Posts Tagged ‘gigs’

19 Sep

Jethro Tull South Shields Gypsies Green Stadium 17 Sep 2010

Posted by vintagerock in Jethro Tull. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Jethro Tull South Shields Gypsies Green Stadium 17 Sep 2010
This gig had been set up a special one-off appearance tied in with the preparations for and events around this weekend’s Great North Run. Tull Guitarist Martin Barre was running in the race, and the opportunity must thus have come up for the band to play. The concert was in a large marquee which had been set up within the grounds of Gypsies Green Stadium, which is a sports stadium close to South Shields. Norm and I went along to the gig on Friday, we both recalled previous visits to the stadium in the 70s; one to see Tony McPhee’s Terraplane and the other to see Mohamed Ali on his visit to the region.
We arrived just as the support act Bessie and the Zinc Buckets were finishing their set, and ran into some old friends. Tull came on around 8.15pm; apparently there was a curfew of 10pm, as the venue is within a built-up area. We’d both seen Tull earlier this year, but couldn’t resist the chance to catch them again, in a different setting. The marquee was massive and pretty full, with devotees having travelled from far and wide to see the band. First up was Nothing is Easy, followed by other early Tull classics such as Beggars Farm, Nothing Is Easy, A New Day Yesterday, Songs From The Wood, Bourée, Thick as a Brick, My God. The set centred around the late 60s and 70s classic albums, which was great for us! Aqualung closed the show with the usual Locomotive Breath as the encore. Norm and I agreed that we enjoyed it more that we have in recent times, perhaps because of the different venue.
website: http://www.j-tull.com/

ticket and wrist band

19 Sep

Robin Trower Newcastle Academy 16 Sep 2010

Posted by vintagerock in King King, Robin Trower. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Robin Trower Newcastle Academy 16 Sep 2010
Will and I went to see Robin Trower at the Academy on Thursday night. Support came from King King who are increasingly becoming known as one of the country’s top blues bands. The hall was quite empty when they came on, but they didn’t let that detract from their performance which was great. Some excellent guitar work from front man Alan Nimmo. At one point he was playing his Strat acoustically and signing without any mikes or accompaniment; great use of dynamics.
The hall had filled to a respectable crowd by the time Trower took to the stage. He still plays guitar as he always did, and still pulls some frightening faces as he squeezes those licks out of his Fender. The singer is the same guy that Will and I saw with him a few years ago when we saw him at South Shields, I can’t be sure if the other members of the band are the same. I can’t say that I recognised that many of the songs but old favourites Bridge of Sighs, Lady Love and Too Rolling Stoned sounded as good as ever. A good gig by an old timer who is still a master of the guitar.
Robin Trower site: http://www.trowerpower.com/
King KIng site: http://www.kingkingblues.com/

I hate printed tickets

5 Sep

Muse Lancashire County Cricket Ground Manchester 4 Sep 2010

Posted by vintagerock in Band of Skulls, Editors, Muse. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Muse Lancashire County Cricket Ground Manchester 4 Sep 2010
We were all so impressed with Muse that we fancied going to see them again so Marie suggested that we get tickets for this. The gig had been sold out for months and I started to check Seetickets every day to see if any tickets came up. They didn’t; but we managed to score four tickets on ebay at slightly less than face value. The tickets arrived on Wednesday just a few days before the show. We left at around 4pm and had an uneventful drive across to Manchester, arriving just as support Band of Skulls were finishing. We found some seats towards the side of the side of the stadium with a good view of the stage. Editors were next up and seemed pretty good, although the sound was not great from where we were sitting.
At around 8.15pm Muse took to the stage, starting with Uprising. They were accompanied by a crowd waving flags and banners carrying the key slogans from the song (“they will not control us”; “we will be victorious”). The stage is like nothing you have ever seen before. It must be the most impressive set up out on the road today. It resembles something like a giant building with the band in the centre of it, surrounded by loads of screens with the images flashing between artwork that mirrors the song lyrics and shots from the band on stage. Difficult to describe, it has to be seen to be believed and must have taken days to setup and cost a fortune.
Muse were as awesome as ever. The sound was spot on, the crowd loved them a great atmosphere. At one point they all grouped on a small stage which went out into and above the crowd. From where we were sitting it looked like they were in flying above the crowd. They have to be the best contemporary band out there at the moment; this show takes some beating. Favourites for me were Feeling Good and the closer: Knights of Cydonia. They finished about 10.30. Got out the car park around 11.15 and then got stuck in a diversion off the M62 which delayed us quite a bit. Home at 2.30am.
Laura and I are going to see the New York Dolls tonight at the Cluny Newcastle. Then time for a rest.
website: http://www.muse.mu
setlist:
Uprising
Supermassive Black Hole
New Born
Map of the Problematique
Butterflies & Hurricanes
Guiding Light
Hysteria
Citizen Erased
Nishe
United States Of Eurasia
Feeling Good
Undisclosed Desires
Resistance
Starlight
Time Is Running Out
Unnatural
Encore 1:
Exogenesis: Symphony, Part 1: Overture
Stockholm Syndrome
Encore 2:
Take A Bow
Plug In Baby
Knights of Cydonia

ticket


programme

9 Aug

Eric Burdon Newcastle Homecoming The Academy 8 August 2010

Posted by vintagerock in Eric Burdon, Ray Stubbs and his Amazing One Man Blues Band. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Eric Burdon Newcastle O2 Academy 8th August 2010

So Eric Burdon returned to his home town for a show some 8 years since his last appearance at the Tyne Theatre. Sadly Eric’s visits to the North East are few and far between. Support came from Ray Stubbs Amazing One Man Blues Band who I haven’t seen for some time (must be 30 years since I last saw him). Ray was onstage performing some blues tunes to a fairly subdued crowd when we arrived. After a short break Eric’s band took to the stage, starting with an extended introduction to When I Was Young, Eric joining the band to cheers from the crowd. The set was similar to the one he played at Maryport last year, with a few changes of song. Eric was in great voice; his voice is still strong and powerful and he was clearly enjoying himself performing in front of a home town crowd. The band are excellent, each of them great musicians in their own right. Old hits such as Don’t Bring Me Down, Its my Life and We Gotta Get Out of this Place fill the hall with their roaring choruses. They may all sound somewhat dated these days but they are stil great to hear. Marie and I both enjoyed the show; hope he doesn’t leave it so long to return next time.

Setlist included the songs below; I know that I have missed some blues tracks that I didn’t recognise:
When I was young
Don’t bring me down
San Franciscan Nights
Don’t let me be misunderstood
River Deep Mountain High
Boom boom
Invitation to the White House
It’s my life
We gotta get out of this place
House of the rising sun

Eric Burdon website: http://ericburdon.ning.com/
Ray Stubbs website: http://www.myspace.com/raystubbsonemanband

I hate print out tickets


flyer

28 Jul

Zappa plays Zappa Sage Gateshead July 27 2010

Posted by vintagerock in Frank Zappa, Zappa plays Zappa. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Zappa plays Zappa Sage Gateshead July 27 2010
It doesn’t seem a year since I saw Dweezil and the band in Edinburgh, but a year it is and here there are back in the UK. And this time they are playing a lot closer to home at the Sage. Laura has heard a lot about Frank Zappa from her Shift-Static band mates so she agreed to accompany me to this latest feast of Frank’s music. In fact Laura tells me that she has listened to 60 (!) of his albums, which is quite frightening, and makes me realise how little of Zappa’s back catalogue I really know.
We arrive at the Sage around 7.15 and the band take the stage at just after the published time of 7.30. Dweezil’s eight piece band seems to be the same as last year; he tells us that it is the last night of the European tour and that they are planning to have fun tonight. The hall is pretty full downstairs with next level also almost full.
The set is a complete mix of Frank Zappa’s music taken from throughout his career. This means that there only a few that I recognise, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the sheer excellence of the musicianship; these guys must really rehearse to be as tight as this and to recreate the original versions so authentically. Dweezil explains to us that he put the band together to give us all the opportunity to experience the variety and diversity of his dad’s music. He tells us that in the USA Frank Zappa is often seen as a novelty act as the public in general have only got to hear the more cookie songs (Yellow Snow, Titties and Beer etc) and he sort of wanted to put that right. Well he is certainly succeeding in doing so. The band gets a great reception; everyone present clearly loves Zappa music (and they all know more of the songs than Laura and I!). Peaches on Regalia is note perfect and brings back memories, as does Little House I Used to Live in, which is used as a vehicle for improvisation for each band member. Five girls are brought on stage to dance to Keep it Greasy and clearly have a great time. For the last encore we are given the choice of three songs and the biggest roar is for Muffin Man, which sends us all happy. The band close at 10pm clocking at 2.5 hours which is a pretty long set by any standards. It seems to be the norm for Dweezil to hang around on the stage after the end of the show signing autographs for those at the front so we make our way down and I manage to get a flyer signed and a plectrum from Dweezil for Laura.

website: http://www.zappaplayszappa.com/

Setlist (something like):
Purple Lagoon ; Stinkfoot; Bamboozled By Love ; Daddy Daddy Daddy; What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are?; T’Mershi Duween; Inca Roads; Blessed Relief; Advance Romance ; The Blue Light; Pick Me I’m Clean; The Little House I Used To Live In; Latex Solar Beef; Apostrophe; City Of Tiny Lites; Peaches En Regalia; Echidna’s Arf; Wild Love; Keep it Greasy; Yo Mama
Encore: Muffin Man

ticket


flyer

7 Feb

The Groundhogs and Stray The Cluny Newcastle 3 Feb 2010

Posted by vintagerock in Groundhogs, Stray. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

The Groundhogs and Stray The Cluny Newcastle 3 Feb 2010

Will and I went to see our old hero Tony McPhee with the Groundhogs on Wednesday at the Cluny. This was a true classic rock double header, with the Groundhogs sharing the billing with old favourites Stray. Tony suffered a stroke last year and hasn’t been so well; we were pleased that he was now well enough to play again and were looking forward to seeing him. He hasn’t yet made a full recovery in that his speech is still affected, and as a result his wife Joanna had become an honorary Hog and is deputising on vocals.

The Groundhogs are first up. This is the first time we have had a chance to see the new four piece line-up which includes Joanna on vocals, Tony (of course) on guitar, Dave Anderson on bass and Mick Jones on drums. Its at first strange to see Joanna fronting the band and singing. She really gets into the spirit of it, dancing all over the stage, and making a good fist of the vocal duties. Tony seems to be playing better than the last couple of times we’ve seen the Hogs. He takes over the vocal duties for Still a Fool. Last song is, as always, Cherry Red; the higher notes suit Joanna’s voice well.

After a short break, Stray take the stage. I’d forgotten what a great front man and guitarist Del Bromham is, and how loud a three piece band can be. He obviously loves being on stage, and is still an excellent and very under-rated guitarist. The old Stray tracks stand the test of time, and those from the new album sound just as good. Last up is old favourite All in the Mind, with Del, ever the showman, hanging his Strat from the Cluny ceiling and whipping it with the guitar lead. No strobes, or dustbins with flames and flares like the old days, but just as good all the same.

We have a chat with Del on the way out, and get a poster signed. We ask him if he remembers playing Spennymoor Top Hat in the early 70s (he does) and to pass our regards to our old friend Tony Rolfe who now lives near Del and sometimes plays guitar with him.

A great night. The old ones are still the best.

Groundhogs Setlist: (from memory; I might have missed some) No More Dogging, Eccentric Man, Garden, Still a Fool (Tony singing), Split 1, Split 2, Split 4, Mistreated, Natchez Burning, Cherry Red.

Stray Setlist: Included quite a few (great!) songs from the new album and old favourites Time Machine, After the Storm, Jericho, I believe it, All in your Mind.

Groundhogs website: http://www.thegroundhogs.co.uk/
Stray website: http://www.stray-the-band.co.uk/

ticket

23 Jun

Roger McGuinn The Sage Gateshead June 21 2009

Posted by vintagerock in Roger McGuinn. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Roger McGuinn The Sage Gateshead June 21 2009

Roger tells a good story. We get treated to the story of his life, wrapped around those great songs. And what a life he’s had. From working in folk bands to backing Bobby Darin, to song writing, through the Byrds and beyond. He explained how the Byrds concept was putting a “Beatle beat” to Dylan and folk songs. He played us Mr Tambourine Man, Turn Turn Turn, My Back Pages, All I really want to do, Chestnut Mare (Laura finds this amusing).  Just him on his guitar, swapping between acoustic guitar and his 12 string Rickenbacker, telling his stories and singing his songs to us. He finished with Eight Miles High, explaining that it was a mix of the Beatle beat, John Coltrane and Ravi Shankar. It was good to see him again. The last time I had the pleasure was in Hyde Park on a free show with Roy Harper and Julie Felix.

ticket

ticket

6 Aug

The Project!

Posted by vintagerock in Rock Music. Tagged: , , , .

Hi I have just joined wordpress. I intend to use this to create a blog of the many (100s of) concerts that I have attended over the years, and a record of my collection and programmes and ticket stubs. i am still actively going to gigs, and I will try an update my blog with each new gig that I go along to. Expect this to be largely coverage of vintage rock bands. I am 51 years old and addicted to going to see old bands such as the Stones, the Who, Paul McCartney, the Groundhogs, and Wishbone Ash. In the past year I have been to see Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, the Stones, Sex Pistols, Morrissey, Iggy Pop, Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand, the Cure, Yoko Ono, John Fogerty, The Police, Neil Young, The Spice Girls, Prince, Man, Jethro Tull, Willie Nelson, Fairport Convention, Julie Felix, Sinead O’Connor, P J Proby, Ringo Starr, Van Morrison, the Groundhogs, Ian Hunter, Elton John, Rush, the Hollies, Ian Brown, Portishead, the Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Raidohead, Pentangle, Adele, The Streets and others. I will try and write an account of these and the many many other gigs that I have been to over the past 40 years. I am doing this to create a permanent record of what has become a lifelong obsession! I am aiming to add one new review each day for the rest of my life. I am going to start with the most recent and work back, but I will also try and add some from the 70s and 80s soon.

Newer Entries »