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.
Five goodies on my look back trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2008, Gary Louris and Mark Olson, Union Chapel, London
Chapter fifty in the long running saga of this complicated relationship between these two talented artists who fall in and out of love with each other every few years. When they come together it is a wonderful thing, it’s a yin and yang thing I guess. With a break from Louris’ day job in the Jayhawks they came together to record some new songs together as a duo.
So we entered the hushed surroundings of the Union Chapel and take our pew. It’s difficult to read the body language so let’s concentrate on the music. It’s a fabulous set of the new songs and Jayhawks classic reinterpreted on acoustic guitars.
Too many highlights to mention so I won’t and it’s just a joy to make the most of seeing these two guys together one more time.
2003, Ryan Adams, the Forum, London
This was Adams at his prolific best with Demolition and the Love is Hell records all coming out in a year. On top of this he also released the brilliant punk album ‘We are Fuck You’ by the Finger. This was him at his electric heaviness.
The gig was ferocious and went on forever. We ended up having to leave before the end as we had to get our last train and he was still going strong. A brilliant brutal noise fest and such a contrast to his usual melancholic Americana but this was Adams at his imperious best.
1990, 10,000 Maniacs, Town and Country, London
Coming a year after a great show at Hammersmith we return to see the maniacs in Kentish Town which technically would have been the ‘Blind Man’s Zoo’ but looking at the setlist now they played nearly all of the masterpiece that is ‘In My Tribe’. Of course there were no complaints from here.
Twenty six songs of sheer joy. Merchant’s unique voice leading this fine band who are sadly missed and whilst here solo stuff has had some high moments she has never captured the essence of this band.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon but with the new lockdown my last chance of a gig disappeared this month and I have now had my first gig of 2021 cancelled so that will take it to a full twelve months at least between gigs.
Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.