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.
With October traditionally album release time, ha not this year so much, it’s another busy one with five for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2017, Hall & Oates with Chris Isaak, O2 Arena, London
A double header for the London BluesFest (no idea how either of these acts qualify in that genre but hey) it was certainly a game of two halves with Chris Isaak bossing it with perfect sound and a fab show that can be seen here reviewed at the time. Next up Hall & Oates who when I saw them in the nineties blew me away they were that good. Unfortunately after the complete mixing desk was swapped out after Isaak they were plagued by sound problems all night much to Darryl Halls’ disgust. Again reviewed here at the time.
2015, Curtis Harding, Village Underground, London
A bit of a stop start show with the talented Mr Harding that can be seen here in my original review.
2014, Real Estate, Komedia, Brighton
A double header down in the Brighton and night one gave us the great Real Estate with their funky pop tunes. Night slightly marred by an idiot in front of us but a good show reviewed here at the time.
2011, Wilco, Roundhouse, London
This would have been the ‘the Whole Love’ tour. I have a bit of a mixed relationship with Wilco. I think they veer heavily between brilliant and bang average. For example I love the first two albums ‘AM’ and ‘Being There’ with their raw Americana. Their sound has since matured significantly lost its raw edge gone experimental in places but there have been some fine moments no doubt.
Live too we have seen the good the bad and ugly with this band and Tweedy seems to have a love/hate relationship with London. I think this one falls into the meh category. Yes of course it was great in parts but The Roundhouse is not one of my favourite venues and I usually go in with a slightly biased negative attitude so the band do have a work a bit harder there. So this was not one for any lasting memory for me. Maybe next time.
1989, Chris Isaak, Town and Country Club, London
This was our first time seeing Chris Isaak and he was probably at the peak of his commercial success with uber hit ;’Wicked Game’ riding high in the charts. Given his acting chops it’s no surprise his on stage persona is engaging and endearing with plenty of shtick and banter especially with his long time drummer Kenney Dale Johnson.
But we’re here for the music and he rattles through assorted tracks from those first three albums. That combination of his honeyed voice and that Silvertone guitar is just mesmerising. He’s an underrated songwriter too and it’s a beautiful show. He never disappoints on all of our subsequent shows with him but if I was picky they are usually very short sets. He’s still got it though as demonstrated on the recent review above.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon although 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.