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.
Busy day with three of the best for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2015, Surfer Blood, Tufnell Park Dome, London
Super gig by these power popsters at the Dome reviewed here at the time
2014, Strand of Oaks, the Lexington, London
Another corker and this time our debut show with Strand of Oaks. All reviewed here and arguably still the best time I have seen them with Eliza Hardy Jones providing a little light and shade to the heavy shows he has favoured.
1995, Chris Isaak, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Isaak was going through a run of truly great albums at this time and ‘Forever Blue’ that he was touring tonight is no exception. Isaak is a master showman, great raconteur and all round good guy. He could probably make a living on the comedy tour such is his banter between songs and his interplay with long time drummer Kenney Dale Johnson is priceless.
But we are here for the music and on this level he and the band more than deliver rattling though a chunk of the new album with some assorted classics from the previous three albums too. see sample set list below. Never one to outstay his welcome is a swift set but when every song is this good I would rather go for quality rather than quantity. Super night from the master of cool. Ps like Yoakam he’s a sucker for a glittery, mirrored suit.
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.