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.
A busy day today and there’s some goodies here for my trip down memory lane for you down the years
1993, Matthew Sweet, Mean Fiddler, London
Wow twenty seven years and I can remember this gig like it was yesterday. This one is right up in the very best I have seen over forty years. Everything clicked for John, Graham and myself. An artist on top form, touring a good album ‘Altered Beast’ (plus most of his masterpiece ‘Girlfriend’), a great venue, a sold out show and an audience who were up for it.
It’s a hot sweaty atmosphere as we are crammed into the Fiddler and witnessed a ninety minute power pop masterclass. Every track is greeted with a roar and we danced and pogoed till the end. A few casualties were had in terms of sore toes that we probably trod on and I remember a certain woman not taking too kindly to John dancing into her and gave him a good push back.
Impossible to really pick a favourite moment but ‘Evangeline’ is right up there. Such a great night in a much missed venue.
2006, James Hunter, Spitz, London
It’s the three amigos again tonight for another hot and sweaty show in a venue I think I have only been to once. It’s tiny inside and packed with no room for even a Rizla between us. I remember John getting into some argy bargy with an idiot behind who insisted in standing even closer and I think burnt Johns suit with a cigarette.
Hunter was touring on the back of his first album the mighty fine ‘People Gonna Talk’ and delivers a great rock n roll soul show. I won’t lie it was good to get back outside for some fresh air though and I have seen Hunter several times since and he just gets stronger and stronger.
2010, Razorlight, Sandown Park, Esher, England
It must be Thursday again as we are down at Sandown for a night of racing and music. This time it’s the indie pop of Razorlight who to be fair had their moment in the sun a few years prior with their first two albums.
Whilst I’m sure they probably played a couple from whatever their current album was we were only there for the hits and the hits they duly delivered. As good a show as you could expect in a make shift stage in a racecourse.
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.