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Mister-P - did you go to Glastonbury?
I certainly did, yes. I said a few years ago I was done with big festivals but I had the opportunity of a free ticket so I thought why not. I had an absolute blast, what an experience. I'm not sure I'd pay to go, I still think smaller festivals are my future, but I'm very glad I went.
Was at Maiden at the Hydro on Monday. Impressive show, but a bit disappointed with the sound mix of the low end. Guitars really sung out, but Harris’s bass was completely swamped by the kick drum. Only time you really heard it was during the quieter moments. How did the other dates sound? Wasn’t a venue issue as the Raven Age sounded amazing.
Maybe just a difference in approaches between the new and old.First time I’ve seen them, as not a massive fan, but wanted to see them before one of the main members dies.
Nothing in the calendar until Counting Crows in October. Still wondering about the Lemonheads in August though.
At The Olympic stadium, where I was, if anything it was the 'mids' that needed lifting. Drum + Bass was pretty clear, but thought Adrian Smith's guitar wasn't coming through as much as I'd like. (Davey's solos cut through well, but Adrian's not quite so much). Again could be just the location I was stood, or maybe increasing age starting to mean I'm losing some of the higher frequency hearing ??
Was at Maiden at the Hydro on Monday. Impressive show, but a bit disappointed with the sound mix
Also there and agree 100% the sound was utter trash.
I initially thought it was the venue kit, but Maiden would have everything plus their own staff running it so **** knows.
Still nice to see them live, and well a fair bit of hair dye on show 😆 so how long can they continue.
Nice to be sitting down this time. H/223 put us the 2nd balcony up at the front at the glass, so no trying to peer round people
Bought the tour T-shirt.
Wet Leg tour tickets go on presale today. Was gonna get Portsmouth tix, but £40! Sod that. I think they will be one of those mass-singalong type bands now, hate that as much as phones at gigs (which there will no doubt be plenty of too, eh chaps?) so I'll give it a miss, unless the other half really wants to go!
Got PiL for my last of the retro gigs on Saturday.
Tim Minchin in Brighton last night. Continuing the theme of sound quality and hearing loss, I struggled with the first couple of songs to get the vocals over the band. Don't get me wrong the band were awesome but the point of his songs are the words and I couldn't hear them. It got better as the gig progressed as either they fixed the sound or my ears tuned in.
My wife got the tickets to go with my daughter as she knew my opinion of Mr Minchin wasn't particularily high. Daughter couldn't make it so, like a hero, I stepped up. I had based my opinion on sound bites, photo's and media, nothing else. Turns out you can be wrong about people, who knew 😯 Loved the gig, entertaining, funny, thoughtful, dark, and with a top notch bunch of musicians backing him. A few quotes will stay with me but one to share was his observation of marriage. "Basically, signing a marriage certificate is signing up to watch the one you love most in the world, decay right in front of you" Or something along those lines.
Did anyone get tickets for the Sabbath gig on Saturday?
I'll have to be content with watching the delayed live stream at home.
I think they will be one of those mass-singalong type bands now, hate that as much as phones at gigs
Is anyone going to fess up to attending tonight’s singalong for 50-odd year old, coked-up scaffolders in Cardiff?
Wales is probably about to run out of Stella
Did anyone get tickets for the Sabbath gig on Saturday?
I'll have to be content with watching the delayed live stream at home.
I tried and failed, but, as time has gone on, I have started to think it will all be a massive disappointment – I'd be there for Ozzy and Sabbath (the rest I'd enjoy but not go out of my way to see live nowadays) and, as Ozzy is doing vocals on so few songs, I think I would have felt a bit short-changed.
I am looking forward to reading the reviews of Oasis tomorrow – it is either going to be absolutely epic or a complete disaster and, at the moment, I am thinking it will be the latter.
Is anyone going to fess up to attending tonight’s singalong for 50-odd year old, coked-up scaffolders in Cardiff?
Hilarious that it's going to be on iPlayer! You won't be able to hear the band (probably a good thing) 🤣
Hilarious that it's going to be on iPlayer!
I'll admit you got me a bit excited there, but seems the thing on iPlayer is not going to actually feature the performance;
What to expect from the Oasis live stream?
The BBC’s live stream from Cardiff will be hosted by Jason Mohammad and Tina Daheley, it has been announced. It will start at 1pm and cover the build-up to the first show of the tour.
It will be broadcast from a site overlooking the stadium and there will be a mixture of live coverage, special guests and on-the-ground reports from the BBC’s team speaking to fans out across the city. It won’t feature any of the gig itself - it is not like the broadcaster’s coverage of Glastonbury last weekend.
If it had of included the performance I was going to point out it was slightly contradictory to the original tweet announcing the reunion!;
Come see.
Ah, no ta, you’re alright.
Did anyone get tickets for the Sabbath gig on Saturday?
I'll have to be content with watching the delayed live stream at home.
Didn't bother trying. Ozzy is sadly well past it, it'll be an absolute miracle if he pulls a good performance out of the bag (though here's hoping I'm eating my hat come the end of Saturday). Tommy Iomi still seems to have 'it' though.
Of the other support bands, there's a few i'd like to see, but suspect the ones i like will only get a 20 min or so slot, or judt come on with someone else.
I know this is sacrilege in metal circles, but I really couldnt give a monkey's about Metallica (I'd actually prefer seeing the Monkees). Or Slayer or Pantera.
The only ones I'd go out of my way to see in their own right are Ghost and Halestorm / Lzzy Hale. (I thought Halestorm were brilliant last week supporting Maiden).
Nonetheless, I hope everyone that got ticket has a fabulous day 🤘
I am looking forward to reading the reviews of Oasis tomorrow – it is either going to be absolutely epic or a complete disaster and, at the moment, I am thinking it will be the latter.
Well it’s tomorrow and scanning through the first reviews, I’m going to say you are a touch wrong on your prediction. So far I’m seeing 5 out of 5 reviews from The Guardian, The Independent, The Sun, The Telegraph & The Times.
My son, who is not 50-odd nor a scaffolder nor coked-up, has just got back from the Oasis gig and says it was brilliant.
I suppose it was always going to be one of those gigs where you think ‘this is either going to be absolutely brilliant or truly awful’
Looks like it was the former. Fair play to ‘em
Am travelling back from holiday today so was excited about the Sabbath back to the beginning stream, but £34 and only available to watch until till 3pm on Monday is a p*** take.
What? £34 to watch a gig on the internet?! Who would stupid enough to actually pay that?!
Well it’s tomorrow and scanning through the first reviews, I’m going to say you are a touch wrong on your prediction. So far I’m seeing 5 out of 5 reviews from The Guardian, The Independent, The Sun, The Telegraph & The Times.
To be fair, I did think it could be epic too - my hunch was more towards the latter, but fair play to them, I’ve read a few reviews and they are universally glowing.
17 further dates to go or something.... in the report I read it said there was a couple of bits of semi-staged interaction between them, but will the mutual tolerance last !
Saw Slayer in Cardiff on Thursday, having seen their "retirement" tour in 2018. They were very good. A good selection of tracks from the first five albums, and less from the more recent post - Jeff output.
Anthrax also excellent, but the set was way too short at only four songs.
Amon Amarth were predictably nutty, lots of viking themed lunacy and plenty of rowing
What? £34 to watch a gig on the internet?! Who would stupid enough to actually pay that?!
That's even worse than the £30 a month for cycling coverage. At least you get 30 days and a grand tour for it
PiL done at Portsmouth Guildhall . Completely knackered and covered in sweat from dancing and leaping around the whole time. The old bastard has still got it. Despite myself, when he said they’d be back next year, I’m like yeah I’ll be there. 😀
The Oasis gig in Cardiff on Saturday was excellent.
Great support acts - Cast and Richard Ashcroft - and an amazing greatest hits set from Oasis.
We were lucky enough to get wrist bands for entry to the ‘golden circle’ as well so we were very near the front.
The atmosphere in Cardiff city centre before the concert was really good as well.
(On a side note, it must have also been one of the biggest gathering of Adidas trainers Wales has ever seen.)
We watched the live stream of the Ozzy/Sabbath farewell gig.
Overall it was pretty good.
Stand out performance was Steven Tyler - what a voice!!
Guns 'n Roses were great until Axl opened his mouth - the voice is gone....
Hetfield's voice took a while to warm up on the Metallica set.
Ozzy was great - voice was still pretty good considering, thought Sabbath would have actually opened with or included Black Sabbath but that was missing from their setlist....
And a massive £140m raised for 3 charities - that's flippin' epic!!
The Oasis gig in Cardiff on Saturday was excellent.
Great support acts - Cast and Richard Ashcroft - and an amazing greatest hits set from Oasis.
We were lucky enough to get wrist bands for entry to the ‘golden circle’ as well so we were very near the front.
The atmosphere in Cardiff city centre before the concert was really good as well.
(On a side note, it must have also been one of the biggest gathering of Adidas trainers Wales has ever seen.)
I've not read anything to suggest Cardiff was anything but decent - half of me wishes I'd tried for tickets now but last time I saw them they were pretty awful.
Went to see the Black Keys in Leeds last night. Only know a couple of their songs but it was a good night out.
Fontaine's at Finsbury Park at the weekend were great. Anyone else there?
The whole line up were worth seeing. I've been wanting to see Been Stellar for a while. Kneecap were hilarious, clearly revelling in their 15 minutes of fame, full of mischief and conducting the most enthusiastic mosh pits of the day.
We even got Liberty Belle from Fontaine's, which they haven't played live for about 18 month's
Not gigs, as such, but at Silverstone over the weekend I caught some of Blossoms, Raye and Mabel. All were pleasant enough, but both Raye and Mabel seemed to think they were playing to a crowd of adoring fans, not thousands of people who were there to watch cars, drink beer and have a little entertainment as well. Raye, especially, talked about herself and her struggles a lot, and we wandered off when she sat at the piano to sing a gloomy song about drug addiction. How to keep the party going, Raye! Great voice though.
Any interest? I’ve got 4 tickets to Oasis at Heaton Park on Friday. No longer able to go. I bought them resale so already paid over the odds, but will sell for what they cost me (£500 each; they seem to be selling for more). Not exactly a stealth advert but will make donation to STW fund if sold through here.
Wow.. £2grand! I wonder if they are 100 times better than when I saw them for £5.. 😀 Good luck with the sale!
The Oasis thing is fairly weird to me, saw them back in 2005 - they were just boring live. No real show.
It doesn look like the gigs have now got some big screens to make them a bit more interesting to look at.
The Oasis thing is fairly weird to me, saw them back in 2005 - they were just boring live. No real show.
I think the clue there is in the date. If you'd seen them in 1994-1996 period you might understand the attraction. It's notable that 20 of the 23 song set list are from that era.
Any interest? I’ve got 4 tickets to Oasis at Heaton Park on Friday.
Can you transfer them to someone else? I thought they were locked down pretty tight and you had to use official resellers if you want to shift them?
2 grand 🤣
If you'd seen them in 1994-1996 period you might understand the attraction
I did, but I don't understand the attraction of them NOW. They were a decent band for a couple of albums, then just got extremely boring. The live gig I saw had "no real show", just a really great sounding guitarist and a frontman with attitude, like a return to punk gigs. It was quite thrilling. But they were just boys then.
the 'metal woodstock' (i.e Black Sabbath fest) at Villa Park on Saturday is a bigger deal for me. I didn't go but have watched most of the performances on youtube (not paying for Sharon's 'livestream').
the sound was a bit dodgy and I don't get how each band could set up in 7 mins. It was a conveyor belt but some great moments. It was fun watching James Hetfield and phil anselmo headbanging to Slayer stage left
some great covers of Sabbath. Bill Ward looking like the guy out of Dune. Great cover of 'snowblind' with KK Downing which even Billy Corgan didn't ruin (although he did his best)
I did, but I don't understand the attraction of them NOW. They were a decent band for a couple of albums, then just got extremely boring. The live gig I saw had "no real show", just a really great sounding guitarist and a frontman with attitude, like a return to punk gigs. It was quite thrilling. But they were just boys then.
I guess I don't really get the "no real show" thing. That's just not my expectation from a band like Oasis, as opposed to the likes of Taylor Swift. I think what feeds into this is I have a strict "standing tickets only" rule for gigs. If I am standing and able to get relatively close to the action - then that's what makes it a 'show' for me. If I was seated, with the the actual gig happening on the floor below me, then I guess I would be disappointed if it wasn't an audio-visual spectacular - but I still wouldn't expect that from a band like Oasis (and hence why standing or nothing for me personally). I've been to big Oasis gigs which weren't that thrilling (Wembley Area, Old Trafford Cricket Club), but also big ones where they were amazing (Earls Court, Maine Road, Knebworth). The wall to wall off the chart reviews, from the normally very skeptical press, makes me hopeful that I'm not going to be disappointed when I get to see them in September.
Yeah me neither. I remember something from the Pistols days, some American phone in, the caller says What sort of SHOW do you put on, do you guys just beat off on stage or what? Something like that. No gig I've ever been to has need a "show". I'm there for the music. (Hence no shitty photos!)
I guess I don't really get the "no real show" thing. That's just not my expectation from a band like Oasis, as opposed to the likes of Taylor Swift. I think what feeds into this is I have a strict "standing tickets only" rule for gigs. If I am standing and able to get relatively close to the action - then that's what makes it a 'show' for me. If I was seated, with the the actual gig happening on the floor below me, then I guess I would be disappointed if it wasn't an audio-visual spectacular
That's not what I meant by putting on a show - Liam & Noel are bloody borig frontmen - saw the Hives at 11am at Glasto on the other stage, they whipped the crowd up, were entertaining between song, made it feel special.
When I have seen Oasis (this includes before 2005) the crowd are there, the band are there, but they don't seem to notice. The other thing that I struggle with, is both Liam & Noel have had solo projects - that not many people get excited about. Yet now they have got back together everyone's gone mad for it. In terms of bodies of work of bands pretty much all their contemparies have put out more interesting stuff over a longer period of time. Hell Pulp have just released new material & it's like they've never been away. Imagine how dull a new Oasis record would be.
The other thing that I struggle with, is both Liam & Noel have had solo projects - that not many people get excited about. Yet now they have got back together everyone's gone mad for it.
Well I think that was largely down to the quality of the solo material, but I very much agree it was a very odd that Liam did a tour last summer performing Definitely Maybe songs and it passed by with minimal fuss, and then a month later the world went absolutely bonkers trying to get tickets to seeing him performing the same songs!
This is perhaps a hackneyed take but the Oasis gigs are 'event' gigs so people probably feel they have to be there and FOMO etc. I saw super fan James Hargreaves on his youtube video from Cardiff and everyone had their phones out (nothing new but it was particularly striking)
I know its just my opinion but can't think of anything worse than watching them perform a dishwater dull song like 'cast now shadow' (just because Ashcroft is there) surrounded by boozy cokeheads. I'm not a total grinch; 'morning glory' would be pretty mint, but again - boozy cokeheads
I guess I don't really get the "no real show" thing. That's just not my expectation from a band like Oasis, as opposed to the likes of Taylor Swift. I think what feeds into this is I have a strict "standing tickets only" rule for gigs. If I am standing and able to get relatively close to the action - then that's what makes it a 'show' for me. If I was seated, with the the actual gig happening on the floor below me, then I guess I would be disappointed if it wasn't an audio-visual spectacular
That's not what I meant by putting on a show - Liam & Noel are bloody borig frontmen - saw the Hives at 11am at Glasto on the other stage, they whipped the crowd up, were entertaining between song, made it feel special.
When I have seen Oasis (this includes before 2005) the crowd are there, the band are there, but they don't seem to notice. The other thing that I struggle with, is both Liam & Noel have had solo projects - that not many people get excited about. Yet now they have got back together everyone's gone mad for it. In terms of bodies of work of bands pretty much all their contemparies have put out more interesting stuff over a longer period of time. Hell Pulp have just released new material & it's like they've never been away. Imagine how dull a new Oasis record would be.
The Hives are one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Pelle Almqvist is batshit mental - its brilliant.
Apparently I'm seeing the Ginger Framlingham Lad on Sunday which will delay my completion of Wolf Way. It's an age thing and I can't miss it Mrs Sandwich has insisted that I go.
both Liam & Noel have had solo projects - that not many people get excited about
The press gave their stuff some good reviews... but solo projects off the back of a band who'd got boring and long had it's day? Who was really interested in the High Flying Birds ffs? A lot of the popularity of the reformed Oasis must've been down to them being tabloid fodder. Like watching a live edition of TOWIE innit. Wiv songs!
Ah well, that's enough about them from me. £2grand though! 😳 😆
Off to biffy at trnsmt on saturday, looks like it's going to be a roaster, I'd have been insufferable if it'd rained. Have to admit I barely know another band on the bill, only heard of biig piig because of this thread, Jake Bugg's alright, and Underworld are a clash so I'll miss them. Vlure seem pretty awesome based on youtube vids. If anyone's got any recommends off the bill on saturday that'd be awesome!
TBF this is probably the least interested I've ever been in Biffy, the current setlists are just a bit shite, especially compared to those incredible first albums shows last year. But I don't care, it'll be ace.
Do yourself a favour & see Fontaines DC
Yeah, Fontaines are definitely the pick of those. The very small amount of Wunderhorse I've heard I have liked - pretty sure their Glastonbury set is on iPlayer if you want to check them out.
Yeah, you should also see Wunderhorse at every opportunity.
Another excellent Cardiff singalong last night. Stereophonics supported by the brilliant Blossoms.
Stayed for the first two tracks from the Bif, and then scarpered away to see Underworld, 30 years too late😅
Great performances by all.
in that heat, I’m glad I didn’t turn up til the back of six!
though, I did get the impression that trnsmt could squeeze in some unsigned metal acts and/ or get some big name metal act like Korn or Dlipknot to offer something a touch more left field.
Heaton park for me yesterday. I feel like you'd have to really hate Oasis or be actively trying not to enjoy yourself at that tbh. Went in a couple of boozers down Bury old rd on the way in, they were all kitted out for the event so the atmosphere was already good. Bit of a queue to get in but once in no problems at the bar, didn't queue for a beer once. £6.50 for Brooklyn pilsner - I was expecting worse.
The sound was great, the stage was great, the set list was great, Liam sounded pretty good, the atmosphere was awesome, the weather helped!
It's not really a gig is it? It's not comparable to watching a band in a boozer, it's a day out. There was a few of us went and we had a good time. That's what it's about.
No doubt there were some coked up scaffolders there like everyone seems to like to point out, but the whole thing was entirely good natured as far as I could tell, everyone just there to lap it up and sing their hearts out. I've been to plenty of gigs with much lairier/edgy atmospheres than that.
I'm not a die hard oasis fan, I'm happy to criticize, but it was bloody good. There was virtually no interaction between Liam and Noel, there wasn't much crowd interaction, but was there ever from them? Liam puts his all in, but you could argue they're just phoning in the performance, waiting for pay day. And yeah, tickets were expensive, but who cares, either go and have a good time or don't, that's up to you! 
Well STW thank you for the TRNSMT auggestions, didn't work out at all (we lasted literally 2 songs for biig piig and fontaines dc were just dull imo though obviously a ton of people loved them, and Wunderhorse didn't turn up) but was still good stuff to have in the pocket and helped to build the day. Had a lovely day in the sun, no tent stages meant my ginger brother basically went on fire.
I'm an old old biffy fan and the new stuff is just not really for me so I was struggling to get excited but I got in the front anyway and you know, it was bloody brilliant. Was yearning for some old deep cuts for the home audience, thought that was a shame and some people were <really> pissed off about it, wouldn't have hurt to throw us 57 or something instead of, frinstance, Rearranged which is utter shit. But huge singalongs and some bounces and weak-ass moshpits were good enough, band was great and the crowd was absolutely down for it. They really are bloody good at this now, if you'd suggested to me the first time I saw them or when they were getting bigger they'd headline festivals I'd have laughed at you. Barrowlands if they were lucky.
(the "early albums" shows they did last year utterly pissed on last night's show tbf but, otoh they played to like 10 times more people last night I think)
Big standout for me was Vlure, who headlined the introducing stage and absolutely smashed it. I ended up missing some of Biffy to watch the whole set, a lot of Underworld fans would have dug them too so it was a shame about those big clashes. Fantastic though- post punk/techno crossover I guess? Never heard anything like it, a bit old enter shikari, a bit prodigy, a bit pitchshifter and very very scottish but I've never heard that sort of guitars-and-euphorics work like this, I guess like a bit like a super fierce Faithless or some old Moby. Plus they had a brilliant guest rapper called, and I promise I'm not making this up, P Sweatpants who guested a bit then went in the crowd and was a non stop hype man, pit starter, bounce inspirer and general brilliant addition, every rock band should have a P Sweatpants.
(There might be a random STW connection here, I did a week with the guitarist and bass player's dad at Bikeriviera a few years back, Charlie Goldie, maybe he's on here)
though, I did get the impression that trnsmt could squeeze in some unsigned metal acts and/ or get some big name metal act like Korn or Dlipknot to offer something a touch more left field.
Yeah, Biffy felt a bit off by themselves- some shouty indie, lots of nice pop ladies but not much outright rock stuff. Good pragmatic stuff from the organisers, I guess, they knew they could guarantee a load of biffy and underworld fans and then they could make the rest of the bill draw in other audiences? But a bit weird.
They're definitely struggling a bit none of the days sold out and apparently only saturday even came close, so maybe tapping a totally different market entirely for a day or a stage would make sense. But, heh, I remember Gig On The Green when they tried that and it ended up total warfare between wee neds and metal fans. Good times.
GWAR would be a great alt act for TRNSMT.
id recommend PASSCODE to tap into the untapped oriental market.
For the dancey stuff, I’d like to see FLUKE, THE ORB, EAT STATIC, ORBITAL, and of course, DJ SLACKARSE.
Seems like TRNSMT had a fair bit of competition from the recent Bellahouston gigs, as well as Metallica.
Looking forward, I see that MY BLOODY VALENTINE are playing the Glasgow OVO as well as Manchester and London this November.😊😊😊
Just back from alexisonfire at Brixton, they remain 'theonlybandever'. Was perhaps a bit warm though.
Saw the P'tit Fils de Jeanine at Concarneau, great, fun music although the spoken word passed me by completely. I now really, REALLY want a bass balalaika.
Summer in Brittany is great, free gigs all over the shop. 🙂
Toploader at Severn Beach... SevernFest 25
DONT FORGET TO LIKE or SUBSCRIBE 🙂
The Abba copies were quite good as well 🙂
id recommend PASSCODE to tap into the untapped oriental market.
It's not the same since Yuna had to quit.
I have a bit of a quiet summer for gigs (I have a load in Oct, Nov and Dec), but I am going to see a good friend's band on Saturday night – they are called Blacksnake and just do covers (Black Sabbath, Whitesnake etc, hence the name), but it's good fun and he always gets the crowd going.
Big standout for me was Vlure, who headlined the introducing stage and absolutely smashed it. I ended up missing some of Biffy to watch the whole set, a lot of Underworld fans would have dug them too so it was a shame about those big clashes. Fantastic though- post punk/techno crossover I guess?
Just listened to a bit of Vlure. You might like Fat Dog also, similarly bonkers anarchic techno
Neil Young at Hyde Park. I like NY and I thought he was brilliant and his band were really good. I enjoyed Cat Stevens loads too. Van Morrison was good but he didn’t play the stuff I like him for, but that’s ok.
A big gig weekender
Last night Heavenly at Islington, Talulah Gosh were important (to me at least) in the late 80s so the evolution to Heavenly was inevitable. Good fun without being brilliant but notable is the venue. I knows it's not a mega venue but Assembly Hall at Islington...other venues, pay attention, door, security and bar staff to be proud of, not your usual surly midges.
And tonight feels like a village fete overtaken by old punks. It's Frank Turner playing a church fundraiser "because his Mum told him to" in a field near Petersfield. And it's going to be great, by the friendly vibe so far.
https://thedellhampshire.co.uk/frank-turner-concert-20th-july-2025/
And it was! FT always does a good show by all accounts, and this was no different. Highlight for me though was Francis ('cos that's what his mum calls him) getting his mum on stage to do the harmonica solo for Dan's Song, and then rewarding her with her second ever tequila shot (having had her first earlier in the day)
Francis's mum doesn't even play harmonica but she still nailed it.
Portsmouth has a new small venue called Kola. Some fairly interesting gigs coming up, will see what I can fit in. Will be good to see some unknowns. Unfortunately they are booking bloody tribute bands already 😡 Discovered it through Hotel Lux’s facebook page, they’re on in December.
Spent a glorious sunny Saturday a small indie festival overlooking the silvery Tay which restored my faith in, if not humanity as a whole, then at least some part of the music industry!
The Lughnasadh festival, run by a not-for-profit arts centre in Newport-on-Tay had a petite one-day festival featuring Kathryn Joseph, corto.alto, Free Love, Sacred Paws and Becky Sikasa all for a that-can't-be-right price of £27. Food and drink all came from local producers at non rip-off prices too (pints of craft IPA and cider for a fiver) - a lovely atmosphere, family-friendly, where everyone just got down, it was wonderful.
On a weekend which saw a load of different festivals taking place with exorbitant ticket prices and line-ups that were clearly the result of a promoter calling up booking agents and asking "who have you got for this date?" rather than any attempt to put together a bill that makes sense, this was so refreshing.
Smashing Pumpkins yesterday in London. Great day out despite security telling my son it was 16+ only when he said he was 14. He is taller than me 12s and under were free entry. Almost tears but was laughing later about it.
Never been a big fan and it was sons choice but I actually really enjoyed them. Both our ears were ringing at the end which I have never had before.
Reading festival next, I have only heard of three bands on the Saturday. Sons choice again and its just u the road.
Smashing Pumpkins yesterday in London. Great day out despite security telling my son it was 16+ only when he said he was 14. He is taller than me 12s and under were free entry. Almost tears but was laughing later about it.
Never been a big fan and it was sons choice but I actually really enjoyed them. Both our ears were ringing at the end which I have never had before.
What a really odd security person that must have been, most of them seem unusually good at that site I thought, last year and this year! I was there too (with our free-entry 11 year old), we only live a few minutes bus away so despite (all our rage) not being massive fans it almost felt rude not to go along when the opportunity is there. Had a great time, Unpeople and Skunk Anansie were really fun too. I was a little surprised they didn't do an encore, they still had plenty of time before the curfew, but maybe West London sleepy family crowds aren't up for it enough for Billy. Checking setlists of earlier in the tour it seems like they generally haven't been doing an encore but they also got about four more songs than we did. Ah well, still felt like a great day.
Reading festival next, I have only heard of three bands on the Saturday. Sons choice again and its just u the road.
May I be as bold to recommend some bands? (if your son allows you to wander away)
Friday - Soft Play, Bloc Party & Chappell Roan
Saturday - Lambrini Girls, Royel Otis, Wunderhorse & Enter Shakiri
Sunday - Amyl & the Sniffers.
We were in early, and it was the guy who appeared to be watching over the metal detector guys who asked him his age. He had to go and ask his boss. We did the Dog day afternoon at Crystal Palace when he was 12, possibly the same promoters, as it was also 12 and under free. I don't like encores, so I was pleased they just played the full set 🙂 Skunk Anansie were much better than I expected.
Lambrini Girls and Enter Shakiri are two of the three 🙂 We watched them at the above-mentioned DDA, Now he is 14 I sure my son is hoping for a similar performance as the last time 🙂
Anyone want a couple of tickets to Forwards Festival in Bristol the weekend 23rd/24th https://www.forwardsbristol.co.uk/ ? I've been the last couple of years and it's a really nice relaxed festival.
It looks like I'm having an op the week before so can't go.
Not a gig but sort of, so I'm claiming it.
My lad's in 'Tommy' the Who musical at the Minack all week. I think drugs were consumed during the writing in 1969, but the Who music is great. And the reason I'm claiming it is because although most of this theatre company's work is local theatres and backing tracks, where it's a big run - seven shows over 5 days in a big venue - they've got a live band who at appropriate times (Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror) have permission to go loud.
Some pics are on the Minack site. My boy is alternating playing Tommy and being ensemble (it's a big vocal stretch for one kid to sing 7 shows plus dress rehearsal so they have split it) so this is other Tommy in the pics, but I'm seeing my lad in the main slot this evening and I might need tissues given his journey to get here. What a venue, what an experience.
https://minack.com/whats-on/whos-tommy
Smashing Pumpkins were very good at the Piece Hall last night. I liked that the setlist was 'we'll play the new stuff early on then give them what they want'.
“Marx and Engels
Gods and Angels”
sisters of mercy@kelvingrove bandstand.
is that an oasis fan?
Just seen YHWH Nailgun in Brighton. Proper mad, moshpit made up almost entirely of girls.. not something I’ve seen before! Great band. New venue to me too, Dust. Nice and small, with functioning air conditioning. Bonus! Glad I’ve got a ticket for tomorrow in Southampton too, Lipworms supporting, should be proper good. (tomorrow being today now: Friday!)
ps.. Have a spare ticket if anyone local fancies it! 😊
I have tickets for UNKLE at Koko on 24th October. They have some 3D holographic thing going so it should be a visual treat. I am hovering over the buy button for tickets to see Daniel Avery at Bristol Beacon in November too.
Last weekend I was at Green Man festival. I saw Gurriers, Kneecap, Jacob Alon, Wet Leg, CMAT, Underworld, Los Campesinos!, Wunderhorse (stormed off stage dead stroppy), Perfume Genius (ablsolutely bonkers or off their tits), Fat Dog, Rocket, Beth Gibbons, Yard Act, Upchuck & Big Special.
It was somewhat brilliant.
YHWH Nailgun even better tonight. I got very sweaty.
Bizarrely two bands that I saw a lot in the early nineties (mainly in London but saw at Glastonbury/Reading as well) both did gigs close to home within a week of each other.
Teenage Fanclub (Bedford Esquires) and The Lemonheads (Northampton Roadmender)
Mainly went because both these gigs were within 15 miles of home and it seemed rude not to. However both left me feeling a bit weird. Basically a massive reminder about how old we have all become, the bands, the audiences and me.
Friday night in Stockholm, probably the largest gig I've been to. A good night out and the city is rather good too.
It was a capacity crowd but our end of the standing area was too far from the food and drink, hence the dancing space.
Reading yesterday.
Missed the Lambrini Girls due to the apprentice drug sniffing dog picking me out. Much to my son’s amusement. “He doesn’t even drink beer” he said. And then I had to find a photo on my phone of my passport or go home. Great start. Not touch any drugs for around 15 years.
But it was nothing like I remembered from1990 the last time I attended.
Most of the bands were ok and being able to walk to another stage and more or less watch bands non stop was good.
But the surprising highlight was Limp Bizkit. Never really listened to them much, son has them playing in his room and occasionally in the van. We were central left behind the "pit" fence were i assumed it would relatively tame. ****ing hell was I wrong. Really enjoyed them. Son thought it was the best thing ever jumping about going mental. Shy boy apparently 😐
But was pretty good value for money. Being picked up by the wife around the corner was ace.