We have a date 21st June for normality we hope and the end of socially distancing at a gig. I have my first gig pencilled in for 7th June a seated affair at the Jazz Café to hopefully set up the rest of the year. I have still have about half a dozen gigs that will either be cancelled or postponed some for the third time. So cautious optimism is the watch word here. Given that the summer months are usually a little quieter the autumn could be crazy for gigs if things get back to normal. So with everything crossed let’s hope there is real light at the end of this horribly long tunnel.
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.
A couple of quick ones today for my look back down memory lane.
2016, Jason Isbell, Brooklyn Bowl, London
Well this was a first. A gig at a bowling alley where the lanes were literally to the side of the stage. My first time at the short lived Brooklyn Bowl in the O2 complex and it’s quite a big room. A couple’s affair with Mr and Mrs M Burgess and my good lady.
This is right up there with one of the best Isbell shows I have seen and given that all of them are pretty special that’s high praise. As I said at the time Shires adds a little soemthingto the sound. All reviewed here at the time and every word holds true.
1995, Chris Whitley, Mean Fiddler, London
This would have been Whitley’s sophomore record ‘Din of Ecstasy tour and let’s say it’s a bit of a departure from his classic debut’s steel guitar tinged country blues. It’s dark and raw and if I remember rightly there were not main people at this one with a very sparsely populated Fiddler. (Ed’s note that venue still holds the record for the least attended show I have been to, Rainer, where the bar staff outnumbered the crowd.)
I think that this may have been a solo gig and the mood matched the music and while down the years Whitley had more glimpses of his genius these were often bookended by some quite difficult listening.
Sadly no longer with us and probably never really realised his potential but when you start your career with one of my all-time favourite albums it’s difficult to continue to reach those heights. Video is the title track of that fabulous debut.
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.