We have a date 21st June. That means another ten or so gigs that will either be cancelled or postponed some for the third time. So cautious optimism is the watch word here. Given that the summer months are usually a little quieter the autumn could be crazy for gigs if things get back to normal. So with everything crossed let’s hope there is real light at the end of this horribly long tunnel.
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. 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. 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.
Four great shows today for my look back down memory lane.
2016, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Koko, London
What a show this was. Two sets from the main men, duelling DJs fighting over who had the coolest seventies record collection and just a damn good time. It’s a simple idea, put together bunch of talented musicians with a like mind and kindred heart, an enigmatic front man and a deep groove.
It’s a perfect night for the three amigos that I reviewed here at the time. Sadly they are no more having split up coupled with Neal Casal’s untimely death but at least we have this memory.
2013, Avett Brothers, the Forum, London
I love these guys who are so much better live than on record. Its bluegrass tinged country with much interchanging of instruments. It’s a fine set from across their extensive back catalogue.
I cannot fault this show, when you start with good songs and good musicians then you’ve got to try hard to balls that up. These guys don’t. There’s lots of familial banter between themselves and then us the audience and such is their comfortableness they enter the venue floor in amongst us for the encore. Not unusual in small venues but we are in the 3000 capacity Forum.
2005, Josh Rouse, Concorde 2, Brighton
I have written a lot recently about the qualities of Josh Rouse who obviously likes to tour over here at this time of the year. It’s technically the ‘Nashville’ but the sets takes in plenty form one of his finest moments ‘1972’.
A rare sojourn down to Brighton to this beach side venue. It’s a thinnish room so it’s good to get there reasonably early but I have seen some great shows down there and it benefits from being cheaper, smaller and I can often get back home from Brighton as quick as I can from North London for example.
So rack this up as another quality Rouse show and hopefully we can get to see him when he plays Guildford later this year.
1992, Chris Whitley, Clapham Grand, London
Like Rouse, there are many Chris Whitley gig reviews for this artist who is no longer with us. His classic debut ‘Living with the Law’ is still fresh and of course dominates the set and why not it’s a brilliant example of slide blues country and one of my favourite’s albums of all time.
That’s it for today so don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.