Posts Tagged ‘pop’

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.

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.

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

19 Aug

Madness Newcastle Racecourse 28 Jun 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Madness. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

I first saw Madness on the legendary Two-Tone tour which called at Newcastle Mayfair on November 9th, 1979. This tour brought Ska to the masses, coming off the back of the punk revolution, and featured the combined talents of headliners The Specials, Madness and The Selecter. The tour sold out everywhere, and was a complete success, but sadly the main reason it made the press was because of some violent outbreaks caused by a minority of troublemakers in some venues. The National Front and the British National Party were out recruiting at the shows, even though the bands who were performing on the tour openly distanced themselves from racism. It was a strange paradox, here we had fans dancing to multi-racial bands and singing along with songs whose lyrics preached racial unity, and yet the far-right was trying to sell politics which came from the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

As I recall, there was quite a bit of trouble at the Mayfair gig, with fights breaking out throughout the night; and being one of a small number of people in the crowd with long hair, I did feel quite unsafe at times. None the less I survived, and it was a great night, featuring three excellent bands, and one of several nights I would spend with Madness over the next few years. By the time the Two-Tone tour visited our towns, Madness were already hitting the charts and bringing their nutty humour and perfect pop tunes into our living rooms on Top of the Pops. In 1979 “The Prince”, “My Girl” and “One Step Beyond” had all been chart hits in the UK.

The next time I saw Madness was at Sunderland Mecca, which by then was also called the Mayfair (just to confuse things), on April 30th, 1980. The place was packed, and a hot sweaty fun night had by all. I remember being right down the front in the pit, getting knocked and pushed all over the ballroom floor. I then saw them at concerts at Newcastle City Hall in December 1980, October 1981, and February 1983. I also saw Madness headline the first night of the Dock Rock Festival, which took place down at Hartlepool docks in the summer of 1986. Going to a Madness gig meant a guaranteed night of fun. By the mid-80s there was no stopping these guys; and they hit the UK single charts over 20 times, assembling a catalogue of tremendous pop tunes to draw from including “Baggy Trousers”, “Our House” and “House of Fun”.

Madness split shortly after the Dock Rock Festival in 1986 and reformed some years later to give us many more years of fun! They would often headline Newcastle Arena, and I went along and saw the nutty boys on several more occasions, each one bringing the audience a guaranteed night of chart hits, dancing and singing along. I enjoyed every time and so I was delighted to read that: “Following the success of their No 1 album ‘C’Est La Vie’ this week, get your baggy trousers ready as we are thrilled to announce MADNESS are to perform at Newcastle Racecourse on Friday 28th June 2024!

Theatre of the Absurd presents: Madness – C’Est La Vie “The lights go down on some dark theatre in London / For the cruellest comedy…” Read the headlines and it’s hard not to conclude that the world has gone mad. Mad enough, in fact, to give North London’s finest twelve-legged quorum of Nutty Boys a run for their money. According to keyboard-wrangler Mike ‘Barso’ Barson, the title track to Madness’s lucky thirteenth full-length C’Est La Vie is “about these crazy times we’re living in, and how I just want to stay on my boat and not be a part of All this madness. But of course, I’m a member of a group called Madness. Perhaps we should have called ourselves ‘Sanity’…” If this latest opus is any indication, when the going gets mad, the Mad only get sharper, wilder, and more succinct.”

“C’Est La Vie combines the widescreen ambition of masterpieces like The Liberty of Norton Folgate and The Rise & Fall and the allkiller- no-filler tune factory instincts of classics like Absolutely, 7 and Can’t Touch Us Now. It’s a 14-song suite packed with lunatic hooks and neon choruses, eerie spaceska and sophisticated pop genius – a giddy gambol across a bouncy castle soundscape that finds time for moments of righteous anger, powerful empathy and the kind of plain-spoken wisdom that’s always operated beneath the group’s nutty veneer. Vintage Madness, in other words.”

How could I resist? Well, the answer was of course, I couldn’t’ t, could I!? The last time I went to a similar event was to see the Beach Boys at York races, which was lots of fun. So, Jackie, Harvey and I elected to go to the races. I decided to pay for the Premier Enclosure which placed the three of us in a nice part of the racecourse to place our bets before the nutty boys took to the stage. We did quite well actually, coming out with £20 profit overall to share between us. We won on every race! Wish we had done an accumulator. We had a nice drink and then wandered down to see Madness.

We bumped along over the grass and got so far down into the crowd. We couldn’t get right to the front because the closer we got to the stage the fuller and crazier it became. Hence, we got the closest we could and watched Madness perform a set of greatest hits. I had forgotten just how many hits these guys have had. They came one after the other: “One Step Beyond”, “My Girl”, “House of Fun”, “Baggy Trousers” and “Our House”. Everyone singing along and dancing crazily. Great fun. The final encore was, as always, complete with fez’s “Night Boat to Cairo”. We all meandered out towards our taxi home. A good time had by all. Happy days.

Many thanks to Jackie for pictures and helping me navigate the site.

Setlist: One Step Beyond; Embarrassment; The Prince; C’est la vie; NW5; My Girl; The Sun and the Rain; Hour of Need; Wings of a Dove; Lovestruck; Run for Your Life; Bed and Breakfast Man; Shut Up;     Round We Go; Mr. Apples; Livin’ on a Prayer; House of Fun; Baggy Trousers; Our House; It Must Be Love

Encore: Madness; Night Boat to Cairo.

5 Aug

Sunderland Music City Roots The Firestation 21 June 2024

Posted by vintagerock in Celadore, Lottie Willis, Mcxxne, Red Remedy, Ruby Kelly, Sunderland Music City. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Another fabulous night at The Fire Station, my local venue. This special event was scheduled for World Music Day, celebrating the launch of Sunderland Music City with a showcase of the North East’s leading emerging talent. This special event featured performances from rising stars who are being supported by artist development programmes based in Sunderland and the wider region. This event was hosted by Marty Longstaff and Frankie Francis. Marty Longstaff is also known as the Lake Poets, and Frankie is better known as Frankie from Frankie and the Heartstrings

In the first half we were treated to excellent performances by Red Remedy, Fabz and Mcxxne, and Ruby Kelly. Red Remedy hail from Sunderland College, and are a five-piece alternative pop rock quintet from the North East known for their powerful and infectious music. Led by Maddy Storey’s mesmerizing vocals, the band’s sound combines alternative rock, indie and punk elements.

Next up were Fabz and Mcxxne led by Newcastle-based singer/songwriter Mcxxne. Mcxxne has been supported across platforms such as BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Introducing, and DMY. Fabz is a rising MC coming through the Northern Roots mentoring scheme. Straight out of NAME (The Northern Academy of Music Education) was singer Ruby Kelly. Ruby Kelly is a Welsh folk singer/songwriter who is influenced by some of my favourite artists such as The Kinks, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, her songs were brutally honest accounts, from her own life experiences of moving away from her hometown at the age of 18.

During the interval I treated myself to a pint of Guinness and from there we moved into the second half which featured once again excellent performances from Lottie Willis, Jodie Nicholson and Celadore. Lottie Willis kickstarted her musical career by joining the Young Musicians Project at the age of 14 and now at just 19-years-old she has grown her audience across the North East with support from BBC Introducing as well as performing shows for the likes of Summer Streets, Waves festival and Tracks. She was followed by Jodie Nicholson a Teeside-based writer and producer who was the first artist to play at The Fire Station.

Last, but by no means least, was a performance by Celadore, the alias of Sunderland born-and-raised musician Rachael Small. Rachael has surrounded herself with a band of like-minded and talented folk with the aim of bringing to life the piano ballads she has been rehearsing and recording at The Bunker, a legendary pioneering artist development organisation in Sunderland

By this time I was too knackered to stay for the after-party hosted by DJ Frankie Francis. Many thanks to Jackie for the photographs and Chris for navigating the site.

4 Aug

The Wedding Present & Voodoo Radio Georgian Theatre Stockton 2pm 16 June 2024

Posted by vintagerock in The Wedding Present, Voodoo Radio. Tagged: , , , , , .

My blog friend Mark recommend I go and see The Wedding Present at Stockton Georgian Theatre as he was going to see them all three shows there. I could only manage to get tickets for the Sunday afternoon concert. The other shows were all fully subscribed. So, carer Chris, Norm and I turned up at 2 PM just-in-time to catch Cumbrian support act power pop-punk pair VOODOO RADIO consisting of singer/drummer Paige and her guitarist father Tony.

Their website states: “The duo started rocking the tunnels of Leicester Square tube station, London in 2018, stopping commuters and tourists alike in their tracks with a mesmerising ‘summer of 76’ power-pop sound. Tony, a seasoned performer was inspired by hearing Slaves on the radio and suggested to young Paige: “get two shoe boxes, anything that’s like a drumstick – a table knife and a wooden spoon and see if you can sing and play rhythms whilst hitting a beat” – Paige certainly could, and Voodoo Radio were manifested.”

“Since gaining a record deal last year with Holy Dotage Records the Cumbrian duo have been played on BBC Radio 6 by Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson. They were also record of the week on BBC Cumbria and have had various interviews. Tom Robinson also choose Voodoo Radio as one of his top 5 up and coming acts to look out for 2022. Summer hit Ice Cream Man was recently played on Absolute Radio by Frank Skinner. Last Year the duo played festivals such as Kendal Calling, Headlined the BBC Introducing stage at Coast Roads Festival, Guilfest, Front Row Fest, Micks Mayhem Punk Fest, Twisterella, Undercover Fest, Alternative Aycliffe to name a few.”

We had quite a struggle finding the venue, but eventually we managed to do so. Once inside, we took a vantage point upstairs which gave us a great view of the proceedings. Before seeing the support act Voodoo Radio, Chris and I went downstairs to the merchandise stand, and queued to purchase a couple of books and a George Best T-shirt. The lady on the stand promised that The Wedding Present front man and author David Gedge would sign the two books at the end of the concert.

Once back upstairs I asked Chris if he would go downstairs again and purchase two Voodoo Radio drumsticks, signed by Paige which he kindly did. Voodoo Radio played their set, Paige banging away at her drums, while Father Tony played excellent guitar. After this, Norm treated me to a pint of Guinness, before headliners the Wedding Present took to the stage. My friend, Mark who had travelled from down south to see his favourite band, introduced himself to me and told me how great they had been the previous evening.

The Wedding Present are excellent. David Gedge is clearly the front man of the band. They begin with “Brassneck” which sets the tone of the afternoon. Gedge, halfway through the concert, introduces “Rachel”, as the new guitarist. It is very clear that the band have a strong following, Gedge saying “Hello” to many of their fans who have no doubt travelled some distance to witness the afternoon concert. The final track is “Bewitched” afterwards we go downstairs and join the queue to get our books signed.

Their site states that: “They have had eighteen UK Top 40 hit singles… not bad for a band that has, from its inception, stubbornly refused to play the record industry’s game. It all started in 1985 when David Lewis Gedge boarded a National Express coach in London with 500 records packed into a pair of his mother’s suitcases and, in this fashion, delivered the band’s debut single Go Out and Get ‘Em, Boy! to a distribution company in Yorkshire. That pioneering spirit has been at the core of the band’s philosophy ever since. From George Best, “an unmitigated delight” [NME], the first full-length release on their own Reception Records onwards, the band has charted an appealing, if often eccentric, course of its very own.”

“With their early releases The Wedding Present had acquired a reputation for bittersweet, breathtakingly honest love songs immersed in whirlwind guitars, so it was extraordinary that Ukrainski Vistupi V Johna Peela, with the band exploring traditional Eastern European folk music, should be their major label debut for RCA Records. “(They) carry off what is basically a bold experiment with verve” [NME]. However, this was soon followed by the more traditionally incendiary Bizarro, “simply unbeatable” [Melody Maker] which featured their first hit single Kennedy.”

“The next step, made with characteristically twisted Wedding Present logic, was to enlist the aid of the noise-mongering [and, at that point, relatively unknown] sound engineer Steve Albini. The resulting Seamonsters, recorded in the snowy wilds of Minnesota in just 11 days, suggested a more thoughtful Wedding Present. The Guardian newspaper noted that: “Albini has given The Wedding Present considerable weight, with Gedge’s voice trickling between banks of scowling guitars. Indeed, the singing ranged from sensual whispering to feverish screams.”

An excellent concert by a tremendous band. Thanks to Chris for the photographs and navigating the site. Thanks to Norm for going outside, finding our taxi, and asking him to wait for us while we had the books signed.

VOODOO RADIO Set: (something like) Eat Your Words; Pretty Boy; Basic Bitch; Slag Bank; Ice Cream Man; Dog; Stupid Humans; She’s so Toxic; Space Girl; Turn out the Light.

wed11Wedding Present Set: Brassneck; We Interrupt Our Programme; Dalliance; Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm; What Have I Said Now? Rachel; It’s a Gas; Gazebo; Don’t Talk, Just Kiss; Come Play With Me;     Crawl; Catwoman; No; Kennedy; Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft; Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me); Take Me!; Bewitched.

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