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.
A trio of super shows of all styles for my look back trip down memory lane for you down the years.
2014, Rival Sons, Portsmouth Pyramids, Portsmouth
Our first trip down to this venue on the South Coast for me and Graham. It’s a leisure centre and swimming pool on the beach in Southsea. That strangeness aside it’s a big room with a wide stage.
These guys are a traditional old style rock band with a hard blues edge. Its brilliant stuff and much like the music that I listened to back in the eighties. Its brilliant stuff and I will go out on a limb and say Jay Buchanan has the best blues rock voice around at the moment. He is more than ably supported by the band behind him. All was reviewed here at the time.
2011, the Rockingbirds, the Borderline, London
It’s the regular Rockingbirds Christmas show. Nuff said. Always good value, always a good sing song and boogie down with the other stalwart fans of North London’s finest country band.
2008, Eli Paperboy Reed, Hoxton Bar and Grill, London
Our first foray and introduction to the world of rock n roll with Eli Paperboy Reed. It was also our first visit to Hoxton Bar and Grill and I quite like it. Not too big a room but get there early as its flat floor and sight lines are poor near the back but that’s where the bar is so getting a drink can be a challenge in the packed room.
It was Reed’s first UK tour supporting his fine debut album ‘Roll with You’. I have seen him several times since this show in a number of different configurations but it’s the classic setup tonight with full horns. And what a show and what a voice. Great from start to finish and made even more special with a superb version of Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon but with the new lockdown my last chance of a gig disappeared this month and 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.