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.
2011, Caitlin Rose w/the Rockingbirds, Scala, London
It’s a nice support slot for North London’s finest country band, the Rockingbirds and of course we got here early to see them. They always deliver and will forever have a place in my heart with their fine debut album and the countless times we have seen them.
On to Caitlin Rose and a bit of Texas country. This could have been her first headline tour proper after we had seen her supporting Deer Tick the year before. She has a lovely higher pitched voice that’s more folk than straight country and her songs are the classic storytelling kind. For one so young she has an assured stage presence and is confident with her between song banter which even hardened pros sometime struggle with. I don’t know why but she has not released any new music now for seven years which is a sad loss at a time when there is a definitive resurgence of strong female country artists.
2012, Jack White w/First Aid Kit, Brixton Academy, London
This was the tour when White played with two completely different bands. One all male and one all-female and they alternated each night. First up tonight is the wonderful First Aid Kit who I am sure won a lot of new fans here.
Onto White and it’s the all-male band tonight and whats striking is the jaunty angle the drummer has his kit set at. Whatever the angle he is transfixing and when you are not staring and admiring White’s guitar playing you are rapt in just watching the drummer.
The set tonight draws heavy from White’s debut solo album but there are White Stripes, Raconteurs and Dead Weather cuts thrown in for good measure.
This is one of the finest bands I have ever seen and they produce an absolute blues rock masterclass. Whatever White does and in whatever guise it’s done with authenticity and he is truly one of the best guitarists around at the moment. A superb show.
2019, Band of Horses, the Forum, London
I reviewed this cheeky just before Glastonbury gig here and so there’s probably nothing more to add. BoH are one of my favourite bands and have a solid ten or so absolute classic tracks that underpin their whole live show. There are in the main all here tonight and this was the first show in many years without Ben Bridwell’s trusty lieutenant Tyler Ramsey. I do think that this takes a little away in terms of both harmonies and guitar playing but this was still nonetheless a good show laying the ground for the big G that was to come up soon after.
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.