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.
Just the one for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2000, the Who, London Arena, London
A short lived venue in Docklands in East London. I only went there twice and they couldn’t have been more contrasting gigs, S Club 7 and the Who.
Tonight it’s the Who but we get there early for Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. Nice to hear some Clash songs as I didn’t see them live back in the day although I’ll admit I am not a big fan, born probably five years too late to fully appreciate their impact at the time.
I was glad to see this incarnation of the Who, still with the magnificent Jon Entwhistle on bass who died just a couple of years later and I think it was probably Zak Starkey on drums who did a decent job but of course you cannot replace Keith Moon. But who could, he is in the top five drummers of all time.
I will also admit I am not the biggest Who fan I like them a lot but I don’t have loads of their albums. For me the setlist was spot on with many well-known tracks and my two favourites ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Won’t get fooled again’. Purists may disagree about the set list and I will bow to their greater knowledge but it’s a superb night and seeing him live you really appreciate what a brilliant bass player Entwhistle was. Its mesmerising and I can only imagine what the twin rhythm attack of him and Moon was like back in the day with their beat and fills.
I am also glad to have this memory as I caught them at Glasto a few years back and it was one the worst decisions I have made. They weren’t happy with sound, etc. and it showed and had a real going through the motions feel to it. Nuff said about that.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon but with the new lockdown my last chance of a gig disappeared this month and I have now had my first gig of 2021 cancelled 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.