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.
Just the one today but what a show for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2008, Stevie Wonder, O2 Arena
Anne and myself tonight for this legends slot. So glad to have ticked this one off of my must see list. Yes it was a bit more expensive than I would usually pay but its Steve Wonder ffs.
I don’t think it’s being uncharitable to say that Stevie Wonder hasn’t recorded anything outstanding for many, many years, arguably forty but all this can be forgiven for what he gave to pop music in the twenty years before that. I am not a songwriter obviously but I do find it incredible that someone who wrote some of the greatest songs of all time during the seventies cannot even show glimpses of that in the following years.
Anyway back to the show and what can I say it was amazing. His voice still strong, the band on fire and the songs sounding as fresh as they did back in the day. Looking back at the twenty five strong setlist now it’s all killer and no filler… well perhaps ‘I just called’ but hey I will forgive him that one.
This show came around before I started writing the blog but if it hadn’t I would have scored it 4.5. The only things that slightly let it down was Stevie pointing the mic to the crowd to allow them to sing along a few too many times for me and then letting his daughter take a tune. It’s being ultra-picky I know but that aside this is in the all-time top twenty gigs I have seen. Legend status is often banded around but in this instance Wonder thoroughly deserves that accolade. If he makes it across to these shores again then you must go and see him. It’s worth every penny.
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.