So here I am once more
in the playground of the broken hearts
one more experience, one more entry
in a diary, self-penned
yet another emotional suicide
overdosed on sentiments and pride
It’s the last day for this particular ‘diary’. Those who know, know and I’m looking at you Mr Head.
This is it, 365 days since I started this retrospective look back across over 800 gigs in the absence of any new reviews. It been a great experience looking back, racking my failing memory for some great shows (take a bow Petty, Broooce, Sweet, Earle, Lolla 08, Glasto, Jayhawks, Band of Horses, the Rockingbirds, Prince, Queen, Rage, Prine to name but a few) and of course some duffers too, you know who you are Reader, Leven, Vile, Olson, Rumer.
It’s also provided a bit of a distraction from the madness that taken over us in the last year, even if it’s only for a few minutes as I write some rubbish. It’s also prompted me to revisit some old albums that I haven’t heard for years or even decades and that aspect has been nice too.
My biggest takeaway though from attending gigs for forty years, which I celebrate next month my first concert with Whitesnake in May 81 at the most hallowed of rock venues Hammersmith Odeon, is the shared experience with other like-minded people some of whom I have known and many I didn’t. Over the years I’ve laughed, boy I’ve laughed, I’ve hugged, I’ve boogied, I’ve moshed, I’ve sung, I’ve shouted, I’ve heckled, I’ve requested songs, I’ve cried, I’ve met the bands. Music by its nature takes you through the whole gamut of emotions but these feelings are dialled up in the live setting. I’ve had many hair tingling moments, emotional highs, some tears too.
Some of the greatest nights of my life have been at a gig and many of those with some of this readership. New friendships have been borne out of music and gigs with our core group of hardy souls growing over the years. Those memories will live forever between us and for the past thirteen months that’s all we have had. I can’t wait to make new memories with these guys and girls hopefully later this year.
So I would like to raise a glass to my oldest gig buddy Graham, who won’t read this as he doesn’t do social media, John, the other of the original three amigos, Antony, the Twin Towers (Martin and Gavin), Bird’s Eye Andy, my good lady Anne, the kids without whom I would never have gone to Lollapalooza or seen a classic Beyoncé show with Jay Z and occasional appearances from Big Al, Andy, Rog and the various Glasto buddies over the past few years.
I would love to have ended this exercise with a classic gig but it’s not too be. It was a bog standard rock gig, not brilliant, not rubbish but highly enjoyable as is the vast amount of concerts.
2003, the Vines, Astoria, London
Aussie rockers over here in support of their debut album ‘Highly Evolved’. I do have a soft spot for bands from down under, INXS, Crowded House, Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever, Rose Tattoo from back in the day, Powderfinger to name a few (no not Midnight Oil, Mr Head, I like the songs but I can’t get on with the guys voice).
So quick summary of the show where nothing really stood out but just a good energetic rock show.
That’s it for today and forever in this series and hoping I can get back to full reviews of new shows very soon. Don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.
For a blog that celebrates live music I thought I would post a picture of arguably the finest live performer of all time in the week that he was sadly taken away from us five years ago.