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.
Just the one today for my trip down memory lane for you down the years
2011, the Jayhawks, the Forum, London
Its reunion time for the Jayhawks as Mark Olson re-joins the band after a spell out. A new album is made, ‘Mockingbird Time’ and it’s pretty good. It also coincides with special edition releases of ‘Hollywood Town Hall’ and ‘Tomorrow the Green Grass’. It’s these albums that dominate the set tonight but they do find room for ‘Tampa to Tulsa’ from the great ‘Rainy Day Music’. I think we had a big group for this one with even Mr Wordingham making an appearance and its was very, very hot inside the Forum.
It’s always one of those quandaries whether the Jayhawks are better with or without Olson. They have produced fine albums and put on great shows with and without him. The first two albums mentioned above are Americana classics blending the acoustic leanings of Olson with the rockier led Louris. With both of them probably comprising a lot, they come together to produce those songs with the beautiful harmonies. I still can’t tell you the answer but my gut says they are better with him. However with ‘Rainy Day Music’ they produced my second favourite album after ‘Hollywood’ and are continuing to produce some fine moments since and this year’s album is certainly a return to form with each band member taking more of a spotlight in terms of songwriting and lead vocals.
It’s a faultless show as far as I am concerned, animosities are buried and it’s just pure classic Jayhawks at their best. Of course old differences soon reappear and Olson leaves again soon after with no sign nearly ten years later that we will hear those harmonies again.
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