Recently in Gigs: Reviews Category

I discovered Bloc Party away from everyone else. While I'm certain that I was dimly aware of their rise, and susiquent radio play, it was just before the shattering of a long term relationship that I saw this CD in the racks at Virgin near Tottenham court tube. I had developed a habbit of buying CDs because of their placement in the stores combined with interesting album covers, and I took this home to play to my then partner, who ismessed them, and this "new crap" in general I was into at the time. An indication of things to come, and so Bloc party became the sound track to a terrible moment in my life, gaining constant play time through a tumultuous change. A testimony to the music that after these events, it becaomes about other things than terrible feelings; It's increadible to think that a band can capture the very nature of a monterouse (in scope) city as London, but it's something that they certainly do.. for myself at least. Maybe it's because we both seem to have a love/hate relationship with London, or appear to have one at the very least. I'm very coy about compairing even my thoughts with this group because they are simply majestic, and I am not. No sir, and today they proved it to me.

The tent was packed, and leaking when they took the stage, with the noise of the crowd almost drowning out all coherent thought. But we don't need thought, we have a band that can certainly work a crowd.

I could say more about the gig. It was good, and I can't quite find the words though...

East London is indeed a vampire, as Bloc Party say. And yet I found myself strangly distressed at my absence form, dare I say it, home while standing in the middle of a dusty field, in the middle of nowhere, New South Wales (just), Australia. For one glorious set I was walking the streets of my adopted home town of London, crossing bridges, drink in the pubs, walking down Camden lock in the sun, going down to Brick lane to the Bengalie transport café to meet some somes for a cheap dinner, and going to waterloo to fight my way home.

Far too early the spell is broken, and the silent promise I made to the world to return to London again is lost in moment, stalled as life comes back to me, and I turn to walk out in the dust of my new home again.

But hey, it's hot here, and it's raining in London...

...forgot to mention...

Went to Elbow the other week. They are very, very good live. That lead chap Guy is a laugh, and the whole thing was perfect.

Very... emotive and all that. I reccomend it. You should go. Do it. Please. Tell them I sent you. have some fun. Smile at the sad songs, because that's what they're good at.

So it was a bust. Sorta. Just too hot.

There is something I didn't write about but wanted to.

So we saw Korn. It was, well, surprisingly good.

No really.

There were bagpipes and grunting bass and plenty of booze. It were wonderful.

Here are us happy campers:

We fucking rocked it, then went on for some more rocking to some club where there was ROCK.

Got The Life from the album "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" by Korn

[posted with ecto]

Clokey was talking to me the other day about gigs. REM, apparently, is a band that you have to have seen at least once in your life.

I'd agree.

Now this is neither a good or a bad thing. REM are a funny band. I don't think about them that much, and when I do I always think of everybody hurts. This is sort of annoying to me, because they have other songs that kick so much ass (end of the world and man on the moon spring to mind instantly). So I sort of ignore them, because they float in and out of my music taste, and frustrate me.

However, when I was offered the opportunity to check out REM at Hyde Park I had visions of the Chilis gig I went to last year, so I jumped at them. I must thank Clokey for the chance, and it fucking sucked that he couldn't be there as well.

This gig was a bit special, not just for us, but for the band. Because of the bombs the week before the gig had been moved. This resulted in this being the last gig of the tour, and man these guys had been everywhere.

The were supported by some band that lacked impact so I forgot them, Idlewild, and Feeder.

Idlewild
They were good enough to make me want to go and by their new CD. You should too, if only for the awesome Love Steals Us from Loneliness. They were very good, but I don't know their back catalog well enough to pick highlights.

Feeder
Also kicked ass. I didn't think I knew much of their stuff, but I did. I knew it all. I like it when that happens. Now they are a good band with some good tracks, but the highlight was brand new car for sure. In fact, I believe there is a video here.

REM
Were amazing. Too many awesome tracks and events to list.

The blue stripe was there.

Pattie Smith was a nice touch.

Most touching moment was obviously Everybody Hurst. Yes it hit me hard, but things are a little tough at the moment. If anything it's a testiment to an awesome song, and a great performance. I taped it here.

End of the World was cool (a bit of it is here.

Man on the Moon. Awesome. There is a bit here.

I also recall What's the Frequency Kenneth? being amazing, but I was busying messaging those who couldn't be there. You were all missed.

So yeah. I've seen REM. Not sure if I'd go again. I don't think I'd go if it was just me, but I'd defiantly want to take someone special who hasn't been before.

Like I said. It was the end of the tour. We even got treated to a bit of it's the end of the tour as we know it...

The ones that made it: Lee, Joel, Nise and I. Cheers chaps.

[posted with ecto]

A kick in the teeth is what this was. In a good way.

Sometimes certain events come together in a particular way that just accentuate different aspects of an experience. Shit that was retardidly vague. Let me try some bluntness. New flatmate/old friends Joel and Nise came to this gig. That was weird. A lovely young lady was there with us, look very nice. My ex was there, looking pissed off with everything, and a bunch of guys from work that I knew (just not that well) were also there.

On a good note I'm rectifying the not knowing them problem. They are all fucking quality.

The new, the old and the distracting all made this the best gig I've been to for a long time. I throughly recommend that people mix it up a bit because it stops life from being boring, and as you all know... we must never be boring. Shit, even the journey home was interesting.

It's also refreshing to have had a few beers before I arrive somewhere. Fuck me, I was chilled out man.

I can't tell you anything about the support band, because I didn't see them. I wondered in with a bunch of the cool kids slightly drunk, and stood chatting at the back of Brixton Academy. It was strange because four years ago I had stood there with my arms around my ex, chatting to Skin from Skunk Anansie. I glanced back at my ex (who was there with us)... maybe there was still something there.

Nope. Sweet. Move on.

We dipped in and out of the Mosh. I'd like to acknowledge Emma, Joel and Nise for participating. Good job guys. Sharon was where it was though. As always, my gig buddy fucking rocked it. Cheers!

The classics kicked ass. Head like a hole, Closer, Starfucker and Hand that feeds stick out. But Hurt was where it was at.

The following survived NIN:

Migs and Nise

Big Keith

Clokey and fZe

Joel

...and me.

Then the Nine Inch Nails gave us a sonic anemia that night. Fucking A.

[posted with ecto]

Billy Corgan played London on the 16th of June. I was going to write something long and convoluted, but fuck you. My memories of this are my own.

It was good. You should have been there.

This is not a review. It's a short opinion.

When you're overwhelming negative and condescending about most things it's very, very hard to say something positive about anything without sounding like your indulging in some serious hero-worship, and all the fellatio that normally entails.

So understand this. I'm not sucking anyone off, ever. I do know people that will do that for you though, they don't charge much.

I really, really enjoyed Ben Lee.

It was a small 400 (or so) person affair. Lovely and intimate, with the little accoustic guitar going and everything like that. Hey, the man could even chat to the crowd in such a special way that it felt likee he was one of us, rather than another breed altogether up there on the stage.

I cannot rave enough about these people and the their music. Go and buy now.

We ended up backstage. I know someone (well Lara's parents). That was weird. So weird we forgot to get any photos. Except this:
(Ben is in the doorway and Lara is sat on the couch).

I'm not in love with Ben and Lara. But I could be. Very easily.

If Ben Lee comes to your town go. If you see these people, be nice and give them money because being this good deserves it.