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 day of festive shows for my look back trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2014, the Rockingbirds, the Borderline, London
It’s the usual festive show with the Rockingbirds at the Borderline. We have seen these shows so many times now I recognise most of the audience. It was reviewed here at the time. The review is short and sweet and there’s little to add. It’s just good fun with a great band with all the tunes you know.
2010, the Rockingbirds, the Borderline, London
See above.
2003, Kings of Leon, Brixton Academy, London
It’s their debut tour supporting their first album way back in 03. They were still very raw at this stage and hadn’t had the MTV makeover and were all the better for it. It’s down and dirty Southern bluesy rock and I love it.
I have seen them since but it’s all a bit more polished and sanitised for me and so I will always fall back to the first two albums and this show.
2002, Badly Drawn Boy, Brixton Academy, London
Never one to pass up a freebie Alex was working at Beggar Banquet records as part of his school work experience. He would come home every day with handfuls of albums and I duly put in requests on his daily visits. So it is they he was offered a couple of tickets for Badly Drawn Boy who was massive at the time.
We are up in circle of the Academy but it didn’t really matter as BDB style is a bit more relaxed and melancholic so there no mosh pit and so sitting down didn’t diminish form the great tunes especially form that first album,
A fine show and certainly good value for nothing.
1998, Squeeze, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
I have no idea what line-up this was of Squeeze. Difford left in early 1999 so I am guessing it was him, Tilbrook and a supporting cast. It’s supporting the Domino album which I am not even sure I own.
At the end of the day it’s Squeeze and so we are really here for the old stuff and of course we are not disappointed in that respect. Other than that it’s not a gig I have any specific memory of.
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.