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.
Three of the best today for my look back down memory lane.
2011, Marina and the Diamonds, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas, US and A
Well we enjoyed Ellie Goulding so much the night before we returned to the hotel bar in the Cosmopolitan Hotel. This was not in any room as such but the same side bar on the hotel floor.
Again like Goulding this was early doors in her career with just her debut album to play. And play she did. Seemed to be a bit busier tonight and was more dancey than the night before and a fine pop show.
2008, Jason Isbell, the Borderline, London
As a complete contrast it’s an early solo acoustic Isbell show at the Borderline. With just one album under his belt the set shifts between ‘Sirens of the Ditch’, ‘Drive by Truckers’ songs and some interesting covers particularly ‘Pyscho Killer’. Looking at the videos of that time, Isbell looks terrible, fat and bloated and chain smoking on stage. It’s fair to say his time at DBT turned destructive at the end. It’s great that he’s turned that around and looks ten years younger.
He was still clearly finding his feet as a solo performer but you can’t deny his creds as a songwriter and is now a must see whenever he is in town, Whats really great is to see his development since that time both as songwriter and performer.
1998, Space, the Forum, London
This would have been the ‘Tin Planet’ tour their second album which followed very quickly after their debut the year before. It’s a fun pop night and whilst we were only thirty two we seemed a lot older than most of the audience.
I have no specific musical memories of the gig but given the catchy tunes I’m sure it was a good one. I do remember these two ‘kids’ in front of us chewing the face off of each other for most of the show. Ah the joys of youth.
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.