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 one with five for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2019, Black Pumas, Dingwalls, London
Definitely one of the gigs of the year last year in the intimate settings of Dingwalls. Reviewed here at the time and their star has certainly sky rocketed since, with their next headlining show at the Roundhouse.
2013, Jason Isbell, the Garage, London
Privileged to be at this gig which was in support of Isbell’s masterpiece ‘Southeastern’. Of course more than half the show was taken from this album and in this case there were no grumbles from us. Add to this some choice Isbell written, Drive by Truckers tracks too, plus a classic Townes Van Zandt cover then all the ingredients are there for the perfect set. And a perfect set was duly delivered.
The bulk of the 400 Unit have been there supporting Isbell for some time and have honed their sound and are one of the best bands around. Isbell doesn’t hog the limelight and allows them all to shine.
A super night out as usual and I have yet to see a bad Isbell gig.
2012, Band of Horses, Hammersmith Odeon, London
This is up there as almost the best time I have seen this, one of my favourite bands. Whats surprising is that it’s in support of one of their weakest albums ‘Mirage Rock’. The good news is that this was such an epic set, some twenty six songs, that they pretty much played the whole of ‘Infinite Arms’, half of ‘Cease to Begin’ and the best tracks from their debut.
This is the band at their peak certainly live and there was a great point after the first set where they appeared at the top of the Odeon in the circle to perform a short acoustic set.
Whilst it could never compete with the context of the Lollapalooza show this was probably the best live performance from this band.
2008, Ryan Adams, Brixton Academy, London
Another day, another Ryan Adams show. Musically he is one of my favourite artists and I know that a person he certainly has his flaws and this is the dilemma these days with regard to ‘off the field’ antics shall we say. Can you separate the two? I don’t know and am conflicted in that respect.
This night is with his current backing band the Cardinals that includes the late great Neal Casal on guitar. It’s a fine show and certainly a little more structure than some of his performance and maybe the band are keeping him honest in that respect.
1993, Maria McKee, Astoria, London
This tour would have been in support of McKee’s second album ‘you gotta sin to get saved.’ Luckily the masterpiece that is her first solo album gets more than a share of the set along with a wide variety of covers from artists as diverse as Prince, PJ Proby and Richard and Linda Thompson.
McKee has one of the most beautiful voices and its stunning stuff.
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.