Nights Out

Mark Knopfler

Submitted by SteveT on 25 May 2013 - 9:15am
Where: 
LG Arena Birmingham
When: 
Friday 24th May
Comment: 
Friday night and the pre bank holiday getaway caused a crash that closed M6 in both directions. Mark and his band generously delayed the start of the show for 30 minutes to ensure everyone got in okay. It was worth the wait. Knopfler describes his accompanying musicians as World Class and he is not wrong. The interplay at times was phenomenal nowhere more so than on Marbletown where the double bass and fiddle solo including a plucked duel between the two that left the crowd speechless - literally in a 12,000 auditorium you could hear a pin drop. That was a true highlight and also Speedway to Nazareth and a rarely played Postcards from Paraguay. I have seen Mark play probably close to 20 times over the years and this was the first gig where I haven't seen him play either Brothers in Arms or Sultans of Swing - he doesn't need to anymore as his solo back catalogue is peerless.
The audience: 
Attentive and respectful - no morons. Since LG took over the Arena the sound has improved dramatically either that or Mark has a sound crew that understand the science of getting the sound right.
Food & drink: 
Again an area of improvement - seated fish and chips of a fairly decent quality. I dont like stadium gigs normally but this one was a good experience.
It made me think: 
The purists sniff at Knopflers guitar playing. Throughout the show tonight he and his band embraced many different styles with great warmth and it was clear they were enjoying themselves immensely. This is why I look forward to his gigs.

Josh Rouse

Submitted by niallb on 24 May 2013 - 9:02am
Where: 
Islington Assembly Halls, London, U.K
When: 
22nd May 2013
Comment: 
13 years of waiting and I finally get to see the man whose music has been so important to me. Circumstances have meant that I have missed every tour or London date in the past but not this time. So, for someone so understated, who makes such perfect records, will I be disappointed with him on a live stage? Let me think about that for a nano-second. His 3-piece band are loose but perfect for the jangle of his music. The harmonies, however, are anything but loose. God, I love a man who believes in good backing vocals! The setlist leans heavily on the great new album, The Happiness Waltz, with Julie and Simple Pleasure being the standouts. When he gets into the Greatest Hits section, towards the end of the set, the place really comes alive. Love Vibration, It's The Nighttime, 1972, Islands and the gorgeous My Love Has Gone are just simple, fantastic songs. I am used to being the only person who has ever heard of him (apart from a few stalwarts on here) but he deserves a wider audience.
The audience: 
Enthusiastic, noisy (without chatting, thank god) and up for a good night out. Put it this way. He didn't have to work hard to win them over.
Food & drink: 
Found a great Indian restaurant round the corner, in Essex Street. There was a limited bar upstairs at the venue but they had Hobgoblin Ale, so my mate and I were happy bunnies.
It made me think: 
Josh Rouse writes wonderful songs. You should give him a listen. It's as simple as that.

Rush

Submitted by tkdmart on 24 May 2013 - 2:15am
Where: 
Manchester Arena
When: 
22 May 2013
Comment: 
I'll start by saying that I count myself as a fan. Rush, Fly By Night, Caress Of Steel, 2112, A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures... all glossed over in a first half that features varying quality stuff from Signals to Snakes And Arrows (never played it) and a typically blistering drum solo. Hang on. They've got a new album out, and they've played no new. Gulp. Time for set two. Surely they won't... They can't... They do. Nine tracks in a row from Chocolate Oranges, or whatever it's called. And another TWO drum solos. Geddy Lee announces that there's one more from their new album, and then they'll play some of their older 'funnier' material. Everyone gets excited. It's a track from Roll The bones. That doesn't count! Red Sector A... Better! YYZ... here we go. Spirit of Radio. It's on! It's finished. Great encore though. Tom Sawyer, 2112 overture, Temples of Syrinx, and Grand Finale.
The audience: 
The hairy, and the used to be hairy (myself included)
Food & drink: 
Nachos a L'Arena
It made me think: 
Would I rather see a good tribute band playing the classic stuff, or the actual band playing new? Tough one. And here's something else. There were people heading for the exits during 2112. It's a Rush gig! Is car park supremacy that important?

Bobby Womack valedictory shows- approach with caution...no make that respect

Submitted by Junior Wells on 21 May 2013 - 11:24pm
Where: 
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre ,Melbourne
When: 
Tuesday 22 May 2013
Comment: 
One of the great soul voices and some of the great soul songs but I was still uneasy.He's old, got diabetes ,had colon cancer, will the voice holdup? But he's got a 13 piece band so he will probably belt out a few and let the hot sidemen strut their stuff.Right? Nope it was all about Bobby. First impression:this bloke is sick.Really thin legs, frail gait, stool to rest on. We got a bit from all eras 110th st opened, woman's gotta have it, change is gonna come from the sam cooke era and the latest: Bravest Man. Why only one song from the "Albarn album? I twiggged- he's got Alzheimers and probably can't sing the newer stuff. His voice? I thought it was shot but Mrs Wells said "still had more soul than the younger singers". After an hour he left -that's right 60 mins. Sustained, sentimental applause, was rewarded with I Can Understand It before, a la James Brown, he was helped off stage. Only in his case it was for real. Don't expect to see him playing for much longer.
The audience: 
A fairly hip crowd in this underattended show. Older and younger all appeared to know their Womack
Food & drink: 
Wagamama and a bit more than I needed of the Margaret River Cabernet Merlot.
It made me think: 
Should I feel pleased to have seen him or ripped off? How good would his shows have been when in full health? Bye bye Bobby
dogfacedboy's picture

The Society Of The Golden Slippers

Submitted by dogfacedboy on 21 May 2013 - 6:59pm
Where: 
Blacks - Soho - London
When: 
20th May 2013
Comment: 
This was such a pleasant surprise. In a tiny room with 50 others, I was here to see Kathryn Williams for the second time in a week, but the whole evening was such an absolute pleasure. The opening act - Raevennan Husbandes was an explosion of hair and musical talent - gentle and thoughtful songs, some reflecting on a period of illness that left her temporarily blind and deaf. One of those voices that subtly demands your attention. Nick Mulvey, formerly of Portico Quartet, was free of their self indulgent wibble and his guitar skills immense. From just 3ft away I could not see how he was making it sound like two people were creating the intricate rhythmic patterns that formed the basis of his songs. Kathryn's new material makes me yearn to own her 10th album 'Crown Electric' come September. She began the night sharing the stage with Raevennan performing a song they co-wrote, she ended it with a powerful 'Grey Goes'. As I posted last week, she's on wonderful form right now.
The audience: 
I often complain about London crowds, and London media type crowds in particular, being insensitive, chatty morons. The audience tonight were quiet, attentive and appreciative of each artist in equal measure. See hipsters? Its not that hard.
It made me think: 
That these showcase type nights don't need to be uncomfortable overcrowded affairs but can be professional, sensitively hosted and a unique experience for audience and performer. Go to https://www.facebook.com/societyofthegoldenslippers for more info

Steve Earle

Submitted by retropath2 on 21 May 2013 - 12:34am
Where: 
Symphony Hall Birmingham
When: 
20/5/13
Comment: 
Hey, first night of the tour, Carl Parker! A little chaotic, uncertainty of running order and who was playing what at times, but, hell, the best fun of a show I have seen for a long time. If Emmylou and Rodney quietly impressed me (and they did), this just made me smile. Nearly as much as the big bearded man on stage. The support act, the Mastersons turned out to be the band, minus Steve, to feature couple, Chris Masterson, guitars, vocals and Eleanor Whitmore, guitar,fiddle and vocals, and what a stunning find she is, a pure keening twang of purity in her clear vocals and harmonies. After a few songs, off they trouped, to return with their boss. Two hours of unmitigated pleasure, playing most of the new and a lot of the old, more stringed instruments lined up than many a guitar town. Ms Whitmore, now mainly fiddling and occasional keys, again proved to be the delight of the night, especially in a stunning duet "You're still standing there", doing Lucindas part. This was a class act.
The audience: 
Usual age demographic of Symphony Hall, older than me in large part, and thus probably older than the 58 (he told us) year old Mr Earle. But curiously edgier and spikier than the normal audience, raffish ageing bikers and longhairs with their spouses
Food & drink: 
My now traditional chicken and streaky caesar ciabatta in the foyer cafe,(needs must, straight from work again)and then 2 pints of Bass, overpriced but OK, in the bar. It hits a spot. I like Symphony Hall. A lot.
It made me think: 
He's still got it! He said it was his 26th year of visiting the UK and this was my first time, despite having much of his recorded output. Given the debate here recently about his possible fading consistency, wrongity wrongity wrong. Long may he run.
drakeygirl's picture

John Grant

Submitted by drakeygirl on 19 May 2013 - 2:56pm
Where: 
Cambridge Junction
When: 
18/05/2013
Comment: 
John Grant’s voice is astonishing live: rich, powerful, and like many of the best voices, seemingly effortless. Some purists have been irked by the insertion of squelchy synths and electronic sounds on his new album, but the juxtaposition of his caramel tone with the spacey keyboard effects and feedback is thrilling, and last night's well-judged set list mixed up the balladry and the retro-electonica to heady effect. The best gigs are packed with ‘moments’ and this one was bursting at the seams with them: the crowd's word perfect singalong to Queen Of Denmark; the moment Grant got us all doing jerky hand-claps in the style of Frida from Abba; the endearing in-between song chats and heart-felt confessions; an angry, defiant, and simply beautiful version of Glacier; every time he jumped up an octave and his voice just soared; and the blazingly obvious fact that everybody in the audience last night did, indeed, think Grant is the greatest monkey fudger that they were ever going to meet.
The audience: 
Noisily appreciative in between tracks, but really attentive during them. Just one over-refreshed knob who shouted out: 'Get on with it!' at the most inopportune moment, but who was howled down (and possibly killed?) by the indignant crowd.
Food & drink: 
Pint of diet coke. (Drove to the gig and was home in half an hour).
It made me think: 
John Grant has that elusive star quality that some pop stars dream of possessing. On record he's impressive. In the flesh he's magnificent.

John Cooper Clarke

Submitted by Lando Cakes on 19 May 2013 - 2:44pm
Where: 
The Picture House, Edinburgh
When: 
18 May 2013
Comment: 
It was quite good. Perfectly OK. A good night out. It's just that I'd expected a bit more from JCC - or at least a bit more in the way of his poetry, anyway. What we got was two very good supports - Luke Wright and Mike Garry- both of whom had stronger material than JCC, I thought, which rather built up a sense of expectation for the main act. Special mention of Luke Wright's topical 'Nigel Farage' which went down very well. Anyway, on to JCC. He could do no wrong with this audience. No doubt many, like me, are just pleased and surprised to see him still here at all. I did think that he milked that goodwill a bit with increasingly long monologues between the poems, of which there were disappointingly few. That said, no one seemed to be complaining, with every word and slur cheered to the echo. His most recent material was pretty good, including the rather lovely 'I'm in love with my wife'.
The audience: 
Ageing punks, young hipsters and all points between.
Food & drink: 
Ate before we went out - that's the great thing about being a 20 minute bus ride from most Edinburgh venues. To be fair, most parts of Edinburgh aren't more than 20 minutes from the centre.
It made me think: 
Is that his own hair? How does he get it to stick up like that?

Suggs: My Life Story In Words And Music

Submitted by davebigpicture on 19 May 2013 - 12:30pm
Where: 
Worthing Pavilion Theatre
When: 
18th May
Comment: 
A full house of mainly forty something punters gathered on the pier in Sunny Worthing to see Madness frontman Suggs. Supported on stage by pianist and guitar player Dino, the show was mainly spoken word, starting with the day after Suggs' 50th birthday party, the death of a much loved cat and a hangover. The audience was lead through the tale of Suggs' early years, Madness and after and the search for what happened to his father, missing since Suggs was a small boy. Although not a natural comedian, the spoken word parts were delivered in a comic fashion, with the same, appropriately, end of the pier manner familiar from Madness songs and videos. The songs were mainly edited highlights of old favourites, finishing with It Must Be Love.
The audience: 
As mentioned, mainly forty something or older, some much older. All out for a good night, enthusiastic and respectful.
Food & drink: 
The usual fare was available, ice cream, bar drinks etc but couldn't be bothered to queue.
It made me think: 
If Ian Dury (name checked as an influence) was still around, he could have done this sort of show with a lot more material. Suggs could have done with some archive photos projected to illustrate the story, especially the early Madness period.
Carl Parker's picture

Patty Griffin

Submitted by Carl Parker on 16 May 2013 - 10:46pm
Where: 
Rough Trade East, Brick Lane, London
When: 
Thursday 16th May 2013
Comment: 
I was disappointed to find Patty plays her July London gig on the same night as, ironically, fellow Band Of Joy member Darrell Scott, for whom I'd already bought a ticket. So I was overjoyed to get the chance to see her play a set, albeit only a 7 song, 35 minute set at Rough Trade. The big plus is it was free. She's got a cold, but it doesn't show too much. 6 of the 7 songs tonight are from new album American Kid. However there are two mics and the gig was trailed for its mystery guest singer. Some sites were less coy and said straight out it was Robert Plant. In the event he only sang on Highway Song, for which he also contributed harmonica. The new album was inspired by the realisation her father was close to death. 2nd song in Please Don't Let Me Die in Florida was an instruction to Patty, but otherwise she says she's had to make a lot up as he never told her stuff. Encore is Railroad Wings, the only old song. As it's about her Dad meeting her Mom it fits in well with her theme.
The audience: 
There may have been more women than men, though it was pretty close. Ages from mid 20s to grizzled old men - probably just there for Percy. An annoying number of camera phones, especially when RP was on stage, persistently snapping away.
Food & drink: 
I went straight from work. It was all over by 7:45. Rough Trade were selling beer and wine. Brick Lane has a massive choice of Indian restaurants, but also the gauntlet that has to be run of the guys trying to entice you in. I ate at home afterwards.
It made me think: 
The question people want to know the answer to: are they a married couple? Both have rings on the ring finger. They look into each others eyes and smile at each other. But I have no idea. Free gigs are a lovely thing. This was a lovely interlude.

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