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.
2002, Tony Joe White, the Borderline, London
First time out form John, Graham and myself to see the legend that is Tony Joe White. My lasting memory of this gig outside of the superb music was the heat. Arguably the hottest gig I have ever been too. No air con, no fans, just a sold out, packed Borderline. Even my sweat was sweating.
It was just him solo hunched over his guitar sat down close to the mic. Intimate doesn’t describe it. He regales us with stories as he performs those great songs that you all know but probably didn’t realised that White wrote them. Commercial success and wider appreciation for these songs has come by being covered by the likes of Elvis and Tina Turner to name two.
A super show to see him in action performing those great songs by the writer himself and the biggies ‘Rainy Night in Georgia’, ‘Steamy Windows’ and ‘Polk Salad Anne’ all have an airing. White was still producing fine albums right up to his death a couple of years back.
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.