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.
A trio today for my look back down memory lane.
2020, Kacy and Clayton, the Victoria, London
One of the few gigs I went to last year and a goodie at a new venue for us in Dalston. Transport forces were definitely against us with the tube and trains playing up. Resorting to the bus it actually gave us a pretty much door to door service from Highbury and Islington station to the venue. What follows is a great Canuck folk show that was reviewed here at the time.
1995, Richard Thompson, Royal Festival Hall, London
The RFH is the perfect setting for this show with the Thompson twins Richard and Danny. It’s a slightly more sedate show this time around and so the comfy seats are welcome so you can just sit back and let this music envelope you.
The set is a lovely blend of oldies, newbies and quite a few from ‘Rumour and Sigh’ one of my favourite albums. We also have the added bonus of Christine Collister joining the boys on stage for a few numbers at the end. Highlights too many to mention for a top night of British folk.
1994, Sheryl Crow the Underworld, London
This was Sheryl Crow’s first UK tour and after a couple of dates at the Borderline the month before she plays this ‘Goth metal’ club in Camden. Touring in support of her most excellent debut album ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’, I think at the time the same band that were on the album were still with her. Sadly once it looked like things were going to take off they were ditched.
Still that aside this was one of the best gigs I saw around that time. Great rock pop songs played by a tight band in a small room. What more could you ask. And she was hot, I mean seriously hot. I can’t find the setlist anywhere so I am guessing she played the whole album plus maybe a cover or too.
Crow has had a bit of a renaissance recently and was excellent at Glasto and some tracks from last year are up there with her best.
Don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.