The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

[Commodore]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

This month it's St Vincent at Manchester Cathedral on the 21st. Not been there before so I'm hoping for a sonic delight.

I had hoped to see Penguin Café at the Neptune in Liverpool (re-christened the Epstein for the love of fucking God) on the 24th but the only other fan I know will be in Basildon. Ah well.

[WOM]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Love the PCO. Is this the offshoot group Jeffes' son runs?

[alyxandr]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Am currently pondering whether to go see The English Beat. At a Mexican restaurant & bar in the Santa Cruz Mountains hamlet of Felton, CA. As you do.

[imp]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Commodore, I saw Bonnie Prince Billy in Manchester Cathedral in 2010, and it's a beautiful venue. Much to my surprise and delight they had a bar as well, selling bottled Budvar. Jesus must have been wriggling on his cross when they got the license for that. Don't have too many pre-gig pints, though - you have to leave the cathedral to go for a piss and it takes a good five minutes.

[ShortyMedlocke]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

slackster wrote: Regarding loud bands, I'm going to see OAP space rockers Hawkwind next month at shepherds bush empire, who definitely used to turn the dials up to 11 back in the day. It's a 1-off animal charity bash, but they're apparently going to do A Space Ritual. I wonder if they'll be any naked dancers on stage?

I'll be there too. Also an excuse to try the latest Brewdog (if I'm feeling very flush).

HW have had a couple of young lasses dancing on recent tour but they stay fully clothed.

Also off to see Systen 7 & Rovo on 8 March at the Academy Islington. A separate set from each and then a joint set.

[RobW]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Missed getting Suede & Cure tickets at RAH, but have the following to look forward to.

Cate Le Bon at Islington Assembly Hall this Friday

Possibly Courtney Barnett at Rough Trade 15th Feb

Blood Orange at Village Underground 19th Feb

St. Vincent at Shepherd's Bush Empire 20th Feb

Trans at Lexington 6th March

Half Man Half Biscuit at the Empire, 21st March

British Sea Power at Koko, 10th April

Can't decide whether to see Neil Young at Hyde Park. Line up isn't all that, other than Caitlin Rose (The National, Tom Odell and others), so at the moment i'm unwilling to fork out Ł70. Will likely see Gyratory System in Dalston on 1st March.

[Benjm]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

East India Youth was good enough musically, albeit I'd prefer a stronger ratio of pop songs to instrumental noodles, but as a show it was like watching Benedict Cumberbatch tidy his desk.

[hearforthepies]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Benjm wrote: East India Youth was good enough musically, albeit I'd prefer a stronger ratio of pop songs to instrumental noodles, but as a show it was like watching Benedict Cumberbatch tidy his desk.

Saw him at King Tuts. Thought his voice was weak but his noodles and drones made my inners move.

[hearforthepies]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Saw, East India Youth and have Temples then Toy in February and then Mogwai at the usher hall in March.

[evilC]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Mild Peril and Soft Riot (again!) at The Bedroom Bar, a week tomorrow.

[evilC]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Oh, and there were some pretty spectacular* photos from the London Modular Alliance gig at the V&A that I mentioned earlier:

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(* - spectacular in a synth-porn way, that is!)

[Uncle Ethan]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Saw Springsteen twice last week. Loved the second gig especially as it was with a couple of people who hadn't seen him live before. As close I will get to converting atheists to God.

As mentioned on another thread it has to be up there with the best ever line-ups of guitarists in one band.

[nmrfox]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

British Sea Power at the Leadmill in April.

[Toby Gymshorts]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

RobW wrote: Half Man Half Biscuit at the Empire, 21st March

This had passed me by. I hope there are still tickets going on pay day.

[Benjm]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

I booked a couple of tickets for The Damned at the Forum in April at Ł1.70 each. The 1977 pricing is to celebrate Captain Sensible's 60th birthday. Ticketmaster managed to bump Ł3.40 up to Ł8.55 for 'paperless ticketing', which as a multiple of the face value must be something of a record even by their standards.

[gavc23]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Saw Andy Cairns from Therapy?'s solo acoustic show last week in Helsinki.

Was alright, worth €14 anyway - one of those 3 minute song, 2 minute anecdote kind of things. A few covers (Husker Du, Misfits etc) thrown in too.

Mötorhead cancelled again in March, but luckily Devin Townsend's in town the same night next month - so my evening pass from the kids can still be used.

[Marbles]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

British Sea Power - Holmfirth and Hull - April
Runrig - Nottingham - April

London Grammar - Nottingham - June
Jake Bugg - Nottingham - Last Night

[Sexual Chocolate]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Courtney Barnett rocked the Rickshaw Stop in SF last night as part of Noise Pop 2014. Sounded less plodding than the double EP release and the new song from her upcoming album was excellent on the first listen. We arrived at the same time as she and her band and it seemed absurd standing in line behind her as the bouncer checked her ID without knowing she was the headliner.

Support came in the form of Brighton's 'Kins' who sounded a bit like Alt-J and the XX and perhaps recent Radiohead at a push. Were OK and their sound was interesting but I won't be seeking out their stuff for the timebeing.

Fever the Ghost were also on the bill. They had me smiling and at times laughing during their first few songs. Sincerely thought they were a joke/novelty band. The keyboardist was really into it and he reminded me of Vic Reeves crossed with David Walliams while resplendant in a silver body suit that looked psuedo-space-age. His oversized red glasses were magnificent. At one point he had his face in the keys, and the expressions he made throught the evening were priceless. Their sound was like glam rock crossed with the worst elements of 70s rock, a bit like AC Newman, just with ridiculous, unnecessary effects. The actual riffs were alright, though, and the Mrs. thought they were brilliant. Math rock she called it. Something about time signatures and whatever, I couldn't really hear her. Anyway, they were gash.

[imp]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

No doubt you'll all recall how I started the thread bragging about all the tickets I'd bought in advance. These included two tickets for Wednesday's Bob Mould concert here in DC. Then I forgot about them and booked a three-day work trip to Minnesota this week. So if there's anyone left on this board who still lives in the DC area, you can have them - send me a PM.

The indie-rock Gods taunted me further - Mould's playing on Tuesday night in Minneapolis, 10 miles from where I'm staying. But it's long since sold out. Just to add to the fun, the temperature in Minneapolis right now is minus 17 degrees centigrade, though that's projected to soar to a comparatively balmy minus 5 by my arrival.

[slackster]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Hawkwind at Shepherds Bush on Saturday were bloody excellent. The first set saw a runout for some mid-70s favourites, and then Space Ritual was performed in full.

I suppose it can be difficult to turn into your own tribute band, especially when there's still new material being churned out, but Brock and his current crew did a great job and seemed happy to be doing it.

An in absentia Brian Blessed boomed out the vocals for Sonic Attack. And there were dancers - who stayed clothed.

[RobW]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Off to see Bernard Butler & Jamie McKeown's new band tonight, Trans. Incidentally, McAlmont & Butler are playing a one off show at the Union Chapel (late May, I think). Tickets on sale tomorrow.

Off to see Angel Olsen in a couple of weeks time at Dingwalls. Only just got into her stuff recently, and her second album came out the other week. She's announced further dates in September, so got myself a ticket for the Electric Ballroom.

Really looking forward to seeing Blixa Bargeld and Teho Teardo at the Union Chapel a week on Tuesday. So much so that I am giving up the opportunity to watch Lincoln play Braintree that evening.

[RobW]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Well, Blixa & Teho were excellent on Tuesday night. The former just on singing duties with Teho playing guitar and programming. Initially accompanied by just a cellist, but later a string quartet joined for a few songs. Few teething sound problems I thought, but that was quickly sorted out. I wish Blixa stood closer to the mic when addressing the audience between songs, but only a minor quibble. Lovely cover of a Caetano Veloso song too ("The Empty Boat"), which inevitably led me to the original as soon as I got home.

Saw Half Man Half Biscuit on Friday at Shepherd's Bush, and although I was stood near the back and couldn't hear Nigel's jokes between songs, it was a rip-roaringly good show. Nice balanced mix of old and new with cover of 'Patio Song' during the encore. If only they played elsewhere in London, I really can't stand the Empire.

Angel Olsen tomorrow, and ticket for Gruff Rhys' Soho Theatre 'residency' bought last week.

[hobbes]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Managed to upgrade my tickets for The Cure on Friday from back of the circle to front row of a box near the stage.

Then I got back all my money for the circle tickets.

Nice.

[Toby Gymshorts]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Totally forgot about the HMHB gig. Good job I didn't buy tickets.

Also missed out on tickets for Gruff Rhys. Bad times.

[imp]

The Big Gig Thread: 2014 edition

Act: Tinariwen
Venue: Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, DC - sold out
Ticket: $25
Support: The Melodic. Frau imp and I both agreed that the banjo player in this sub-Mumford, watered-down, pseudo-folk, posh-kids 'from Brixton' combo deserved to be taken outside and given a severe kicking for somehow managing to look like a bigger twat than the other four band members put together, and that was going some. That aside, they couldn't play, their songs were lukewarm, at best, and they had all the musical conviction of a slice of cold toast. And yet, they looked so fucking pleased with themselves, presumably because they somehow managed to wangle a support gig on a Tinariwen tour.
Pre-gig: 1 Tsingtao
Audience annoyance: Not too bad, despite a surfeit of young people incapable of clapping in time to the music. I don't, as a rule, clap along to live music, even upon exhortation from the stage, but if you're going to do it, at least keep fucking time you beard-weedy, unselfconsciously grinning cunt with way more years to live than me.
Performance: Tinariwen rocked the cupola off the place. One bongo and a deep-set bass provided the foundation for the infectious, hypnotic bluesy electric guitars and mellifluous, harmonized vocals. Two hours of rhythm and bliss.