The Big Gig Thread 2019

[Greenlander]

There were photos of David with Grapper and Shaun looking all matey at the annual Brighton shindig a couple of months back. Given that Charlie is also taking a break it woud be a straight in swap. It would probably help sell a few more tickets too.

Well, the rumours weren't true. A Sleeper bloke on guitar and the drummer from My Life Story.

[MsD]

You're probably sick of me raving about Adam Ant gigs, but I went to two last week and he's even better than he was last year.

Friend or Foe is not my favourite album, and the songs from that take up half the show. I like Desperate (but not Serious) and Something Girls (or whatever it's called). The FoF album is notable for its horns and strange instruments - I don't really notice the lack, so they're filling in well with guitars.

A Man Named Marco is a funny one for Adam (and for me) but it works quite well. If you aren't aware, it's mostly an guitar-led instrumental, with handclaps, whistles and "aaah aaaah"s. Adam dances around the stage while Will does the big guitar bit, whistles nonchalantly and in perfect tune, and during the "spoken" part, he says "that was the Friend or Foe album, and that closes that part of the show". End of, you might say.

So then he kicks off with Dog Eat Dog, goes through (not necessarily in this order) Kick, Cartrouble, Antmusic, Prince Charming, Zerox (a real highlight), Lady/Fall In, Press Darlings, Kings of the Wild Frontier (another highlight) Puss in Boots (ugh), and for the encore, Physical and Red Scab.

In Liverpool he was brilliant, in Hull just off the scale superb, and a friend who was at Blackburn last night said it was one of the best ever.

By contrast, Manchester last week was felt to be a bit limp, partly due to the set-up and the tight crowd control. Adam seems to feed off/bounce off the audience's energy, so maybe if they're all seated it's not as good for him. Dunno, maybe he has (slightly) off days, but his off-days, these days, are better than most people's best.

Quick mention for the band. Will's been with him for some 8 or 9 years now (and has played many times more shows than Marco ever did). Joe is great on bass and co-vocals, and getting a bit flash in his presentation (scissor kicks and windmills, although not at the same time). AP on second guitar is coming into his own now (he could always play, but just stood there, now he looks confident and like he's having fun). Jola is a sexy, glamorous powerhouse drummer, and Andy (drummer 2), the least glam of the band, keeps in time.

Adam is 65, this can't go on forever but OMG, it's glorious now.

My next AA show is on Election Day, at Brixton.

[Greenlander]

Thoroughly enjoyable and looking forward to Salisbury in December where a new line up will be revealed as Danielle starts maternity leave, rumours are there may be original members joining temporarily.

There were photos of David with Grapper and Shaun looking all matey at the annual Brighton shindig a couple of months back. Given that Charlie is also taking a break it woud be a straight in swap. It would probably help sell a few more tickets too.

[brian potter]

On Thursday I travelled down to Bournemouth to see the first of three The Wedding Present gigs I'm notching up pre Christmas. Support came from Ben McKelvey who I hadn't previously heard of, a singer songwriter fronting a three piece band. Enjoyable enough to buy a cd.

Not a huge turnout and quite subdued for a The Wedding Present gig but those there were treated to a fine set. It's always good to have a random set given that the last 3 years have been George Best, Tommy and Bizarro tours. Quite hit heavy with a couple of new songs and the obligatory cover and an obscure bside.

Thoroughly enjoyable and looking forward to Salisbury in December where a new line up will be revealed as Danielle starts maternity leave, rumours are there may be original members joining temporarily.

[Sits]

brian potter get well.

[brian potter]

Last Tuesday Honeyblood were back in the west country, and after missing them the previous weekend due to poor health I was fortunate enough to be well enough to attend. A decent midweek turnout compared to the bath and Cardiff gigs back in the spring. This new line up has improved over the year and gave a far rockier evening than the earlier sets, helped no doubt by a larger audience. Thoroughly enjoyed them, and as ever with Honeyblood it is good to see a strong female presence in the audience.

Two supports, neither much good, but one local. The best part of their set was introducing a song as "another fuckin right banger" in a strong Bristol accent.

[WOM]

Waiting patiently for the Mavericks to begin.

Last night, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Just magnificent.

[brian potter]

Yesterday Underground Festival was happening in Gloucester, a free event across 3 venues from 2-11. Honeyblood were headlining so was quite excited, I was also looking forward to Orchards. Unfortunately due to a nasty bug and post-stroke fatigue I didn't feel well enough to hang around for long so my main target was to see China Bears for the first time.
A guitar based quartet. they have released 2 EP's so far and their set covered pretty much all of the tracks released so far. It's difficult to escape comparisons with Elbow as they provide a melodic accompaniment to self exploring lyric themes. I was expecting a lot from them and I wasn't disappointed. There is a nationwide tour in November, and tickets priced at a fiver (for Bristol at least) I'd recommend giving yourself a treat. Check out their single "Sunday" on you tube, it's the best new song I've heard all year.

[DPDPDPDP]

I was ridiculed. (Do kids not do the burning paper bag trick around your way?)

Ah, now I get you. I didn't get into Al until uni. Went to many gigs on my own though as none of my mates liked DP's crap music.

[WOM]

I was ridiculed. (Do kids not do the burning paper bag trick around your way?)

[DPDPDPDP]

I mentioned that I liked Al Stewart on here once and someone left a burning bag of dogshit on my porch for it.

Eh?

[WOM]

Saw AL Stewart on Friday night in Manchester. Excellent song writer and story teller. Fantastic 1 1/2 hour show. Not bad for a 74 year old.

I mentioned that I liked Al Stewart on here once and someone left a burning bag of dogshit on my porch for it.

[brian potter]

The Sherlocks tour, which has already started, has been postponed until Feb/March. Health issues are the official reason.

[DPDPDPDP]

Saw AL Stewart on Friday night in Manchester. Excellent song writer and story teller. Fantastic 1 1/2 hour show. Not bad for a 74 year old.

[Furtho]

I didn’t recognise the (let’s face it, horrendous) band name, but The Lottery Winners’ single That’s Not Entertainment I’ve definitely heard before. Reminds me of early 90s faux indie losers Airhead.

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

Chris Hawkins on 6 Muisc has just played their (The Lottery Winners) current single, and now that I've put two and two together I realise he's played them a few times.

[Sits]

The pop side of indie with harmonies sounds up my alley. And they can write a tune?

[brian potter]

Saw The Lottery Winners last night. Three years ago they had a disastrous headline tour, badly planned in inappropriate venues and almost non-existent ticket sales. Then nothing. They signed with Warners, who didn't want to put their album out, and instead of hitting the road trying to build up a following they played in Manchester and at festivals. Last year they began to get support slots and eventually they have returned with a headline tour with new of album release next spring.

To the present, playing to audience of about 130, which was about 122 more than 2016 (though 10,000 less than recent support for Tom Jones, who guessed that demographic?) and they're still bloody brilliant. A lot of the rough edges have been ironed out and they are a tight unit. An hour long set concentrating mostly on new songs which will comprise the debut album, with a smattering of old favourites. Pitching on the pop side of Indie with some layered harmonies they create an infectious bank of sound. Plenty of chat and it's obvious they are having the time of their lives. Get along and see them whilst you can still catch them in a small venue.

[DPDPDPDP]

Saw The Bathers (Friends Again, Starless) at a small venue in Aberdour in Fife. Mainly an acoustic set. Absolutely wonderful. Front row seats - one of the advantages of being a wheelie). Had a nice chat with the guys afterwards. Even got State of Art dedicated to us on our 29th wedding anniversary. Best gig for a long, long time.

[brian potter]

On Sunday evening I saw The Chesterfields for the first time in 32 years. The only time I'd seen them was at Bristol's Ashton Court Festival at around the time Kettle was released. They were on ridiculously early at Sunday lunchtime but they were by far the best band that day. A few hours later Jonah and the Wail were almost blown up by their own pyrotechnics and then a group of hells angels rode through the crowd and a big fight started. The 80s were like that in Bristol.

Back to the present Dai-Nichi from Tokyo started the procedings, a female duo backed up by a drum machine being played through a mobile phone. They were fairly uninspiring but did an interesting version of XTC's Making Plans For Nigel.

Rodney Allen played a cracking set, from memory I think it was pretty much all of his 1987 album Happy Sad. I remain surprised that he never made it bigger as a solo artist at the time, I suppose Bragg had cornered the singer songwriter market, but Allen was easily his equal.

The Chesterfields played a superb hour long set from the first song and the most recent song they'd written. In my ignorance, I'd had no prior knowledge that the singer Davey had died in a hit and run in the early 2000s and that only one original member was still in the group. It was a joyful night and being a local gig for them there were clearly plenty of friends and family in audience which made for a really intimate atmosphere. I was concerned that I'd built this gig up in anticipation but they really delivered. Hopefully a successful tour will make them keep at it rather than signing off.

[WOM]

So, Berlin were surprisingly good. They played the big 3 hits, a handful of 'oh yeah, I remember that' ones, and two new ones which were as middling as 'new stuff' usually is. Good value, though.
OMD brought the roof down. They were totally on, as was the crowd, and the love was very mutual. Basically the greatest hits record, with (sadly) only one song from the excellent three newer albums. No deep cuts or rarities, so I was a bit down about that...but hadn't raised my hopes.
B52s were....fine. Feels like we got the casino show. For general 'glad to be here / energy', it was about a 6. For some reason, they came off like a high school musical version of the B52s; stock patter, no choreography, no real band chemistry. Got all the hits, and glad I saw them, but OMD raised the bar and the B52s limbo'd under it.

[WOM]

Yeah, it's a B52s gig that was sweetened nicely with OMD (who I've missed the last three times they were in town). I can take or leave Berlin, but I'll show up to see them. And I agree, the added-value tours seem to be a thing now to convince the ditherers that going out is better than staying in.

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

Tonight we're seeing Berlin / OMD / B52s. Not fussed much over Berlin, but OMD are a huge favourite of mine who I've seen once or twice about a million years ago. And I saw the B52s once around 1990, and they were great too. Very up for this one.

Take it that is B52s headlining (they are on a farewell tour aren't they?) rather than playing third down to Berlin?

We may have covered this elsewhere before but those sort of package tours where the second and even third act on the bill are reasonably big names in their own right seem much more common in North America than in Europe. Though we are getting that Green Day / Fall Out Boy / Weezer tour here, which I'll probably have to take one or both of my kids to.

[WOM]

Tonight we're seeing Berlin / OMD / B52s. Not fussed much over Berlin, but OMD are a huge favourite of mine who I've seen once or twice about a million years ago. And I saw the B52s once around 1990, and they were great too. Very up for this one.

[brian potter]

A bit late reporting, but the last evening of August was spent in the fine company of a trio of female led indie bands. Midlands based Fey Militia were first up, a short set of about half a dozen songs promoting their debut ep. Fairly pleasing on the ear jangling guitars with a nod to decent dance friendly bass lines. I'd pay to see them again. The Empty Page from Manchester were second up. A tad harder, punkier sound, a touch too hard for my liking. Very enthusiastic and well received. The main event was She Makes War who describes herself as "the solo project of Bristol based multi-instrumentalist producer and visual artist. Blending urgent indie rock with melancholy torch songs." An hour long set spanning a four album career starting and finishing as a trio, with a solo segment in the middle. Last year's album Brace For Impact was my favourite album of the year and it blew me away. If you have a taste for female vocal Indie groups you'll be pleased if you give them a try.