The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition
A veritable flurry of gigs in the last week, for different reasons.
First up was chauffeuring/chaperoning Thing One to The Pretty Reckless - he plays them in the car occasionally but I don't know many songs, and the fact that he first saw them supporting Fall Out Boy lead me to think it would be all beanie hats and why's everybody gotta hate me, but there was more to it than that and they did rock somewhat, even though there was clearly more Pretty than there was Reckless.
Two nights later and it was Thing Two's turn to be escorted, this time to Lady Gaga. It was all very showy and the two hours rattled by quickly enough despite the various costume changes and speeches between songs. Like probably most of the audience we knew little of the new album and sensed that like us most people were waiting for the hits. We agreed that Katy Perry was clearly better.
After that I was flying (well, driving) solo to my own choices which brings me to:
Which I saw at Barrowland(s), a suitably retro venue for a 30th (or er 29th) anniversary event like this - Bible John would find that little had changed inside since his day, except perhaps the bar prices and even then they were displayed on one of those little boards you tend not to see anymore - it all seems to be laminated A4 or smiley faces on chalkboards these days ...
I digress, it was a joy, and paradoxically the Psychocandy element was note/squeal perfect while the songs from their later, (comparatively) slicker albums were less rehearsed and somewhat shakier. The crowd took a while to get into it, Upside Down in the first section being the spark. Alan McGee was stood nearby and (in between taking photos to put on Twitter, and checking his Facebook or texts) was nodding and tapping away like the fan he clearly is.
Finally, and the highlight of the week, Sharon van Etten on Tuesday, great range from the ethereal (Our Love) to unbridled noise (Serpents). Much facial hair and headgear in the audience, including one wacky soul wearing a newspaper folded into a mitre. Much muttering in the audience when it looked like she'd left 'breakthrough hit' Every Time the Sun Comes Up to last, but then didn't play it. I didn't mind, I wouldn't have swapped Serpents for it.
A veritable flurry of gigs in the last week, for different reasons.
First up was chauffeuring/chaperoning Thing One to The Pretty Reckless - he plays them in the car occasionally but I don't know many songs, and the fact that he first saw them supporting Fall Out Boy lead me to think it would be all beanie hats and why's everybody gotta hate me, but there was more to it than that and they did rock somewhat, even though there was clearly more Pretty than there was Reckless.
Two nights later and it was Thing Two's turn to be escorted, this time to Lady Gaga. It was all very showy and the two hours rattled by quickly enough despite the various costume changes and speeches between songs. Like probably most of the audience we knew little of the new album and sensed that like us most people were waiting for the hits. We agreed that Katy Perry was clearly better.
After that I was flying (well, driving) solo to my own choices which brings me to:
pishtico pishtico wrote: Also just booked to see JAMC playing Psychocandy although i am beginning to regret it after seeing them playing recently on you tube.
I digress, it was a joy, and paradoxically the Psychocandy element was note/squeal perfect while the songs from their later, (comparatively) slicker albums were less rehearsed and somewhat shakier. The crowd took a while to get into it, Upside Down in the first section being the spark. Alan McGee was stood nearby and (in between taking photos to put on Twitter, and checking his Facebook or texts) was nodding and tapping away like the fan he clearly is.
Finally, and the highlight of the week, Sharon van Etten on Tuesday, great range from the ethereal (Our Love) to unbridled noise (Serpents). Much facial hair and headgear in the audience, including one wacky soul wearing a newspaper folded into a mitre. Much muttering in the audience when it looked like she'd left 'breakthrough hit' Every Time the Sun Comes Up to last, but then didn't play it. I didn't mind, I wouldn't have swapped Serpents for it.
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