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.
Three today for my trip down memory lane for you down the years and it’s a quickie.
2005, Chris Mills & Quiet Loner, 12 Bar Club, London
Great double bill tonight at the quirky 12 Bar Cub with its funky split level viewing platforms. I think Quiet Loner had only one album at this stage and delivered a lovely acoustic folk set. Chris Mills however is several albums in to his brilliant a career especially with ‘Kiss it Goodbye’ and ‘The Silver Line’. He is a funny raconteur and tells us he is half the man he was after losing a lot of weight. Again it’s just one man and guitar for this masterclass in acoustic Americana. Another lost venue and I’m not sure if Chris is still making music as it’s been a while.
2007, Dexateens, Boston Music Room, London
This was a hot one as Graham and I head up to sunny Tufnell Park in North London. The Dexateens are a southern country rock band with the emphasis on rock and have had a fluid line-up down the years with a revolving door of players who have all gone onto other things.
It was a short sharp explosive set. A real light blue touch paper and watch it take off. We rocket through selected tracks from their fine back catalogue, the walls are dripping and we are dripping in sweat after this intense hour of kick ass rock n roll. Fantastic short set and sadly maybe the last time they played these fine shores.
2016, Guy Davis, Half Moon, London
I reviewed this gig at the time on the blog here. Nothing much to add but it was a fine night of laid back acoustic blues in the legendary Half Moon pub in Putney.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon. Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.