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.
So with gigs getting cancelled not rearranged, this is now becoming a trend. I have little to no expectations that the seven gigs booked for March, April and May will happen.
A busy day with four corkers today for my look back down memory lane.
2016, Israel Nash, the Garage, London
Nash is now consistently making great albums and supporting those with fine live shows too. There were some sound issues at the Garage on this night which is not usual for this venue but it didn’t detract massively from the show itself. All reviewed here at the time.
2010, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
What a line up with three of the finest countryish songwriters of their generation. Billed as Hiatt and Lovett the London show also featured Joe Ely towards the end as an added bonus.
It’s a simple setup as the pair trade songs from their impressive back catalogue and its fine stuff. The introduction of Ely adds another dimension to proceedings and the three of them come together as one in the encores to provide an excellent finale.
This was never going to be a rock n roll show but the concert equivalent of three fine songwriters sitting out on the porch sipping whisky and just pickin. Faultless.
2008, Deadstring Brothers, Luminaire, London
Stones wannabies the Deadstring Brothers deliver their fine imitations on a consistent basis and have enough about them to set them ahead of a pub cover band. Reviewed these guys a couple of times already and so nothing new to add outside of a good rock n roll show.
1984, Blue Oyster Cult, Hammersmith Odeon, London
A nice oldie from back in the heyday of Graham and mine’s foray into heavy metal in the early eighties. This time US rockers B.O.C. famous for, of course, their hit ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’.
This was the ‘Revolution by Night’ tour and while a good album it’s the older classics we waited for and we weren’t disappointed with ‘ETI’, ‘Hot Rails’, ‘Cities on Flames’ and ‘Joan Crawford’ to name a few. A good show and a nice encore with a rousing ‘We gotta get out of this place’ to end proceedings.
That’s it for today so don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.