So we have a date 21st June. That means another ten or so gigs that will either be cancelled or postponed some for the third time. So cautious optimism is the watch word here. Given that the summer months are usually a little quieter the autumn could be crazy for gigs if things get back to normal. So with everything crossed let’s hope there is real light at the end of this horribly long tunnel.
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. 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. 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.
A trio of shows today for my look back down memory lane.
2012, War on Drugs, Electric Ballroom, London
This was the ‘Slave Ambient’ tour and a big group of us tonight. WoD are very much a groove band and there is definitely an aspect of needing to be in the groove and the mood to fully appreciate them. Tonight is definitely one of those nights. The stars aligned and this was pretty much the perfect gig. When you know you know.
I can’t really add anything more, the band were brilliant, the venue is great and all of us were on top form too. As I have written before though we saw them again at Koko a couple of years later and I found it difficult to get into any of it.
2007, the Black Keys, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
This was the ‘Magic Potion’ tour and just before they really made it big with that more commercial sound. There’s still a rawness to their albums and their shows that I really appreciate. Taking the baton of two piece blues bands from the White Stripes they polished that sound to even more success and the baton moved onto to Royal Blood who added their twist of using the bass as the lead instrument.
So a good solid show but nothing will top that first show at The Marquee some years before.
2002, Jill Scott, Brixton Academy, London
One of the queens of nu soul along with Alicia Keys, Angie Stone and the like Scott probably nicks it in terms of consistency. This show is probably around the time of her second album but there is plenty from her superb debut ‘Who is Jill Scott’ on show tonight.
As you’d expect the band are tight as they provide the perfect canvas for Scott to unleash that voice. There’s sass, there’s funk but most of all there’s soul. It’s all natural too, there’s no airbrushing, and no auto tune just that voice.
A faultless night of classic soul. Sadly she seems to spend more time focussing on her also successful acting career so we dont see here over here very often.
That’s it for today so don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.