When I first started this little exercise we were a month into lockdown on the 24th April. Like most of you I expected this to last a month or two and some form on normality would have prevailed and I would be back to live music by the autumn. It quickly became apparent that this was not going to be the case and I soon wrote off the whole year pinning my hopes on a quick resumption in 2021.
Well after his latest bout of brinkmanship with the virus Boris has blinked too late yet again and we’re back in full lockdown. The reality now is clear and sadly it will be a full twelve months and probably a lot more between my last gig and the next one. I will be surprised if I am seeing any live music again before June.
We go again and hopefully this brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
Just a couple today for my look back trip down memory lane.
1986, Marillion, Hammersmith Odeon, London
Coming just two days after the last Marillion show there’s nothing more to add. It’s the same set but at the time we didn’t care. We loved ‘em.
1992, the Commitments, Town and Country, London
Being a big Alan Parker fan, I maintain that this film is up there with his best so when lead singer Andrew Strong and assorted ‘Commitment’s announced thy were playing some live shows I wasn’t going to miss out. What a white soul voice ‘Strong’ has but like his character in the film I think he maybe believed his own hype too much and probably has not fulfilled the massive potential he had. When you look at Mick Hucknall and the commercial success he has achieved, Strong is of the same style but probably a better vocalist.
The Frames were the support band featuring Glen Hansard also from the film back in his real day job fronting his own band. Anyhow back to the main act and of the show course just brought the film to life and it was great to see those classic soul songs covered by this group. It’s only live when you can truly appreciate the range and quality of a singer’s voice and Strong just blows you away. Much boogieing and singing was had with my Commitments comrade in Arms Christine and enjoying is so much I went again a couple of months later at Brixton.
A special memory this one and such was my obsession with The Commitments I have completed the quadology (I may have made that word up) of reading the book, watching the film, seeing them live and also seeing the theatrical show on the West End too.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. With hopes dashed of any form of normality soon I am trying to cling on that by June we could be back in business but my hopes have been dashed so many times in the last twelve months that I wouldn’t bet on it.
Don forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.