With the country still in the midst of lockdown and no sign of any live music in the foreseeable future if at all this year I thought I would take the opportunity to look back in the archives, sounds posh I know but it’s just an spreadsheet, and revisit gigs I attended on this day down the years. I will keep this going until I can attend my first gig again in person so hopefully this also brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
Three of best for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2016, Felice Brothers, Slims, San Francisco, Us and A
This gig was part of Andy and Mine 50th birthday celebrations. We had a split trip with a few days in San Francisco, one of my favourite US cities, and then a few days in Vegas where we met up with Alex celebrating his 30th and taking in a Prophets of Rage gig.
It was a good time to be in Frisco, the Giants were in the World Series and so there was a buzz around the bars every evening as we joined the locals watching their weirdly fascinating sport. While there I got a message from Facebook about a competition to win tickets to see the Felice Brothers and you had to recall what memory you have in relation to one of their songs. I recounted my story of seeing them for the first time in a crazy night at the Luminaire where Simone, the unofficial leader of the band, behind the drums ended the show in just his pants. Well I won the tickets so after the match we headed out to this great bar.
Simone is long gone but the other brothers and family members carry on and still produce some fine Americana. Andy had never heard a single note from this band before and enjoyed the gig so that’s always a good sign of a band that newbies can immediately enjoy the music.
A fine night and thanks to the band and venue for the tickets on our final night in this great city. Full review was posted here at the time.
2000, Alison Moorer, Dingwalls, London
A jump back twenty years to see the fantastic Allison Moorer. She is so pure of voice and this gig was early on in her career with just two albums behind her. This tour would have been in support of ‘The Hardest Part’ her second album which is full of classic country heartbreak songs.
It’s fair to say that Moorer and sister Shelby Lynne had a difficult childhood and complicated relationship with their father who when they were young shot their mother and then turned the gun on himself. So there’s a lot of life experience in those young years to provide a lot of material for her songwriting.
I don’t think that female country gets better than this. A beautiful voice, a bit of twang and a great band behind her. There’s of course some raw moments as she takes to the stage alone for a solo spot and there’s not a dry eye in the house… well maybe Graham.
Here career has been a bit up and down since this time and I think her failed marriage with Steve Earle really stifled here musically and creatively. She is over that now and back to form with a fine album a few years back ‘Down to Believing’. I saw her and her sister a couple of years back and just hearing the two of them together was incredible.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon although I have now had my first gig of 2021 cancelled today so that will take it to a full twelve months at least between gigs.
Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.