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.
A busy day this over the years
2011 – Doug Paisley, the Slaughtered Lamb
Going back nine years for this one and I think it was just me and Graham. Paisley over here fresh off the back of his excellent and probably career best record ‘Constant Companion’ was heavily jetlagged after just flying in that morning. Deep in the small underground room that is the Slaughtered Lamb he still managed to deliver an impressive set armed with just an acoustic guitar. Beautiful Canadian Americana if there is such a thing
2013 – Matthew E White – Queen Elizabeth Hall
It was me and my good lady for this one and I remember this was a real show in a theatrical sense. There was a programme left on every seat with the setlist and words to all of the songs so you could sing along. He played the whole of debut ‘Big Inner’ with its delicate arrangements and his soft voice filling this large room and rarely for me the seated environment complemented the performance perfectly.
2016 – Lake Street Dive, the Scala
Rereading my review from this gig really brought back some great memories. I was obsessed with ‘Bad Self Portraits’ when it came out and if you can wear out a digital album then I must have done it with this. I was not passing up the chance to see this band live. Accompanied by my lovely wife, they were on great form from start to finish. Whilst the band are excellent musicians its Racheal Price’s voice that stands out. I think she has one of the finest soul voices of our time. A great set list and added to their own songs we had two great covers of ‘Lola’ and Hall and Oates’ ‘Rich Girl’. Wonderful stuff.
2019 – Ryan Bingham, Union Chapel
For all my gig going mates you know two are my favourite contemporary Country/Americana artists are both Ryans. Messrs Adams and Bingham. I have seen both many times and with Mr Bingham both solo acoustic and with full band. He is so talented that the switch between the two forms is effortless. He can rock like the proverbial or play the soft soulful acoustic stuff. In the reverential surroundings of the Union Chapel its acoustic tonight and the full review is here.
I don’t think I have given Ryan less than five stars for all of his gigs and tonight is no exception. A great raconteur, a great musician, good looking too, he makes you sick. I was pleased to share the night with Martin, Georgie and Anne although I will say it’s weird to have a cup of tea and chocolate biscuit at a gig.
Whats nice about this little exercise is not just bringing back the memories of better times but also revisiting some of the albums of these artists that haven’t seen the deck for some time. It’s purely because of my thirst for new music that the older stuff doesn’t always get out as much they should so Doug and Matthew got well deserved listens today.
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