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.
May is typically a very busy month for gigs being part of the usual album release cycle and there’s a few today for my trip along memory lane for you down the years.
2001, S Club 7, London Arena, London
Ok don’t judge me. Well you can if you want. In my quest to share my musical obsessions and the live experience with my children this was Amy’s first gig aged eleven. I am sure it had nothing to do with my obsession with the musical talent that was Rachel Stevens, ;-).
The London Arena was a short lived venue in Docklands. I went there twice and by complete contrast the other gig was The Who supported by Joe Strummer.
Back to the show. Pop perfection. You know all the songs and all the words, slick show, good dance routines and we both left very happy. Nuff said
2003 Bruce Springsteen, Crystal Palace Stadium, London
I know most of my gig going mates were at this show but I am not sure that we were all together. I definitely would have been with Graham and John and we met at a pub in Clapham Junction beforehand. Martin, Gav and I think Antony were there too.
It’s a typical Bruce show, twenty five songs and I’m sure clocking in around 3 hours. It’s the Rising tour which I think is often under rated but I think its certainly up there with anything he’s done in the last twenty years. Ten tracks from this plus the usual select tracks from across the back catalogue.
What struck me most from this gig was his energy. He looked absolutely ripped and at one stage he grabbed the mic stand and lifted himself upside down on it. He also specialised in the stage long knee slide at this time. You’ll never see a bad Bruce show and this one probably ranks in the middle of the many times I have seen him.
2007, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Alban Arena, St Albans
We are in the rock n roll heartland of St Albans, a commuter town north of London. I’m with the missus, her bestie and husband for Mr Creole. Libations consumed we are ready for night of nostalgia pop. I think the original nuts have been replaced by their daughters now but it’s a great show that takes you back twenty years to their eighties heyday. All the hits are there and it’s a well-produced show. We somehow got tickets for the after party at a local hostelry which I think was arranged by Rusty Egan of Visage fame. We waited around for ages for the Kid to arrive. He duly did with entourage but was quickly ushered past the great unwashed and deposited into a separate area. We soon took our leave and made weary way around the M25 back home.
2021, Nicole Atkins, Moth Club, London
I thought I would sneak this in. It hasn’t happened yet as it’s a rescheduled show from this year but it gives me hope that there will be some normality this time next year. Nicole has a new album out soon, some tracks which we were treated in her fantastic show last year. Suffice to say I am looking forward to both album and tour.
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.