What was your last concert you went to ?

interesting because the night before last i saw clannad at the london paladium, and they were very good, although i do think there was a little too much of their early work and not enough of thier macalla/banba/magical ring stuff for me, and i was rather dissapointed with the paladiums flat uninvolvng sound, i wanted to get lost in the music, but i couldnt, has anyone else found this with the paladium?

They said they thought it was a better gig than the Palladium, but not by much, just being friendly I expect.

Chris Rea.

On an invite and I don't actually have any of his LP's or disc's, so wasn't sure what to expect.

Turned out to be a good night. He used a wide variety of guitars and the backing musicians were superb.

Nothing like live music in all its forms.

We are going to see Chris Rea on Monday.

Editors, Manchester Apollo, two weeks ago. They were superb.

Just had delivered, tickets for "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds" at Birmingham Carling Acadamy in May. (Cannot wait for this one, seen him a few times, massive fan). The new album "Dig Lazarus Dig" is stupendous.

Marti

Sorry about the re-posts, brain not functioning properly at the end of the night shift

The Grandmothers of Invention at the Junction in Cambridge.

It was what is ususally described as an "intimate" gig. IE there weren't many of us in the audience.

Their loss, our gain. I enjoyed this more than the "Zappa plays Zappa" gig at Shepherds Bush last year. I imagine Zappa was spinning in his grave seeing Don Preston performing Mothers of Invention tunes, but he/they put on a top gig.


Allen

A rather delayed report on Laura Marling at the Union Chapel in Islington, London 9th March.

A very interesting and beautiful venue - the first gig I've been to where the audience sat in pews!

Anyhow, two support bands. Wasn't so keen on the first, Mumford & Sons. The performance was quite passionate but the songs seemed a little weak to me and the guy appeared to have a bit of an affected singing voice. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit were far more like it - with fiddles, a cello and a banjo on top of the usual guitars and drums they were a lot of fun and I wouldn't mind checking them out more.

The Laura Marling performance is one of the most "fragile" I think I've ever been to but not in a bad way. A mere slip of a thing and only 18 years old with skin whiter than Snow White, I felt she could have snapped in two like a twiglet! And the performance mirrored the image. Very delicate but very moving and some amazing songs from someone so young.

A great evening

Steeve

quote:

Originally posted by markah:
The delightful adorable Kate Walsh at The Lowry, Manchester, last night. She played most, if not all, of Tim's House, plus a few new songs that she will be recording during the Summer. Possibly touring again this Autumn, and then hopefully the new album will be out next Spring.
Pity she was only on for about an hour and a quarter, but it was great nonetheless. And I got to meet her after the show.

Mark

I was there and almost close enough to touch her. It was such a treat, she appeared so relaxed and natural.

I think it's always nice when an artist talks about times and events which have inspired their writing. What an engaging and enjoyable performance if, as Mark says, a little short.

Darren

Black Kids at the ICA in London. Can't say I'd rush to buy their CD but 'twas a cracking show. Energy, good humour, good musicianship and a mix of styles that really seemed to work. That's the magic of live music I guess.

Endellion Quartet with Emma Johnson on clarinet at the Bridgewater tonight. Played Haydn, Mozart and Brahms. Johnson played with no score in front of her, all from memory. Utterly sublime it was. Just ordered that 40 disc set of Mozart everyone was talking about a few month back on the strength of it.

Chris Rea Brighton Centre, good gig great sound lousy seats. He only said about a dozen words all night strange. He also provided his own support band the The Delmonts before returning as the Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes,(all the same people BTW).

BigH47

Glad you enjoyed it.

I gather that is his trade mark and he didn't say very much when we saw him. As you say, a bit strange but at least he gave a good show.

I might even buy some of his work. Some of the tracks are still going around in my mind.

Steve yes it was good. Recommend Road To Hell, On the Beach,God's Great Banana Skin to name a few. As yet I haven't found an album of his I disliked.

Giovanni Falzone's Electronic Quartet, in Monza near Milano. He's a young, energetic jazz trumpet player/composer.
The concert was a program of very interesting re-readings of Morricone's themes. Film music is not what I have in mind when sitting down to serious listening, but this guy is a very powerful player and has ideas.
He's done records.

ASIA (the originals lineup), in the Bournemouth Pavillion on 2nd March - Excellent. Did anyone else go there or due to see them soon? Well worth the money.

Handel, Beethoven and Brahms recital by Japanese violinist Taro Hakase and his accompanist Maciej Janas at the Cadogan Hall in London. Hakase is a violinist almost unknown in the west, but with a massive 'crossover' following in Japan. Fascinating concert in a very romantic style not so fashionable these days, with encores of Kreisler and Hakase's own music. Concert was sold out with a largely Japanese audience. He has another concert booked at the hall in June - if you go, let me know what you think.

Scottish Ensemble with guest Edgar Meyer in Dundee on Wednesday. Their concerts are always at least very good, this was one that tipped over into very special, and not just because I've got a bit of a thing about the bass.

Pete.

The Eagles at the o2 22 Mar.

Review:

"Inevitably over a near 40 year career span it's all been said about the Eagles - the inventors of adult orientated corporate rock etc - true to say their capacity to sell millions of records and dominate American FM is probably unparalleled - but this belies their true roots and the brilliance of their musicianship. So some 28 years after their last album of new material, fittingly called The Long Run even if the content was indifferent, they are back with The Long Road Out Of Eden a double opus of some genuine genius alongside more generally good material.

What is apparent though from the opening notes of How Long is that their polish and stage craft is as undiminished as ever, equally the articulation and impact of Don Henley's voice as they glide effortlessly into Too Busy Being Fabulous as he laments a lost lover yet again caught up in Hollywood glitz - no doubt many from which to choose Don! But inevitably it's the opening arpeggios of Hotel California five numbers in that gel band and audience the concluding line "you can check out any time you like but you can never leave", probably more profound now than in 1976, followed by the chiming note perfect Walsh/Smith guitar duet.

There is perhaps the risk that it spills over into cabaret, the black suits and ties create something of a Rat Pack ambience, and Henley's conclusion of the first half out front with the microphone rather than at the back behind the drums but it doesn't they are just too tight, or that it might even be reduced to karaoke with the inevitable audience participation during Take It To The Limit. No real risk on that score either as the deftness of their harmonies preserve the integrity of the song long before it might be lost.

The new material scores well, the Crosby, Stills and Nash influenced No More Walks In The Wood is highly appropriate but it is the title track where they deliver a eleven minute emotionally charged rant on US life and influence in the world. Whether it's the middle/far east policy, or the lack of regard for green issues, or the general gluttony of life "in the good ol' USA" (surely they'd know) that most riles is difficult to judge, but safe to presume George W is not on the Christmas card list. However, the impact of the music is immense, the inspiring vocal lift at the end of the 3 verses met by a once in a lifetime Joe Walsh solo creatively reconstructed from the studio version.

From here on they are in overdrive but it almost turns into the Joe Walsh Show as he takes us through some of the highlights of his solo catalogue. Brilliant fretwork on Walkaway, searing slide during the first encore on Rocky Mountain Way but the irony being that the true highlight is Funk 49 from way back when his current colleagues were grafting as Linda Rondstat's backing band. That he is a true guitar icon is so apparent as he launches a series of massive riffs and solos but his sureness of touch and tone is always present. He also permits self-deprecation with a sideswipe at his inevitable rock 'n' roll excesses during Life's Been Good.

It surely might have been better if a couple of the Henley solo numbers had been omitted but overall genuine Eagles is maintained well enough including a full-on Witchy Woman with all the ambience and more of the 1971 original, and a fully charged Life In the Fast Lane."

Fender (Strat)

After 1/2 hour of crawling around Cambridge Corn Exchange on my hands and knees, I eventually found the requisite pair of brown boots, and attached to them, Denis A. Nice to meet you again Denis.

Eels at Cambridge Cornex - after the documentary about Mr E's brilliant physicist father (which I had seen before) we were treated to a great two-man show of wide-ranging material and wit by E and his accomplice Chet (Lyster?).

Unlike the people behind me on the way out, I did not find the stripped-down two-piece combo to be a disappointment (and actually don't how you could!!) but rather to be a performance which was both very accomplished and rather moving. No wonder this man is a legend in his own lunchtime...

(Although I loved this particular drum and guitar vibe, I still don't think I can get into White Stripes yet...)

James

The Cure at Wembley Arena, last Thursday 20th March.
As I last saw them in 1989 I wasn't really sure what to expect but they didn't disappoint - with a set lasting 3 1/2 hours I'm sure everyone went away happy having heard all the "old favourites". Everyone I spoke to (especially the next morning at the Wembley Travelodge, which resembled a Cure Fan Club meet!) thoroughly enjoyed it.
The crowd was a nice mix of young and old(er!) with quite a few dads and their lads (and thankfully very few Robert Smith wannabe's!), showing they still retain their appeal 30 years on.
Although Wembley Arena wouldn't be high on my list of favourite concert venues the sound was more than acceptable, perhaps helped by the fact that I was only about a third of the way back in the side seats? I'm not sure what the sound would have been like at the back, but it seemed too far back to offer a decent view.
So was 3 1/2 hours long enough? Nah, another couple of hours would have been great!

Mark

Went with Mr and Mrs MilesSmiles last night to see Rodrigo Y Gabriela at the Enmore Theatre Sydney.

It was a very good show indeed, with an incredibly noisy crown who were primed from the word go.

With Rodrigo Y Gabriela taking every opportunity to generate some crowd participation, this was more like a rock show than two acoustic guitarists. Excellent versions of Wish You Were Here and Stairway to Heaven, this was a lot of fun.

Lontano

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
Went with Mr and Mrs MilesSmiles last night to see Rodrigo Y Gabriela at the Enmore Theatre Sydney.

It was a very good show indeed, with an incredibly noisy crown who were primed from the word go.

With Rodrigo Y Gabriela taking every opportunity to generate some crowd participation, this was more like a rock show than two acoustic guitarists. Excellent versions of Wish You Were Here and Stairway to Heaven, this was a lot of fun.

Lontano

Great concert indeed.
Like their CDs but was surprised to see what a great live act they are - venue and audience sure helped as well. Plenty of clever rock references throughout the whole set (Deep Purple, Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Jimmi Hendrix, Metallica etc.). Amazing guitar skills from both R&G. Best concert so far this year for me.