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.
Another busy day of festive shows for my look back trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2016, Frank Turner, G Live, Guildford
I have seen Frank Turner a couple of times usually at Glastonbury where he seems to play multiple sets. He has a passionate and loyal fan base and is always good value. It is a bit samey as I mention in the review here at the time but what he does he does well. Some argue he’s a poor man’s Billy Bragg but he is different to that and certainly is more of a rocker.
2009, Fruit Bats, the Windmill, London
First time seeing the fabulous Fruit Bats in this small back street pub in Brixton which has a performance area to one side. I can’t call it a stage as it’s literally just a small area at one end of the usual seating area. I first fell in love with this band after the great ‘Mouthfuls’ album and this tour was in support of the similarly fine ‘Ruminant Band’.
There is no substitute for seeing a band up close and personal and it doesn’t get any closer than this. They are of course excellent and have proven to be every other time I have seen Eric Johnson and chums.
1993, Rainer, Mean Fiddler, London
We are back in one of favourite venues at this time, The Mean Fiddler in Harlesden. Better known for drive by shootings this area of London also housed one of the finest venues and we saw some classic gigs here.
Tonight though is Rainer Ptacek renowned acoustic blues guitarist and singer. To say the venue is empty is an understatement as the crowd out numbered the bar staff and we must have been half of them. Low key doesn’t cut it as the great man ambles past us through the front door from outside with his guitar in its case and steps on to the stage and starts his set.
Its brilliant stuff as he takes us through most of his ‘worried spirits’ album and I'm a sucker for a National steel guitar. Sadly he dies a couple of years later with a brain tumour. A sad loss for super talented musician.
1987, Simply Red, Brixton Academy, London
Rolling back the years for this one and Mr Hucknall and friends who were probably touring second album ‘Men and Women’. This is a simple review. Mick was great, the band were great and the songs at this stage were still great rather than the latter part of their career being more grating than great.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon but I have had several gigs slated for early 2021 already being moved to the back end 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.