What was the last concert you went in 2015?

I am really looking forward to this evenings concert with Grigrory Sokolov and the following program

So the concert was magical. The beginning was the strongest in my opinion. while he played it very well I find him less suited for Schubert. We had an incredible number of 6 encores on top of the already meaty program. 

His stage appearance is odd. He finished Bach, was quick at the side of the piano and very quickly walked away, and quickly got back for Beethoven, no room for long applause or a certain attitude of flair like others do. In the second part people wanted to applause for the sonata but he continued playing on the next piece.... The lighting was very low key - so he played more or less in the shadow, but it made everybody close the eyes and just enjoy his incredible playing.

I will from now on keep an eye on his concerts which are in decent driving distance, I want to definitely see this man again. A very good closure of the classical season. Tomorrow I will publish some pictures.

Wow. 6 encores! That's just unheard around here. 

What was your beef with his Schubert?

Where was the venue?

Post photos if you can. 

Now with photos - Sokolov in Fürth 

I wouldn't know how to comment why I didn't experience the Schubert as so exceptional. Perhaps as he didn't take an over sentimental approach which I tend to like with Schubert, he was more true to the music. Perhaps it was also because the Bach was so not from this earth that everything else get's less even while it's still better than what I have heard live.....

yes the amount of encores, or with others words the length of the program seems to be his thing...

Ps it was darker than the pictures express...

I'm so far behind!

First off there was the mighty Moon Duo at Village Underground, East London on 30th April.

There's a good review on TSOD here: http://www.thesenseofdoubt.com...e-underground-london "Noise in fuzzy quadrants indeed!

June 7th, Heritage Blues Orchestra at the Jazz Café in Camden, North London. Had never seen this lot before, and I have to say they were really good value, the perfect combination of youthful élan and grizzled experience.

Line-up:
Chaney Sims (vocals, handclaps); Bill Sims, Jr. (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, handclaps);
Junior Mack (vocals, electric and electric slide guitars, dobro); Vincent Bucher (harmonica); Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (drums and percussion); Bruno Wilhelm (horn arrangements, tenor saxophone);
Michel Feugère (trumpet); Jean Gobinet (trumpet); Didier Havet (tuba, trombone).

Havet was especially good, his tuba acting as a propulsive bass instrument.

CSO/Muti closes 2015 Season with Tchaikovsky Symphony 5th and a World premier of Mason Bates' 'Anthology of Fantastic Zoology'.

There aren't many classical music written these days ( some say no new musical discovery due to all the possible mathematical combinations for classical music have been all exploited ) and I was rather skeptical of this CSO commissioned new work by a young American composer. Last time they premiered the new classical music was by Elliot Carter which I wished Beethoven or Schubert lived to be 100 instead...

'Anthology of Fantastic Zoology' is a large scale orchestra based on Jorge Luis Borges' fantasy story about fanciful mythical creatures. Orchestra sound depicts the sound of various creatures large and small as well as the atmosphere. Many acoustic sound effects as well as fleet of percussive instruments ( 14 timpanis! ). This score was dedicated to the Maestro Muti.

You can read more about the background story and interview with the composer here.

Musically I didn't think there are new insights but sure it was fun and vivid. It was a mixture Stravinsky, Copland and even Bernstein-esque moments. I have to admit it was better than I thought it would be. 

In fact, I enjoyed this more so than Tchaikovsky Symphony 5 that followed it. He did not resort to the stiff conventional approach to the outer movements keeping lyrical *bel canto* feel which I thought was good but it was absolutely a snoozer for the inner slow movements. ( I had trouble keeping myself awake in some spots. :/ ) He made a strong come back with the 4th movement and had a strong well pronounced fate motif ending. I must say I still much prefer Mravinsky school of Tchaikovsky or even Szel which has a better tension management.

So it was rather an anti climactic season finale this year.

Thanks for your comments and pix Bert.

The venue looks cozy and charming. Interesting that they put up a diffuser type screen behind the piano contrasting an ornate hall interior. 

Fleetwood Mac - O2 Arena, London

We got freebies for this, otherwise we may not have bothered - we saw them back in the late 70s on the Rumours tour (at Hammersmith Odeon, they were excellent) and weren't sure nearly 40 years would have improved things. Glad we did, because they were excellent.

You'd not think that this was the 95th (!) gig of this tour for a bunch of rich people in their late 60s (except Christine McVie who's 71) because they gave every impression of thoroughly enjoying themselves for over two and a half hours - something that transmitted itself to the crowd even in that vast barn.

McVie's voice was in good shape if not particularly powerful, Nicks' voice has got a bit harsher (and a bit shouty), Buckingham - well it could have been 1978. The rhythm section were predictably wonderful, and I've never heard a drum kit sound as monstrous as Mick Fleetwood's - utterly awesome.

Highlights:

- The setlist and performance was very strong throughout (predictably mostly from the first two Buckingham/Nicks albums).
- Tusk was a stomping monster.
- The main set closers I'm So Afraid and Go Your Own Way with Buckingham (who has the strangest guitar technique I've ever seen) taking the Neil Young route to hitting the strings as hard as possible to make something new emerge.

- Seeing Christine McVie look amazing.

Lowlights:

- The vastly extended Gold Dust Woman which added nothing but ennui to the original.
- The odd, and mostly anti-climactic, encores including (horror of horrors) a sinking moment when halfway through World Turning the entire band left the stage to Mick Fleetwood who performed a drum solo mashed up with an audience call-and-response. Even back in the day the drum solo was a Very Bad Idea and resurrecting it Not A Good One (even making allowances for the drum sound itself)*.
-The sound - given that an arena's not a place for Hi-Fi, there was sometimes a bit too much going on (apart from the five of them there was an additional keyboard/guitarist, a rhythm guitarist, three backing singers and an additional percussionist).

*note must be made here that my wife thought the drum solo the best bit of the show!

Good report thanks Nick. A friend of mine saw them in Glasgow last week and thoroughly enjoyed the show. It sure is a long tour they are on, hats off to them! 

Quite apart from the musical enjoyment, concerts like this and the McCartney one a few weeks back (and Gong a few years ago in Brighton) remind me that if these folk can do such efforts then I shouldn't feel so tremulous as I totter up to retirement!

I feel the same way and from what you say we are probably of similar age.

26th June, Crawley Hawth Studio, acoustic show by Leo Moran of Saw Doctors and Anto Thistlethwaite of Saw Doctors late of Waterboys.

A great time was had by all, super songs excellent tales 2 hours of fun.

Although friends we met there said the show on Tuesday last at Half Moon Putney may have shaded it. 

Plenty of Saw Doctors songs, a Waterboys track a couple of covers too.

June 25th saw Sir Paul McCartney in Columbia, SC.  At age 73 Macca put on a show just south of 3 hours, and was in rather good voice.  They do a good job of blending him on the higher notes with the younger guys in the band, and he was in fine form, which pleased me and my nephew greatly.  I might add the sound was very well done, especially in a 19,000 seat all-purpose arena, the likes of which can present some challenges..

I would estimate about 60% of the show was Beatles tunes, and the stage effects/laser & light show were excellent.  Quite a production.

A splendid time was guaranteed for all...really glad to see him one last time.  (I last saw him in 1990 or so in Dallas.)

Glad to hear you enjoyed the concert DrMark. I saw the same tour almost two years ago at Safeco Field. I thought the sound there was also very well done (even though I now wear earplugs at concerts, I took them out for the encores). Amazing show for a then 71 year old. Great interaction with the audience. Sure his vocal range is a bit limited, but who cares? It's Paul Mc f-in' Cartney playing his music from six different decades right in front of you.

Saw Mogwai at the Roundhouse in Camden London on Thursday the 25th June. Great gig but soo loud I still have ringing in my ears now...

Tidal waves of feedback & colossal screes of sound

Like this only 1000000 times louder: https://youtu.be/jEfZNCMXhSQ

I really enjoy Mogwai and have all their albums, they have something different that really hits the spot with me. However, as you perhaps hint at, when live music gets played way way too loud then it can take away from the overall enjoyment. I say this as someone who has attended all the "hard hitters" gigs and stadia events since the late 60's. Having said that and looking at Mogwai's tour schedule I might just go and have a blast. 

+ 1

They have to be that loud That sea of noise where you can surf on. But I agree...don't forget to use ear protection.

Taylor Swift at Manchester Wednesday night, excellent show from a true talent.

she writes all her own songs and plays guitar, piano and banjo so not your normal pop star. One who will be around in 10 years time still filling stadiums and arenas

I saw Seasick Steve in cardiff a couple of months ago. Brilliant!

Then Paulo Nutini last weekend in Swansea. Utter rubbish - very disappointed.

Then Elvis Costello last Thursday, again in Cardiff. Brilliant ++ ! Defied expectations ☺ The warm up act was Larkin Poe. Really impressed by them.

Gosh. Didn't know Elvis C was still going.  Good for him.