Gigs of 2016

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Gigs of 2016

Tango · In the Long Grass

Too many to list without boring everyone witless, but I did go to the Wilko Forum gig and definitely agree about the crowd. They were so unenthusiastic and the venue's so big for 3 blokes on stage it was a bit soulless, even though the 3 of them are fantastic musicians. Was glad to see Norman Watt Roy doing his magnificent thing with the Blockheads instead last week, much more fun. Maybe when the strange crowd showing up to marvel at how not dead Wilko is they'll get better venue-crowd combos.

Did see two of the best gigs I've ever seen this year. They Might Be Giants at the Electric Ballroom was incredible, you can tell they've been touring constantly forever, tight as you like but with such a massive repertoir that it was full of surprises. And FUN! Seems to be an underrated quality in a live band but I've never seen a music crowd laugh and smile so much. Also The Ex at Cafe Oto was fairly mind-blowing. They don't sound like anyone else and explaining what they sound like would be futile but if it wasn't for the Wilko gig the following night I would've followed them to Manchester to do it all again. Bonkers and brilliant.

Saw the Membranes more than any other band this year - the nicest blokes in punk and they make a great noise. Seeing them at Brixton Academy (supporting Killing Joke) was a pleasant change from tiny venues, their sound was made to fill big spaces but will probably always be too weird for that outside of support slots

Ruts, Damned, Clarkey&Cornwell, Peter Hook and Jherek Bischoff all worthy of honorable mentions.

Tango · In the Long Grass

Note to self: see more women in 2017...

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Tango wrote:
Maybe when the strange crowd showing up to marvel at how not dead Wilko is they'll get better venue-crowd combos.

The irony here is that when poor Wilko's demise was imminent he played two nights at Koko which were very lively. But now he is in remission, everyone just stands around.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Tango wrote:
Note to self: see more women in 2017...

Squeeze have a female bass player and Elvis Costello was ably accompanied by Larkin Poe at the Palladium, so 2016 not entirely blokey for me.

In 2017 I have The Dears with a female keyboardist/co-singer and Adele at Wembley (mainly to have a Saturday night out with Mrs. ArrGee). Would have see The Pretenders but tickets are too expensive. And if Arcade Fire do some dates, they have Régine Chassagne who plays pretty much every instrument under the sun and co-writes all the songs, along with providing lead vocals on quite a few. Julian Cope is the one male only gig I have coming up.

musicmania · A Hold of Me

2016 was short on concerts for me.

1) Moya Brennan
2) ELO
3) Bryan Adams
4) Bruce Springsteen
5) Hattie Webb
6) 80's REWIND included Marc Almond, Rick Astley, Tony Hadley, Snap (yes I know they were from the 90's!), Hazel Dean, Leo Sayer. Others I can't remember cos I was in a heap with bronchitis!
7) Imelda May at the Southern Fried Festival, Perth
8) Nick Lowe, and two other ****s whose names are failing me now at the Southern Fried Festival. Nick Lowe was great.
9) Boomtown Rats
10) Sharon Robinson
11) Martin Hayes

That is in order of attendance, not of preference. In these days of lean finances all concerts have to be great!

2017 I have The Rats, Imelda May, and Adele. I was going to book Phil Collins until I saw the outrageous cost of entry, and decided he can take a hike. The gig is getting heavy advertisement airplay so I'd say a lot of people are thinking the same as me.

musicmania · A Hold of Me

Oh and shame on me for forgetting but I am also going to The Gloaming in 2017, and profanity filter doesn't like the word t w a t s!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

ArrGee wrote:
Tango wrote:
Note to self: see more women in 2017...
Squeeze have a female bass player and Elvis Costello was ably accompanied by Larkin Poe at the Palladium, so 2016 not entirely blokey for me.
In 2017 I have The Dears with a female keyboardist/co-singer and Adele at Wembley (mainly to have a Saturday night out with Mrs. ArrGee). Would have see The Pretenders but tickets are too expensive. And if Arcade Fire do some dates, they have Régine Chassagne who plays pretty much every instrument under the sun and co-writes all the songs, along with providing lead vocals on quite a few. Julian Cope is the one male only gig I have coming up.

I have now booked the most blokey gig possible namely Richard Hawley and Paul Weller at Union Chapel in February. How Dad Rock is that?

Tango · In the Long Grass

ArrGee wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Tango wrote:
Note to self: see more women in 2017...
Squeeze have a female bass player and Elvis Costello was ably accompanied by Larkin Poe at the Palladium, so 2016 not entirely blokey for me.
In 2017 I have The Dears with a female keyboardist/co-singer and Adele at Wembley (mainly to have a Saturday night out with Mrs. ArrGee). Would have see The Pretenders but tickets are too expensive. And if Arcade Fire do some dates, they have Régine Chassagne who plays pretty much every instrument under the sun and co-writes all the songs, along with providing lead vocals on quite a few. Julian Cope is the one male only gig I have coming up.
I have now booked the most blokey gig possible namely Richard Hawley and Paul Weller at Union Chapel in February. How Dad Rock is that?

That might be peak Dad Rock!

harryhooper2 · She's So Modern

" I was going to book Phil Collins until I saw the outrageous cost of entry, and decided he can take a hike. The gig is getting heavy advertisement airplay so I'd say a lot of people are thinking the same as me".

I see Blondie have been announced as support for Dublin 3Arena. Desperation??

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

harryhooper2 wrote:
" I was going to book Phil Collins until I saw the outrageous cost of entry, and decided he can take a hike. The gig is getting heavy advertisement airplay so I'd say a lot of people are thinking the same as me".
I see Blondie have been announced as support for Dublin 3Arena. Desperation??

The only way I would go is if they took Phil Colic off the bill entirely! £85 to stand half a mile away in Hyde Park. I'd pay more to stand 10 miles away. I am seriously considering getting out of town with Cliff in Greenwich the next day and Robbie Williams in Stratford the week before.

I am a little tempted by the Killers with Tears for Fears, White Lies and Elbow a week late at £60, but considering I felt mugged paying less than £40 to see The Who with support from Weller, Johnny Marr, Kaiser Chiefs and Gaz Coombes, I shall resist. Really far from the stage and the bars, between the two of us we almost got into half a dozen scraps over matters like queue jumping (not guilty, we were told to), talking loudly (yes, but sound was so low you could hear a silent fart), beer spillage (to get so close to where you started and having the beer smashed out of your hands [sigh]) and space invasion (people who had chairs, picnic rugs etc at the bloody barrier!).

Only got to enjoy the gig when I got it months later on DVD and the sound wasn't wafting around.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Phil Colic is not content with a Golden Shower Circle, but he has to have a fcuking diamond view!

Don't worry if you didn't get straight in for these £400 + fees tickets, there are plenty available.

BST Phil Collins

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

ArrGee wrote:
Phil Colic is not content with a Golden Shower Circle, but he has to have a fcuking diamond view!
Don't worry if you didn't get straight in for these £400 + fees tickets, there are plenty available.

Definitely no Diamond Smiles for £400 seats. How crazy is that. Talk about greedy.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
Definitely no Diamond Smiles for £400 seats. How crazy is that. Talk about greedy.

There are no seats, that's standing! At least The Rats offered a seat and a meet and greet for 650 Au$$ie (approx £400). Not that anyone bought them!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

ArrGee wrote:
Jules wrote:
Definitely no Diamond Smiles for £400 seats. How crazy is that. Talk about greedy.
There are no seats, that's standing! At least The Rats offered a seat and a meet and greet for 650 Au$$ie (approx £400). Not that anyone bought them!

Wonder if that will go the same way... who can afford that. I can think of so many better things to buy than gig tickets. I wouldn't pay that for the Rats.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Jules wrote:
Definitely no Diamond Smiles for £400 seats. How crazy is that. Talk about greedy.
There are no seats, that's standing! At least The Rats offered a seat and a meet and greet for 650 Au$$ie (approx £400). Not that anyone bought them!
Wonder if that will go the same way... who can afford that. I can think of so many better things to buy than gig tickets. I wouldn't pay that for the Rats.

Plenty can afford it. His Royal Albert Hall dates all sold out and they were similarly expensive ; £520 for the soundcheck package.

Note the small print at the bottom saying viewing areas are approximate and subject to change. They will just adjust the size of the golden shower circle and the diamond view for the tickets sold.

I think there is a certain irony in you having better things to buy than gig tickets having just spent £220 on U2 I probably don't have many better things to spend my money on except maybe David Bowie LPs and sports subscriptions, but if I go to a gig I want to see the reds of their eyes.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Yeah, ok, but that is two tickets.

I've seen the Rats sound check for free many a time.