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.
Just a couple today for my trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2005, Bjorn Again, Marble Hill, London
Around this time it seemed every stately home or National Trust Park had jumped on the concert bandwagon to generate a bit of cash. Tonight its ABBA tribute band at Marble Hill near Twickenham. I’d seen them before and they do a great job of covering the classics. Sadly I was driving and just couldn’t get into the feel good party atmosphere of those other middle agers getting slowly drunk on white wine tonight. I am sure that it was a fine set but didn’t click for me tonight. Definitely a night when a few glasses of vino collapse would have helped.
2015, Dawes, Oslo Club, Hackney, London
No such problems at this gig though and it’s probably the closest we have come to a full house of all of my gig going mates to see the mighty fine Dawes. I reviewed it here at the time and its one of those nights where words cannot effectively describe the fantastic time we had. It’s fair to say that we were well refreshed and it’s often a fine line getting the balance right between drink filled merriment and a bit too much where you then can’t enjoy the gig. No problems tonight, everyone was on top form as we laughed, drank and sang all the way back to Waterloo. Right up there with one of the most enjoyable gig going nights ever and there’s no other bunch I would rather spend my musical highs with. Thanks chaps and at least we have these memories to look back on in these crap times until we can make some new ones. Thanks to John for blagging the set list for me too.
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.