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 and some form on normality would have prevailed and I would be back to live music by the autumn. It quickly became apparent that this was not going to be the case and I soon wrote off the whole year pinning my hopes on a quick resumption in 2021.
Well after his latest bout of brinkmanship with the virus Boris has blinked too late yet again and we’re back in full lockdown. 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. I will be surprised if I am seeing any live music again before June.
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.
Just a couple today for my look back trip down memory lane.
2014, Cass McCombs, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Still the only time I have seen the great Cass McCombs. This was on the ‘Big Wheel and Others’ tour. I took a chance and brought Anne with me to this one. It usually works out when I drag Anne out to see an act she has never heard of and luckily tonight that was the case.
We had good seats in the stalls I recall and this is the most comfortable way to see a gig. The music needs to compliment this comfy setting as clearly a rock show wouldn’t work in this theatre. This night was certainly a case of siting back and taking in some great musicians and music. There’s little interaction with the crowd and so he kept to the music itself. Was it a great gig, no, was it rubbish no, it was just a pleasant non offensive concert with some laid back Americana in an appropriate setting.
2009, Ben Weaver, Luminaire, London
The Luminaire was one of our favourite venues during its short life and we saw some brilliant shows there despite it being in the arsehole of London in Kilburn. The management had the right attitude to music with many signs remindi9gj the audience to shut the eff up, respect the performer and listen to the music.
And with this act that ethos is none more important. Weaver specialised in stripped back acoustic Americana weaving tales of everyday folk in the US. He was probably about five albums in to his career by the time he made it over here for this show. I don’t remember anything specific about the show itself but nothing suggest that it wasn’t anything but good. He’s quite quiet recently and I’m not even sure that he has come back to these shores since this time.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. With hopes dashed of any form of normality soon I am trying to cling on that by June we could be back in business but my hopes have been dashed so many times in the last twelve months that I wouldn’t bet on it.
Don forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.