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 three today for my trip along memory lane for you down the years.
2006, Guillemots, Scala,
Blimey, this was an esoteric gig. Lead man Fyfe Dangerfield is an interesting guy and the show is all about him. I have no idea if this band are still going but I don’t think they have released any new music for at least seven years. They specialised in quirky pop and when they were good they were very good and I think that they did have a hit with ‘Made up love Song #43’. Just me and Graham tonight and I can’t remember any specifics but I think the above sums it up. When they were good and stuck to the songs they were excellent but then in places it all got a bit music student and just a series of random noises and notes in no discernible order. An interesting and often enjoyable night
2011, Belle and Sebastian, Roundhouse, London
This remains the only time I have seen this great band. I think John was due to come with me but pulled out at the last minute and Anne stepped in. This was probably the ‘Write about Love’ tour that had come out the previous year but looking at the setlist it’s essentially a greatest hits from across the whole of their back catalogue. They were fab which was no surprise given they are one of the finest pop bands around. A great show and as a treat mardi gras style the band were throwing sparkly necklaces into the audience. This is where 6ft 2 comes in handy and we left with a nice souvenir of the night to boot.
2013, Iron and Wine, the Barbican, London
This was the twin towers who had managed to get front row tickets, myself and Graham who were only I think five rows back for this gig. I have never really been a fan of the Barbican. I feel it’s a bit soulless and sterile and the act has to work doubly hard to create an atmosphere. There was no such problem for Sam Beam and chums tonight. Touring on the back of the brilliant ‘Ghost on Ghost’ we are treated to a similarly brilliant upbeat set.
Iron and wine can occasionally suffer from a little introspection and dourness and on a couple of occasions his sets have just gone straight over my head and I have found it difficult to engage. So this album and this set was exactly what the venue needed to kick it into life. I find it difficult to pick a highlight as it was great from start to finish and is probably still the best I have seen him.
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.