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.
Just a couple today for my look back down memory lane.
2015, Ryan Adams, Brighton Dome, Brighton
Ryan Adams’ legacy sort of hangs under a cloud at the moment with various not too savoury allegations made against him by number of women over the past year or two. It’s an interesting debate around divorcing the creative and personal lives of famous people and he is by no means the only musician whose career has a cloud over him with the likes of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Manson and others springing to mind.
I have taken the stance of separating the two and so I can still enjoy the musical output of Adams who was and still is one of my favourite musicians.
This was night one of a Brighton double bill with the Decemberists following on the night after. This show was reviewed here at the time and this was all before any allegations had surfaced.
2003, Teenage Fanclub, Astoria, London
This is very much a greatest hits set. Coming in support of their best of album the year before what could go wrong. Nothing, that’s what could go wrong. I don’t know how this show could have been improved. Just the finest intelligent power pop laden with perfect harmonies performing some classic songs in a small venue.
Rack this one up in the large body of great Fanclub gigs I have been too.
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.