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 but what great show for my look back trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2007, Felice Brothers w Alan Tyler, Luminaire, London
Wow what a memorable gig this was. This was possibly their first gig in the UK supporting the excellent debut album ‘Tonight at the Arizona’.
The Luminaire in Kilburn didn’t last too long but was a great venue sitting upstairs above the bar area with a small stage that you could walk right past to get to the toilets.
First up is Alan Tyler from the Rockingbirds who delivers his usual laconic country set.
Next up is these brothers from the Catskill Mountains and what’s interesting is the stage setup with the drums on the right of the stage facing side on to the crowd. This is very much Simone’s domain as we will soon discover. For those who don’t know these siblings play very much traditional American folk and with Ian’s vocals reminiscent of Dylan but don’t let that put you off.
The band climb on to the stage and what follows is still one of the wildest shows I have seen. Yes they are a folk band on record but for this show it’s the rockiest folk I have heard. Simone behind the sticks is a whirling dervish or energy and hair reminiscent of Animal from the muppets. The rest of the band take all of their queues from him following him in whatever direction he decides on going. He slowly casts aside his various items of clothing throughout the night leaving himself in just his pants by the end. He is so hot his sweat is sweating.
It’s a breathless show not only for them but for us too and various other family members join the core quartet on stage throughout the night to add to the cacophony. I don’t know if it was mountain moonshine or some other substance but these guys were certainly on it and brilliant stuff it was. Sadly I can find no photographic or video evidence of this show.
A truly memorable night who reminiscence won me free tickets at a San Francisco show of theirs four years ago.
1997, Steve Earle, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Another day another Steve Earle show. Regular readers will know I have reviewed Steve Earle many times and in the eighties and nineties John and I saw him quite a few times. This was the El Corazon tour and looking back he was certainly giving Bruce a run for his money for the length of his sets. This was near three hours with thirty odd songs given an airing. Its fair to say that Earle at this time was trying to beat his demons and addictions and didnt look great but despite that was great as usual.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon but with the new lockdown my last chance of a gig disappeared this month and I have now had my first gig of 2021 cancelled so that will take it to a full twelve months at least between gigs.
Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.