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.
Three for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2013, Arliss Nancy, the Windmill, London
For those that don’t know and not many of you will, Arliss Nancy are a country rock band from America. They have produced a handful of very good albums and they are over here playing in the tiny Windmill venue in Brixton.
It’s a reasonable crowd and such is the nature of the gig it feels like we are all watching a bunch of friends on stage. So much so that John buys the band a round of drinks which we duly hand between songs. A great night of country rock in sunny South London
1991, Bob Mould, Underworld, London
Always a lot of love for uncle Bob in this parish and this tour came between his solo album the dark and brooding ‘Black Sheets of Rain’ and his next band Sugar’s first. The set tonight is a fine balance of tracks from his magnificent ‘Workbook’ album, the aforementioned ‘Sheets’, some Husker Du classics and also a preview of a couple of Sugar tracks. Super stuff from one of the godfathers of Grunge.
We don’t go to the Underworld much and looking back its been twenty years and certainly now it’s more of a goth metal venue but back in the day we did see some great gigs such as this, Sheryl Crow’s debut UK gig and of course Chuck.
1990, Steve Earle, Town and Country, London
This was the first of many Steve Earle gigs that John and I have attended and as with Bruce you always remember your first time. Primary thing to note is that the Dukes were a great band, secondly I had never seen so many guitars in my life. All were used and sometimes multiple guitars within the same song. It was also memorable for the length of the set running well over two hours and twenty six songs and unlike what I saw with new wave of British heavy metal in the eighties it wasn’t all ten minute drum solos either.
Whilst the set draws heavily from new album ‘The Hard Way’ there is plenty of room for tracks from his first two albums along with some choice covers including the Stones ‘Dead Flowers’.
As mentioned the band are superb and they are equally adept at the straight country tunes as well as the heavier rock tracks. Earle is on good form too and arguably this was the height of his career. A great first gig to start my long standing attachment with Mr Earle down the years.
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.
Indicative setlists below