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.
Busy day with four including classic Beach Boys for today’s trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2015, Leon Bridges, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
A blink and you’ll miss debut show in London reviewed here at the time. Like the set it was a short review for this very slick production. A little style over substance but plenty of time for this young artist to develop.
2012, Beach Boys, Wembley Arena, London
And at the other extreme we have the Beach Boys coming in at a fifty five, yes, fifty five song strong set list. They play everything, sadly even Kokomo, but all the hits are there are then some. This was a reunion show and so I think all living Beach Boys were on stage with Brian Wilson and pantomime villain Mike Love sharing the same stage for the first time in a long while. The dynamic is interesting and it’s the first time I have seen an act where one member gets booed not loudly but politely by the crowd as is the case with Love. He owns the name and makes it clear that ‘he’ will be back next year as the Beach Boys with his own band supporting him.
That aside the show was brilliant from start to finish. The term legends get bandied about too often but in their case it is justified. If you want two minute pop songs then no one did it finer than these guys in the sixties. Superb stuff and despite their advancing years they can still put on an amazing show.
2010, Deer Tick w/Caitlin Rose, Cargo, London
A rare trip to Cargo and ensuring we get there early for the talented Ms Rose was essential. Her recorded output and live shows sine this time have been sporadic to say the list but check out her couple of albums for her witty intelligent take on country.
An interesting support act for Deer Tick who are not what you would describe as country at all. They rock like the proverbial. This was Black Dirt sessions era and they specialise in that melodic groove based rock that just takes you in, straps on and takes you for a ride on the back of Harley across America. A fine show.
2001, Josh Rouse, the Borderline, London
This was early days in Rouse’s career and he was touring his excellent second album ‘Home’ and our first chance to see him live doe his debut London show. Rouse is the master of feel good. His sunny pop tunes are just the tonic for a winter’s day and a perfect singalong to a sunny summer day too.
I can’t remember very much specifically about the gig but I can guarantee we all left with a smile on our faces singing along to one of his tunes, He was obviously good as we have seen him another five times at least since this first show.
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.