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.
We are now in June which like May is typically a very busy month for gigs being part of the usual album release cycle and there’s a few today for my trip along memory lane for you down the years.
1995, the Jayhawks, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
It’s the classic line up with Mark Olson still in the band over here touring ‘Tomorrow the Green Grass’ an album which like the grass has grown on me over the years. With the masterpiece ‘Hollywood Town Hall’ only a couple of years back, the set covers all of the best bits from both albums along with assorted covers. A great show from a great band who were still talking to each other at this stage.
2000, Willard Grant Conspiracy, the Borderline, London
I was big into WGC in the late nineties and early noughties and Robert Fisher’s (RIP) hefty baritone overlaid on those great storytelling songs was fantastic. This would have been the ‘Everything’s Fine’ tour but the set also takes in tracks from debut album and also their career high ‘Mojave’.
They were a fine band and if you like your Americana dark and brooding then they are definitely the band for you.
2002, Stewboss, the Borderline, London
This was the first of many times we saw Stewboss. I have no idea if they are still going as their last album was nearly ten years but they wrote great catchy songs, were brilliant live, a real tight unit but never broke and gained the wider appreciation that they deserved. Led by Gregg Sarfaty who possessed a great white soul voice with a hint of twang on top of their acoustic led countryish music.
I suspect that there weren’t many soles there on the night as there never usually was but the three amigos swelled the audience. This was the ‘Sweet Lullabye’ tour which is an excellent album and I would guess most of that and their debut album were played. I loved this band and the music business being the fickle child it is it shameful that such a great band didn’t find the commercial success their undoubted talents deserved… especially when you look at some of the shit that gets played on the radio now.
2018, David Byrne, Hammersmith Odeon, London
I wrote profusely about this show here at the time. Quite simply the most fantastic piece of musical theatre I have ever seen. Stunning and inventive from start to finish. No fancy elaborate stage set, just simple props, clever lighting and an ensemble cast of stunning performers. Six stars out of five, it was that good and it was my utmost pleasure to have been able to share this with my oldest gig going mates John and Graham. Thanks for the many musical memories chaps and this one is right up there..
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.