We have a date 21st June for normality we hope and the end of socially distancing at a gig. I have my first gig pencilled in for 7th June a seated affair at the Jazz Café to hopefully set up the rest of the year. I have still have about half a dozen gigs that will either be cancelled or postponed some for the third time. So cautious optimism is the watch word here. Given that the summer months are usually a little quieter the autumn could be crazy for gigs if things get back to normal. So with everything crossed let’s hope there is real light at the end of this horribly long tunnel.
When I first started this little exercise we were a month into lockdown on the 24th April. Like most of you I expected this to last a month or two. The reality now is clear and sadly it will be a full twelve months and probably a lot more between my last gig and the next one. We go again and hopefully this brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
A couple of corkers today for my look back down memory lane.
2017, Alejandro Escovedo, Bush Hall, London
I have two criticisms of this show. Firstly it’s taken him so blinking long to come over here and for us to see him again. Secondly it was all over too quickly. A relative stranger to these shores it’s always a joy to see him. It was all reviewed here at the time.
1993, the Lemonheads, Kilburn National, London
This was the ‘Shame about Ray’ tour and that album has catapulted the Lemonheads to stardom. Led by Evan Dando, he was the indie girl heart throb at the time. So these three old geezers (to be fair we were only twenty seven) joined the throng at an always packed beyond its safety limit Kilburn National.
The set was dominated by ‘Ray’ but I was surprised that there was nothing from their new album that come out later this year which I think is arguably a better record. That gripe aside it’s a jaunty poppy gig full of singalongs but given that we were so crammed together no dancing.
Great stuff and we were lucky to see Dando again ten years later at an equally packed Shepherds Bush Empire.
That’s it for today so don’t forget, support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.