings beautifully. Bluesy rock, folk and a bit of country, the middle of the set saw the two brothers and Liam Duncan huddled round one mic, singing exquisite harmonies, with Joey’s quiet guitar providing the colour. It was mesmerising – and no one was chattering then. The drummer came back and they kicked into Maryanne, my favourite from the new (2nd) album, ’87. If only Radio 2 would pick it up, it would be stone banker of a hit. Sung from the view of a drunk, the » Continue Reading.

Venue:

The Union Chapel, Upper Street, London N1

Date: 08/11/2019

It’s so hard to put your finger on what makes a great performance. You see and hear it, right in front of you, but defining what it is exactly that elevates the playing of the songs you’re hearing from being merely good to the absolutely brilliant is immensely difficult.

There is a focus and intensity, building on the foundation of great songs. There is togetherness among the band members and a togetherness between the performers and the audience – a bond between us all; from us in the audience to them on the stage that further elevates things.

It’s certainly nothing to do with theatricality, though I guess showmanship is a different thing – it’s that ability to communicate the music and the lyrics.

Certainly there is little theatricality from The Delines, yet for this performance my eyes were riveted to the stage and my concentration was total and my enjoyment was unbounded. This was a great, great performance. One of the very best gigs I’ve been to for many years. One of the best I’ve been to in my life.

I only discovered The Delines earlier this year. » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Union Chapel

Date: 08/11/2019

Every once in a while I see a gig that completely surpasses my expectations. This gig on Friday night at the lovely Union Chapel was one such gig. I really like this band but on record it would be easy to misinterpret the stately pace of most of their songs as something that wouldn’t translate to the live setting. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The music is surprisingly intricate – it is their skill as musicians that makes it appear less so. In lead singer Amy Boone they have a voice that is so pure yet so soulful that comparisons to Dusty Springfield are inevitable. The difference being the lyrics of Willy Vlautin. He is one America’s best young novelists and he brings a cinematic experience to the songs. Peopled by losers, petty thieves, heartbroken and down and outs there is always something interesting happening. I particularly like the songs where keyboardist Corey Grey doubles on trumpet which lends a melancholy air to songs when needed which given the subject matter is quite frequent. Drums were from another member of Richmond Fontaine Sean Oldham. Richmond Fontaine were probably too austere at times » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Fox Lowe Arts Centre, Leek

Date: 06/11/2019

Oh the irony. Chip Taylor is a hero of mine and I found out he was doing a short tour of the UK. His Birmingham date at the Kitchen Garden Cafe was on Monday night and I couldn’t go because it clashed with tickets I had for Dawes in London. As it was I couldn’t make the Dawes gig due to work but could have made the Brum date. As it was I had the bonus of a gig in a splendid venue I not been to before but which I will certainly go back to. Lovely acoustics, friendly people and great beer. Chip is something of a legend in my house – writer of Wild Thing and Angel of the morning are enough to have earned him a decent living but variously he has been a professional gambler, an attempt at being a professional golfer and a Whiskey Salesman which is the title of his most recent album. For 79 he looks in good shape. Accompanied by that youngster John Platania at a mere 71 and a Norwegian keyboard player Goran Grini who is a whippersnapper nearer to half their » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Islington Assembly Hall

Date: 04/11/2019

It is 3 years since Dawes have been to the U.K and 4 years since I last saw them. Boy, have they been busy while they’ve been away. A growing fan base in the U.S (us Brits ‘got’ them first, which is why they played here a lot in the early days), a support slot with ELO and hundreds of gigs has meant that the band which almost sprinted on stage last night are now a tight, confident unit. Lee Pardini has developed into a wonderful keyboard player (one of his piano solos even had singer Taylor Goldsmith applauding), the rhythm section of drummer Griffin Goldsmith and bassist Wylie Gelber have become a rumbling steam train and Taylor’s guitar playing has gone up several notches. In short, this band have paid their dues in spades, and are now reaping the rewards.

The 1200 capacity venue was sold out and the roar after the first song told the band everything they wanted to know about whether the London audience was still there for them. Taylor bounced around the stage like the Duracell bunny, the harmonies were straight and true and the audience sang their » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

Date: 03/11/2019

Having repeatedly told myself that the last time was the last, usually following some phoned in and lacklustre concert, here I was back in front of the Oysterband eating my words. OK, this was with the added wonder of June Tabor, whom, apart from a Big Session Tour aeons ago, and amongst many other guests, I had never caught in the full majesty of a joint concert. And this was fully majesterial. Her presence seems to have kicked a renewed sense of purpose into the band, their playing up a several few notches from the increasingly limpid back-patting of recent gigs, drenched in semi-acoustic easy listening. (OK, that’s harsh, but, possibly having seen the band more than any other, RT perhaps apart, I know the difference between them on fire and them on a low simmer.) Hell, Alan Prosser even played some guitar solos, something I have never knowingly witnessed in near 40 years, as well as plugging in on choppy electric more often than has been the case for a while. And when Prosser was on his acoustic, adding his hypnotic metronome, head ever a’bobbing, the chances were that Al Scott, » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Hackney Empire

Date: 02/11/2019

After the previous night of the band’s Grand Tour, a train back from Newport to London, the RWC Final on the radio and a great meal in our favourite fish restaurant we finally arrived at The Old Ship in Hackney for the Passengers meet-up. Loud, friendly and beery, the band’s followers are a lovely bunch, even rolling out a birthday cake for one of the Italian travellers (fans had also flown in from Seattle, Vancouver and Auckland for these rare gigs by BBT.) It was our first time at The Empire and it is a beautiful old theatre. The excellent merch desk was doing a roaring trade, as was the main bar. Support act was Sweet Billy Pilgrim and, both nights, they were fun, quirky and tuneful. So, to the reason we are all here. Regular readers will know that I adore Big Big Train so, when I say that Saturday night was one of the best gigs I have been to, in 48 years of gig-going, you may not be surprised. But it really was. And the sound. I grabbed the band’s producer and live engineer, Rob Aubrey, as we left and told » Continue Reading.

Venue:

The Odeon, Maidenhead

Date: 28/10/2019

This film of Bruce Springsteen’s Western Stars album started out as a simple ‘concert’ film of Bruce playing the album live, in his barn……with a 30-piece orchestra, a 10-piece band, 4 singers and his wife, Patti. Oh, and some friends for the audience. It was filmed, by Thom Zimny, in May 2019, over 3 days, each song being played twice, to get the best version.

As Thom and Bruce were editing the film, Bruce realised that here was a chance to introduce each song, to dig down into what he was thinking and where the characters were going, and to do it as a voice-over. One night, in front of the TV, he wrote the script.

That then sparked the two of them to add so much more to this film. Bruce wrote some music to go underneath his words and Thom filmed scenes with Bruce around the Springsteen property and then out in the Southern California desert. Finally, they added in some archive film from the 1950’s and 60’s of scenes of American family life and celebrations.

So, what do you get?

Simply put, one of the most captivating, intoxicating and emotional » Continue Reading.

Venue:

O2 Academy ‘2’, B’ham

Date: 24/10/2019

Lamb have always somehow passed me by, they being more my wife’s bag, and this is the 2nd time we have had tickets to see them. Unfortunately circumstances prevented the first and a rocking dose of sinusitis for her meant I was flying solo tonight. (I sent her a clip and her opinion follows……) My hatred of the O2 Academy is on record, or at least of the main hall. I have, however, come to quite like the smaller ‘2’ and the even tinier ‘3’, tucked elsewhere in the same building. I had somehow thought Lamb a bigger draw, slightly surprised the attendance to be quite sparse, perhaps a hundred and fifty souls. Suits me, mind, no lover of crowds. Expecting the core duo of the records, Andy Barlow (keyboards/programming) and Lou Rhodes (vocals) to be all there were, I noted the drum kit, basses, upright and electric both, guitars and fiddles at the back of the empty stage, alongside the rack of keys, modulators and ubiquitous MacBook. Promised an 8.30 start, it was only moments later the lights dimmed, and 3 burly fellas bounded out, followed by a smaller female, keeping » Continue Reading.

Venue:

T-Mobile Park – Seattle, Washington, USA

Date: 19/10/2019

An occasional post from your (far) North West corespondent here. It’s a long drive from Portland to Seattle – a bit shy of 200 miles, but these guys aren’t getting any younger and my step-daughter, at 16, is a big fan of late 60s-early 70s rock, and that is to be encouraged, so the pair of us made the trek north.

This tour was put together by Daltrey, using the theory that you could pick up a local orchestra, have them rehearse up the set during the day, and slap a rock band in front of them on the night. Townshend was skeptical and there seems to have been a certain amount of arm twisting to get him to come on board.

I’m getting ahead of myself. The venue was T-Mobile Park, which is where the Seattle Mariners play “baseball”, which I’m informed is some sort of cricket/rounders like game. It must be quite popular as the stadium is huge. Being “up North” the climate is challenging, so the building has a retractable roof, and mercifully, it’s fully extended tonight, covering about half the stadium. The stage is set » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Lichield Garrick Theatre

Date: 18/10/2019

Quietly re-forming in 2011, it may come as a surprise this venerable warhorse of a band is still in existence. Arising out of the mighty ‘Rise Up Like the Sun’ incarnation of the Albion Band, notable mainly for having a full brass section, their peak period was near 40 years ago, a full on fusion between a pit band, folk rock and broadsheet ballads, often penned by then front man, John Tams. Tams retired in 2015 and was replaced by John Kirkpatrick, a masterful choice, given many of the band had been in his own eponymous group at one time. This year they decided to do a series of gigs entitled the Grand Reunion, with Tams back in the fold. This was the second of such, prompted by Tams being patron of Lichfield Festival of Folk, and served as the opening concert of a series of events in the city. Bang on 7.30(!!), down came the lights and the band strolled on. Now decidedly mature in years, they looked more a collection of elderly teachers on a night out, even down to the once trendy teacher defiantly maintaining his 1970s haircut, this being Graeme » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Sydney Opera House

Date: 09/10/2019

I like jazz a lot, but wouldn’t call myself a jazzer or jazzhead.  I have no idea who played bass on session 4, take 3 of Charlie Parker’s blah blah blah album, or that you can hear the sound of Elvin Jones clipping his toenails in 7/8 time while Coltrane takes off on his own on Giant Steps.  But I do like a bit of jazz, or in Washington’s case, a lot of jazz.

Washington and crew came on stage at the ungodly hour of 9.30, half an hour late, and generally about the time I’m nodding off in front of the telly.  Wife and offspring (and me if I’m honest) weren’t overly impressed with this tardiness, but we’re here now, so let’s strap ourselves in for an evening of hurdy gury existentialist spiralling jazz odyssey.  And that’s pretty much what we got. 

I saw him here last year, and the line-up and vibe were the same.  Two drummers, trombone, keys, bass, sax and other assorted wind instruments, plus Patrice Quinn on vocals.  A big big sound from a very talented band.  if you base your gig value-for-money on the number of » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Brighton Dome

Date: 04/10/2019

Rather than being lost in music at gigs these days, I often find myself asking ‘How can they afford to be playing?’ and this was certainly the case with PF support act The Wendy James Band. Rather than having some young computer whizz-kid intern emulating the sounds of a full combo, the former Transvision Vamper had five big lads, all, one assumes, on per diems, and including drum semi-legend Jim Sclavunos, backing her. She has a new, presumably crowd-funded, album out soon, and the set touched on that, with enough TV hits to keep some interest going. They ended with the best known one. The one that, perhaps appositely for this audience, ends ‘I don’t care’.

It’s 40 years since The PF’s debut single We Love You, though they don’t play it tonight and rarely do. Tonight’s a run through their various phases, from the debut album’s Sister Europe and India to Midnight To Midnight’s Heartbreak Beat via Talk Talk Talk’s Dumb Waiters, Mr Jones, Into You Like A Train and Pretty In Pink, Forever Now’s Love My Way and President Gas and Mirror Moves’ The Ghost in You and Heaven. I say run-through, but » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Date: 04/10/2019

I first saw The Lips in Sydney 15 years ago at a stand-up gig in a smallish theatre. They showcased Yoshimi and the Pink Robots. Lots of colour, beach balls, streamers and band members in animal suits. It was a lot of fun.

Fast forward they are doing one of those anniversary tours. Soft Bulletin is being showcased. This time I am in Melbourne and it is at a plush concert hall. But the show is pretty similar only more so. Masses of streamers and beach balls hersald Race For The Prize and a massive rig of thin lighting strips provide an endless array of colour effects. Grateful Dead eat your heart out. Wayne Coyne has a frail “half voice”. He sings entirely falsetto though I’ve heard some of their earlier proto punk stuff and his voice is lower on those. It must be hard work. His voice is undermixed. This is surprising given it is night 2 in thois concert hall. Perhaps it is deliberate. 3 guitars with 2 also playing keys/synths, bass and 2 drummer plus Coyne. They do well at reproducing the multi layered studio album Soft Bulletin.

The » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, Victoria,Australia

Date: 25/09/2019

I may have written about Derek Gripper previously. A white South African highly accomplished classical guitarist who came across a recording of Toumani Diabate’s Kaira and , without having held a kora let alone seen it in performance, sought to imitate the sound on classical guitar. Toumani Diabate was staggered when he eventually heard his work and, upon hearing it, classical guitarist John Williams put him on a bill at The Globe in London. The rest, as they say, is history. He now travels the globe performing at festivals and collaborating with various musicians. He was played and stayed with Toumani Diabate in Mali and played before the nation’s griots in Bamako.

The album that broke it for him was “a night on earth with Derek Gripper” hence my headline. That album was put out by friends of mine on the wonderful Matsuli label, so when he was to appear at a guitar festival in Melbourne, contact was made. He had a grab bag of gigs at the festival some country theatres and home performances. I offered to drive him to Castlemaine – the grand old gold rush town in Central » Continue Reading.

Venue:

The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington

Date: 30/09/2019

What a night. What a phenomenal night! How to celebrate this extraordinary man who has spent more than 50 of his 70 years writing extraordinary songs of apolalypse and redemption, and coupling them with unmistakable guitar playing to the acclaim and adulation of far too few? Stick on a big gig at a prestigious venue and bring along a bunch of family, friends and acolytes to help out, that’s how.

From the get go we were promised an evening of song, friendship and nepotism by our MC Jack Thompson (Richard’s youngest, you see what he means?) and that’s what we got in spades. It is in the nature of a guest list show, with every performer getting one or two songs before making way for the next, that you hope for a collection of highlights rather than a consistent narrative, so I’m going to lean heavily on the setlist which someone stuck up on Setlist.fm with admirable speed and comment on each one, rattling through the songs and guests off the top of my head rather than tackle the evening in themes. The result is far too long and barely edited » Continue Reading.