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 and some form on normality would have prevailed and I would be back to live music by the autumn. It quickly became apparent that this was not going to be the case and I soon wrote off the whole year pinning my hopes on a quick resumption in 2021.
Well after his latest bout of brinkmanship with the virus Boris has blinked too late yet again and we’re back in full lockdown. 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. I will be surprised if I am seeing any live music again before June.
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.
Just the one today for my look back trip down memory lane.
2017, Margo Price, Islington Assembly Hall, London
After a stunning show at the Scala the previous September, reviewed here we were not going to miss this follow up show just a few months later. Anne and I brought John along with us this time to share the joy that is Margo Price with him.
Of course we were not disappointed. With still only one album (solo) behind her the set is dominated by that but interspersed with a bunch of covers and what was nice is that they are completely different from the ones we saw just four months before. Especially a quick double header of ‘Mercedes Benz’ and ‘Jolene’ and it’s a brave person to flick between Janis and Dolly but she more than pulls it off.
A tip of the hat to the band including hubby Jeremy Ivey who’s a good singer songwriter in his own right. They are really tight and provide the perfect backup to Margo. I was lucky enough to see her again that year at Glasto on my favourite stage, The Park and yet again she delivered a super set.
She is a must see whenever she tours but sadly that is few and far between with this tour being last full tour of the UK she has done.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. With hopes dashed of any form of normality soon I am trying to cling on that by June we could be back in business but my hopes have been dashed so many times in the last twelve months that I wouldn’t bet on it.
Don forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.