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.
A busy day today and there’s a couple of classics here for my trip down memory lane for you down the years
1998, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Watermans, London
Another oldie but a goodie going back some twenty two years with the great Alvin Youngblood Hart. At this time The Watermans in Brentford used to specialise in blues and folk gigs and we saw many a band for a couple of years there.
Hart’s second album ‘Territory’ came out this year so am I guessing the set list drew heavily from this record. Hart is one of the finest purveyors of laid back acoustic and lap steel blues out there. That’s of course when he’s not rockin it up for full on electric blues shows.
Tonight though it’s the comfy environs of the side room at The Watermans for this show. His originals more than hold their own with his arrangements of some traditional classics. He is a great story teller too between songs but I remember at one point he berated our fine country for the abomination that was the Spice Girls and inflicting them his side of the pond. I did respond to him that it was payback for Michael Bolton so I call that an honourable draw.
So the first of many a good night spent in the company of Mr Hart and here’s to many more.
2015, Moreland and Arbuckle, Worthing Pier, Sussex, England
It’s my first gig on a pier but the guy that runs it is a bit of a muso and holds concerts in the pavilion at the end, most weeks and certainly specialises in getting the finest US blues performers here.
Tonight is the most excellent Moreland and Arbuckle and I wrote about this gig here. It’s a fine show of blues with great interaction between the harp and guitar. I met the guys in the interval and they ensured they spent time talking to everyone and signed some stuff. Sadly they have subsequently gone their own separate ways. Also of note is the guy who ran the pier has also left and I don’t think they put on shows ther any more either. Arguably the most unusual venue I have seen a gig, well apart from a tube train at Glasto I guess.
2009, Simply Red, Sandown Park, Esher, England
Yes it’s another concert and race night at Sandown. This time its local boy, well I know he’s from Manchester but lives down the road, Mick Hucknall. It’s a perfect balmy summer’s night and a perfect set. No frills just the hits and most of the same set you would have to pay two or three times the price at the O2 later in the year. Nothing more to add, a super night out for me and the missus and we hum the tunes on our short walk home.
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.