What was your last concert you went to ?

...with Mr.Lontano

The Australian Pink Floyd, Ipswich.

Having last attended a concert of Pink Floyd music at Earl's Court in 1974 or thereabouts I was slightly apprehensive about how I'd react to a fake band and the grandeur of PF's concerts in those days being squeezed into the cosy confines of Ipswich Regent. Well, it was a clever trick and came off far better than I'd hoped for.

The band itself, whilst imitating the Floyd surprisingly well, managed to retain a degree of individuality by the use of good helpings of Aussie humour that really added to the entertainment. Of course, they were all excellent musicians and the girl singers did a superb rendition of "The Great Gig in the Sky", giving me the usual goosebumps down the spine. An absolutely stonking lightshow, first-class sound and a very interesting playlist (a couple of songs I didn't immediately recognise) added to a most enjoyable evening, notwithstanding the few plonkers in the audience.

I was a bit taken aback by the age of the audience; almost exclusively old people. I commented about this to SWMBO on the way out who kindly reassured me not to worry, they were all of my age group anyway. (...and then one day you find, ten years have got behind you...)

Other Lives in Vera, Groningen, The Netherlands. Nice performance. Support act was Orkney Symphony of the magnetic north, which was a real surprise

AJB

Tony,

Glad you both enjoyed the show.

They have got bigger and better since i saw them in 99.

All they had then was a large wall hanging white sheet and some larver lamps.

Stu.

Florence and the Machine at the Royal Albert Hall 3/4/12

The Deviants at the Borderline W1 last month. I went hoping for some Pink Fairies tunes as Duncan Sanderson and Russ Hunter provided the backbeats. Sadly not to be but a nice cooking version of 'Waiting for the Man' whilst Mick Farren got some breath and energy to take the stage.  They were really good, Farren very funny between numbers. Seeing Sandy need reading glasses to play bass was a bit of a shocker. The 'revolution' seems a long time ago. Seeing an American long-hair in the audience in his twenties was cool, he had a little digital recorder and 'taped' the whole thing. The rest of us were 50 plus..... Next up, on a very different level will be Daryl Hall at the O2 Shepherds Bush in July. 

5/04/12 ,Barbican, Loreena McKennitt. Magnificent.

Howard,

You have never been so short of words after a gig before?

For you to post just Magnificent?

It must of been very special?

Stu.

It certainly was , clear clean sound , great musicians. We have been waiting for so long to see her, and it was well worth it.

Sorry only crappy phone pic.

Saw Primus at the Royal Albert Hall last night. Very good, but how do you describe them? Metal, funk, prog-rock, indie?

Saw Leon Jackson, ZZ Ward & Allen Stone @ Jazz Cafe last night

Glasgow based Leon opened with his new material to an appreciative crowd. Leon's pure voice had a hint of Fink in his delivery, which made it different from what might have been  a standard 'folk' sound. A cover version of  The Staves, 'Mexico' was good, although I'm not sure the crowd new the original is a 3 part harmony from the wonderful sisters from Watford.

ZZ Ward was more upbeat with a good bass player + guitarist + a drummer with 2 snare drums!
A couple of decent songs, but the mix wasn't good for her and thankfully she finished!!!

While waiting for Allen Stone, I spoke to a few people about where they had heard of Allen and they said they'd seen him on LiveFromDarylsHouse. I said to a woman I really liked Allen's peformance on LFDH and that I'd seen a great show by Todd Rundgren @ the Jazz Cafe last year and thought this might be better. She had seen Allen a number of times in the states already and also thought this would be good. Amanda then mentioned she was Daryl Hall's wife... After a few prompts from me and some anecdotes of the LFDH show @ Todd's House in Hawai, we were ready for the show.

I have been to hundreds of gigs in my time and rarely do you think you are witnessing a performer on the cusp of greatness. Just think of band with the precison of Royal Scam era Steely Dan, but with soul chops and a singer who moved on stage like Joe Cocker & Little Stevie Wonder. Oh, and the best 'live' soul voice I'm ever likely to hear.

The energy coming off the small stage kept feeding back to the band from the crowd who were going bonkers for the complete set. Worth mentioning was was an incredible version of Bob Marley's, 'Is this Love'. Also the Organ player looked like Jack Black & the bass player like Gary Neville

The amazng thing is that Allen looks the most unlikely soul singer, but augments his wonderful voice with hints of Stevie and if my hearing is correct, Lewis Taylor. Worth noting is that Allen's career has been created independently, without a record deal & long may that continue. Daryl Hall suffered from his record company blocking the release of 'Sacred Songs', produced by Robert Fripp. I'm sure Daryl has provided some good advice.

I thought last years gigs were the best I've attended in years, but 2012 will be even better.

If your in the states, try and see Daryl Halls upcoming shows, because they will feature Allen Stone.

Some performances...

1: Allen Stone - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7jNfZk3t8&feature=plcp&context=C353dc60UDOEgsToPDskJ9-lxN84qzwIZN2NTuuETj 

2: LFDH -  http://www.livefromdarylshouse...rentep.html?ep_id=66 

3: Unaware - Allen Stone - Live From His Mother's Living Room - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Hy6kp5kIs 

ATB Denis

Just back from the Sage in Newcastle - Martin Stephenson and the Daintees. Played their 80's lp Boat to Bolivia all the way through plus some others. Very amusing tales between songs.

Never undertood why they  weren't bigger. Excellent.

I describe them as "Those guys that do the Southpark theme".

Friday 6/4 at Groningen, Vera pop-podium.

A Dutch popband named Moss, a very fine performance indeed.

AJB

Elvis Costello at the Orpheum. 

Easter long weekend Aussie pub rockers Cold Chisel at Sandleford Winery in Perth, man they still got it 

Ian anderson at Sheffield City Hall TAAB & TAAB2 As good as ever for 65! (him not me)

The soundtrack of my youth.

PG -

Have seen some of the video from this show, and it looked pretty amazing.

Going to go see them next Saturday night, and hoping it will be worth the ridiculous amount I had to pay for the tickets (all being sold with 5 minutes of them going on sale back in January  ).   Mrs. Hook is looking forward to it, so what the heck, it's only money right?

Thanks!

Hook

Hook 

I hope you enjoy, she is quite amazing

BWs

PG

Howard Jones last Sat night at Shepherd's Bush Empire - the whole of the first two albums. Most of  the material I hadn't heard for more than 20 years, having bought it on tape cassette in my early teens. 

I absolutely loved it (and so did my younger sis, who had to look him up on Wikipedia to figure out who on earth this Jones bloke was).

Saw Feist at Royal Albert Hall last month and she was terrific. Looking forward to Suzanne Vega, Norah Jones and Chilly Gonzales all in London later this year - pretty much the only good thing about having relocated from Vancouver to London is the live music ;-)

Ryan Adams, last week at The Waterfront, in Belfast.   Acoustic session, plus occasional piano). Excellent gig, with brilliant acoustics in the auditorium.  Next one is Stone Roses, suspect it will have a different vibe .....

last sunday at Vera in Groningen holland: Isbells, a band from belgium, very enjoyable!

AJB

Hi PG -

Just got home from seeing Florence and The Machine.   Wow -- what a performer!   She had the audience in the palm of her lovely hand from the moment the show began!

The venue was near perfect -- wonderful old theater that seated about 2100 people.  Crystal clear acoustics.   Ninety minute show, and a two song, fifteen minute encore.   Most of the songs were from Ceremonials, but she also sang a few from her first album.  Incredible high energy...magnificent voice...what a talented young lady!

The UK has produced quite a few wonderful young female singers in recent years.  Ms. Welch of course, Laura Marling, Adele...come to think of it, this might be a good thread topic!

Hook

PS - My only gripe was that, once again, the volume level forced me to use earplugs.  Fortunately, I had recently bought a pair of Etymotics, and they did a nice job of evenly attenuating all frequencies.