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 busy night in what is traditionally peak album release supporting tour time today for my look back down memory lane. Sadly of course not this year as the gigs continue to drop like flies with any hopes of seeing international artists before late autumn seem to recede as each week goes by.
2017, John Prine, London Palladium, London
I am so glad I could tick Mr Prine off my list of must sees. I had never seen him before this night and any concerns I had over his voice after battling cancer were soon dispelled. A fantastic career spanning set over two hours ignoring any theatre curfew. Faultless set and with Amanda Shires supporting it was the perfect evening for me and the Burgess boys. All reviewed here at the time. A sad loss last year to Covid.
2016, Treetop Flyers, Boileroom, London
A fine night of folky poppy Americana with these guys down at our ‘local’. All reviewed at the time here.
2011, Eli Paperboy Reed, 229 the Venue, London
I have seen the excellent ‘Paperboy’ a few times in many guises in many different venues. 229, The Venue is a large room and it’s a relatively sparse crowd in tonight.
I seem to recall that this show unusually didn’t have a brass section. It’s a slightly heavier sound without the brass but it doesn’t detract from the quality of the show. What we lacked in numbers we made up for in energy and they was plenty of room for a bogey to this blues soul artist.
Nice to hear Reed’s version of Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ giving it a soulful twist too. This paperboy always delivers.
2006, Terri Walker, Jazz Café, London
A rare outing for London soulster Terri Walker and it’s me and the missus tonight. I would be lying if I said that I had any recollection of this show at all which sounds like a damning indictment of Ms Walker. That’s not fair and I’m sure that the show was as good as her couple of albums released by this time.
1999. Elliot Smith, Shepherds Bush Empire London
This was an interesting show. Smith it’s fair to say while a master songwriter it’s not usually a cheery subject. On stage he is a massive introvert barely making eye contact and very limited interaction with the audience outside of the songs themselves. It’s an uncomfortable watch sometimes but parking that aspect aside it’s great to hear these songs in the flesh. This is particularly noticeable for the solo acoustic segment of this show where he is literally laid bare but fair dues he completes in and I’m not sure I would have the cajones to perform in front of a few thousand people. His already delicate voice sounds even more fragile in this setting.
Whilst it’s notionally the ‘XO’ tour Smith plays a bunch of new songs from his at that time unreleased album ‘Figure 8’ plus a bunch from ‘Either/|Or’ too. In the end the quality of the songs win out and the band carry the set along.
I’m glad I got to see him this once and what a contrast between this and the Petty show just a couple of days before in the same venue.
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.