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.
Busy day in the concert calendar for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2012, Gaslight Anthem, Brixton Academy, London
Sadly this gig massively suffered by comparison from an epic show just a few months previously at Koko. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t a bad gig but it lacked the intimacy, intensity and sheer enjoyment of the previous show. It’s another long show with twenty odd songs from across the catalogue but if you want to capture the feeling of this band check the review linked above.
2010, Deadstring Brothers, Luminaire, London
This was the last time we saw the Deadstrings and at this stage this was more a case of a solo show with session musicians. For a fuller review of the band check on their gig review from 4th May here.
2004, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Hammersmith Odeon, London
This was the Rattlesnakes 20th Anniversary show and what a treat to see the guys back together again. I don’t think I actually saw Lloyd Cole back in the day so this made tonight especially good.
It was John, Graham, myself and I think Mark one of Graham’s friends in tow tonight. Obviously all of Rattlesnakes was performed, not played in order but spread across the whole set. I think that it probably works best that way but I have seen it the other way too work as effectively.
There are no stand out memories of the show itself but just great to see the band play those classics for the first time.
1999, Richard Thompson, Royal Festival Hall, London
An oldie but a goodie seeing Richard Thomson over twenty years ago on what was the ‘Mock Tudor’ album tour. A long set taking in choice cuts from across the catalogue and especially one of my favourites ‘1952 Vincent Black Lightning’ and also a nice selection of real oldies form his albums with wife Linda.
Whilst Thompson’s voice is not always everyone’s cup of tea what can’t be denied is what a fantastic guitarist he is, be it acoustic or when he really lets rip electrically on his trusty Fender.
It’s a perfect night across those twenty three tracks and the set list was spot on. Rack this one up as another superb list of Thompson gigs.
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.