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The Big Gig Thread 2019

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    Had a lovely time to watching Martin Newell in my friend Graham Bendel's lovely film about The Cleaners from Venus, Upstairs Planet, tonight. He performed an acoustic set afterwards, which was unexpected (by the audience, anyway) and fabulous. I've only been vaguely aware of him, (although my neighbour swears he's played Ilya Kuryakin to me loads of times) he's bloody marvellous and super-talented. John Cooper Clarke was there, and is referred to in the film - Martin Newell reads JCC's poem about him. I thought he might do a turn, but it was enough of a night. I could have stayed for the after-drinks but I've got a bit of a cold.

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      Indulge me for a minute. As I've reported on here over the years I've taken my son to many gigs over the years, often with the same group of his mates.

      Tonight him and one of the mates promoted their first gig - three local young acts, headlined by a band featuring another of the gang on drums. For added throwback, the opening act (solo singer) was a lad he played junior football with til around the age of 11.

      The place was packed and a great time was had by all.

      Son is the one on someone's shoulders below, think the arms are aloft in triumph and relief more than anything else.

      He took to the stage himself at the end, thanked the bands and declared very loudly that they were "taking over the fucking world". See that, that's my boy.

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        That's great stuff, WFD, nice one.

        Being a big loser indie throwback from way back when, next up for me are The Chesterfields in London on Friday 20th September. I'm really looking forward to it. Almost equally exciting is that the support acts are The Waltones and, I can scarcely believe this, rural Somerset's answer to Billy Bragg, Rodney Allen.

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          Nice one WFD and WFP (Walt Flanagan’s Pup).

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            Went to Edwyn Collins at the Boiler House in newcastle last night. I bought the new album at the stall, so hadn't heard any of the new stuff in advance- sounds intriguing in that it contains songs he wrote, or half-wrote, before the stroke.

            Other than that the same nostalgic pleasures of hearing OJ and early solo songs performed live plus the real warmth of seeing him still performing. In addition I met two different groups of people I hadn't seen for years, so I drank rather too much.

            1st visit to that venue and it's a good one, apart from sending Tony the Mariner to deposit his work bag ('large rucksack' according to security) in a local newsagents for a fiver.

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              There are still tickets for Pete Williams at the Lexington on Sunday, for a tenner.

              He sent a personal email to thank me for buying a ticket.

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                Pete Williams was excellent last night, and the place was way more than half empty, or less than half full, which seems a shame.

                Honestly recommend checking out his album and his gigs as he's touring at the moment.

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                  Bob Dylan is coming here in November. But the cheapest tickets are over $60. Not feeling it.

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                    Originally posted by Walt Flanagans Dog View Post
                    Indulge me for a minute. As I've reported on here over the years I've taken my son to many gigs over the years, often with the same group of his mates.

                    Tonight him and one of the mates promoted their first gig - three local young acts, headlined by a band featuring another of the gang on drums. For added throwback, the opening act (solo singer) was a lad he played junior football with til around the age of 11.

                    The place was packed and a great time was had by all.

                    Son is the one on someone's shoulders below, think the arms are aloft in triumph and relief more than anything else.

                    He took to the stage himself at the end, thanked the bands and declared very loudly that they were "taking over the fucking world". See that, that's my boy.

                    Fantastic

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                      Originally posted by Hot Pepsi View Post
                      Bob Dylan is coming here in November. But the cheapest tickets are over $60. Not feeling it.
                      He's dreadful in concert.

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                        I saw him here 20+ years ago and 30+ years ago and thought it was OK. This is going to be in a better venue: the big auditorium rather than a basketball arena.

                        But still, it’s too expensive.

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                          Saw him in 97 and he was great. Saw him in 02 and he was awful.

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                            Sorry HP, I shouldn’t be putting a downer on it. I mean, it’s Bob Dylan.

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                              Yeah, but I’m not going to go.

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                                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.

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                                  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.

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                                    Originally posted by WOM View Post
                                    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.

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                                      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.

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                                        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.

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                                          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.

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                                            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.

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                                              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.

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

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                                                  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.

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                                                    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.

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