Good combination of shows! Thoroughly enjoyed my last Mish gig, think I'll be up for them again next time they tour.
Saw Johnny Marr last night, warm up show for the album release.
Great form, nearly all new material with a scattering of classics and a couple from his first 2 solo albums.
His new stuff is pretty new-wavey, lots of electro and a decent voodoo sound in places. His voice is getting better but is never going to win awards. His playing was, of course, magical
The Tracers Bigmouth Strikes Again Jeopardy Day In Day Out New Dominions Hi Hello The Headmaster Ritual Rise Walk Into The Sea Getting Away With It There Is a Light That Never Goes Out Hey Angel Bug Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me Spiral Cities Easy Money Boys Get Straight How Soon Is Now? Actor Atractor Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want New Town Velocity You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby
Caught a couple of Nuala songs on the busking stage on the embankment, nice start before you get in the building!
Kælan Mikla were excellent - I hadn't heard of them before they were announced but they did everything you want from a support band. 3 piece with the exact same bass tone as Hooky and layers of synths and sequenced stuff. Could have listened to more but they ran out of time before completing their set.
Placebo were exactly what you'd expect them to be - same set as last time, very tight but still at least 1 too many people on stage. Tight though and made the effort despite a few gremlins.
And the highlight was the Cure cover which is linked below for your listening pleasure.
Pure Morning Loud Like Love Jesus' Son Soulmates Special Needs Too Many Friends Twenty Years I Know Devil in the Details Exit Wounds Protect Me from What I Want Without You I'm Nothing For What It's Worth Slave to the Wage Special K Song to Say Goodbye The Bitter End Let's Go To Bed Infra-red Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
Did anyone see Robert lately? I wondered if he was there as a guest at one of the shows...
I was wondering the same thing. It would be weird to curate a series of your favorite artists and not see the shows. Maybe / probably from the wings????
Maybe he is fully in the midst of the audience in some really spectacular disguise? Save
Kathryn was great, looked a little nervous at first but nailed it. Not listened back to the recording yet but she def played Bones Thrown and Blood Spilled.
Mogwai were terrifyingly loud Martin replaced Cat at the encore break- there were a fair few walkouts at the break too. It must have been punishing if you bought tix without knowing what to expect... And they all missed My Father My King, their loss cos it was spectacular.
Difficult to see cos of the low light but I think Reeves was in the royal box
Every Country's Sun Party in the Dark Take Me Somewhere Nice I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead Rano Pano Coolverine Don't Believe the Fife Remurdered Mogwai Fear Satan
I Know You Are But What Am I? Kids Will Be Skeletons Ex-Cowboy My Father, My King
NIN night Nothing so say about the support band, saw a bit but don't get it..
Amazing seats, eye level and dead centre. Lights were insane and sound balance crystal clear. Not as intensely loud as Mogwai the previous night but more enjoyable for that
Another retro heavy set for London, very Fragile heavy and dedicated to Alan Moulder who was somewhere in the crowd. Lots of other faces in the crowd, including Mogwai in the front row (who were the only people too cool to stand!) and, up in the royal box, were Roger, Jason and Reeves.
Somewhat Damaged The Day the World Went Away The Frail The Wretched Terrible Lie March of the Pigs Something I Can Never Have Me, I'm Not Ahead of Ourselves God Break Down the Door The Lovers The Good Soldier The Great Destroyer I'm Afraid of Americans I Do Not Want This Even Deeper The Big Come Down Less Than Wish Metal Reptile Hurt
Socially distanced, sitting down and acoustic but still a gig. At another time, this one probably wouldn't have appeared on my radar but it had a lot going for it - it was announced at short notice so unlikely to get cancelled, it was at the Royal Opera House that I've never been to cos it's normally crazy expensive. And, most importantly, it was Chrissie Hynde who I've gotten into quite late on but have seen a few times now and is always great.
Anyway, she was playing her Bob Dylan stuff and I'd much rather see her sing it than him. Bit sketchy round the edges and rusty but that's hardly surprising. She finished off with a bunch of Pretenders songs from last year that they've been unable to tour and then some covers from Valve Bone Woe - the last of which she was literally reading from a sheet of A4
Only downside was being in the minority of mask wearers, bit disappointing seeing as it was a condition of entry but not enforced at all. But magical to be at a proper gig again, there's nothing like it.
In the Summertime You're a big girl now Standing in the Doorway Sweetheart Like You Blind Willie McTell Love Minus Zero Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight Tomorrow is a Long Time Every Grain of Sand Maybe Love Is in NYC You Can’t Hurt a Fool Crying in Public I Get Along Without You Very Well (You Don't Know) How Glad I Am Que reste-t-il de nos amours
Socially distanced, sitting down and acoustic but still a gig. At another time, this one probably wouldn't have appeared on my radar but it had a lot going for it - it was announced at short notice so unlikely to get cancelled, it was at the Royal Opera House that I've never been to cos it's normally crazy expensive. And, most importantly, it was Chrissie Hynde who I've gotten into quite late on but have seen a few times now and is always great.
Anyway, she was playing her Bob Dylan stuff and I'd much rather see her sing it than him. Bit sketchy round the edges and rusty but that's hardly surprising. She finished off with a bunch of Pretenders songs from last year that they've been unable to tour and then some covers from Valve Bone Woe - the last of which she was literally reading from a sheet of A4
Only downside was being in the minority of mask wearers, bit disappointing seeing as it was a condition of entry but not enforced at all. But magical to be at a proper gig again, there's nothing like it.
In the Summertime You're a big girl now Standing in the Doorway Sweetheart Like You Blind Willie McTell Love Minus Zero Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight Tomorrow is a Long Time Every Grain of Sand Maybe Love Is in NYC You Can’t Hurt a Fool Crying in Public I Get Along Without You Very Well (You Don't Know) How Glad I Am Que reste-t-il de nos amours
(Not my photo's!)
I just got a note from the non profit that runs 3 renovated old theaters saying that they are rescinding their requirement that proof of vaccination be provided but they are instituting a mask requirement for all shows. Doesn't make much sense. I'm supposed to see Mammoth WVH on August 23 at the smallest of the 3 venues. Having some qualms now. Luckily the tickets were very inexpensive ($20) so if I decide to chicken out it's not a big deal. Early reports are that Wolfgang Van Halen is bringing it live!
I just got a note from the non profit that runs 3 renovated old theaters saying that they are rescinding their requirement that proof of vaccination be provided but they are instituting a mask requirement for all shows. Doesn't make much sense. I'm supposed to see Mammoth WVH on August 23 at the smallest of the 3 venues. Having some qualms now. Luckily the tickets were very inexpensive ($20) so if I decide to chicken out it's not a big deal. Early reports are that Wolfgang Van Halen is bringing it live!
Is it seated or GA? At least if it's GA then you have the option of hanging in out in a less insane spot
My preference would be proof of vac + 24 hr negative LFT result to get in not either/or. That'd be enough to offset the mask risk for me. Got our first large capacity indoor gig in 2 weeks, thats going to be 'interesting'. The train home the other night was also a horror show of no masks, despite it being a requirement to travel...
I just got a note from the non profit that runs 3 renovated old theaters saying that they are rescinding their requirement that proof of vaccination be provided but they are instituting a mask requirement for all shows. Doesn't make much sense. I'm supposed to see Mammoth WVH on August 23 at the smallest of the 3 venues. Having some qualms now. Luckily the tickets were very inexpensive ($20) so if I decide to chicken out it's not a big deal. Early reports are that Wolfgang Van Halen is bringing it live!
Is it seated or GA? At least if it's GA then you have the option of hanging in out in a less insane spot
My preference would be proof of vac + 24 hr negative LFT result to get in not either/or. That'd be enough to offset the mask risk for me. Got our first large capacity indoor gig in 2 weeks, thats going to be 'interesting'. The train home the other night was also a horror show of no masks, despite it being a requirement to travel...
It's GA but if I go I will be seated in a special disabled section which won't be too bad on that level. Infections are really picking up, even in areas with high vaccination rates. People just don't get it & refuse to learn from history. I'll make my decision about this show closer to the time. If things are worse than they are now, I'll skip it. I've got enough to deal with right now without adding a COVID infection on top of it. I'm vaccinated but my immune system is compromised so I'm high risk. Likely an infection wouldn't be pretty & I've had quite enough of hospitals this year.
Review for the Upper Wilds "Venus" album release / Dan's birthday party show last night at Mama Tried in Brooklyn.
Mama Tried is a bar (with food! which is appreciated, no matter if it's basically just chips and queso-like fare in the late hours; it does serve to absorb some alcohol). MR K and I were able to walk to and from the venue (albeit a long walk) which was lovely because it was a beautiful night.
What we really appreciated was the fact that the stage is outside in a courtyard. Fresh air in plague times. Besides, there is nothing better than listening to live music with the wind blowing through your hair, IMO. And there were small tables and chairs, too. Good for old folks who sometimes need to sit down.
We missed the first openers but caught maybe half of the second band, Savak, whom I guess i would describe as "hipster dad rock." They were solid and fine and enjoyed themselves, finishing their set with an obligatory, Sonic Youth-style aural assault. They were having fun and the crowd seemed into them.
While I haven't felt as great about what I've heard from the Venus release as I do about the album Mars, I liked the new album material a lot live. They were nice enough to play one song from Mars (Wine Flies) in the set. I'm not sure if there were any old Parts and Labor (Dan's old band) songs thrown in, but if there were, I liked those, too.
Dan is a master of effects, both vocal and guitar. He was having fun speaking in echo between songs. The set was noisy and fuzzy, with lots of frenetic guitar work, just like I like it! The drummer was very solid (of Black, Black, Black), as was the bass player, who mixed the album and I recognized because he used to rent Dan's downstairs apartment. Neither bass player nor drummer was in the original lineup, so I wasn't sure, but all was well.
I even got to bring home a roll of Upper Wilds packing tape. The label promised to make them whatever type of merchandising swag they wanted, and Dan said duct tape. They ended up with crappy packing tape, but apparently the guy worked really hard to get it done.
My friend Sarah, Dan's wife, asked me if I wanted to flash the band at the end of the set with her and someone else. The old me would have been all in. But because I had a client in the audience, I managed to restrain myself.
Most of all, it felt amazing to see friends and strangers come together and enjoy live music again. That was magical.