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.
May is typically a very busy month for gigs being part of the usual album release cycle and I have combined the weekend as there are only two for my trip down memory lane for you down the years
16th May, 2011, Okkervil River, Heaven, London
Me and Graham tonight under the arches of Charing Cross Station at Heaven. Not many gig held here but I do like it as venue. Good sized room with reasonable site lines, close to one of London’s best pubs ‘The Harp’ and of course dead convenient to get home from.
I’d always been a fan of Okkervil River’s blend of quirky Americana but had never seen them live. Specific memories are hazy but I think overall I was left underwhelmed and a little disappointed. I think the gig suffered a little from Will Sheff’s overindulgence and that took away from the music and songs themselves.
Graham, John and myself tonight and the gig was reviewed fully at the time. Little more to add on the review outside of these guys are leading the way on the British Folk scene and check out James Walbourne’s guitar playing in whatever guise that may be.
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