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 couple today with a blues theme for my trip down memory lane for you down the years
2006, John Butler Trio, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
John Butler is an Australian guitar virtuoso and this tour comes soon after the release the brilliant ‘Sunrise over Sea’. It’s a masterclass of acoustic blues as he rattles though most of that album with some teasers from the next. As you can imagine I have seen many guitarists from the flashy to the under stated whether this is electric, steel, pedal steel or acoustic and Butler is right up there with his laid back blues styling. This is just one of those step back and take in the skill and artistry of the musician. He also writes a good tune and has a fine voice too.
2019, Alvin Youngblood Hart, the Borderline, London
Not only was this the last time we saw AYH but this was also the last gig at the Borderline as it shuts its door a week or so after this. A rare gig outing for Mr Wordingham joining the three amigos for this one. I reviewed this in detail here and there’s probably nothing more to add. It still pains me that arguably London’s best small venue (although it did lose its character after the refurb) was allowed to close. I a guessing that the current crisis would probably have ended its life anyway. It’s been a large part of my life over the past twenty five years taking in over seventy gigs and some of the best nights of my life. Goodnight Borderline,
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.