We have a date 21st June for normality we hope and the end of socially distancing at a gig. I have my first gig pencilled in for 7th June a seated affair at the Jazz Café to hopefully set up the rest of the year. I have still have about half a dozen gigs that will either be cancelled or postponed some for the third time. So cautious optimism is the watch word here. Given that the summer months are usually a little quieter the autumn could be crazy for gigs if things get back to normal. So with everything crossed let’s hope there is real light at the end of this horribly long tunnel.
When I first started this little exercise we were a month into lockdown on the 24th April. Like most of you I expected this to last a month or two. The reality now is clear and sadly it will be a full twelve months and probably a lot more between my last gig and the next one. We go again and hopefully this brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
Another busy night today for my look back down memory lane.
2015, Drivin n Cryin, Boston Music Room, London
This had been a long wait for these guys to come back over to this country. We’re not talking months or years but decades. The promoter had clearly completely misjudged the popularity of this show booking a large room for these guys who are largely unknown in this country. It doesn’t help that it was poorly promoted too. A room like the Lexington or The Borderline would have been perfect.
As I mention in the review here there was a worry that the band wouldn’t have the same enthusiasm playing front of the thirty hardy souls who made it out that night. I needn’t have worried as they delivered a southern country rock masterclass and were more than happy to respond to requests and Mr Kinney even came back for a final solo acoustic encore to top it all off.
There’s been a couple of attempts to see these guys again since this time but both have been thwarted for different reasons. Here’s hoping they are back over here next year.
2013, Endless Boogie, Corsica Studios, London
An interesting venue a short stroll down the New Kent Road at Elephant and Castle. Its small, hot and sweaty venue which probably suits the music tonight. Its long haired grove based rock and these guys do it better than most.
Songs morph into extended jams which morph into the next song/jam and on. Its great stuff but our train curfew beckons as we make our way home. I wouldn’t be surprised if these guys are still playing even now.
2012, Oli Brown, Islington Academy, London
Young British blues guitarist Oli Brown showcases his many talents tonight with a fine show. Nothing particularly notable and he along with a couple of others is leading the new wave of young British bluesman which can only be a good thing.
2009, Eli Paperboy Reed, University of London, London
Another day another Paperboy show. Unlike the other show this was a packed sweaty affair in the University of London Students Union. It’s also a full band show with brass section et al. With still only one album behind him at this stage the set doesn’t differ greatly from his first show we saw the year before. It’s the same energetic show that highlights his excellent unique voice. I won’t make the usual gag about delivering but he is one of the most consistent performers out there.
1987, Julian Cope, Town and Country, London
Our first Cope show and this was the St Julian tour where I would say Cope was at the height of his commercial success as that album provided a number of hit singles. I am pretty sure that he had his extending microphone stand on which he would climb on but I could be wrong.
It’s fair to say it the usual manic crazy show both on and off stage and breathless stuff.
That’s it for today so don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.