What was your last concert you went to ?

Last night saw Chris Rea at the Hammersmith Apollo. Billed as he Farewell Tour because of ill health (he had his pancreas and duodenum removed a while ago. I have quite a few of his albums but would not descibe myself as a devotee. However, I was completely won over by his musicianship and his energy. He plays slide guitar as well as anybody this side of Ry Cooder, and also featured the banjo on several numbers: the first time I have seen that instrument take the lead at rock and blues gig!
He made little attempt to communicate with the audience excpt through his music, but that was more than enough. I just played the "Road to hell" cd, and it is a really good album - sounded fabulous on my Naim rig!

I also saw Chris Rea in Harrogate a few weeks ago, and agree that it was an excellent concert.

Last Friday, I saw my musical heroine Bonnie Raitt in Sheffield. Middle second rows seats - absolutely fantastic. The icing on the cake though was that my wife had arranged a surprise - for me to meet Bonnie after the show. She is a wonderful lady (I mean Bonnie, but of course so is my wife!) and a dream come true for me. I've still got a silly grin on my face....

Steve D

Steve, you are a very lucky guy! I couldn't get to any of her gigs this year which was a real shame. Good on your wife to arrange the meeting: that is quite a feat!

Caught Calexico & Iron and Wine playing at the Kentish Town Forum on Sunday night. Thoroughly enjoyed the gig - nice relaxed performance & good sound mix. Calexico had a more stripped down sound than the Barbican gig (no multiple mariachis!) and and were obviously having fun. I wasn't so impressed by the new album - a grower perhaps- but it translates well when played live.

Not exactly a concert but plenty of live music and song:- Celtic Tiger at Wembley (some bloke dancing as well). Not as good as his(Micheal Flatley) other shows IMO but OK.
Sound at Wembley Arena is supposed to have been improved after the refit. It still seemed to have a lot of bass "overhang". Perhaps a review from a music gig can confirm this?

Howard

Went to the last gig of the 'Australian Pink Floyd' tour last night UEA, Norwich. Have seen them previously (2004) at Cambridge Corn Exchange, where there is more space to do the light/slide show, with all all its humorous 'OzFloyd' variations. But they made a fair attempt in the space available - nice lasers/smoke.

The sound quality was pretty good, though it could have been a bit louder to begin with, to make it physically harder for people to hold conversations. Unless you were able to get there really early, and get into the central pit, the overwhelming sound was that of the pub on a Saturday night with the juke-box in the background (- sorry if the music interrupted your conversations...)

Anyway, began with a complete Animals (apparently in tribute to our rural area...), which I loved, as it was the first Floyd album I ever heard as a young teenager (yes, even before DSOTHM!!). After an overly-long interval (IMO - having grabbed the crowd, the break lost the crowd) this was followed by the usual round of 'greatest hits', culminating in the customary fireworks from The Wall.

My own faves were 'Astronomy Domine' and 'One of These Days'. 'The Great Gig in the Sky' was sung pretty convincingly, though it was amusing to hear the predominently male crowd twice cheering-as-if-the-song-had-finished too early. As this is often known as the 'screaming orgasm bit', I could understand the amused smile on the screaming Sheila's face - isn't the classic female complaint that men always finish too soon...? (And presumably especially whinging poms...??)

Despite the irritating babble of those to whom the music seemed entirely incidental to the evening, I did enjoy the gig, and was glad to have had the opportunity to go.

But, as my wife said - entirely unprompted - it was 'like listening to the hi-fi, live'. Very compenent, very carefully worked-out, very skilfully played (comment from a guy near me in the crowd: 'I'd give my right bollock to be able to play like that'). But somehow you just know it isn't Floyd! And on reflection, next time round I'll make the extra effort to get to see them at the Cambridge Corn Exchange again - seats, you can get far enough back to not see the musicians close to, and enjoy...

Catch them if you can next time round!

Good listening,
James

In May, am looking forward to John Martyn on 5th, re-constituted Kula Shaker on 16th (saw them in '99 - staggeringly good gig) and Zero 7 on 26th.

A new name to me we saw Scott Henderson plus 2 last night (Monday) at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
A very bizarre guitarist hailed as the best guitarist in the world,not in mine I might add.
His style of fast playing and excessive use of the vibrato arm had most of the sound off key and for want off a better word a messy noise.Later (older?) numbers were more conventional guitar wise with some straight up R&R.
Quote from my guitarist friend "he's kind of thrown away the rule book musically". His style is akin to playing jazz sax on a guitar.
Interesting but for me not compelling.

Howard

Some interesting jazz there, Brad Mehldau,Tod Gustavsen..................however.........Ive just seen the SUN RA ARKESTRA
in edinburgh.
Id heard of Sun Ra but never heard them,and had just bought "jazz in silhouette" on cd recently.
Marshall Allen is in charge now,what a band all
briliant musicians.One of the best gigs Ive ever been to.

Not really a gig - but probably better.
I fiddled around with my appointments as I had to go to up to the smoke last week for a meeting, but I rearranged it to Friday as Willy Vlautin (of Richmond Fontaine) was doing a launch of his new novel in Fopp at Covent Garden. I finished my meeting and got there in time, he did a quick read of his book and then picked up his acoustic guitar and ran off a few songs. There were maybe a dozen of us standing in front of him while he did songs like Post To Wire and The Cascades. It was amazing, he was just maybe 5 feet in front of me. I didn't expect any songs so I was a bit ashamed to admit to my friends that I went, but I really didn't expect anything other than just a book reading.
It was bloody brilliant and I feel very lucky. Had a few words. Lovely guy.

Last night, Eric Clapton at the Royal Albert Hall. An absolutely fantastic concert, enhanced by the fact that the Robert Cray band were the openers. I know that EC has his detractors here, but to me he is one of a handful of truly great music makers of my generation. Anyone who says he is just going through the motions clearly haven't seen him perfom live. His playing was incandescent, and he was ably supported by an excellent band, with Derek Trucks on slide guitar and Doyle Bramhall also on guitar . The latter is a doppelganger for Tont Almeida from "24"!

They played an eclectic set list, and encored with "Crossroads" for which Robert Cray came back on stage to take a solo.

A vintage evening.

Belle & Sebastian yesterday at the Globe arena Annex in Stockholm. A good and professional show but sadly not that engaging. Unfortunately they had changed the venue from a small intimate place to a large gymnasium-like open arena that perhaps was too big for B&S. I watched them approximately two years ago and they were much better at that show. Maybe they were tired yesterday, making jokes that didn't feel spontaneous at all.

Regards,
Jacob

Last night, Kronos Quartet at the Vienna Concert Hause. Very good, string quartet (3 violins and a violoncello) with world music ( Tablas) some times in the background or some natural effects aswelllike in a piece "north circles" from a canadian composer, Ice breaking, dogs barking, voices,...etc.

regards

efrain

I went to see The Shins at Koko, formerly Camden Palace on Wednesday. What a great venue! Posssibly my favourite one in London. And The Shins were great and obviously really enjoying themselves which makes such a difference.

Rasher - seeing Willy Vlaudin at Fopp sounds wonderful, I'm rather jealous.

Anna

Two gigs this week! One to come next week. - So, none for a year and then five in a month!

On Tuesday, 16th May went to see the re-constituted Kula Shaker at Norwich Waterfront.

The last time I had seen them was 'first time round' on the Peasants, Pigs tour, at Cambridge Corn Exchange, with the full panoply of Hippy revival excess. That was a really great show It had to help that I was standing next to the legendary Dave Brock of Hawkwind.

Tuesday's gig at Norwich, in the hot and intimate pit of the Waterfront was excellent.

It felt like KS 'come of age' all a bit older and wiser - KS with the benefit of 6+ years doing other things. Stripped down a bit, but slightly heavier.

A really well put-together and carefully thought out set list - Sound of Drums to start with (got the serendipity 'calling me to return'...), new stuff (much better sounding than the rather weedy compressed i-Pod download) 108 Battles, Shower Your Love, 303, Last Farewell, Tattva, Hush.

Encore - Hey Dude, Hollow Man, Govinda. The highlight for me was the beginning of Hey Dude which began with a musical quotation from the Groundhogs, Split.

And the 'old pro' professionalism was good to see, Crispian taking the failing pedal board in his stride and simply unplugging and plugging direct into the Fender Twin (though surely, Crispian, he ought to get a Vox AC30?!)

Great smiles on the face of Paul Winterhart (dr), Alonza Bevan (bs) studied concentration. New member Harry (kb)- welcome and well done.

But especial thanks to KS, for introducing us to 'The Magic Bullet Band'. I've been going to gigs for 30 years, and in all this time this has been the first support band I have positively enjoyed.

Influences include The Band, Credence Clearwater, Neil Young, the Blues...

They've got a bit more 'beef' to their sound than the sample suggests... But see:

http://www.myspace.com/themagicbulletband


And on Wednesday 17th, it was Cambridge Junction's turn (my first visit there since its re-build), with the first night of the tour for The Divine Comedy.

This was a different kind of night for me, as I have only one recording and went out of curiosity.

But what a night! Witty, intelligent, engaging - both music and inter-song chat by the powerhouse Neil Hannon. Great performance.

And expensive - not the gig, that was £12! But now, as a result of the gig, I'll just have to go an invest in the new album and the back catalogue!!

Sadly, it was back to the usual standard of support act, who shall remain nameless on this post...

James

Bit of a bonus gig tonight that I was not expecting to get to, Toumani Diabate at The Sage in Gateshead.

Thought that I had left it too late and that it would be sold out, but I got a call from my Mother (who was at the gig) during the interval saying that there were a lot of spare seats.

Twenty minutes later I was there, having only missed a couple of numbers, for a canny night. Got a seat in the stalls for the price of their cheapest ticket £6. Cannot say fairer than that.

Fascinating lesson in how the Kora is played from Toumani, when he showed how bass, melody and improvisation lines are all played at the same time on this 21 string harp.

Unfortunately I missed the first act Cheikh Lo, who were by all accounts fantastic, but bought one of their CD's "Lamp Fall" in the foyer and it is on the CDP now. Good stuff.

Also got a copy of Toumani's "Systemetric Orchestra" which will be going on next.

Regards

Nic

Zero 7 - Norwich UEA, Friday 26th May

In the other current thread 'What are you listening to?' a few days ago some people reported that, on first listening, to them Zero 7's new album The Garden was a bit of a slow burner.

If you've been used to the rather lush sound of Simple Things and especially When it Falls, The Garden does indeed take a little bit of getting used to - it really is a much more economical, stripped-down and precise sound, with a bit of a new direction within the genre.

[Stripped-down : not least the number of musicians in the band - most notably, no Tina, no Sophie, no Mozes.]

With this in mind, Mrs JWM and I were looking forward, with some anticipation, to seeing Zero 7 at Norwich yesterday.

Any slight doubts that may have been lingering were quickly dispelled. Newcomer Jose Gonzales especially is a real find! Not totally unreminiscent of João Gilberto. (Catch him on Jools Holland Later next week.) And Sia continues to be a bubbly and engaging delight, who just loves performing.

There's nothing quite like LIVE music is there?! And it is in the being there, and witnessing them doing their stuff, that one finds the key to understanding Zero 7.

(I am listening to The Garden again right now, and it is transformed through last night's experience.)

Most exciting was the fact that hardly any of the 'established repertoire' was played. This was no greatest hits night!

In fact only two previous songs - the first (can't remember title - the 'I love you' one, as Sia described it) in the main set, and the second in the encore, to conclude the gig - a frankly show-stopping, extempore acoustic version of 'Somersault'. Sia and guitar, with a tiny bit of piano at the end - staggering. There simply could not have been any more after that.

Persevere with The Garden. See Zero 7 if you can.

Good listening,
James

quote:

Originally posted by Rasher:
Not really a gig - but probably better.
I fiddled around with my appointments as I had to go to up to the smoke last week for a meeting, but I rearranged it to Friday as Willy Vlautin (of Richmond Fontaine) was doing a launch of his new novel in Fopp at Covent Garden. I finished my meeting and got there in time, he did a quick read of his book and then picked up his acoustic guitar and ran off a few songs. There were maybe a dozen of us standing in front of him while he did songs like Post To Wire and The Cascades. It was amazing, he was just maybe 5 feet in front of me. I didn't expect any songs so I was a bit ashamed to admit to my friends that I went, but I really didn't expect anything other than just a book reading.
It was bloody brilliant and I feel very lucky. Had a few words. Lovely guy.

He is a lovely guy, really genuine. Havent seen any book reviews is it any good?

Diccus

Tift Merritt last week at the live, Newcastle. Great songs, good rappour,signed cd's and i bought her a drink on stage and had a laugh. great night

Josh Rouse again at the Live on Saturday, lively, drunken Saturday night crowd in, lots of youngsters! I felt a hundred years old. Josh was ok, wouldnt bother again. Some crackin records tho.

Alejandro Escovedo Sunday. After two early mornings with the babies and a late night with Josh I needed a relax on the Sofa. My ticket for Mr Escovedo went unused..............And so to bed. How bleedin' Rock n Roll

Diccus

Diccus. If you like the stories in the songs of Richmond Fontaine you will like the book. The story goes to places that you've heard in the songs and the feel is very similar (unsurprisingly). I think it's a good book for a first novel, but I wouldn't expect everyone to understand it's slow pace and lack of action. It's pure Americana landscape.
I don't normally keep books once I've read them, but I would have kept this even if he hadn't signed it for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Rasher:
Diccus. If you like the stories in the songs of Richmond Fontaine you will like the book. The story goes to places that you've heard in the songs and the feel is very similar (unsurprisingly). I think it's a good book for a first novel, but I wouldn't expect everyone to understand it's slow pace and lack of action. It's pure Americana landscape.
I don't normally keep books once I've read them, but I would have kept this even if he hadn't signed it for me.

I'll have to purchase............. When he isn't touring or writing he's a painter by trade and it gives him a wage. Great bloke to talk about life with. I introduced him to my wife saying "she doesnt like your music, it's too miserable" to which he laughed. For the next week I kept repeating "Lovely bloke Willy"

Cheers for that Rasher.

Diccus

Went to see Gomez at the Fillmore in San Fran last week. Apparently it was their 13th gig there. Sell out crowd really enjoyed it but I think the band found them subdued (hey, it was a school day and as much as most of us can do to stay awake and not drop our beers!). Complemented the new album release nicely.

Hey Diccus,

Glad you liked Tift. Your report reminded me of seeing her last year at Slim's in San Fran. She's a great sport on stage. The usually attentive staff at Slim's took forever to bring her a beer during her set - some guy from the audience handed her a hip flask and she gratefully drank from it!

Jeremy

Hi Anna,

Good to see you posting here. I haven't forgot I owe you the CD of Laura and Lara - going to see them again at JJ's blues in San Jose tomorrow. I'll try to mail the CD this weekend. Better hurry - Laura Chavez was just voted "queen of the blues" at an all-day blues fest here two weeks back, and was featured in Guitar Player magazine last month.

Jeremy

Last night, David Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall. Absolutely breathtaking. The first half was "On an Island" after starting with "Speak to Me" and "Breathe" from DSOTM. Crosby and Nash sang back up vocals as on the album. The second half was all Floyd, from all eras, from "Arnold layne" to "The Division Bell". "Echoes" was epic.
The band were great as was the lighting. C&N came on for the encores and sang "Find the Cost of Freedom" with David. Spinetingling moment.

All in all, an absolutely brilliant gig.

What Chris said above. What an awsome concert.
Echoes, in its entirety. Never thought I'd get to see that live. Sound was absolutely first rate to, along with the lighting rig. Something tells me that is one DVD that I will most certainly be getting.
For some weird reason 'On an Island' now makes more sense as an album than it did before.