Courtney Love Newcastle Riverside 22nd May 2014
I wasn’t sure what to expect of Courtney Love. I’d read quite a bit about her, but can’t pretend to be familiar with her music at all. I went along mostly out of curiosity and because her wild rocker chick image and attitude reminds of the days of punk. I guess I was expecting something like a cross between Chrissie Hynde, Patti Smith, Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks. I know that all of those ladies were big influences on Courtney and her music. Add the attitude and values of the Slits and the Sex Pistols and a Rickenbacker guitar that looks like it is has come straight out of the hands of Roger McGuinn. Now if any of those guys come through in Courtney’s performance it ain’t gonna be half bad.
This was my first visit to the new Riverside, although I did go along to the original Riverside venue back in the day. Actually she was just great. It was like I was back in the late 70s at a punk gig. Local guy Ginger Wildheart was on guitar, Courtney was smoking Irish nights ecigs: “great ecigs”. She brings a guy up to sit on stage; he has been following the tour and has been right down front every night. Courtney: “When it comes to being a c**t I own the trademark”. Opened with “Wedding Day”. Covers included Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman” and “I’m not an addict” 90s hit by K’s choice (can’t say I remember it)..Courtney: “I love a good drugs song”…”I don’t do f***ed up I’m almost 50…I’m slightly inebriated”. Great stuff. The lady has some attitude. Rolling Stone once called her the “most controversial woman in the history of rock”.
Note the tour flyer doesn’t list the Newcastle date, which was added to the tour as a late addition.
23 May
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Posted by geoffvhallGeoff on May 23, 2014 at 5:30 pm
You were lucky! We went to see her in Manchester about 3 years ago & she (with Hole) was dire.
Her voice was f*****d – her words, she was either high or drunk, & she had a mouth like a sewer. Doesn’t often happen, but she was so bad we left half way through.
Posted by vintagerock on May 24, 2014 at 6:48 am
Thanks Geoff there was some pretty strong language at this gig but I thought overall her performance was excellent Peter
Posted by Davy on December 5, 2014 at 8:04 pm
Geoff. Saw her both at Manchester and Newcastle where everybody thought the performances were superb. Bearing in mind that’s what she does.
Though the Newcastle gig was the better. Seems you went to the wrong gig. If you wanted good singing you shoulder gone to a Susan Boyle show.