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 the one today for my look back trip down memory lane.
2008, Ryan Bingham, the Borderline, London
This may well have been Bingham’s first trip to the London coming between his first and second albums. And this is where the love affair started. He is a man of exceptional talent whether this be solo acoustic or amped up with a full band. I have reviewed him many times down the years and have seen him live on probably around seven or eight occasions and all of which were probably five star reviews.
This was a special night seeing those songs live for the first time and he always manages to keep the crowd rapt in awe and intense attention especially for those heartfelt acoustic tracks. It was nice to be at the start of his journey which has subsequently taken in an Oscar and Grammy success and more recently he dabbles with acting too in the series ‘Yellowstone’. And if this multiple set of skills are not enough he’s a handsome brute too. Makes you sick doesn’t it.
It’s looking back at nights like this that makes me miss live music even more but sadly that looks to be at least six months away I would guess.
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.