Fun Lovin' Criminals - Koko, Camden 20th January 2014

Tickets for this gig were one of Annie's Christmas presents from me.  Little did I suspect how many brownie points I would get for that.....

We had never been to Koko before and it turned out to be an excellent venue and within a fifteen minute walk of St Pancras (and from the Pizza Express in Euston Road).  The venue is on several levels with a nice balustrade to lean on if you are an early arriver, as we were.  We had a brilliant view from the first level, over what looked an exciting lower level/moshpit.

Kao

The world knows that I dislike HipHop music (so what are you doing at a FLC gig?  I know, I know) but I now particularly don’t like it when it is delivered by Kao.  Armed with a headband that was 2cm short of being a Robin mask and the obligatory one tracky leg rolled up, the first signs were not good.  The first signs were correct.  At least he only did ten minutes.

Dead Formats

With the exception of Cait O’Riordan, Shanne Bradley and Patricia Morrison (who looks remarkably like Siobhan Logan), I haven’t spent much time looking at bass players’ legs.  However, I couldn’t take my eyes off the DF’s bassist.  Jeans that were two levels beyond painted on to his stick-thin legs and contortions that would have graced Harry Houdini.  The man knows how to throw a shape, that’s for sure.  And one of the other guitarists was the reincarnation of Davey Johnstone (or would be if DJ was dead, which he isn’t, to my knowledge).  Quite a punky feel with a bizarre, two-lead singer format that I haven’t seen before.  They were quite entertaining.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals

Huey, Frank and Brian (or ‘Fast’, as he is apparently better known) did not disappoint.  Huey and Frank are quite a lot bigger than I remembered but this was a good show.  Huey’s voice is still great and the musicianship was awesome, which I was not expecting.  The difference between this and the average HipHop gig, I should imagine.  Huey turned out to be a very good guitarist, Frank was a very good drummer but also played guitar and some other stuff and where to start with Fast?  He played some excellent keyboards, with some very fancy pedal work going on, he played guitar, he played trumpet, he played keyboard and trumpet at the same time.  Marvellous.  As I’m not a fan, I didn’t know the names of even some of the songs I know, but they did a great King of New York, didn’t save Scooby Snacks until the end (a particular bugbear of mine) and finished with Fun Lovin’ Criminals (they really have to save that one until the end).  In between they just played some really good stuff.  Would I go see them again?  Yep.

Urban Voodoo Machine

Urban Voodoo Machine

Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop'n'Stroll 

I can’t remember how I came across this lot.  In my mind, they had something to do with Some Dogs/Macavities Cat (both of whom I had seen and loved) but I’m not sure that’s true.  It might be, because there is certainly some crossover with MC, and I am sure I have seen accordion player Slim before...

Anyway, I bought their Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop'n'Stroll album.  Wow, where to start?  It’s five-bar blues, it’s rockabilly with, umm, enhancements.  Like shrieking trumpets and Greek plate-smashing folk music.  Individual songs show the influence of Wilko Johnson, Nick Cave and, in one case, Alex Harvey.  The final, instrumental track, Theme From The Urban Voodoo Machine I could listen to all day.  I bet these are great live.

Gigs in 2011 - From the sublime (Roxy Music) to the ridiculous (Duran Duran)

2011 seems a long time ago now, but I still have the details in my Outlook (go me), so...

Roxy Music @ LG Arena, Birmingham, 31st January
Stunning.  Simply stunning.  And an example of how a 'heritage act' can put on a show.  The band oozed class.  The finale (no keeping your best song for an encore) was Brian Ferry telling us that they were just going to play one more song, and then doing 'For Your Pleasure'.  Duran Duran could learn a lot from this band (but didn't, sadly.  See below).

Big Audio Dynamite @ Shepherd's Bush Empire, 3rd April
A member of the Clash.  And we loved E=MC2 as well, so off we went to Shepherd’s Bush.  It was great.  And now I’ve seen all of the original Clash lineup except Topper.

Christy Moore @ Birmingham Town Hall, 18th April
Christy’s usual April gig.  We couldn’t resist, so didn’t.  The usual magnificent showing from Christy and Declan.  Declan always gets to sing a song, which is probably a mistake.  Good guitarist though.

Journey @ Wembley Arena, 4th June
We went to see this with Annie’s mate, Kev.  He likes his American soft rock and this was three of the genre on one bill, Journey, Foreigner and Odyssey.  If I was unkind, I would say they all sounded the same, but they didn’t really. 

Nils Lofgren @ Royal & Derngate, Northampton, 15th June
OK, so we have a history of going to see legends if they pitch up on our doorstep.  This was one of those.  We had only really seen Nils as part of the E Street Band but this was oh so good.  And he was really tiny.  Who knew?

Kings of Leon @ Hyde Park, 23rd June
Bon Jovi @ Hyde Park, 25th June
Two Hyde Park gigs in three days were an excuse for a short break in London and a hotel in London Bridge Road.  I’m not usually keen on gigs with 65,000 other people but KOL and BJ were worth it (BJ mainly for Annie, obvs).   

Foo Fighters @ Milton Keynes Bowl, 2nd July
Another open air gig and I really don’t know why we do it.  It’s the only way to see Foo Fighters nowadays though.  Support from Biffy Clro, who were predictable, and Tame Impala, who I like a lot.  FF’s special guest was Alice Cooper, which made the whole thing worthwhile.  FF were quite good, too.

Splendour in Nottingham, Wollaton Park, 24th July
A picnic with the family and a bill comprising Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Cast and  Justin Currie from Del Amitri.  As ever, the Jagermeister stage had the choicest pickings, with the Bluetones and Feeder.

Rhythm Festival @ , 26th August
This was the year Rhythm moved to Old Warden Park, having upset the Twinwood Arena people.  It wasn’t quite the same, because Twinwood was so perfectly quirky.  OWP is a good site though and you could still park your car next to your tent.  We missed Hazel O’Connor because we were putting up the tent, but had the pleasure of The Burns Unit, Dodgy and Buzzcocks later.  The highlight of the Saturday was undoubtedly Nick Lowe and the, on Sunday, we had Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs, From The Jam, Macavities Cat and The Blockheads (complete with aerobatics in the next field).  Little did we know that that would be the last we saw of the Rhythm Festival.

Billy Bragg @ Junction, Cambridge,19th November
A memorable gig indeed, as Bill was supported on this ‘Left Field in Motion’ gig by Sound of Rum and The King Blues.  Sound of Rum was my first sight of the amazing Kate Tempest (even though I don’t like that sort of thig etc etc), the King Blues were energetic and Bill was Bill.  A brilliant evening for Rob and me, Annie got a better offer and sadly couldn’t make it.

Frank Turner @ Hammersmith Apollo, 27th November
A present from Frances.  Brilliant.  Frank Turner is supposed to be the new Billy Bragg.  He’s not.  He’s Frank Turner and all the better for it.  A good night.

Duran Duran @ Nottingham Arena, 6th December

Annie was well up for this and I stupidly thought 'I'll know all of their songs, what could possibly go wrong?'.  I'll tell you what went wrong; this was the worst gig I have ever been to (and I have been to some poor gigs, including having the misfortune to see Simply Red.  Twice).  And I ate something that was simultaneously the most expensive and worst burger I have ever eaten (and I have had etc etc).  DD were just dreadful.  Simon Le Bon was a complete waste of space and his voice was atrocious.  I am afraid that I couldn't hide my feelings and Annie was deeply unhappy with me.  I am still reminded of this at regular intervals.

Gigs in 2012 - The Feral Family to the Damned

Stefan Cush & The Feral Family @ Esquires, Bedford 24th February
This was the latest side project from a member of TMTCH and we weren't about to miss them, particularly so close to home.  Esquires looks like a former Working Men's Club and is a bit ratty, to be fair.  However, they have the right attitude and put on a decent band from time to time.  This was - how can I put it? - an interesting night.  Short-handed through the absence of guitarist Tom Spencer, who had apparently fallen off a roof, they did a good enough job for the embarrassingly small crowd.

David Sylvian @ The Symphony Hall, Birmingham 26th March - CANCELLED
Another gig, another injury.  DS has apparently damaged his back and might not be touring again.  Sounds like we might have missed our last opportunity to see the strangled-voiced one.

Christy Moore @ Festival Hall 4th April
Christy Moore is one of my all-time heroes and his nowadays infrequent trips to the UK often involve a gig around my birthday (including a memorable gig at the Barbican actually on my birthday, where me and Frances had what turned out to be mid-front-row seats and got to shake his hand afterwards).  As ever nowadays, Christy performed sitting down and was accompanied by Declan Sinnott.  A beautiful night.

Chris T-T @ Watershed, Newport Pagnell 6th May
We had never heard of the Watershed, despite living 20 minutes away, and it turned out to be a tiny room above a shop.  So, this was quite an intimate gig and all the better for it.  We like Chris T-T.  Support was from a solo singer called She Makes War.  She was good as well.

Jim Bob @ Esquires, Bedford 8th June
A return to Esquires for a combined gig/book reading, to find Chris T-T manning the merch stall.  He sold me Jim Bob’s book.  A good acoustic gig followed, but an attempt to play song bingo didn’t go very well because the winners all wanted Carter songs that were not on the playlist.  In the end, JB did do an unrehearsed song – Touchy Feely, I think – which went really well.

Grand Slambovians @ Stables, Wavendon 13th June
We have Jim Driver and his Rhythm Festival to thank for introducing us to Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, who don’t get over to the UK very often, sadly.  The cutdown version of the band, The Grand Slambovians, playing locally, was a no-brainer.  They were great in the relatively intimate Marshall Auditorium and we got to meet main man Joziah in the interval.  Yes, he came out to talk to fans mid way through the gig as well as the whole band at the end.  A true gentleman.

Splendour in Nottingham 21st July
We had discovered Splendour a few years previously and it had become a grand family event, with a picnic.  We had seen marvellous headliners such as the Pogues and Madness (in the same year) and the Pet Shop Boys.  2012 turned out to be a sign of things to come, however.  Jake Bugg opened the main stage to not much effect.  Bjorn Again showed him how things should be done, with a rousing set that had everyone up and dancing.  Perfect for a sunny afternoon.  Things then spiralled downhill with Katy B, Razorlight (of whom I expected better) and Dizzee Rascal, who had people heading for the exits in droves.  Including us.  As usual, we had fared better on the Jagermeister stage, with the Lightning Seeds and the Levellers.  A personal favourite appeared on the comedy stage – the wonderful Raymond and Mr Timkins Revue.  It’s always good to see their effect on newbies.  This time, it was Rob, who may well have soiled himself laughing.  Not a totally wasted day out, then.
NB  Splendour is showing increasing signs of being a Festival organised by a council.  Jake Bugg headlined in 2013.  Good grief.  Contrast the Pet Shop Boys’ stage show with a bloke with a guitar.  He’s from Nottingham.  We get it.  HE IS NOT HEADLINER MATERIAL.  We didn’t go.

Mick Thomas & Squeezebox Wally @ Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham 14th August
The KGC is a strange little venue, tucked away at the back of a garden centre in Birmingham.  We had seen Mick here before, when he toured with Michael Barclay.  The seating is such that you are very much up close and personal but that didn’t seem to faze Mick, who put on an excellent set.  Annie and me got to speak to Mick and Wally afterwards.

Rhythm Festival 24th August POSTPONED (!)
And thereby hangs a tale.  Suffice to say that, at this stage, all we knew was that Jim Driver had had to postpone the Festival because of poor ticket sales.  Tickets would remain valid for the 2013 version.  Right...

Galtres Festival 26th August
So, we looked for an alternative to Rhythm and decided to take in the last day of the Galtres (pronounced Gall-Trees, apparently) Festival in Yorkshire.  The weather was appalling but we enjoyed Sean McGowan, Martin Stephenson (very much), Seth Lakeman, Billy Bragg, Adam Ant and, marvellously, TMTCH playing a post-headliner slot (with Mick Thomas and Squeezebox Wally sitting in).  And, walking back to the car in the dark, I was mistaken for Billy Bragg.

Darren Hayes @ The Dome, Brighton 29th September
This one was for Annie, as recompense for all of the gigs to which she has been dragged (mostly) uncomplaining.  We chose Brighton because it was a chance to spend some time there and also because she had already been to see him on the closer gig to where we live.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but the man was genuinely entertaining.  Quite theatrical in some places and genuinely odd in others but I really enjoyed the whole thing (other than perhaps the walk back to our hotel, running the gauntlet of any number of hen night groups unsteadily wandering the streets).

Michael Nesmith @ Union Chapel, Islington 30th October
I was always a fan of the Monkees.  My first ever 7” single purchase was A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, with birthday money from my Auntie Joan.  Thanks, Joan.  So, the chance to see an actual Monkee playing in probably my favourite venue was unmissable, really.  Sad to say, or seating choice turned out to be ill-advised, as we sat behind the stage, on the balcony.  A good view but the sound was really not good.  But I don’t care.  I have seen a Monkee.

Wilko Johnson @ Corn Exchange, Bedford 1st November
We can’t resist a good local gig, and Wilko had been superb when we saw him on the Hangar stage at the Rhythm Festival.  He was supported by Virgil & The Accelerators, one of whom was very good.  Virgil (if that is his name) was some sort of rock guitar virtuoso and I am afraid he made his bandmates look fairly pedestrian.  A good support act though.  Wilko, who nowadays tours with Norman Watt-Roy and Dylan Howe was predictably awesome.  His own stuff is good but it’s great to hear those Dr Feelgood songs played by someone who was actually in the band at the time.

TMTCH @ Arms Aloft in Acton Town, The Tabernacle Notting Hill 16th November
A Joe Strummer anniversary gig in a place I had never heard of and with TMTCH headlining?  Marvellous.  The Tabernacle turned out to be a beautiful building, obviously a former church, with Theatre, Dance Studio, Art Gallery, Bar & Kitchen, Meeting & Rehearsal Rooms, Conservatory & Garden (I just pinched all that from their website).  It was a bit of a ramshackle night, to be honest, but with a great Clash covers band, Take the Fifth the highlight.  TMTCH suffered from major sound problems when they finally came on, with guitar after guitar failing.  They manfully carried on with the final functioning guitar falling to Paul Simmonds, as the others could at least sing.  Not the best TMTCH gig I have ever seen but one of the prettiest venues.

The Damned @ Corn Exchange, Bedford 1st December
The Damned like to tour in November and always seem to end up playing near us.  Irresistable, as ever.  This time supported by the Dickies, who were fantastic.  A great night all round and the Festive season was under way.

From The Jam

We were slightly skeptical about Bruce Foxton until we saw From The Jam at a Festival - Rhythm, possibly.  He was surprisingly good and obviously has a great canon of songs to choose from.  

Consequently, I was gutted to find that a gig at Bedford Corn Exchange would clash with TMTCH's 30th anniversary gig at Shepherd's Bush.  That led me to look at their tour dates, only to find that they were playing an acoustic set at The Stables in March and, better still, a proper set at The Castle in Wellingborough in September.  Not six miles from where I am sitting now. Definitely one (or two) for the diary.

Gigs in 2013 - Wilko Johnson to the Damned

2013 wasn't a bad year.  14 gigs by my reckoning, although I might have missed some.  This is all being written well after the event, so don't expect much in the way of set lists...

Wilko Johnson @ Holmfirth Picturedrome 8th March
When Wilko announced his health problems in early 2013, we all assumed that that was the last we would see of him.  Me and Annie had seen him in Bedford the previous year and we're grateful that we had had that last (so we thought) chance to see him.  And then he announced some farewell gigs in Camden that all sold out straight away, presumably to a ghoulish crowd who were only interested because he was dying.  And then he announced some more, including this one, at a venue I had always wanted to go to.  It turned out to be a wonderful gig, with pretty good support from Mark Radcliffe, which was totally unexpected.  Wilko was on good form, as ever, really.  And he turned out on the festival circuit later in the year as well (see below).

Ian Hunter @ The Stables, Wavendon 29th March
This was a case of icon, playing within 20 miles, equals simple decision for me and A.  He really is getting on a bit now (I have just looked it up - he's 74!) and plays sitting down but he was really, really good even though, to be fair, we didn't know a lot of his solo stuff.  As was his support, the wonderful Jason Ringenberg, of Jason & The Scorchers.  He would be worth seeing in his own right.

Simple Minds @ De Montfort Hall 5th April
SM were one of those bands who I wish I had seen in the 80s and I signed up for this gig with some trepidation, fearing another Duran Duran type disaster (OK, it was only me that didn't like that DD gig, Annie loved it).  I needn't have worried.  A magnificent stage set and no-one seemed to have told Jim Kerr that he was 54.  He still spends a lot of his time on one knee.  A great show, with pretty much all the hits.

Buzzcocks @ Corn Exchange, Bedford 17th May
The Corn Exchange at Bedford is a relatively new discovery for us and whoever does their bookings could teach the Roadmender a thing or two.  Buzzcocks have never failed to disappoint when me and Annie have seen them and this night - seated but in the front row! - was no exception.  Like Jim Kerr, no-one has told Steve Diggle that he is old.  Although lots of pointing is probably easier than lots of dropping to one knee.  Pete Shelley hasn't really worn as well but who cares, this is the Buzzcocks!

Billy Bragg @ Union Chapel, Islington 5th June
My favourite artist at one of my favourite venues.  Win win.  Rob came to this one as well.  The gig was being filmed, so we were treated to the whole of the first album as an encore.  I've seen Bill do that before but it was great.

Bruce Springsteen @ Wembley 15th June
Another one for Annie, who is a big fan.  I hate stadium gigs as a rule but Bruce is always worth seeing.

Levellers @ The Castle, Wellingborough 27th June
This must be the best 'proper' gig ever held in Wellingborough, even if it was at the Castle (with whom I have a chequered history).  Me, Annie and Rob at this one.  The auditorium was cleared of seating, which made it look like a proper venue and the Levellers were just magnificent.  The bar sales must have been through the roof, too, which encourages the thought that they might put on more nights like that.

Bon Jovi @ Hyde Park 5th July
OK, Annie is the fan but it's surprising how many BJ songs you know when you think about it. It's a bit disconcerting how far away you can see his teeth from.  No Richie Sambora for unstated reasons but there are lots of scurrilous rumours around.

Wickham Festival 4th August
Me and Annie made a late entrance to the (almost full) camping field on Thursday evening and had the choice of putting our tent up in daylight or going to drink beer and watch 10cc and Dexy's. Common sense prevailed but then we couldn't get in because the wristband desk was closed. Damn.  The camping field was right next to the arena, so we had three days of wandering in and out, seeing what we wanted and disappearing back for tea otherwise. Highlights included The Waterboys, Seth Lakeman, The Blockheads, Wilko Johnson (still going!), Slim Chance, Sarah Savoy and the Arcadians (who we met afterwards), The Day of the Rabblement (honest) and, as always, Hattie Hatstar.  We left before the Peatbog Faeries on Sunday night because it was a long way home.

Robyn Hitchcock @ The Stables, Wavendon 28th October
Annie had to miss this one, so just me and Rob.  If it wasn't for the Levellers, I think this might have been my favourite gig of the year.  Robyn was his usual deranged self, with the between-song stream-of-consciousness as entertaining as the music (especially the bit about the sandwiches in limbo).  Then came the highlight of the night. The encore.  He told the lighting man to turn all the lights off and then sat in with the audience and played two songs in the dark. Wonderful.

Billy Bragg @ Leeds Town Hall 25th November
Me and Annie booked this before we realised that we would be helping both her offspring move house that week.  And it was in Leeds.  Bill was his usual brilliant self and the venue was a great setting, almost church-like with a huge organ dominating the room.  A great night but a very early start back the next day.

Half Man Half Biscuit @ The Roadmender, Northampton 29th November
Just me and Rob for this one.  HMHB have always been on my list of bands I really wanted to see and then they turn up on my doorstep.  No brainer, then, even though I was going to another gig (and a rugby match) in London the next day.  They didn't disappoint, although the Roadmender's acoustics didn't do them any favours.  Much more repartee from Nigel Blackwell than I was expecting and excellent putting down of hecklers.

Jim Bob (with the Mystery Fax Machine Orchestra) @ Bush Hall 30th November
Who wouldn't buy a ticket for this?  Lots of people, judging by the relatively sparse crowd, but me and Annie did, having been at Twickenham earlier in the day.  Jim Bob and a whole orchestra crammed on the quite small stage, with Chris T-T playing piano down on the floor.  He had been the support, too, and was very good despite people talking loudly all through his set.  Jim Bob's songs worked really well in this setting and 'Touchy Feely' was brilliant.  

The Damned @ The Roadmender, Northampton 15th December
Me, Annie and Rob were at what has become the traditional end-of-year Damned gig, supported this time by Ruts DC who were awesome.  A really tight set by the Damned, the best I have seen from them in recent times, with some rarely-played stuff including 'The Limit Club', topped off with a final Damned/Ruts encore of 'Merry Christmas Everybody'.

Gigs for 2014?

OK, this is a music blog.  Let's talk about music.  Last year was pretty good in terms of gigs attended - see another post for a rundown but 2014 is getting off to a pretty slow start.

We have tickets for Fun Lovin' Criminals at Koko in Camden.  They were one of Annie's Christmas presents.  She is in love with Hewey and I drag her to see too many of my favourite acts not to redress the balance sometimes.  And I bought their first album anyway.  And I have never been to Koko.  Enough excuses, it'll be fun.

And we also have tickets to see the last night of Billy Bragg's current tour, at the Hammersmith Apollo in May.  Not my favourite venue by any means (that will be the subject of another post as well) but I never pass up a chance to see Bill.  Rob's coming to this one.  I brought him up properly.

And that's it, so far.  I have been wondering about the Urban Voodoo Machine at the Donkey in Leicester (no, me neither) and I have just read that David Rovics is coming over this year. Nowhere near us, so far, but he usually adds gigs as he goes along.  And I must get round to buying tickets for TMTCH's anniversary gig.

Festival-wise, the Galtres Festival is looking promising.  Levellers, TMTCH and Otway.  Need to convince Annie about the tent again.

ETA: I have just booked the TMTCH 30th anniversary tickets.  It will mean getting from Franklin's Gardens to Shepherd's Bush in time for the gig, but I like a challenge.