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.
After a couple of busy days there’s just the one today but what a show for my trip down memory lane for you down the years
2007, UB40, Sandown Park Racecourse, London
I can’t remember which incarnation of UB40 this is. I think it was the one with Ali Campbell. This is a Ronseal gig. You know exactly what you are going to get. It’s a concert at a racecourse. The band come on after the racing and play essentially a slightly shortened greatest hits set.
And so it goes tonight. You know all the songs, you’ve had a few drinks and have a bit of a boogie. Job done. A pleasant enough evening taking us back to the eighties and we all leave home suitably satisfied if not by the winning on the nags. And the big benefit of these gigs is we can walk home.
2008, Watermelon Slim, Dingwalls, London
Watermelon Slim is a septuagenarian well-worn blues musician. First thing to note is how many different harmonicas he has on his table. Incredible array and yes they do all sound different. This is definitely an old time blues player as he regales his tales from yore set to some stomping blues. Great stuff and if you like your blues raw and form the heat then Mr Slim is your man.
2012, Paul Simon, Hyde Park, London
An uninspiring line-up meant we spent a bit more time in the pub beforehand for this gig arriving in time for main support Allison Krauss. Simon certainly had a lot to live up to after a stunning Springsteen show the day before.
Krauss was good if not spectacular and we did get the chance to see the great Jerry Douglas on lap steel guitar.
Simon is over here on a mammoth worldwide tour celebrating 25 years of the release of Graceland. The album forms the centrepiece of the set kicking in after about thirty minutes until the end. Simon is joined on stage by Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo for this segment.
There is no doubt that Paul Simon is one of the greatest American singer songwriters of our generation. The show seems to be broken into a few parts. It’s a strong start with ‘Kodachrome’ and ‘Fifty ways to leave your lover’ amongst others. We have then a four song interlude with Jimmy Cliff which was OK, a few more Simon classics and then ‘Graceland’ and finally an encore of high class with ‘Sound of Silence’ and ‘The Boxer’.
For me though it’s all a bit disjointed and loses momentum. I think the guests all outstay their welcome and too much time is given over to them. I understand that Simon wants to also celebrate the diversity of music and his influences but selfishly I just wanted to hear him.
So not a bad gig, not a great gig either but one with moments of greatness and of course sadly does not bear up to comparison to the fantastic Bruce show some 24 hours before.
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.