Posts Tagged ‘concert’

4 Oct

Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve, The Glasshouse Gateshead 7 September 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Elvis Costello. Tagged: , , , , , .

Let’s go back 40 odd years. Marie and I are in the upstairs bar in Newcastle Polytechnic Students Union. With us is Captain Sensible of the Damned and a young guy named Elvis Costello. The occasion is, I think (my memory is hazy these days), the first Stiff Tour. The Captain is holding court, telling tales of the Damned on the road and how his favourite band is ABBA. He demolishes a packet of crisps in one go including the plastic pack itself! Elvis is quiet, drinking his pint. I’m not sure why the Captain was there, as he wasn’t appearing that night; I guess he must just have come along for the ride. This was the second time I had seen Elvis Costello live and I must admit I was very impressed, particularly by his second single “Alison”.

I had seen Elvis C a few weeks earlier at Middlesbrough Town Hall, again on the Stiff tour, which also featured (I think) Ian Drury, Wreckless Eric, Nick Lowe and others. I think it must have been around November 5th and Guy Fawkes night, as I recall we were waiting outside the venue and some young kids had their “guy” against the wall and asked Elvis “Penny for the Guy?” as he passed them on his way into the Town Hall. He threw them a few coppers. “That’s Elvis Costello” I told my mates. At the time I wondered how a young guy dared call himself “Elvis”. I was soon to find out. A few months later he was in the charts with “Watching the Detectives”. A few years ago, but I saw him in my hometown of Sunderland, at the Empire. I’ve seen him many times in between. And yet after all the years, I still remember those early, rocking, concert performances by an angry young Elvis who spat out the lyrics.

Roll forward a few years from the Sunderland Empire performance and here I was again, waiting to see Elvis Costello and his long-time keyboard player Steve Nieve at the Glasshouse. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Which Elvis would we get? The angry rocker, the middle-of-the-road crooner, or perhaps a mix? This time there was no band, the Imposters just Elvis and Steve. What sort of performance would they deliver?

The Glasshouse website described the concert as: “Masterful. Captivating. 50 years of peerless songs. Music legends Elvis Costello and long-time collaborator Steve Nieve embark on a 15-date UK & Ireland tour in September 2024, revisiting a profound 50-year songbook. From 1977’s “Watching the Detectives” to 2022’s “The Boy Named If”. Following a run of small theatre shows unearthing over 230 songs, this iconic duo is ready to rediscover and reimagine selections from Costello’s vast catalogue once more. Audiences can expect intimate interpretations and new connections shining light on both familiar favourites and rarely played gems spanning decades of peerless song writing.”

“Costello’s unique singing is of astonishing quality, the voice is always powerful, as is the piano.” Luzerner Zeitung, Lucerne, Switzerland – October 3rd, 2023.

So, as described this was a very different Elvis performance. No band, just Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve performing classics old and new in a dark, acoustic manner. This stage was set in dark lighting and the pair delivered some hits, some old favourites and also did not sing some of the rockier Elvis style songs. If you went along expecting a “normal” Elvis Costello performance you would be disappointed, as indeed my carer Elaine was. I also didn’t realise how dark (both in terms of lighting, and in the way the songs were performed) the concert would be. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the show, and it was great to hear old songs such as “Alison” and “Red Shoes” again. And Elvis’ performance of “She” is truly magnificent. Similarly, “Shipbuilding”, was performed extremely well.

Another great night spent with a true unique talent. Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and Atalanta for manipulating the site for me.

Setlist: Watch Your Step; Waiting for the End of the World; Black Sails in the Sunset; Still Too Soon to Know; The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes; Mystery Dance; Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy; Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood; Suit of Lights; A Face in the Crowd; Watching the Detectives; Dio, come ti amo / Almost Blue; She; Hey Clockface; Shot With His Own Gun; Come the Meantimes; Alison; Oliver’s Army; Shipbuilding; Indoor Fireworks; What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding

30 Sep

Texas First Direct Arena Leeds 6 September 2024

Posted by vintagerock in KT Tunstall, Texas. Tagged: , , , , , .

So, off to Leeds again this time to see Texas. This was my second visit to Leeds Arena, the first having been to see Iron Maiden. The train times don’t work out so well for me and it means missing some of the concert to catch the last direct train home. We arrived in Leeds after boarding a direct train from Durham, with plenty of time to spare.

For this concert I was accompanied once again by Jackie and Elaine, the same carers who came to see Iron Maiden with me. I always take two carers to Leeds or York to make sure we all cope with the trains. I am, of course, well covered by passenger assistance service which provides a ramp on and off the train and into a wheelchair space. Perfect.

This time, instead of taking a taxi, we walked the short journey up from the station to the Arena. It was a nice warm evening, and I easily traversed the pavements from station to venue. Leeds Arena is a lovely purpose-built, and quite large venue. I was lucky enough to attend the opening night which, before my accident, featured Bruce Springsteen and was a fantastic evening. Once we arrived at the venue, we found our seats which gave us all a magnificent view (Elaine managed to find a seat on the wheelchair ramp beside Jackie and me).

I bought a drink, a music box for my daughter (see image) and a T-shirt. We were pleased to discover that the support act was none other than fellow Scottish singer KT Tunstall. I recognised some of the songs including “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and, of course, the closing number “Suddenly I See”, her most well-known song. She also included great versions of “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics and “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the bangles. A great warmup act for Texas.

KT Tunstall Setlist:(something like) I Am the Pilot; Dear Shadow; Other Side of the World / America; The River; Black Horse and the Cherry Tree / Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This); Hold On / Walk Like an Egyptian; Suddenly I See.

“Texas is a Scottish rock band from Glasgow, founded in 1986 by Johnny McElhone (formerly of the bands Altered Images and Hipsway [I didn’t know that!]), Ally McErlaine, and Sharleen Spiteri (on lead vocals). In 1989, the band, now also featuring Tony McGovern, Eddie Campbell, Michael Bannister, and Neil Payne, released their debut EP, Everyday Now. The band’s debut single, “I Don’t Want a Lover”, was released in January 1989.” (From Wikipedia).

The story continues on the Leeds Arena website information for the event: “Who are they? They are Texas, and they make hits. Following a triumphant, stand out performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury……. Known for their enthralling, high-energy shows, the…. band [will] play a set of classic hits from their recently released The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023.)”

“34 years since they recorded ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’, then watched, gobsmacked, as it reached Number Eight in the charts, Texas, one of the UK’s most loved bands, has gone on to produce ten studio albums, selling over 40 million records worldwide.” Myself, I have only seen Texas once before, in Hyde Park London, supporting Roger Waters as he performed Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. On that occasion someone stupidly through a shoe at Sharleen Spiteri. She gave the guy a good mouthful and continued with the performance, which was excellent and strong support for Mr Waters.

Soon, Texas were on stage and, to our delight, started the set with a clutch of well-known hit songs including the aforementioned “I Don’t Want a Lover”, “Halo” and “summer son”. All of these were played with power and the emotional voice and tremendous stage presence of Sharleen. She stands stage centre and is clearly the focus. But this is a band that gels well together; and it really annoys me when people refer to Texas with phrases like “are you going to see her?” This show is by the band Texas, not just Sharleen, and I feel sure she would agree.

The graphics and screen effects which accompany the performance are magnificent and the size and shape of Leeds Arena allow the band to have a stage set up which covers 180° of the venue. Texas are superb and each song is catchy, rocky, and classic pop/rock. We manage to catch quite a bit of the show but, as I expected, we need to leave before the end of the performance. We are all sad that we have to leave in order to make our way back to the station. I once again race through the streets of the on the download stretch towards Leeds station.

We go straight to the platform where the friendly assistance guy soon arise with the ramp to get me onto the train back to Durham. Then it is a short journey, and our taxi is waiting for us, shortly after midnight, to take us home. My verdict about travelling to shows in Leeds remains that it is worth doing so for bands I really want to see as long as I am prepared to miss the last part of the concert. Such is life these days. I guess I can’t have everything.

Thanks to Elaine and Jackie for travelling to Leeds with me and taking the photographs. Jackie was so impressed by Texas that she decided to go to Glasgow to see them with family a week or so later, in order to experience the full performance, which she said was excellent. I was a little bit jealous. Thanks once again to Chris for manipulating the site.

Texas Setlist: I Knew These People; I Don’t Want a Lover; Halo; Everyday Now; The Conversation; Hi; In Our Lifetime; Tired of Being Alone; Keep on Talking; Summer Son; Insane; Let’s Work It Out; When We Are Together; Put Your Arms Around Me; Sleep; In Demand; Mr Haze; Black Eyed Boy; Say What You Want.

Encore: Inner Smile; Suspicious Minds.

25 Sep

Maxïmo Park The Fire Station Parade Ground Sunderland 31 August 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Maximo Park. Tagged: , , , , , , .

I have seen Maximo Park several times in the past. Although I can’t claim to know many of their songs, I always enjoy their performance. They are entertaining, full of rocky energy and Paul Smith is the consummate front man, resplendent in bowler hat (or something similar) and leaping all over the stage.

It was great to see them again in my local venue The Fire Station, outside in the Parade Ground when I recently saw Inspiral Carpets. When I arrived, with Jan, The Fire Station had very kindly reserved a table for us with a splendid view of the stage. Thank you very much, lovely treatment from my favourite local venue.

The Fire Station announced the show: “We’re delighted to host indie rock icons Maxïmo Park for a very special show in The Parade Ground as part of The Fire Station’s Summer Parties season. Like their friends and neighbours, The Futureheads and Field Music, Mercury Prize-nominated Maxïmo Park craft smart, sharply catchy songs inspired by post-punk and new wave legends like The Jam, XTC, Wire, and The Smiths.”

“The band have released seven studio albums to date: A Certain Trigger (2005), Our Earthly Pleasures (2007), Quicken The Heart (2009), The National Health (2012), Too Much Information (2014), Risk to Exist (2017) and Nature Always Wins (2021). The first two albums went gold in the UK. The Northeast legends will be visiting Sunderland ahead of the release of their latest album ‘Stream of Life’, and we can’t wait to welcome them for this outdoor performance in The Parade Ground.”

Once again Maximo Park did not let me down. It was great seeing them outside on a lovely late summer evening. As referred to above, these local legends are massively popular in the north-east, coming originally from Newcastle. They soon recruited Paul Smith from Stockton on Tees as singer: “When he first joined, we didn’t know if he could [sing]; just that he was a lunatic jumping around in a suit, it felt like the last piece of the jigsaw”. (From Wikipedia). He has certainly done them proud and has become the focal point for their live performances.

Paul remains as always. Full of energy, singing a set of songs that were very familiar to the audience. Everyone was singing along and appeared to know every word! An impressive performance by a magnificent local band. I bought a signed album (pictured). Many thanks to Jan for the photographs and Chris for manipulating the site.

Setlist:  The Coast Is Always Changing; Girls Who Play Guitars; The End Can Be as Good as the Start; All of Me; Leave This Island; Hips and Lips; Quiz Show Clue; Questing, Not Coasting; I Want You to Stay; The National Health; The Kids Are Sick Again; Going Missing; Risk to Exist; By the Monument; What Equals Love?; Favourite Song; Our Velocity.

Encore: Versions of You; Books From Boxes; Apply Some Pressure.

22 Sep

Beth Nielsen Chapman The Fire Station Sunderland 23 August 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Beth Nielsen Chapman, Ruth Trimble. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Beth Nielsen Chapman is, to my shame as I soon discovered, new to me. She has visited The Fire Station before and I somehow missed her. As soon as I entered the bar, I ran into an old friend who I had not seen for years. He told me that he was a huge fan and had been to see Beth in Manchester.

“How did you get into her?” I enquired. “I listen to Bob Harris on the radio, and he often plays her music” he explained. I had not met my friend since before my accident and he was quite surprised to see me in a wheelchair. We were soon chatting about old times and our mutual admiration of Alex Harvey, which just shows you how long we have been friends! After a quick Guinness it was time to go into the auditorium which was full.

Having read all her accomplishments and accolades I am not surprised how popular she is to those “in the know”. The Fire Station website proclaims her return to the venue thus: “Beth Nielsen Chapman is an artist with many accolades to her name: mega-hit ‘This Kiss’, sung by Faith Hill, was ASCAP’s 1999 Song of The Year, garnered a Grammy nomination and Nashville NAMMY’s 1999 Songwriter of the Year. Beth was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame; one she considers to be the highest honour she’s ever received. In 2019 Beth was invited to become an Ambassador for the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.”

“Beth’s collaboration with her friend the late, great Olivia Newton John was included on Olivia – Just The Two of Us – a special collection released to celebrate Olivia’s career. Their song ‘Stone In My Pocket’, which originally appeared on 2016’s ‘Liv On’ – Olivia’s album with Beth and Amy Sky – is part of 17-track album celebrating Olivia’s duets. Other artists featured include Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Barry Gibb, John Travolta, Sir Cliff Richard and more. Her most recent album CrazyTown, charted at Number One on the Official UK Country Chart. Following the album’s release, Beth embarked on a 22-date tour of the UK including to Sunderland.”

Beth was accompanied by Ruth Trimble, who also had been the opening act, on keyboards and another lady on bass and drums. Beth stood centre stage singing songs and accompanying herself on guitar and grand piano. Her songs, all of which were new to me, had a country feel to them. But her repertoire was much broader than that and difficult to categorise. I saw glimpses of Joni Mitchell and Carole King circa Tapestry in her performance. One of the songs “Carrickfergus” was preceded by “My Lagan love” and was sung a cappella. Another “Kiss” had become a big hit for Faith Hill.

Musicians who have performed with Chapman on her albums include: Amy Grant; Bonnie Raitt; Emmylou Harris; John Prine; Michael McDonald; Paul Carrack; Pat Benatar; and Sheryl Crow. Chapman’s songwriting collaborators include Judie Tzuke. This demonstrates the calibre of the lady and some of her influences. She certainly does cross and blend genres.

The introduction of The Fire Station into Sunderland has opened up many new possibilities for me. It allows me to see unfamiliar artists for the first time, artists who I probably would not travel to see. This tempts me to experiment with new genres of music and draws me in to new sounds and performers, many of whom are very pleasant surprises. Beth Nielsen Chapman certainly falls into that category. I purchased an album which Beth and Ruth kindly signed for me (see image). I would certainly go and see her again.

Many thanks to Chris for coming along with me to the concert, taking the photos and navigating the site.

Setlist: (Something like) The Color of Roses; All Around the World; Put a Woman in Charge; 4LeafClover; Sand and Water; All I Have; Walk My Way; All Comes Down to Love; My Lagan Love / Carrickfergus; Epitaph for Love; Cool Kind of Love; How We Love; The Edge; This Kiss; Everywhere We Go; Walk You to Heaven

18 Sep

Taylor Swift & Paramore The Eras Tour Wembley Stadium 15 August 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Paramore, Taylor Swift. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Or the day I became a Swifty.

So, Jan, Jackie, Laura, and I travelled to Wembley to experience Taylor Swift mania. Firstly, getting tickets was tricky to say the least. As a wheelchair user I telephoned the Wembley access line and requested a wheelchair ticket plus my companion ticket. That was fine. Part of the job done. The next part of the job was a little more complex. I hadn’t received a code in the ballot to buy tickets, and I required at least one additional ticket for a second carer to accompany me to London. Without a code I was unable to do so. The next possibility was to buy hospitality tickets. I tried to do so but was told that they were all sold, and I was therefore placed on a waiting list.

The saga continues. I was unsure what else I could do at this stage so I simply waited to see if anything would transpire. A couple of weeks later I received an email to inform me that some hospitality tickets had been released. I immediately clicked on the link given to me and was lucky enough to purchase two places in silver hospitality (after all, I should buy two as I could not let a carer be in hospitality on their own, could I?). This meant that I had spent quite a lot of money for the event but at least we were all in! Winner! So, to recap I was in standard, but top price, seats along with my carer, who ended up being Jan on the day. That meant that Jackie and Laura had the joys of silver hospitality! Lots of fun for all.

Come the day, we travelled down to London by train. A bacon roll and a small bottle of red wine made my journey very enjoyable. We were soon in King’s Cross and Passenger Assistance were there as usual, with a ramp to help me disembark the train. A taxi took us all to our hotel for a short rest and then another taxi ride took us to Wembley Stadium. A short walk from the taxi down Wembley Way and we had reached our destination. Jan and I made our way to our seats (which had a very good view of the stage by the way), and Jackie and Laura went to the Bobby Moore suite for their swanky silver hospitality which gave them great seats and a free drink and one free meal. Jan and I were a little jealous! But hey, we were all in, to see Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour, the hottest ticket in town!

From Wikipedia: “The Eras Tour is the ongoing sixth concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It commenced on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona and is set to conclude on December 8, 2024, in Vancouver, consisting of 149 shows that span five continents. It is the highest-grossing tour in history, becoming the first tour ever to surpass $1 billion in revenue, and has had a cultural and economic impact across the globe.

Swift announced the Eras Tour in November 2022, following the release of her tenth studio album Midnights (2022), as her second all-stadium tour after the 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour. Running over 3.5 hours, the set list of the Eras Tour consists of over 40 songs grouped into 10 distinct acts that portray all of Swift’s studio albums conceptually; the show was revamped in May 2024 to incorporate her then-new eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024).

The tour received praise from critics, who emphasized the concept, production, aesthetics, and immersive ambience, as Well as Swift’s vocals, stage presence, and versatile showmanship. It recorded unprecedented public demand, ticket sales and attendances, bolstering economies, businesses, and tourism worldwide, dominating social media and news cycles, and garnering tributes and accolades from governments and organizations.”

We arrived just in time to catch some of Paramore’s set. Paramore are an “American rock band formed in Tennessee, in 2004. Since 2017, the band’s lineup includes lead vocalist Hayley Williams, lead guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, while York, a high school friend of the original lineup, joined in 2007. Williams is the only member to appear on all six of Paramore’s studio albums.” (From Wikipedia). I wasn’t familiar with Paramore’s music, but they were quite pleasant, rocky and Hayley Williams is a dynamic lead singer who delivers excellent strong vocals and owns the stage. A great start to the evening.

Paramore Setlist: Hard Times; Burning Down the House; Still into You; Forgiveness; Caught in the Middle; The Only Exception; Misery Business; Ain’t It Fun; This Is Why.

After a short break, during which I replenished myself with a tray of chips and a drink, it was time for the main act to take to the stage. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I had come along largely because of the hype surrounding the tour and on Laura’s recommendation. Laura is a big Taylor Swift fan and knows all of her repertoire. I, to my shame, did not know any Taylor Swift songs at all! To say I was pleasantly surprised is a massive understatement. This was one of the best performances and concerts I have ever witnessed in my life. From the moment she took to the stage, Taylor Swift was magnificent, and the crowd reaction was unlike anything I have ever seen before in my life.

The introductory music was a favourite song of mine: “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore of “It’s My Party” fame. This was accompanied by a massive clock above the stage which counted us down until the big moment arrived and Taylor Swift appeared. The screams were deafening as she took to the stage and after every song throughout the set, which was over three hours long. I was whisked away on a journey through Taylor’s music. The set followed the eras of Swift’s career (see setlist below), and every song was catchy, magnificent pop music. In my mind I saw glimpses of country music, rock, and pop.

Her performance reminded me in some ways of Bruce Springsteen; in the way in which she interacted with the audience, the authenticity of her performance, and the length of the concert. Sure, the tickets may have been expensive, but they were worth every penny. We certainly got our monies worth. I also saw glimpses of the legendary Jackie DeShannon, which may be crazy, but go to YouTube and watch her performances of “When You Walk in the Room” and “Needles and Pins”, both of which were written by her and made famous in the UK by The Searchers. You may see what I mean; perhaps not. My mind works in strange ways.

Anyway, whatever the influences, Taylor Swift is her own person. Through my mind I thought of other great live performers I have seen over the years: Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and others. This performance easily equalled or exceeded each of them. Yes, she really was that great. The whole stadium became part of the performance. Let me explain. When we entered the stadium, we were each given a wristband, which lit up during the show. Some magical technology controlled the wristbands, and the colours changed during the evening.

One block of the stadium might be red, the next blue and so one around the venue. This would then change. The colours would swirl around Wembley, magically matching the colours of the stage set. Sometimes they would all flash; we were all individually part of the show.

At one point towards the end of her concert Taylor Swift was joined by Ed Sheeran to extra-large cheers from the crowd. “Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance on stage with the pair duetting on ‘Everything Has Changed’ – a song written by Swift and Sheeran together in 2013” (BBC News). All of which added to the excitement of the occasion.

So, as we returned to find a taxi down Wembley Way (which took us over one hour), I was now a convert. By 1 AM we were in the hotel. Next morning the four of us had some breakfast, and soon we were on our train which took us back north and homeward bound. Another bacon butty accompanied by my usual small miniature of red wine, helped me on my way. Soon we were back home, all of us were now converted Swiftys. A wonderful day was had by all.

Taylor Swift Setlist by Eras:

Lover: Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince; Cruel Summer; The Man; You Need to Calm Down;

Lover.

Fearless: Fearless; You Belong with Me; Love Story.

Red: 22; We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together; I Knew You Were Trouble; All Too Well.

Speak Now: Enchanted.

Reputation: Ready for It?; Delicate; Don’t Blame Me; Look What You Made Me Do.

Folklore / Evermore: cardigan; betty; champagne problems; august; illicit affairs; my tears ricochet; Marjorie; willow.

1989: Style; Blank Space; Shake It Off; Wildest Dreams; Bad Blood.

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT:

Female Rage; The Musical; But Daddy I Love Him / So High School; Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?; Down Bad; Fortnight; The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived; I Can Do It With correctly Broken Heart.

Surprise Songs: Everything Has Changed (with Ed Sheeran) / End Game / Thinking Out Loud; King of My Heart / The Alchemy.

Midnights: Lavender Haze; Anti‐Hero; Midnight Rain; Vigilante Shit; Bejeweled; Mastermind; Karma.

15 Sep

Kin Festival Thornley Hall Farm Durham 10 August 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Cast, Hawkwind. Tagged: , , , , , .

Northern Kin Festival has been running for several years now. From the website:  “created by a dedicated team of live music enthusiasts, determined to bring more live music to the North East, and a festival that truly represents this wonderful area, Northern Kin is perfect for lovers of Folk, Blues, Rock, Ska, Punk, Pop, Prog, Indie, Soul and much more, with an eclectic mix of the finest live music and a few musical surprises thrown in for good measure. There’ll be more than 40 bands and artists on 3 big stages, with lots of things to see and do, all in a beautiful rural setting, that is completely secure for all campers and a friendly atmosphere, for all ages.”

I attempted to go to the festival last year, but we arrived at the site only to be told that it was very muddy, and they advised us not to try and enter as they were having to tow cars out of the mud with tractors! The organisers kindly refunded our money. This year Kin Festival moved to a new site and one of my favourite bands of all time, Hawkwind were headlining Stage Two of the event. The Waterboys, another favourite band of mine were headlining Stage One so sadly I had to choose between the two bands. I decided to follow my long-time heroes Hawkwind and head for Stage Two.

The walk from the taxi drop off point to the festival tents was quite long and bumpy, but nonetheless Jan and I soon located the tent which housed Stage Two. We had timed our arrival to catch Hawkwind. Luckily for us we were soon up on the wheelchair platform and in time to see some of Cast’s set.

Cast were formed in Liverpool in 1992 by John Power (vocals, guitar) and Peter Wilkinson (bass) after Power left The La’s and Wilkinson’s former band Shack had split. Now I regret never having seen The La’s as I love their song “There She Goes” so to catch their descendant band Cast was a bonus. Indeed, Noel Gallagher of Oasis once described watching Cast live as being like a “religious experience” (from Wikipedia). Cast sounded really good, with the obligatory Liverpool twang.

Anyway, after a short break, Hawkwind took to the stage. Now, Hawkwind were one of my favourite bands in the early 70s. I have seen them many times over the years from the days, before they hit the charts with “Silver Machine”, and Stacia danced naked with them on stage. Recent Hawkwind publicity material guides us through their complex history: “One of England’s most enduring hard rock bands, Hawkwind were formed in London during the late ’60s, just as art rock was coming into its own. Though lesser known than contemporaries like Pink Floyd, the band is widely hailed as one of space rock’s early pioneers, thanks to seminal albums like 1973’s live opus Space Ritual.

Their potent mix of psychedelia, prog, straight-ahead hard rock, and lyrics steeped in science fiction — particularly the themes and imagery of author Michael Moorcock, who also became a member at various points — and drug effects helped define Hawkwind and separate them from the competition. The group’s history has been marked by a series of confusing lineup changes, as members began an almost revolving-door relationship with the band virtually from the outset. Throughout their many decades and incarnations, founding guitarist Dave Brock has remained Hawkwind’s chief steward, while notable players like Lemmy and Ginger Baker have also enjoyed stints with the band.”

As you will have gathered from the above, the line-up has changed many, many times over the years, the one constant being bandleader Dave Brock. Well, Captain Brock led his family through a selection of Hawkwind tracks old and new including favourites:  “Spirit of the Age”, “Spirit of the Age” and “Silver Machine”. This was a very different Hawkwind to the one I witnessed only a few months earlier at Newcastle City Hall. On that occasion Dave Brock took a backseat in some of the songs and was not present for the encore (I believe it was said that he was backstage having a cup of tea). They also did not perform “Silver Machine” that night, so I was delighted to see it return to the set this time. Also, Dave Brock was very much up front leading the band through a classic Hawkwind performance, like only they can deliver at a festival. The light show was outstanding, and the choice of songs was also excellent.

Getting back to our taxi was something of an adventure. The ground had obviously been muddy earlier in the weekend and Jan and I bounced our way over bumpy terrain and rocks which made the journey across the fields somewhat scary. We even had two strong guys holding each side of my wheelchair to make sure I didn’t topple over! Nonetheless, nothing could spoil a great event with another opportunity to see one of my all-time favourite bands. Roll on Kin 2025.

Many thanks to Jan for the photographs, for braving the bumpy ride across the site with me and Chris for manipulating the site.

Hawkwind Setlist: Arrival in Utopia; Frozen in Time; Lost Chances; Underwater City; Assault and Battery; The Golden Void; Levitation; Contemplation; Psi Power; Spirit of the Age; Silver Machine

11 Sep

Inspiral Carpets The  Fire Station Parade Ground 9 August 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Inspiral Carpets, Voodoo Radio. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

This was my first experience of witnessing Inspiral Carpets live. It was also my first experience of visiting The Fire Station Parade Ground which is a superb outdoor venue at the rear of the main Fire Station building. Both the band and the venue exceeded my expectations. It was a great night with a band I have been meaning to see for some time.

The Fire Station website: “After a successful sell out 19-date run with fellow Madchester icons Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets are delighted to announce further live shows in 2024 including The Fire Station’s Parade Ground. These shows will be “a celebration of the music we created, which has brought so much joy to people over the last 35 years,” the band say. A vital component of the infamous ‘Madchester’ movement, Inspiral Carpets formed in Oldham in 1980.

Known for hit singles such as ‘This Is How It Feels’, ‘Saturn 5’ and ‘She Comes in the Fall’, they remain much-loved not only in Manchester but across the UK. These shows follow an eight-year break since Inspiral Carpets last took to the stage in 2015 following the tragic loss of their close friend and drummer, Craig Gill. A year later, they went on an indefinite hiatus.”

“Craig’s death had a profound effect on many people. The outpouring of love from around the world at the time gave some comfort to his family and friends as we all tried to come to terms with what had happened.”

On the reformation, the band are keen to emphasise the celebratory nature of the forthcoming live shows, giving fans a chance to sing along to their favourite hits and commemorate the life of Craig. “We know this will be an emotional journey for a lot of people, not least Craig’s family. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate some of the music we created, and which has brought so much joy to people over the last 35 years.”

“We have never played in Sunderland before, so we are massively looking forward to the show. See you down the front.” – Stephen Holt. “We gigged all last year and after a successful run with our friends Happy Mondays, we’re back on the road. It will be fantastic to play for the people of Sunderland. We can’t wait.” – Clint Boon.

Jackie and I ventured out on a cool evening to see a very cool band (pun intended) at an increasingly becoming very cool venue and the place to go for music in Sunderland. The Parade Ground was full when we arrived. We had missed support band Voodoo Radio (unintentionally, I must emphasise) who are led by a crazy lady drummer and her father on guitar. Chris and I saw them a few weeks ago at Stockton Georgian Theatre and really enjoyed them. They were supporting The Wedding Present, and I reported on them in that blog entry.

We arrived just as Inspiral Carpets took to the stage. I was pleasantly surprised by their performance. The singer Stephen Holt is a great front man with strong vocals, cool hair, and very cool mod/psychedelic clothes. The lineup has changed many times over the years and the current touring band is Graham Lambert lead guitarist (1980–1995, 2003–2016, 2022–present), Stephen Holt vocalist (1983–1989, 2011–2016, 2022–present), Clint Boon on keyboards and backing vocals (1987–1995, 2003–2016, 2022–present), Kev Clark drummer (2022–present) and Oscar Boon bassist (2023–present).

They are all very dapper in their mod/psychedelic clothing and their music is a mixture of 60s/80s poppy tunes led by swirling Farfisa organ and strong, loud vocals. Magic. “Cool as f**k. The return of the Madchester legends. Currently touring UK & Europe.” proclaims their website. And it ain’t far wrong. I don’t know any of the songs but in a strange way they all sound familiar. The set list below is drawn from recent shows.

I am not sure if the encore really did include “96 Tears” by ? and the Mysterians but that song almost sums up the sound of the band: organ – led, punkish vocals and early psychedelia. It doesn’t get much better for a cool (in both senses of the word) evening of music in the open-air.

Many thanks to Jackie for the photographs and Chris for navigating the site. Bring back the 1960s, mod, psychedelia, and rave culture.

Setlist (something like): Generations; Weakness; Butterfly; Move; She Comes in the Fall; Directing Traffik; Two Worlds Collide; How It Should Be; Let You Down; Find Out Why; Uniform; Sackville; This Is How It Feels; Keep the Circle Around; I Want You; Commercial Rain; Dragging Me Down. Encore: Joe; 96 Tears; Saturn 5.

8 Sep

Sons of Cream The Exchange 1856  North Shields 7 August 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Cream, Sons of Cream. Tagged: , , , , .

From the Exchange website: “The band Cream were one of the first supergroups, blending their beloved blues with powerful rock licks and rhythms. Now, nearly 60 years after the trio of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce burst onto the scene, North Tyneside welcomes the new generation – Sons of Cream. Kofi Baker and Malcolm Bruce both have deep roots going back to the birth of the 60’s British Blues R&B Rock Explosion. Here they honour the incredible legacy of their fathers Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce alongside their bandmate Eric Clapton in an exciting show featuring the music of Cream and beyond through their project Sons of Cream.”

“But this isn’t your typical tribute act, these men have a strange multidimensional pedigree. It is purely second nature as they dive inside the music, bringing it alive, like a living organism, like a second skin, all constantly morphing into something new. They have big shoes to fill. And through some kind of genetic imprint, and intuitive sense, they arrive at the true heart of what Cream’s music stands for and are truly making it their own. Together they are bringing to light the spirit and pure energy and audacity of the music of their fathers.”

Malcolm Bruce, son of Jack Bruce, said: “We are excited to be coming to North Shields and The Exchange 1856 to play the music of Cream. It’s a new venue for us. I have great formative memories of visiting Chas Chandler in the general area as I grew up with his son Steffan…..We are comfortable playing the music as we have been playing together for a while, but also because we are not approaching this as a tribute act per se. As we are all actually related to the original band members and grew up performing with our dads, we are essentially an extension of the whole thing. Although of course we play all the songs that people know and love, we understand and approach the music from the point of view that it is based on improvisation, so it is fresh and new every time we perform.”

“So, we go off on a musical journey with the material in an organic way. This is what the original band did and how we understand it ourselves. And this gives us the freedom to let ourselves discover our own way of playing, and that to some degree takes the pressure off! We are not pretending to be Jack, Ginger, and Eric, that would be impossible anyway. So, we use the material as a vehicle for self-expression rather than simply playing it note for note. All the songs get a great reaction depending on the night, of course the best known songs like ‘White Room’ and ‘Sunshine of your Love’ are crowd favourites but also less well known songs such as ‘We’re Going Wrong’ are a joy to play because they are so direct and expressive and go off into uncharted territory every time we play them. It’s all about the journey for us.”

So, would the sons do their fathers justice? I was really looking forward to this concert as I was lucky enough to see Cream at their reunion concert at The Royal Albert Hall London in 2005 which was a big gig for me. I’d watched the Cream farewell concert on TV in the late 60s and was just mesmerised by Clapton. His hair, the psychedelic painted SG, the “woman” tone he described in the film, it all seemed just sensational to me, as a kid at the time. I so wished that I’d had the chance to see Cream. I remember older boys at school talking about seeing them at a gig in Newcastle and saying how great they were. I was so jealous of them. I bought Goodbye Cream and played it repeatedly. I saw Clapton many times in the 70s and 80s, and Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker with their solo projects. But to see Cream was a great dream, an ambition.

So, when the rumours of a reunion came to fruition, and it was announced that the three legends would come together for a series of shows in London I was determined to go. I was nervous about getting tickets and stressed about it for days before they went on sale. On the morning that they did go on sale I had two phones and a computer to hand and got straight through to the Albert Hall box office on one of the phones, managing to my joy to buy tickets some ten rows from the stage. I then waited in anticipation for the gig. Would it be as good as I hoped?

Marie came with me, and we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Judging by the American accents in evidence, the Albert Hall was full of fans who had travelled a long way for the honour of seeing this legendary band play for one more time. The atmosphere was strange, everyone was quiet in anticipation. It was as if the crowd couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Quiet, almost religious. The set covered everything I could have wished for with a selection from all of the albums. Clapton was God again; Jack sang beautifully, and Ginger pounded away on his drums.

The crowd stayed in their seats until almost the end. For “Sunshine of Your Love”, which was the encore, we were all up and we managed to get right to the front. Marie was leaning on the stage directly in front of Jack Bruce and I was just behind her. You can even see us on the DVD if you look closely. A night that I will remember for ever. Sometimes your dreams do come true, and sometimes they are as good as you dreamed, they would be. Happy days.

Back to today and The Exchange. The songs of the 60s resonated through the hall. Jackie, Norm, and I really enjoyed the concert. As the set list shows, the band chose an eclectic mixture of tracks from Cream’s back catalogue, including some I had forgotten, such as the wonderful “We’re Going Wrong”. They even threw in a magnificent attempt at “Toad”, the Ginger Baker drum solo, and a couple of Blind Faith songs which were no longer familiar to me. The performance was note perfect, including the understated opener “NSU” and the magnificent “White Room”. These guys are immersed in the music of their parents, who I am sure would approve. “Sunshine of your Love” Happy days are here again! Many thanks to Jackie for the photographs and to Chris for manipulating the site as usual. The last picture of the band is from the Exchange website

Set 1:N.S.U.; Politician; Outside Woman Blues; Sleepy Time Time; Can’t Find My Way Home; Pressed Rat and Warthog; Tales of Brave Ulysses; Toad.

Set 2: I’m So Glad; Cross Road Blues; Sitting on Top of the World; Had to Cry Today; Sunshine of Your Love; We’re Going Wrong; White Room; Sweet Wine.

Encore: Spoonful.

3 Sep

Love with Johnny Echols Gosforth Civic Theatre 24 July 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Johnny Echols, Love. Tagged: , , , , , .

A story of two kind gentleman: one a legend of rock and roll.

Now Forever Changes is an absolute classic, often rated as one of the best albums of all time. And I can’t disagree. Neither would the crowd in Gosforth Civic Theatre. The place was packed and almost everyone sang along to every song. To my shame I can’t claim to know every song by Love, but many sounded familiar. Original guitarist Johnny Echols looks so cool, quite the part for an original psychedelic electric guitar hero complete with woolly hat, straight out of the late 1960s. He co-founded the band with Arthur Lee back in 1965. Respect.

Jackie and I had already seen this incarnation of Love at The Cluny, Newcastle around one year ago. Many years ago, I was lucky enough to witness the late, great Arthur Lee, the leader of Love, at the Tyne Theatre with my late wife Marie. On each occasion, Baby Lemonade were the backing band for Arthur Lee/Johnny Echols. Baby Lemonade are a Love tribute band.

This was my first visit to the latest incarnation of Gosforth Civic Theatre. I have happy memories of going to see Adam and the Ants and, on another occasion, Buster Blood Vessel with his band Bad Manners at the original Civic Theatre, which is now a supermarket. The completely new venue is exactly that, spanking brand-new and a very pleasant setting for the concert.

The website for the Civic Theatre announced the concert thus: “LOVE with Johnny Echols sees Arthur Lee’s longest serving band return to the UK to perform classic songs from Love’s first three albums Love, Da Capo, Four Sail and of course Forever Changes as well as some special deep cuts.”

“Following their farewell tour in 2019 the band hadn’t anticipated a return, but in 2022 the band did just that, as founding member and guitarist Johnny Echols explained, “the unprecedented times in which we found ourselves made us realise more than ever that what the world needs now is LOVE. How could we turn down the opportunity to come back and do it again? We have missed playing for our fans in the UK whom we dearly love.”

Johnny continues: “I so look forward to our trips across the pond and performing LOVE’s extraordinary music for our friends in the UK. We will, of course, be performing much of Forever Changes, as well as favourites from our extensive catalogue… as well as a few surprises. Don’t miss the LOVE-Boat!”

Back to the concert. Burt Bacharach’s “Little Red Book” sounded as fresh as ever and “Alone Again or” is undoubtedly one of the best songs of all time. A great show by the latest version of a classic band. It doesn’t get much better. But there was more to come. We were seated down towards the front of the stage throughout the performance, facing the band. I was purposely trying to smile at Johnny Echols, and it seemed to me that he was smiling back at me. Sure enough, at the end of the concert he beckoned towards my carer Jackie and handed her his plectrum, saying “that’s for your friend” and signifying that the plectrum was intended for me. I smiled at him and mouthed the words “Thank You”.

And then another wonderful thing happened. Someone on the stage gave their printed set list to someone in the crowd. They handed it onward to me. “No, that’s yours” I said, but the guy insisted that he wanted me to have it. Many thanks to you, my friend. Two lovely presents in one evening!

Thanks to Jackie for the photos, to Johnny Echols for the plectrum (see image), to the guy down the front beside me for the set list (also see image) and to Chris for manipulating the site.

25 Aug

The Monument Festival Herrington Country Park 20 July 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Black Grape, Jake Bugg, Shaun Ryder, The Coral. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

So, Jan and I went along to the Monument Festival, which was in Herrington Park, just opposite the iconic Penshaw Monument, a landmark which sits high above Sunderland and is visible from all around the area.

The venue had hosted the Kubix! Festival the previous week which featured boy bands and was unfortunately on a very rainy evening, and the site was apparently very muddy. We were lucky in that the evening was dry, and the muddy ground had dried up. Winner!

The publicity told us: “Monument Festival is a brand-new music festival that replaces Kubix Rock! The same great day you know and love, just under a brand-new name giving it it’s own identity! A packed day of rock, indie and alternative music, and much more, is heading to Herrington Park……. With a host of brilliant bands and amazing artists, across two stages, this will be one of THE festivals of the Summer in the North East.”

We went along for the evening performance to see the Coral, Jake Bugg, and the Kooks. Unfortunately, for some reason (I think it may have been the mud from the previous week) the Kooks did not show up and we saw the Coral, Shaun Ryder’s Black Grape, and Jake Bugg, in that order. Still, it was an entertaining and interesting evening. The event had two stages, each in its own tent, and we were in the main stage for the evening.

First up was The Coral, a band I have seen several times; firstly, supporting The Who at the Royal Albert Hall, and then supporting Radiohead (I think) at Manchester Cricket Ground. They have some great songs all performed with a strong Liverpool twang. Songs I recognised included “Pass It On”, “In the Morning” and the final track “Dreaming of You”. All quite 60s oriented, yet with their own style. Lots of fun and a great starter for the evening.

The Coral Setlist: Bill McCai; Pass It On; Simon Diamond; Faceless Angel; Lover discovered; Watch You Disappear; People Are Strange; That’s Where She Belongs;    Jacqueline; In the Morning; Holy Revelation; Dreaming of You

Next up was Shaun Ryder and Black Grape, the band that Shaun Ryder formed after the breakup of Happy Mondays. We were not familiar with any of their songs which sort of mash rap with Shaun’s inimitable style. Quite enjoyable for a first visit to the Black Grape world.

Black Grape Setlist: (something like) In the Name of the Father; Tramazi Parti; Nine Lives; Pimp Wars; Yeah Yeah Brother; Set the Grass on Fire; Reverend Black Grape; Dirt; A Big Day in the North; Milk; Kelly’s Heroes

Finally, the new headliner was none other than Jake Bugg, someone I have seen several times before; headlining at Newcastle Academy when he was a young and upcoming artist, supporting someone in Hyde Park (either The Rolling Stones or The Who) and a couple of other times.

He is a solo artist with a clutch of great songs, an acoustic guitar and the charisma and power to engage with any crowd, anywhere. My favourite song, and his best known, which came towards the end of the set is “Lightning Bolt”. Listen to it; it’s very catchy and an excellent singalong (which everyone did).

A very enjoyable evening, if not quite what was expected in terms of the lineup, in a local festival near a local landmark. Many thanks to Jan for the photographs and Chris for manipulating the site.

Jake Bug Setlist: (something like) Simple as This; Trouble Town; Messed Up Kids;  Zombieland; Seen It All ; Broken; Taste It; All Kinds of People; Two Fingers; Lightning Bolt; What Doesn’t Kill You; Simple Pleasures; All I Need

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