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.
It’s the end of June and of course its Glasto time. Day Four of Glasto reviews with my last trip in 2019 plus a couple of other stunners on what is a busy day in the year for my trip along memory lane for you down the years.
2001, Beck, Brixton Academy, London
Me and John for this one for our first experience of Beck. Boy what a show, he sure does have the funk. This was the ‘Midnite Vultures’ tour where Beck was seriously channelling his inner Prince. They share so many similarities, both great musicians, singers and songwriters and they can also throw some shapes too.
This was a complete show, great production, lighting, good tunes, great band and the man himself on top form. A real five star show and a perfect set list too with a cheeky Bowie cover of Diamond Dogs thrown in for good measure.
Like Prince he doesn’t mind experimenting and certainly stylistically he has taken in many genres down the years but I think that this phase was Beck at his very best.
2009, AC/DC, Wembley Stadium, London
I still don’t know why it took me so long to see AC/DC live. I loved this band in my metal heyday of the eighties but for whatever reason we never go to see them live. Luckily, Bon Scott aside, all of the original members are still alive and here along with the throaty Geordie singer Brian Johnson. It’s John and Alex here for this show and another notch in my musical education for son and heir ticked off.
This was the ‘Black Ice’ tour and it’s actually a not bad album but of course we are here for those classic cuts and we weren’t disappointed. Most of them are here and how can you not enjoy ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’, ‘Dirty Deeds’, ‘Highway to Hell’, ‘Back in Black’, ‘Let there be Rock’ and of course set closer ‘For those about to Rock’ cannons and all.
What can I say, it’s a brilliant live show full of theatrics, great songs and much head banging although sadly there is now no danger of anyone getting hit by my flowing locks.
2019, Glastonbury, England
As with the other Glastonburys a full review of last year can be found here but here are some additional observations. There’s six of us this year with three newbies. After years of badgering we finally convinced John to come along as well as local boy Bird Eye Monster Energy Drink Andy. Julian also brought along one of his friends Adrian.
We were so lucky with the weather this time around which is an added bonus as it makes the logistics of moving around so much easier. It was so great to share the whole experience with friends who have never been before and so I made a point of taking them up to the top end of the site by the Glasto letters advising them not to look back so they could take in the vastness of the site. Just to capture the look on their faces was worth the price of admission.
It was a great weekend and I enjoyed showing the new guys some of the various areas but of course you can only scratch the surface on the first visit. We saw some great bands, some OK bands and some bad bands but even they were memorable especially one such band late night in the Avalon Inn. Blackberry Weed were difficult to accurately describe and were so bad they were good.
We make our weary way back home on Monday doubling down on returning again but sadly the ticket ballot gods did not shine on us this year but we will not be beaten and vow to return again as soon as we can.
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.