Welcome to the Ray's Gigs website!

Here's the latest - updated 30th May 2023

Tuesday 30 May 2023.

Tuesday 30 May 2023.
SPARKS live at The Royal Albert Hall.
Sparks play the second of two sold out shows at this iconic venue.
I am nearer the stage tonight, a bit side on, but very close to the stage.
From this view I can see that the two guitars and bass player have just one amp each,
but the pa sound projected is just fantastic for the musicians and the vocals.
It was pretty identical to the show last night.
Same great setlist.
Same great stage banter.
Same great show.
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Monday 29 May 2023.
SPARKS live at The Royal Albert Hall.
It has taken them 50 years, but Sparks finally play this iconic venue for the first time.
Most other musicians, when they've been working for over half a century, are resting on their laurels, basking in the warm glow of their heritage, accepting the odd Lifetime Achievement Award, playing the odd Greatest Hits tour and concentrating on shifting their back catalogue. But Sparks are not most other musicians. They are utterly unique , as their career moved through many phases, including (but not limited to) art rock, glam, big band swing, electro-disco.
With the release of their 26th album, ' The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte', on May 26th Ron and Russell Mael continue on that unique and uncompromising path. And, in a move that is as unexpected as it is unsurprising, the new bold, genre defying, modern masterpiece will be released by Island Records, the label that released their astonishing breakthrough record 'Kimono My House' in 1974, which was recorded in London.
Their two biggest hits were from that album , 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us' and
'Amateur Hour'.
I have seen Sparks around a dozen times ,including in 1974 and 1975 when they headlined Hammersmith
Odeon on the back of their early hit singles. I also saw their most recent London show before these ones,
which were at The Roundhouse in 2022.
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The venue is totally sold out , as announced well over a month ago.
Support act was called an eccentric guy called MR B : THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER.
He performed a 30 mins set from 7.30pm of solo and cover tracks which included even a Sparks
medley of 'Amateur Hour ' and 'Get In The Swing'.
SPARKS arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for 1 hour 50 mins
Sparks are clearly over the moon to be playing this iconic venue.
They have their biggest and best stage production I have ever seen with them.
They are 24 blocks of vertical lighting poles that take up the entire back wall area of the stage,
and are used superbly.
There are five great musicians, all dressed in black, on the raised platform behind Ron & Russell.
The Mael brothers settle immediately into that old dynamic: Russell the flamboyant frontman, strutting around the stage in his tailored black and red suit, his face still boyish in its glee. His mustachioed, bespectacled brother Ron is his opposite, hilariously po-faced behind his keyboard – the Roland logo cheekily misspelled as Ronald.
Always moving forward , they are always keen to promote a new album, and not to rely on a greatest hits set.
They played several new album tracks ,which are really good and go down well with the crowd.
After 26 albums, they are still finding interesting subjects to write lyrics about.
Some superb dance pop synth hits in the second half of the set , but no space this tour for gems including
'Amateur Hour' , 'Beat The Clock' and 'Get In The Swing'.
The crowd were all up and dancing after an hour.
At the end of the show ,Ron & Russell introduce the band and milk the standing ovation at the end.
It was a great show.
Full SPARKS setlist played tonight.....
So May We Start
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
Eaten by the Monster of Love
Angst in My Pants
Beaver O'Lindy
When I'm With You
Nothing Is as Good as They Say It Is
It Doesn't Have to Be That Way
Balls
Shopping Mall of Love (Ron and Russell co-vocals)
The Toughest Girl in Town
Escalator
We Go Dancing
Bon Voyage
Music That You Can Dance To
When Do I Get to Sing "My Way"
The Number One Song in Heaven (Ron doing his funny dance)
This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us
Gee, That Was Fun
Encore:
A Love Story
My Baby's Taking Me Home
All That

Updated 30th May 2023 Permalink

Friday 26 May 2023.

Friday 26 May 2023...I went to two events tonight...
7pm
ROSE - press/vip night - Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, London WC2.
I arrive at the venue and pop up to the circle bar and it was great to see
music legends BOY GEORGE and PETE TOWNSHEND having a good chat.
Also here were JULIE WALTERS, LESLIE JOSEPH and CLAIRE SWEENEY.
DAME MAUREEN LIPMAN (now aged 77) is an English actress, writer and comedian. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and her stage work has included appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She was made a dame in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to charity, entertainment and the arts.
The award-winning, critically acclaimed production of Martin Sherman’s Rose transfers to the Ambassador’s Theatre for 28 performances, from Tuesday 23rd of May after sell-out runs at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, and The Park Theatre, London once again starring Maureen Lipman.
Olivier Award winning Maureen Lipman has performed with The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has starred in innumerable West End productions including Messiah, Wonderful Town, ReJoice, Glorious, Oklahoma, & Daytona. For the last five years she has been delighting television audiences as Evelyn Plummer on Coronation Street.
Written by award-winning Martin Sherman whose other plays include Bent, Messiah, A Mad House in Goa as well as When She Danced, the films Alive and Kicking and Mrs Henderson Presents as well as the Broadway Musical The Boy From Oz.
Rose, a woman whose tumultuous journey through anarchic times takes her from the devastation of Nazi- occupied Europe to the allure of the American dream. Through the life of one woman Rose tells the story of a century where everything changed except the violence of the strong against the weak.
The original production of Rose was produced at the National Theatre and on Broadway in 1999. It is perhaps even more relevant today, with the plight of refugees and allegations of antisemitism continuing to dominate the news. This powerful production is a moving reminder of the harrowing events that shaped the last century.
Please note, the production includes references to death, grief, sexual references, exorcism, genocide, and the Holocaust
Maureen is pretty amazing , as she holds the stage, solo perched on a bench – in a “sitting Shiva” mode, a Jewish ritual of mourning – for two and a half hours, only a short interval interrupting the flow. It’s a terrific feat of concentration, memory and skill.
then...
10pm to 12pm.
There was no afterparty for the above theatre event, but a friend was nearby reviewing another theatre event
so i went along to that afterparty which was for EDDIE IZZARD press/VIP night.
Around 150 guests here over the different levels.
Following a sold-out New York run Eddie Izzard returns to the West End stage at The Garrick Theatre for six weeks only playing 19 characters in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, a classic tale of convicts, mystery, friendship, rivalry, unrequited love, revenge, and redemption.
Actor, comedian, and multi-marathon runner Eddie Izzard’s boundary-pushing career spans all of these with record-breaking comedy tours and critically acclaimed film, TV, and theatre performances. But few know that acting was her first love.
My friend said JULIAN CLARY and PRUE LEITH were both at the show, but not here at the party ,
which was held at St Martin's House , which is opposite Stringfellows.
Tv and radio presenter NICK FERRARI was here , and EDDIE IZZARD eventually turned up in his usual
female attire and black Prada high heels...which he dumped after a few mins after his speech.
Eddie won't allow anyone to take photos , but he actually takes hold of the persons smartphone ,
and takes the selfie himself to make sure he comes out how he likes it, rather than rely on anyone else.
Complimentary prosecco , wines, beers, full size cheeseburgers and canapes for all the guests.
We got a goodie bag on departure , that oddly included a full size pork pie from Fortnum & Mason.
See my Facebook page for a couple of photos.
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Thursday 25 May 2023....I went to two events tonight...
4pm to 6pm.
ARGENTINA NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION at Their Ambassadors Residence,
49 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1.
Designed by Thomas Cubitt (1788-1855), this building – christened by its first owner, Sidney Herbert, as 'Belgrave Villa – was acquired by Argentina in 1936, with its sumptuous interiors intact. The residence isn't normally open to the public, but for the past decade has taken part in the Open House London event.
Over 200 guests here , with maybe 75% folks from Argentina.
Their very friendly ambassador greets everyone on entrance, to this stunning building.
At 5pm , the two national anthems are sung, and the ambassador gives a speech.
Later on I would be introduced to one of the judges in The Trial of the Argentinean Military Junta in 1985.
Complimentary prosecco, gin & tonics, Argentinian wines and Argentinian canapes.
See my Facebook page for a couple of photos from the event.
then
ASPECTS OF LOVE - vip/press night- Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1.
From the cobbled streets of Paris, through the French countryside to the splendours of Venice, Aspects of Love is a sweeping romantic story of passion, love, betrayal and heartbreak across three generations.
In ravaged post war France, beautiful actress Rose Vibert finds herself homeless and penniless after her hoped-for career break play closes early. Invited to a country villa by a love struck young American, Alex Dillingham, she impulsively accepts. When unexpectedly interrupted by Alex’s distinguished uncle George, everything changes.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart, based on the novel by David Garnett, Aspects of Love is directed by Jonathan Kent.
An enjoyable show was followed by the afterparty...
10pm to 12pm
We had a 10 mins walk to Andrew Lloyd Webbers Theatre Royal , Drury Lane, London WC2.
ALW has recently spent multi-millions refurbishing this luxurious venue he actually owns.
A massive crowd, as there must be around 500 guests here.
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, DON BLACK and MICHAEL BALL were all here.
Also other cast members and BRUNO TONIOLI, JACKIE ST CLAIR, SU POLLARD and a few more.
Complimentary prosecco, wines, beers , various bowl foods and tubs of ice-cream.
We left at midnight, but it was due to finish at 1am.
See my Facebook page for a couple of photos from the event.
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Wednesday 24 May 2023...I went to two events tonight...
6.30pm to 7.30pm
HALCYON FLAGSHIP GALLERY - launch party - 148 New Bond Street, Mayfair, London W1.
Halcyon Gallery is proud to launch its new flagship gallery at 148 New Bond Street with the inaugural and ground-breaking exhibition Feeding Consciousness by the pioneering digital British artist Dominic Harris.
Harnessing the magical, fantastical and the sublime, Harris invites the viewer to explore his intricately created worlds, igniting imagination and offering a glimpse of the infinite. Harris’ visual inventions have been digitally painted by hand through a painstaking process that is comparable to traditional oil painting, though his use of technology as a means to produce movement and interaction, creates an immediacy with the viewer that no ordinary still life ever could.....Around 100 guests here...
Ex Page 3 girl JACKIE ST CLAIR is here....she told me , how after 20 years of trying she got
ERIC CLAPTON & BAND yes Eric Clapton , to play an hour long show for her husbands 70th birthday
at The River Cafe in Hammersmith a couple of weeks ago...Eric's fee went to his Crossroads charity.
Also here was ANDY COPPING who is one of the main guys from promoters Live Nation.
He was at his shows Steel Panther at The Forum and Def Leppard/Motley Crue on Monday in Sheffield.
Complimentary Taittinger champers and canapes for all guests.
then
7.40pm to 10pm.
LISA SNOWDON 'Just Getting Started ' book launch party - Upstairs at Langans,
Stratton Street, Mayfair, London W1.
Lisa Snowdon (now aged 51) is an English television and radio presenter and fashion model. She was the host of the Living TV reality television show Britain's Next Top Model from 2006 until 2009. She also co-presented Capital Breakfast on Capital London from August 2008 until 18 December 2015.
Lisa had an on/off relationship with actor George Clooney from 2000 to 2005.
Very nice to be back at this well known brasserie , where i attended the re-opening launch party.
Around 120 guests here including several well known faces from tv and radio and sports etc including...
DAME DENISE LEWIS who is a British sports presenter and former track and field athlete, who specialised in the heptathlon. She won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was twice Commonwealth Games champion...also JACKIE ST CLAIR, KELLY HOPPEN, LEIGH FRANCIS,
DAVE BERRY, VANESSA FELTZ, KATE THORNTON , ANNE PIGALLE, ANDREA McLEAN and
radio DJ NIHAL ARTHANAYAKE.
I had a nice chat with jeweller STEPHEN WEBSTER , who is a good friend of Mick Jones(The Clash).
He confirmed Mick Jones is a bit of a hermit these days....Stephen now co-owns a bar in Nashville.
I had a nice chat with an up and coming female singer called EKKAH.
We had a speech from Lisa at 8.15pm.
It was very lively here, and folks on the dance floor for the last hour dancing away as
MELANIE BLATT from All Saints was the celebrity DJ playing the tunes.
Complimentary Frerejean Freres Champers, two different cocktails, wines , NOAM lagers and canapes.
All guests got a goodie bag on departure, including a copy of the book.
An excellent event.
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Wednesday 24 May 2023.
Very sad news that TINA TURNER has died aged 83.
I was lucky to have seen her live several times, with the first time in 1974 at Hammersmith Odeon as
part of Ike and Tina Turner...and also including a fantastic headline show at Wembley Stadium,
in 2000 where she was supported by Lionel Richie and John Fogerty,
I will be going to see Tina Turner - The Musical for the third time in August 2023.

Updated 24th May 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 23 May 2023.

Tuesday 23 May 2023.
A TRIBUTE TO JEFF BECK live at The Royal Albert Hall.
I am back again to see the second of these two special nights here.
Legendary live music booking agent Rod MacSween (KISS , Aerosmith , Guns n Roses etc) is here.
Lots of Americans in the crowd again tonight.
The show was pretty much the same as the first night, as the same 26 tracks were performed.
Imelda May and Joss Stone both wore the same glamourous outfits , and sung fantastic.
A barefoot Joss Stone singing 'I Put A Spell On You' was mesmerising.
Rod and Ronnie and Eric did the same four songs together.
Rod wearing some very sparkly designer shoes.
Tonight Rod sat in a side seat during one song with his arms around a man, and watched the guitar playing.
Ronnie looks a bit old and frail these days, compared to Rod and Eric.
So many great guitarists and highlights on the stage throughout the evening.
The crowd knew when the end of the main set came, so they rushed down the front for the encore.
Yesterday's video on my Facebook page was Rod Stewart singing 'Infatuation' and tonight's video on
Facebook is Rod Stewart , Gary Clark Jnr, Ronnie Wood and EC & Band play 'People Get Ready'.
Another excellent show.
Full setlist played tonight....
01. Blue Rainbow – Eric Clapton, EC Band
02. Shapes Of Things – Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall, EC Band
03. Heart Full Of Soul – Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall, EC Band
04. Wee Wee Baby- Eric Clapton, EC Band
05. Little Brown Bird – Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, EC Band
06. Done Somebody Wrong – Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, EC Band
07. The Sky Is Crying – Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, EC Band
08. Beck’s Bolero – Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall, Ronnie Wood, EC Band
09. Elegy For Dunkirk – Olivia Safe, Robert Randolph, Jeff Beck Band
10. Isolation – Johnny Depp (vocals), Kirk Hammett, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck Band
11. Walkin’ In The Sand – Johnny Depp, Imelda May (vocals), Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck Band
12. Goodbye Porkpie Hat – Derek Trucks, Chris Stainton, Jeff Beck Band
13. You Know You Know – John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck Band
14. Stratus – John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck Band
15. Rough Boy – Billy Gibbons (vocals), Jeff Beck Band
16. Rice Pudding – Billy Gibbons, Ronnie Wood, Chris Stainton, Jeff Beck Band
17. Train Kept A Rollin’ – Johnny Depp, Kirk Hammett, Ronnie Wood, Billy Gibbons, Imelda May (vocals)
Jeff Beck Band
– Intermission –
18. Freeway Jam – Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Doyle Bramhall, EC Band
19. I Put A Spell On You – Eric Clapton, Joss Stone (vocals), Robert Randolph, EC Band
20. ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers – Eric Clapton, Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band
21. Let Me Love You – Eric Clapton, Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band
22. Infatuation – Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart (vocals), Ronnie Wood, EC Band
23. Rock My Plimsoul (Rock Me Baby) – Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart (vocals),, Ronnie Wood, EC Band
24. I Ain’t Superstitious – Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart (vocals), Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band
25. People Get Ready – Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart (vocals),Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band
26. Going Down – Everyone
On the big screen - 'Moon River' cartoon video feat Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.
Eric Clapton Band – First and Third Set
Eric Clapton
Nathan East
Chris Stainton
Doyle Bramhall
Sonny Emory

Jeff Beck Band – Second Set
Rhonda Smith
Anika Nilles
Robert Stevenson
Surplus income from the two concerts on May 22 and 23 will be donated to the Folly Wildlife Rescue based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Thanks to the Eric Clapton fan website www.whereseric.com for the full setlist and who played on each track
for the two nights.
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Monday 22 May 2023.
A TRIBUTE TO JEFF BECK live at The Royal Albert Hall.
Sandra Beck and Eric Clapton have announced two nights of concerts with rock legend colleagues and friends to honour the memory and artistry of the late Jeff Beck.
Both shows sold out pronto, even though seát tickets are £200, £175, £125 and gallery standing is £70
plus booking fees..Lots of expensive hospitality packages too...but all profits go to charity.
Guests on stage tonight are Doyle Bramhall, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Gary Clark Jr, Johnny Depp,
Billy Gibbons, Imelda May, John McLaughlin, Robert Randolph, Rod Stewart, Joss Stone,
Susan Tedeschi , Derek Trucks, Kirk Hammett.
It was just 12 months ago in May 2022 where i saw Jeff Beck play his last London show at this same venue,
and Johnny Depp came on stage with him for several numbers.
Joe Perry pulled out a week ago so was not here.
Jimmy Page was not billed to appear, but you wonder why he was not here tonight.
Jeff Beck collected eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - once with the Yardbirds in 1992 and again as a solo artist in 2009.
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The venue is totally rammed solid sold out tonight, with a mainly older crowd.
I spotted TERRY GILLIAM and that Rod Stewart lookalike who sold Pimlico Plumbers for millions.
A friend spotted SIR BOB GELDOF there.
It runs for exactly for the planned 3 hours 5 mins.
The first set was 7.30pm to 9.30pm....and the second set was 9.55pm to 11pm...
There is a nice big screen showing live footage , and a bit of pre-recorded stuff.
At 7.30pm Eric Clapton & his band played several tracks with some of the guests.
Then Jeff Becks band backed all the other musicians here for the rest of the first half.
A Jeff Beck show was full of guitar instrumentals, so there were plenty of them tonight.
Hard to keep a track of all the musicians coming and going, but it was pretty much
all Jeff Beck related tracks from The Yardbirds onwards.
Billy Gibbons sung a great 'Rough Boy' , which is a ZZ Top song.
ZZ Top and Jeff Beck did a couple of North American tours together.
During the interval they had Jeff Beck interviews and videos on the big screen.
Look out for a great clip of Jeff Beck laughing at a Spinal Tap character that was based on him.
Eric Claptons stage rug was brought back on stage, as his band provided the backing in the second half.
The second half of the show had the best vocal of the night from Joss Stone.
Imelda May also sung well in the first half....both had performed with Jeff Beck in the past.
Also Gary Clark Jnr in the second half was one of the main guitar highlights.
Things livened up and got more looser when Rod Stewart arrived on stage for the finale.
Rod and Ronnie and Eric on stage together for four songs was a real treat.
First track a Rod Stewart hit from 1984 'Infatuation' , which Jeff Beck played on.
Also a stunning 'People Get Ready' with some sweet guitar licks from Gary Clark Jnr.
All artists on stage for the encore of Jeff Beck Group track 'Going Down'.
Don't rush out after the end, as a very emotional video is shown on the big screen.
Eric Clapton & band and a couple of others stay behind to stare up at the big screen.
It is a cartoon image of Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton as their version of 'Moon River' is played.
They walk down the neck of a guitar with their guitar cases in hand, and play down by the river.
An excellent evening.

Updated 23rd May 2023 Permalink

Sunday 21 May 2023.

Saturday 20 May 2023.
STEEL PANTHER + WINGER live at The Forum.
Steel Panther are playing a UK tour...this London show sold out two months in advance.
They will be promoting their sixth album 'On The Prowl' which still features their trademark
of mixing their take of piss-take on 80s hair metal bands and hilarious raunchy lyrics.
This album has track titles including ' Is My Dick Enough' and ' Magical Vagina'.
I have seen Steel Panther several times since 2009.
Support comes from American rockers WINGER.
Formed in New York City, Winger gained popularity in North America during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band's two platinum albums, Winger and In the Heart of the Young, along with charting singles "Seventeen", "Headed for a Heartbreak" and "Miles Away", put them on the top of the charts by the early 1990s. In 1990, the band was nominated for an American Music Award for "Best New Heavy Metal Band".
As the music scene changed in the early to mid-1990s due to the popularity of grunge, their success faded following their third release, Pull....they have reformed every now and then since.
Winger has released the official music video for its new single, "Proud Desperado". The track is taken from the band's upcoming seventh studio album, "Seven" which is due on May 2023 via Frontiers Music Srl. The 12-track album was produced by WINGER frontman Kip Winger and recorded in Nashville.
I have seen Winger twice before.
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Needless to say that i was really looking forward to seeing this pair of classic rock bands.
Most of the crowd have the same idea, and the venue is full by 8pm.
Lots of females tonight dressed up in their best 'rock chick' attire.
WINGER arrived on stage at 7.55pm and play for 50 mins.
They have a nice big curtain behind them , with the bands named logo.
Some nice riffs, some nice harmonies and they look and sound great.
A couple of new album tracks were good.
Great to see them play their top notch rock ballads 'Miles Away' and 'Easy Come, Easy Go'.
Steel Panthers singer joined them on vocals for a song near the end of the set.
A really good set.
Full WINGER setlist played tonight...
Can't Get Enuff
Seventeen
Proud Desparado
Junkyard Dog (Tears on Stone)
Miles Away
Down Incognito
Rainbow in the Rose
Pull Me Under
Headed for a Heartbreak
Easy Come Easy Go
Madalaine
STEEL PANTHER arrived on stage at 9.15pm and played for 95 mins.
In these days of too many woke folks complaining, Steel Panther still doing their usual show.
Sexist lyrics and sexist stage banter can be a bit crude for some, but it's all just good fun.
We have five songs where the girls are invited on stage, and plenty more didn't get on.
The band have a huge curtain behind them, with the band's named logo.
These glam rockers have some great songs and are very entertaining.
Their new bass player has not got the same charisma as the previous bass player though.
We have a couple of good new album tracks mixed in with their old classics that included
'Asian Hooker', ' Death to All but Metal', 'Girl from Oklahoma', 'Community Property' ,
'Party All Day (Fuck All Night) and the encore of 'Gloryhole'.....a really great entertaining rock show.
Full STEEL PANTHER setlist played tonight...
Eyes of a Panther
Let Me Cum In
Asian Hooker (Asian female fan on stage dancing and getting her boobs out)
All I Wanna Do Is Fuck (Myself Tonight)
The Burden of Being Wonderful
Friends With Benefits
Guitar Solo
Death to All but Metal
1987
Ain't Dead Yet
Impromptu Song for a Girl ( stunning long haired female fan was serenaded by the boys from Steel Panther)
Girl From Oklahoma (same girl as above stayed on stage to be serenaded the Steel Panther way)
Community Property (50 female fans on stage for a dance)
Party All Day (Fuck All Night) (50 female fans on stage for a dance)
Encore:
Gloryhole (Preceded by Seven Nation Army snippet)
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Friday 19 May 2023...I went to two events today...
3pm to 5pm..
This is the last week to see Celebrating Seven Decades of Quo, a free exhibition at Barbican Library dedicated to the masters of the three-chord rock song. Whatever You Want, it's all on display, including photos, tour posters, handwritten lyrics, and other memorabilia — some of which has never been on public display before......Free admission until Monday 22 May 2023.
Today was a Status Quo Fan Club gathering to celebrate the last week of the exhibition.
Their drummer from their heyday period JOHN COGHLAN is here , along with BOB YOUNG
who co-wrote over 100 Quo tracks, including many of their hits.
Also here were photographers DANNY CLIFFORD and ROBERT ELLIS who took photos of the band
back in the day.....Around 70 or 80 folks here and nice to to see a few friends.
See my Facebook photo for a Hammersmith Odeon ticket stub photo from 1982.
then
THE WEDDING PRESENT live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
The Wedding Present are an English indie rock group formed in 1985 in Leeds, England.
The band has been led by vocalist and guitarist David Gedge, the band's only constant member.
They formed in Leeds in 1985, and have released several albums since 1987.
The Wedding Present were one of John Peels fave bands.
I have seen them live a few times before.
Steve Harleys classic single 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)' has been recorded many times
by other artists but Steve Harley says The Wedding Present version is his fave.
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Another show here where Levels 2 and 3 are closed , so maybe 700 folks here.
We get two support acts tonight...
BREAKUP HAIRCUT arrived on stage at 7.15pm for their 30 mins.
The three at the front are all females, and they play some nice punky shouty uptempo tracks.
MIKI BERENYI TRIO arrived on stage at 8.15pn for their 30 mins.
Miki used to be in the indie-rock band Lush.
They are a trio as the drummer is a drum machine tape...some nice dreamy vocals.
They dedicated a song to Andy Rourke R.I.P
THE WEDDING PRESENT arrived on stage at 9.15pm for their 90 mins set.
The band now have Jon Stewart ex Sleeper on guitar.
The band play a few good songs from their new album '24 Songs'.
Lots of nifty guitar riffs though the evening.
The last half a dozen tracks upped the tempo , and got the crowd dancing madly down the front.
It included their great fast paced cover version of 'Make Me Smile( Come Up and See Me).
A really good show.
At the end of the show i got my setlist signed by singer Dave Gedge by the merch stand.
Full setlist played by The Wedding Present tonight...
Interstate 5
Go, Go, Go!
A Million Miles
You Should Always Keep in Touch With Your Friends
Astronomic
No
Brassneck
We Interrupt Our Programme
We All Came From the Sea
Monochrome
Crushed
Corduroy
Science Fiction
I Am Not Going to Fall in Love With You
Give My Love to Kevin
My Favourite Dress
Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel cover)
Kennedy
Flying Saucer

Updated 20th May 2023 Permalink

Thursday 18 May 2023.

Thursday 18 May 2023.
MIKE + THE MECHANICS live at The Royal Albert Hall.
A prestigious London show on their massive UK Tour.
For this tour they will be joined by Nic Collins (son of Phil) on drums who will be aged just 22 when
he plays here, but has already performed with Phil Collins and Genesis on their tours.
Expect three or four Genesis songs in the setlist.
I have seen them live several times before.
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Pretty full tonight , as must be at least 95% sold and its an older crowd as expected.
A couple of music legends are in the house tonight.
JOHN GIDDINGS who is booking agent for tonights band, Genesis, Iggy Pop, Blondie and many more.
TONY SMITH who is the long time manager of Genesis and the band members solo projects.
The show is on for 2 hours 5 mins over two sets of 50 mins and 75 mins.
For those that don't know , the band have two top notch male singers - one black and one white.
Tim Howar and Andrew Roachford ( had a hit single many years ago with his superb track 'Cuddly Toy') .
The sound is perfect and they have a nice stage with lots of lights and stripped lighting poles.
A perfect setlist as it was their greatest hits along with a few Genesis classics and a superb extended
version of the Roachford gem 'Cuddly Toy'.
Soooo many great songs , including the stunning 'The Living Years'.
The crowd got up for a dance a few songs from the end of this totally excellent show.
Full MIKE + THE MECHANICS setlist played tonight...
FIRST SET
Get Up
Play
A Beggar on a Beach of Gold
Another Cup of Coffee
Are You Ready
Try to Save Me
Jesus He Knows Me (Genesis cover)
Let Me Fly
The Best Is Yet to Come
Silent Running
SECOND SET
Wonder (acoustic)
Invisible Touch (Genesis cover) (acoustic)
Don't Know What Came Over Me (acoustic)
Nobody's Perfect (acoustic)
Everybody Gets a Second Chance (acoustic)
Follow You Follow Me (Genesis cover) (acoustic)
I Can't Dance (Genesis cover)
Cuddly Toy (Roachford cover) (extended version)
The Living Years
All I Need Is a Miracle (crowd all up and dancing from this song onwards)
Over My Shoulder
Encore:
Word of Mouth (including band introductions and Solos)
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Thursday 18 May 2023.
KISS farewell UK tour is coming up soon , but maybe increasing ticket prices lots compared to
previous tours is starting to backfire....first there was 20% off all shows and then Birmingham now has
a buy one get one free from Ticketmaster...and now rumours that the opening show at
Plymouth Football Ground will be cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
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Wednesday 17 May 2023.....I went to two events tonight....
6.15pm to 8.15pm
HANDEL HENDRIX HOUSE - reopening launch party - 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1.
Handel & Hendrix in London is a museum in Mayfair, London, dedicated to the lives and works of the German-born British baroque composer George Frideric Handel and the American rock singer-guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who lived at 25 and 23 Brook Street respectively.
The building has undergone a £3m refurbishment.
The ground floor is reproduced on Handels life there 300 years ago.
The top flat is where Jimi Hendrix stayed in the late 1960s.
The entire flat is full of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia.
We were told the mirror in the bedroom, was there when Jimi was there.
Everything else is faithfully reproduced from original photos.
We have the books and records Jimi liked at the time.
A full list of all the gigs he played.
A full list of his recording output.
A full list of all his tv appearances and radio interviews.
There are videos of Jimi on stage and being interviewed, and classic photo images.
We had a nice chat with Paul Endacott who runs www.musicheritage.london tours.
At 7.55pm a trio played a few Jimi Hendrix tracks live.
Complimentary Pommery champers, wines, beers and canapes for all the guests.
All guests got a goodie bag on departure.
then
8.30pm to 9.30pm.
MONTE CARLO - book launch party - Maison Assouline, 196a Piccadilly, London W1.
The 296-page coffee table book, written by writer and journalist Ségolene Cazenave Manara is now available for £100.
‘Monte-Carlo’ is the latest release in Assouline’s travel from home collection and pays tribute the ultra-luxurious principality of Monaco. Written by Monaco based writer and journalist Ségolene Cazenave Manara, ‘Monte-Carlo’ is a stunning 296-page collectible that you’ll repeatedly take pleasure flicking through. Its contents are an accurate representation of the treasure trove of glitz and glamour that extends across the two-mile coastline along the Mediterranean Sea.
Around 100 guests here who have been asked to dress 'Monte Carlo' for this event, so
we have several guys in black bow ties and many women are in glamourous dresses.
There were a couple of fun casino tables being used, which was a nice touch.
Complimentary Belvedere Vodka Martinis for all the guests here.

Updated 17th May 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 16 May 2023.

Tuesday 16 May 2023...6.45pm to 11pm...
20 BERKELEY - launch party - 20 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London W1.
What they are saying...
It's taking over a space on the corner of Berkeley Street and being billed as offering "a sophisticated dining experience with a menu that changes seasonally to showcase the freshest and most exceptional ingredients from all four corners of the British Isles" and "a celebration of British craft, produce and design".
What that means in practice is a seasonal British menu with a big focus on local sourcing. To that note, they've brought in Executive Chef Ben Orpwood (ex Gordon Ramsay Group, Caprice Holdings and recently back from Australia) who has built up relationships with local UK suppliers. Here's a taste of the menu:
Black pudding agnolotti, cauliflower, wild garlic velouté
Dressed Portland bill crab, apple & foraged sea herbs
Coronation chicken pie, kohlrabi remoulade, mango piccalilli
Overnight braised Herdwick lamb shoulder, pommes mousseline
Double baked Ogleshield soufflé
Baron Bigod cheese stuffed with last winters truffles, served with port jelly & crumpets
Seasonality will be tight too. For example, they'll be using Cornish Mylor prawns which will only be available for a few weeks. Other produce includes La Latteria burrata, Welsh sea buckthorn juice and venison from Ledbury chef Brett Graham's deer farm.
As for the restaurant itself, they're saying it will be like an English manor house and it will have a separate bar, The Nipperkin, which should be a good addition to Mayfair's bar scene.
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Around 150 nicely dressed folks in this upmarket restaurant & bar.
A small discreet entrance leads to a few different rooms.
Plenty of seating , so we found a good table as our base.
Lots of complimentary drinks and food , including Billicart champers, rum cocktails, whiskey cocktails,
margaritas, vodka mouthfuls via the ice-sculpture tube and wines.
A cheeses and hams buffet , and canapes including king prawns in cocktail sauce, caviar, salmon, etc.
Guests got a goodie bag with a few items inside on departure.
An excellent evening.
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This launch party was also on , but i got stuck at the above event.
STETSON - new store launch party.
The Stetson store in London is situated within Seven Dials on Covent Garden’s Neal Street. This new 1,165 sq. ft space showcases a wide range of the brand’s signature styles from outdoor lifestyle and authentic Western hats to timeless classics and streetwear styles, for both men and women.
The thoughtfully designed store pays homage to Stetson’s roots taking inspiration from ‘The Great Outdoors‘ with elevated details reflecting the brand’s heritage.
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Monday 15 May 2023.
GLEN MATLOCK live at Rough Trade East, London E1.
Sex Pistols bass playing legend is doing record store appearances alongside
his gigs and media work to promote his new album 'Consequences Coming'.
Around 150 folks in this massive record store , with 50 or so seats.
Lots of folks here that i know.
From 8pm to 8.45pm Glen is being interviewed by his good mate Gary Crowley.
They both live near each other in Maida Vale, and Gary has his own DJ career.
Glen is looking healthy and tanned from his recent stint with Blondie across the pond.
Topics include Glens fave bands before he joined The Sex Pistols (Humble Pie and The Faces),
getting a job in the Kings Road store owned by Malcolm McLaren and Viv Westwood.
Early gigs with The Sex Pistols, and his stints The Rich Kids, Iggy Pop ,The Faces and Blondie.
Overall it was a very entertaining chat.
From 8.45pm to 9.10pm , we get a really good six song acoustic set by Glen Matlock.
Four songs from the new album, and two cover versions.
Consequences Coming
Magic Carpet Ride
Blank Generation (Richard Hell & The Voidoids cover)
This Ship
Head On A Stick
If I Had A Hammer (Pete Seeger cover)
At 9.10pm - More than half the crowd, including me, who have bought the vinyl album or cd album
queue up to get it signed by Glen.

Updated 16th May 2023 Permalink

Sunday 14 May 2023.

Sunday 14 May 2023.
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock band that combine traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock. Formed in 1985 in Dublin, they started as street performers. Their first album, People (1988), was the most successful debut album in Irish history, reaching No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK. After two more albums and extensive touring, the group separated in 1994. Since getting back together in 1998, the band members have been sporadically issuing new songs and touring, but also pursuing solo careers.
I have seen them a few times before , including a 30 mins best of set at Henley Rewind Festival 2022.
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Levels 2 and 3 are closed tonight, as only 600 or 700 tickets sold tonight.
CLARE SANDS arrived on stage at 7.30pm for her 30 mins set.
Channeling the music of her ancestors, Clare Sands is a unique force in Irish music.
Weaving Traditional roots with Contemporary sounds and influences, Sands sings for the young and the old, brave and the bold....Clare was joined by a member of Hothouse Flowers playing the flute for 2 songs.
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for a full 2 hours.
Hothouse Flowers are Celtic Soul. They personify it. Liam’s passionate vocals are the surface of this as he pounds the keyboards in his bare feet. The band look like they’re really enjoying it.
Several songs were extended jams, but that was good when it came to 'Don't Go' , which was great.
Some nice banter between Liam and the many Irish folks in the crowd.
Support act Clare Sands and her violin joined them for the second half of the show.
She certainly helped to turn the second half into a full on ceildh.
An enjoyable show.
Highlights of HOTHOUSE FLOWERS setlist tonight...
Let's Do This Thing
Movies
Giving It All Away
Love Don't Work This Way
The Older We Get
I Can See Clearly Now ( Johnny Nash cover )
You Can Love Me Now
Give It Up
This Is It (Your Soul)
Don't Go
After the set, the band signed and posed for photos by the merch table at the rear stalls.
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Saturday 13 May 2023.
CHRIS McCAUSLAND live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Blind Liverpudlian comedian plays the final show on his massive 140 shows plus 'Speaky Blinder' UK tour.
It will be filmed for DVD release and a tv special.
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Level 3 is closed , and Level 2 is pretty empty, so maybe 500 tickets sold.
There are five film cameras filming both acts.
Support act JOHN LONG arrived on stage at 8pm and did a really good and funny 20 mins set.
Before the support act , and during the interval , it was all grunge tracks over the house pa,
so we had Pearl Jam, Soundgarden , Nirvana etc.
Chris McCausland must be a fan as at the end of his show he said "thanks for coming to this show,
which is the biggest of my career , at this famous venue that Soundgarden (I was there) opened in 1994".
I saw two different blind folks with their white sticks, which was good to see.
CHRIS McCAUSLAND was on stage for 95 mins over two sets of 40 mins and 55 mins.
Engaging, blokey, old-school standup about domesticity, parenthood and the frustrations of modern life is mixed with material specific to the scouse joker’s life as a blind man.
Several jokes were about the many downs, and a couple of ups relating to his blindness.
He joked that as a single man, he could never walk a girl home.
He joked about his wife's boobs were great, even though he couldn't see them.
He joked about how messy it gets, when he changes his daughters nappies.
A long routine about his wife and daughter ended on a sad note as he said he does not know
what they look like....he can just imagine.
He joked about how he always presumed everyone was white.
He thought Louis Armstrong was an old white guy with long white hair and a long white beard.
He thought footballer Mario Balotelli would be white, with a name so Italian.
Being a Liverpool fan, he wishes he could watch footballer Mo Salah in action.
An enjoyable show, with lots of laughs.
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Friday 12 May 2023.
HAIRCUT 100 live Shepherds Bush Empire.
Haircut 100 reform for a special one-off show to celebrate their 1982 debut album "Pelican West".
The album reached number 2 in the UK, and 31 in the USA.
An instant smash with four UK Top 10 45s, they're now back, forty years on with a remastered Super Deluxe Edition, available on CD or a four-LP set and digital.
1982 was their big year, as i worked them on front stage security for five headline nights at Hammersmith Odeon over three separate tours, in that year.
The band's FaceBook page says this Shepherds Bush show sold out pronto in Dec 2022.
In 2004 VH1 programme Bands Re-United got Haircut 100 back together again to play a one-off gig.
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I was really looking forward to this one-off major venue re-union show.
They actually played a warm-up club show in Oxford a few days before this gig.
Support band BARBARA arrived on stage at 8.15pm for a decent 30 mins of pop tunes.
Djs for tonight were well known actors BEN MILES and TOBY JONES, playing 80s classic hits.
HAIRCUT 100 arrived on stage at 9.15pm and played for 95 mins.
Haircut 100 had initial big success with their debut album , then singer Nick Heyward left
before the second album , which totally bombed.
Hence they have not got a big choice of material , so we get a couple of odd cover versions
and one of their hit singles 'Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) was performed THREE times.
Singer Nick Heyward is still very youthful looking at the age of 61, and has friendly stage banter.
The band are joined by a three man brass section.
The main set featured 10 of the 12 tracks on their classic 'Pelican West' album.
Great to see Haircut 100 on stage again, for a really good show.
Full HAIRCUT 100 setlist played tonight...
Down Down (Status Quo cover)
Low Rider (War cover)
Baked Bean
Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
Calling Captain Autumn
Milk Film
Snow Girl
Lemon Firebrigade
Fantastic Day
Love's Got Me In Triangles
Love Plus One
Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle)
Encore:
As It Was (Harry Styles cover)
Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) (12” Version)
Encore 2:
Nobody's Fool (with I’m Your Man intro)
Brookfield Girl (Live debut)
Fantastic Day (12” Version)

Updated 14th May 2023 Permalink

Thursday 11 May 2023.

Thursday 11 May 2023...7pm to 10.15pm...
FORTNUM & MASON FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS at Fortnum & Mason, The Royal Exchange, Bank, London EC3. This was the 11h anniversary of these awards, and i have been to most of them. Used to be held at their iconic Piccadilly home but now held here to help promote their new store that opened a couple of years ago. Fortnum & Mason celebrate discovering and championing the achievements of the UK’s writers, editors, publishers, photographers and broadcasters who encourage us to enjoy, explore, experiment and discover more about food and drink through their work. For over three centuries Fortnum & Mason has remained an essential destination in Piccadilly. Visit their website for a list of winners which were handed out from 7.40pm to 8.10pm.. The awards were hosted by ANGELA HARTNETT and ANDI OLIVER.
Over 300 guests here in and around their stunning oval marble bar in the centre of the room.
American actor STANLEY TUCCI was here, as he has brought out cookery books.
Around a dozen well known celebrity chefs/critics to food and drinks here including... MARY BERRY,
Both the THE HAIRY BIKERS, MATT TARBUTT ( BBC1 Saturday Morning Kitchen Presenter) , GRACE DENT (The Guardian food critic) ,JAY RAYNER, MARK HIX, JAMES MARTIN, RICK STEIN.
Lots of great staff fussing over the guests, by topping up drinks without us having to go to the bar etc.
Complimentary Fortnum & Mason champers, gin cocktails, wines, beers and yummy Fortnum & Mason canapés including their famous Scotch Eggs and Oysters. For desserts , it was a strawberry trifle.
All guests got a goodie bag with three nice Fortnums food items inside...Peruvian ground coffee,
brown sauce and breakfast marmalade.
An excellent event.
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Wednesday 10 May 2023....7pm to 10pm...
I LOVE CAMPBELL - private view - 180 The Strand, London WC2.
A huge event as must be 500 guests in this massive space, that has many different areas.
In the studios basement , the black photographer Campbell Addy has cool images of black folks.
Upstairs is the party , and where the DJ is playing modern r n b tunes for this 50/50 black/white crowd.
We found an area with nice comfy sofas ,which was a handy base.
Lots of complimentary drinks and food, as five different cocktails, sparking wines, wines, beers,
a large buffet table of cheeses, hams, breads, veg and various desserts including custard doughnuts.
A really good lively event.
The photos are on display from 11 May to 04 June 2023.

Updated 11th May 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 09 May 2023.

Tuesday 09 May 2023.
I went to two events related to London Craft Week - 09 May to 14 May.
Every evening a few venues are showcasing.
6.15pm to 7.15pm.
Multi-artist - private view - 4 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London SW7.
A huge crowd of over 500 folks on the guest list in this huge gallery space that is over many levels.
A few live demonstrations including clay sculpting and weaving were taking place.
Complimentary English sparkling wines, prosecco and wines for all the guests.
then
7.45pm to 9.30pm.
Multi-artist - private view - 49 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1.
This stunning building was acquired by Argentina in 1936, and has since been used as that country's Ambassador's official London residence. It has been opened to the public on one weekend a year since 2006, as part of Open House London, which notes the "sumptuous interiors still intact".
During the Second World War, the house became a meeting place and haven for Argentines.
Over 200 folks on the guest list, with a mix of Argentines and others.
The Argentine Ambassador is here, and is friendly and chatty to all.
There was a violin player performing in one of the rooms.
Complimentary Argentinian wines, Argentinian canapes....and trays of bananas.
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Saturday 06 May 2023.
GLEN MATLOCK BAND live at The 100 Club.
Sex Pistols legend is playing a special show to launch his new album.
GLEN MATLOCK new album 'Consequences Coming' is released today.
Head On A Stick ( this track released as a single on 27 Jan 2023).
Magic Carpet Ride (this track released as a single on 03 March 2023).
This Ship ( this track released as a single on 31 March 2023).
'Consequences Coming' Full Album Track Listing :
Head On A Stick
Consequences Coming
Magic Carpet Ride
Speaking In Tongues
Shine Off Your Shoes
Constant Craving (KD Lang cover)
Step In The Right Direction
Something ‘Bout The Weekend
This Empty Heart
Face In A Crowd
Tried To Tell You
Can’t Be Myself With You
This Ship
A couple of other Glen shows coming up after this one....
Mon 15 May - GLEN MATLOCK - solo acoustic show and album signing - Rough Trade East.
Thurs 18 May - GLEN MATLOCK BAND play Sub 89, Reading.
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Nice to see several people here that i know including Rusty Egan, Richard England (Cadiz Music),
Anne Pigalle and legendary photographers Danny Clifford and Richard Young.
Support act BLACK KAT BOPPERS arrived onstage at 8pm for their good 40 mins set.
The four piece group play old school Rock n Roll ,with a Guitar, Double Bass & Stand Up Drums.
Black Kat Boppers hail from down on the South Coast Water Way in Southampton and are 4 fellas who love to play hard boppin’, jump up, rockin’ blues, dance music.
GLEN MATLOCK BAND arrived on stage at 9.10pm for their 75 mins set.
Glen Matlock is back in the UK, after playing shows with Blondie across the pond.
This is a special show to launch Glens new album , so several new album tracks were played,
and fan faves like 'Rattle Your Cage', 'Born Running' and 'Pretty Vacant' were dropped from the setlist.
The third song played was a treat for King Charles Coronation today as Glen played 'God Save The King'.
Introducing the reworked song, Matlock said it was for “one night only” before singing the opening line, “We’re gonna save the King/ It ain’t just old thing”.
Glens band sounded great as usual.
We get a pukka version of The Rich Kids 'Burning Sounds' which is dedicated to Rusty Egan.
The main set finished well with a great version of the lead track from his new album 'Head on a Stick'.
Encores were both cover versions , Bob Dylans 'Rainy Day Woman' and The Small Faces ' All or Nothing'
A great show.
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Friday 05 May 2023.
ROY AYERS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Roy Ayers (age 82) is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer, vibraphone player, and music producer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk. He is a key figure in the acid jazz movement, and has been dubbed "The Godfather of Neo Soul". He is best known for his compositions "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", "Searchin", and "Running Away".
I have seen him live over a dozen times before...this is billed as his Farewell Tour.
Saw Roy Ayers headline Hammersmith Odeon a few times in the 1980s , and a few times at
The Jazz Cafe , Camden in the 1990s.
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The show is not sold out, but pretty full with all the levels open.
A great mix of middle aged black and white folks showing up to pay respect to this music legend.
DJ 279 played a great set of dance / soul tunes that got the crowd in the mood, with the likes
of that proper classic 'Ain't No Stopping Us Now'.
ROY AYERS & his band arrive on stage at 9pm for their 70 mins set.
Most seem a bit shocked at how frail Roy Ayers looks these days , as he is helped on to the stage,
as he uses a walking stick, and sits on his stoll throughout the show behind his instrument.
It felt very like how Brian Wilson is on stage these days.
His singer does most of the singing and talking throughout the show.
The band featured lots of nice sax and keyboard playing.
Highlights included his big tracks ' Everybody Loves The Sunshine' and 'Running Away'.
Good to see this music legend again.
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Wednesday 03 May 2023...7.30pm to 11pm...
SPEY BAR - launch party - Browns , 82-84 St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2.
Discover Covent Garden’s hidden gem – Spey Bar at Browns. Head upstairs to experience an authentic Highland welcome, where you can browse the extensive whisky selection, sample real Scottish ales, signature cocktails, or dine from the Scottish bar menu.
Inspired by the Quaich Bar at the Craigellachie Hotel, Spey Bar Covent Garden delivers Highland hospitality in the heart of London’s West End. While we’re far removed from Scotland’s fastest flowing river, you’ll feel like you’re just moments away from the Spey – perfect if you need a dose of Scottish relaxation while in England’s capital city.
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This used to be a pretty bland function room above the main area for this brasserie & bar.
It is now a full refurbished lovely looking cocktail bar, with lots of cosy seating.
Around 150 guests here tonight.
We had a bagpiper play before the welcome speech.
It is in the heart of theatreland , so handy to pop in before or after a show nearby.
They stock over 100 different whiskies.
From 9pm a DJ played soul & disco classics.
Lots of complimentary drinks and food as there was a choice of a dozen cocktails, wines , beers
plus Scottish themed canapes.
Very enjoyable.

Updated 5th May 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 02 May 2023.

Monday 01 May 2023.
DURAN DURAN live at The 02 Arena.
Duran Duran play the first of two shows at The 02 Arena on their UK arena tour.
They will be promoting their 15th studio album 'Future Past'.
Support comes from ex Scissor Sisters front man JAKE SHEARS.
I have seen Duran Duran around 20 times since 1981.
3 times in 1981 at Hammersmith Odeon on the back of the success of their debut album.
6 times in 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon on the back of the success of their second album 'Rio'.
Even though i was working security , i managed to tape one of these 1982 shows, which i still have.
All these 9 shows i worked front stage security , and for the 1982 shows it was full scale
DuranMania as they needed a police escort each night when leaving the venue.
Duran Duran still have four out of their five original members.
According to Billboard, Duran Duran have sold over 100 million records.They achieved 30 top 40 singles in the UK Singles Chart (14 of them top 10) and 21 top 40 singles in the US Billboard Hot 100. The band have won numerous awards throughout their career: two Brit Awards including the 2004 award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, and a Video Visionary Award from the MTV Europe Music Awards. They were also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2022.
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They are selling tour programmes outside the entrance, at a whopping £35 a pop.
When you add that to the front blocks ticket prices at £125 each...yikes!
Tonight is a near sell-out show , as just a couple of unsold blocks at the back of Level 4.
We end up missing Jake Shears as he came on early as it was a Sunday.
DURAN DURAN arrived on stage at 8.40pm and played for 1 hour 50 mins.
We have great seats on the floor, around 25 rows from the stage.
The production is fantastic with loads of big screens showing live footage and pre-recorded images.
Frontman Simon Le Bon looked great, echoing the ‘sailorboy’ look of his younger self back in the New Romantic days, with a sparkly silver jacket, white trousers and a blue and white stripy T-shirt, while Nick Rhodes, set back stage right in an elevated position, was proper dapper in a very sparkly jacket.
The setlist was pretty much a superb greatest hits set, plus three tracks from the new album.
They are joined by two female backing singers, and a sax player on a few tracks.
Sooo many great singalong songs played tonight, in an excellent show.
Full DURAN DURAN setlist played tonight...
Night Boat
The Wild Boys
Hungry Like the Wolf
INVISIBLE
Tape - The James Bond Theme (John Barry song)
A View to a Kill
Notorious
GIVE IT ALL UP
Last Chance on the Stairway
Is There Something I Should Know?
Friends of Mine
Careless Memories
Ordinary World
ANNIVERSARY
Planet Earth (with band intros)
White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) (Grandmaster Melle Mel cover)
The Reflex
Girls on Film / Acceptable in the 80's
Encore:
Come Undone
Save a Prayer
Rio
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10.40pm to 12pm.
Around 100 guests at the afterparty.
All of Duran Duran turn up here, and are friendly and chatty to all, although Simon Le Bon
knocked back a couple of females who wanted selfies by politely say ' sorry not tonight,
as if i do one , then there will be too many , and i need to speak to a few friends here'.
Guests here included....
SIR TOM BAKER - Bespoke Soho Tailor who has dressed many bands ,including Duran Duran.
Tom told me he has done 21 outfits for Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) for their current world tour.
BOY GEORGE
BRIAN COX - Brian is best known however as the unofficial 'face of science' in the UK. He has hosted dozens of BBC programs and TV specials on everything from the solar system to the science of time.
ROB HALLET - legendary live music promoter , who is promoting this tour with his company ROBOMAGIC.
Hallett was introduced to the live music industry as a teenager promoting gigs in a local pub in Brighton.
After meeting Malcolm McLaren, then manager of the Sex Pistols, in London, Hallett went on to arrange shows for the punk rock band.
In the 1980s, Hallett worked at Derek Block Agency whose clients included Duran Duran, Adam Ant, Talk Talk and Dexys Midnight Runners. Hallett arranged Duran Duran's first ever gig at The Marquee Club in London, when they were still an unsigned band, a moment he counts as his first big career break.He was lauded by The Times as the music mogul who discovered Duran Duran and in 1983, at the age of 22, he toured with them in Japan.
Complimentary Lanson champers, wines and beers for all the folks here.

Updated 2nd May 2023 Permalink

Sunday 30 April 2023.

Sunday 30 April 2023.
My friend London based French singer ANNE PIGALLE has brought out a short film 16 mins film
that is based around the history of Soho....The Soho Connection....check it out on YouTube.
Did you know that Soho had 186 sex shops in the 1970s/ 1980s.
The area was full of glamour, sleaze, gangsters, corruption etc....and now ????
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Saturday 29 April 2023.
VERDENA live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Italian rock band who have released several albums via Universal Music play a London show.
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Levels 2 and 3 are closed , so maybe 600 or 700 folks are here tonight.
No surprise that the crowd is well over 90% Italian.
HUSKY LOOPS arrived on stage at 8pm for their 30 mins set.
Husky Loops are an Italian band, who are now based in London.
A couple of years ago they made NME Band Of The Week You Should Know.
A trio playing some decent tunes.
VERDENA arrived on stage at 9pm for their 75 mins set.
The Italian four piece band included a female on bass.
What appealed to me in advance is the band have been called "The Italian Nirvana".
Most of their songs did have that loose grunge feel to them , including some feedback etc.
They sounded interesting enough, but the vocals were far too muffled and not clear at all.
Incredibly , by the end of the the show, i still could not tell what percentage of songs
were in Italian or English. I asked a couple of girls , and they said "Lyrics were all in Italian".
Like i said earlier "interesting enough show".
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Friday 28 April 2023.
FLAMING LIPS live at Hammersmith Apollo.
At this sold out show , they will be playing their classic album 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots'.
This is the tenth studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released on July 16, 2002, by Warner Bros. Records. The album saw the band pursue a more electronic direction than previous efforts, incorporating acoustic guitars and rhythms influenced by hip hop and top 40 music. The album was well-received critically and commercially, helping the band break into popularity, and was adapted into a musical in 2012.In 2022, the band announced a 20th anniversary box set version of the album and that they would perform the album in full in 2023.
I have seen them several times before, with the first time in 1999 at The Forum ,London,
and the most recent time a visually stunning show at The Forum, London in 2022.
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The venue is totally rammed sold out, by the time Flaming Lips come on stage.
Their live reputation means they can easily sell gig tickets, even without any recent chart success.
They play a superb show for 2 hours 10 mins , over two sets of 65 mins each.
Like The Forum show last year ,it is a total colourful visual treat from start to finish.
The massive screen behind the band, show pyschedelic images and song lyrics.
Singer Wayne Coyne holds court centre stage , like an eccentric musical conductor.
He sings the first three songs from inside a huge see-through balloon.
He is firing confetti cannons from between the thighs of four 20-foot high inflatable pink robots.
The multi-coloured lasers and strobe lighting kick in , and all this in the first 15 mins.
All the previous stage gimmicks are used off and on throughout the show.
The audience are staring at the stage thinking "What will happen next ?".
Near the end of the first set we have an inflatable rainbow blown up over the band's heads.
At the start of the second set, a dozen huge balloons are pushed out into the crowd.
Wayne Coyne dons a superhero costume.
All their best tracks were played and during the encore more balloons came out with the words
' FUCK YEAH LONDON' , which were later on thrown out into the crowd.
Flaming Lips really are a band that goes well above the usual live gig experience.
Certainly will be one of the best gigs of the year for sure....just excellent.
Full FLAMING LIPS setlist played tonight...
SET ONE - YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS album in full
Fight Test
One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2
In the Morning of the Magicians
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell
Are You a Hypnotist??
It's Summertime
Do You Realize??
All We Have Is Now
Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)
SET TWO
She Don't Use Jelly
Silver Trembling Hands
How??
Will You Return / When You Come Down
Dinosaurs on the Mountain
Borderline (Madonna cover)
Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
Encore :
Sagittarius Silver Announcement
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
A Spoonful Weighs a Ton
Race for the Prize

Updated 29th April 2023 Permalink

Thursday 27 April 2023.

Thursday 27 April 2023....I went to two events tonight...
7.30pm to 8pm.
BRIAN ARIS - celebrating George Michael - book launch at Proud Galleries, London WC2.
Celebrity photographer Brian Aris, has released a fantastic looking new photo book called “Celebrating George”.
The hard back coffee table book (30cm x 30cm) contains 182 pages covering George Michael’s early days with Wham through to the last photo session with Brian in 2006. The edition of 350 books each signed by Brian comes in a black presentation box with an archival Giclee print included.
Not cheap , as it retails for £250.
Some great George Michael photos on the wall, include a stunning group photo of the musicians from the
Band Aid 'Do They Know It's Christmas' recording session.
Downstairs were photos other artists who have been photographed by Brian Aris including
Queen, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart and many more.
This gallery is on the small side so hard to stay here too long.
Complimentary wines for all the guests.
The exhibition is free entry - on from 28 April to 27 May - nearest tube Embankment/Charing Cross.
then
8.45pm to 11.15pm.
LADBROKE HALL - launch party - 79 Barlby Road, Latimer Road/North Kensington, London W10.
Ladbroke Hall, Grade II Listed, was built in 1903 as the headquarters building for the Sunbeam Talbot Motor Company and as such was part of the first purpose-built car factory in Britain. The building contains two large spaces originally used as car showrooms as well as offices and panelled directors’ suite.
Avanti Architects were commissioned to carry out the restoration and conversion of the building to provide a community arts space, a children’s television studio, café and exhibition space, a primary health care centre and office accommodation.
This huge building has been stunningly restored, and looks really great inside.
There are hints to the past with some Sunbeam Talbot Motor signage dotted around.
Around 400 or 500 cool looking art crowd guests here tonight.
A band played a few songs , then for the final hour the party got really lively as folks danced on the
main floor to the tunes played by the female DJ up on the balcony.
Complimentary Moet champers, tequila cocktails, Peroni beers and different bowl food for the guests.
An excellent event.
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Wednesday 26 April 2023...5.30pm to 11pm...
BROWN'S - 50th anniversary party - 82-84 St Martin's Lane, London WC2.
This brasserie & bar that is popular with the pre and post theatre crowd
celebrate 50 years since they opened its first venue in Brighton.
Around 150 guests here, and we got there early to get some cosy seats.
A female fronted band were playing covers at the rear of the venue.
Complimentary Moet champers, three different cocktails, wines , beers and canapes.
All guests also got a £25 gift voucher to be used there in the future.
Excellent event that went on longer than expected.

Updated 27th April 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 25 April 2023.

Tuesday 25 April 2023.
Punk icon SIOUXSIE SIOUX has a finally announced a London show on her summer European Tour.
Siouxsie plays The Troxy , East London on 07 Sept 2023.
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Monday 24 April 2023.
Rumours that SEX PISTOLS classic single 'Anarchy In The U.K.' is being
re-released yet again to coincide with King Charles Coronation.
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Sunday 23 April 2023.
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Blues rock guitar virtuoso and his band are on “The Trouble Is… 25th Anniversary World Tour".
Kenny, now aged 45 , has released several albums since 1995 , and has supported many major acts
including The Rolling Stones and Van Halen on their North American tours.
I have seen him the one time before, at a festival on the second stage in 2017.
This will be a stalls seated show.
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Level 3 is closed tonight, and maybe around 800 tickets have been sold.
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND arrived on stage at 8pm for their 2 hour set.
He has a nice big stage backdrop of a giant guitar plectrum with the KWS initials on it.
The five musicians, including keyboards are spread out nicely around the stage and sound fantastic.
The main set of twelve songs is all of ' The Trouble Is...' album , but played in a different order,
and many were stretched out with plenty of stunning guitar solos.
Kenny says he’s not played the album in its entirety before the tour so it’s a first for him and the band. The album now 25yrs old, is still as relevant today as it was then. The track line-up is swapped around to make for a better playing experience but it has lost nothing in doing so. He mentions that some tracks are true to the original recording where as some are extended, to which the crowd cheer and Kenny smiles back.
Amazingly Kenny said he wrote most of the songs on the album, aged just 18.
He has good singer with a proper rock voice (Noah Hunt) taking over the vocal duties.
Kenny used various Fender guitars and array of foot pedals to create a superb guitar sound.
Lots of incredible guitar work, but never boring, a great show.
Full KWS setlist played tonight....
Trouble Is...
Somehow, Somewhere, Someway
Everything Is Broken (Bob Dylan cover)
Chase the Rainbow
I Found Love (When I Found You)
Nothing to Do With Love (Bonnie Tyler cover)
King's Highway
True Lies
(Long) Gone
I Don't Live Today (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
Blue on Black
Slow Ride
Encore:
Woman Like You
I Want You
Diamonds & Gold
Heat of the Sun
You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now (B.B. King cover)
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Saturday 22 April 2023.
HRVY live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
24 year old ex childrens tv presenter has been signed up by a major record company.
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Levels 2 and 3 are closed tonight, so maybe 800 folks are here.
The crowd is around 90% excitable females under the age of 30.
Not much booze is being bought tonight by this crowd in the venue bars.
ROMEO BECKHAM is in the Level 1 vip seats and quite happy to pose for selfies when spotted.
Support act ANTIGONI arrived on stage at 8.05pm for her 25 mins set.
Antigoni is a 27 year old female singer-songwriter who was a contestant on tv show Love Island in 2022.
She looks the part, in platform boots, long curly hair and boobies bursting out from her top.
She is another artist who is over the moon to play this well known venue, as she said she has
been to see many great acts here...Some decent songs performed to a backing tape.
HRVY arrived on stage at 8.45pm for his 70 mins set.
Hrvy has a band and a good light show , and is joined by four dancers (2 m 2 f) for many of the songs.
Needless to say the female crowd are screaming and singing along loudly to every song.
Some good pop songs in the setlist, that included a cover of Harry Styles 'Falling'.
He changed into white shorts halfway through the show.
He is on a full UK tour , so the show is fully rehearsed and good visually , with the dancers.
During the encore the four dancers threw out four huge beach balls to the stalls standing.
A decent enough pop show.
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Saturday 22 April 2023.
Very sad news that the great entertainer BARRY HUMPHRIES / DAME EDNA has died aged 89.
I have put a nice photo of me with him on my FaceBook page.
It was taken less than a year ago at a drinks party in Chelsea, in June 2022.

Updated 22nd April 2023 Permalink

Friday 21 April 2023.

Friday 21 April 2023.
DICK AND DOM live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
A throwback for 90s and early-00s kids, Dick & Dom (of Da Bungalow fame) are back with a live tour, resurrecting favourite parts of the much-loved children's TV show. Expect a night of absolute mayhem, including the return of the Creamy Muck Muck game.
Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood are the TV personalities best known for bringing anarchy and shrieks of “bogies!” to the BBC Saturday morning slot. With its blend of surreal, gross-out humour, their crowning glory, Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow, won them Baftas, better viewing figures than Ant and Dec and the hearts of students, parents and school kids alike. Since its final series in 2006, they have worked on a number of shows together including Are You Smarter than a 10 Year Old? and Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom. To mark its 20th anniversary, they take Da Bungalow on an interactive tour this autumn.
Shepherds Bush Empire is just a few mins walk from where they recorded at Television Centre.
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This was a stalls seated show, not sold out, with maybe 800 tickets sold.
The show was on for 90 mins, over two sets of 50 mins and 40 mins.
Basically they are recreating the tv show on the stage, with the old characters and skits.
They had a big screen showing some of their old tv clips, and a set with a sofa and a couple of bean bags.
There were half a dozen pre-picked members of the public on stage with them to join in the fun & games.
All the familiar favourites including Two-Word Tango, Musical Splatues, The Grunty Song, Fairly Hairy Fizzogs, Pants Dance, What a Sweaty Flap and of course BOGIES!
In fact their catchphrase BOGIES! was screamed out all night throughout the evening, including the
interval, by this crowd who were clearly enjoying all the juvenile antics on stage.
Their merch t-shirt just had BOGIES! in big letters on the front.
Who on stage could stick the most slices of bread and jam on their bodies , and Pump up your rump
were two more of the games played out on stage with the six pre-picked members of public.
The Creamy Muck Muck game ended the show, as it got very messy on stage with custard buckets
and foam filled plates covering their stage carpet.
An enjoyable enough show.
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Thursday 20 April 2023...I went to two events today...
Noon to 5pm.
Thurs 20 April 2023 to Sat 22 April 2023 - SALON PRIVE LONDON returns to The Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
Salon Privé is one of the world's most prestigious automotive events, attracting an eclectic mix of the most exotic and desirable brands. With a spectacular collection of the greatest supercars, sports cars and luxury cars from the world's leading manufacturers, many models will be making their UK debut live at the event.
At the heart of the event is the 'Concours de Vente' - a carefully curated selection of 75 rare historic automobiles, which are all for sale. From stately Rolls-Royces from the 20's, to iconic racing Ferraris of the 50's & 60's this is a collection of the most collectable motoring marques in a unique display of power and passion.
RICHARD HAMMOND'S The Smallest Cog restoration business will show a unique Chapron-bodied Delahaye at this week's Salon Privé London Concours de Vente - and The Grand Tour presenter himself will be at the Royal Hospital Chelsea event to meet guests. The Smallest Cog has been commissioned to return the 1947 car to its original livery and Richard Hammond said: "We're delighted to have the chance to show off these colours in front of a discerning audience at the fast-becoming-legendary Salon Prive London".
Salon Privé set out to give London an automotive extravaganza befitting of its elite global capital status, and over 3 days in 2022 they did just that. Over 16,000 visitors enjoyed the very best the automotive industry has to offer on the lawns of one of London's most iconic venues, The Royal Hospital Chelsea. Twenty-seven automotive brands attended with twelve of them launching new models. For the classic aficionados, no fewer than fifty classic cars were displayed for sale, complemented by a collection of eighteen luxury brands providing the icing on the cake. With the Sloane's hospitality prepared by Absolute Taste, gourmet street food, cocktail bars and Pommery champagne to boot, it was the perfect way to welcome in the London Season.
Salon Privé London returns to The Royal Hospital Chelsea from 20 - 22 April 2023. In the meantime, we have our flagship event at Blenheim Palace in September. A very different experience and definitely one for your diary.
www.salonprivelondon.com - Buy tickets here.
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What a great day out I had at Salon Privé London, the event took place at the historic the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, revered as one of the UK's architectural glories and also home to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Over 200 stunning cars graced the lawn from prestigious classic cars to supercars and all the high-end brands and manufacturers were represented.
Pretty amazing how good a condition the older cars are in, just immaculate. There was a 1966 Maserati Sebring bought by Peter Sellers. for his son! To a 1977 Ferrari 512 BB first owned by former Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed.
There were several new model UK debuts from Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Wiesmann, Abarth, Polestar, Genesis, Theon Design, Hennessey and more . plus a Concours de Vente, featuring more than 70 classic cars entered by the world's finest collectors' cars and priced from £250,000 to well over £1 million - all of which were available to buy, and I hear, several sales made.
A wide array of luxury brands to explore in the Luxury Shopping Village, from boats, motorbikes and helicopters, to watches, Panama hats, garden sculptures to British Jewellery designer Boodles - there's something for everyone, especially the most discerning guest.
And of course, food concessions and eclectic bars in which to sit back, relax, and take in the automotive splendour whilst sipping a glass of champagne.
The day included two vehicle parades, from the supercars to classics. It was great to hear the cars roar in to life and listen to owner's chat about the history or emerging technology.
Apart from Richard Hammond, I spotted some other familiar faces. Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button launching his limited release Coachbuilt Whisky to fellow guests Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony, socialite Lady Victoria Hervey, former Strictly Come Dancer teacher AJ Pitchard to racing driver Max Chilton and lastly not forgetting the scarlet coated Chelsea Pensioners, the iconic faces of the UK's veteran community - all having a mooch around.
Complimentary Pommery champers in the Boodles enclosure.
Ferrari launched their new supercar with complimentary prosecco and oysters.
A really enjoyable event, so try and get there on Saturday, tickets available on the gate. If you can't make it - there's always Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace to look forward to later in the year.
then
AVA MAX live at The Shepherds Bush Empire.
Ava Max plays the second of two sold out shows at this venue.
Ava Max is on a UK & European Tour to promote her second album 'Diamonds & Dancefllors'.
Her 'Sweet but Psycho' 2018 single was a number one hit in many countries.
The official video for the track has had over 800 million views on YouTube.
Many critics compare here to Lady Gaga.
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Lots of gay men in the audience tonight , who seem to like these larger than life female singers.
Support act EMLYN from Nashville, arrived on stage at 8.10pm and performed for just 20 mins.
She had some good tracks and has looked to leave her grunge-tinged pop mark on the crowd with the release of her first album, ' Loneliest b!tch in America'.
AVA MAX arrived on stage at 9.05pm for her 65 mins set.
A very nice stage production , with loads of lights and she has four female dancers in white,
and Ava joins in with many of the dance routines in this hi-energy dance pop show.
There were certainly hints of Lady Gaga in her songs and stage persona.
The encore of her massive hit 'Sweet but Psycho' sent the crowd bonkers.
Covid may have stunted her plans for world domination , but this pop princess put on
a really good show, and she will be surely playing bigger venues next time round.
Full AVA MAX setlist played tonight...
Diamonds & Dancefloors
My Head & My Heart
Who's Laughing Now
Hold Up (Wait a Minute)
Kings & Queens
Weapons
Maybe You’re the Problem (fan onstage)
Ghost
Cold As Ice
Belladonna (First Verse and Chorus Only)
Not Your Barbie Girl (First Verse and Chorus Only)
Salt (First Verse and Chorus Only)
One of Us (Acoustic)
Never Alone
Alone, Pt. II (Alan Walker & Ava Max cover)
Last Night on Earth
Dancing’s Done
Sleepwalker
Million Dollar Baby
Encore:
Sweet but Psycho
The Motto (Tiësto cover)

Updated 21st April 2023 Permalink

Thursday 20 April 2023.

Wednesday 19 April 2023....5.15pm to 10.30pm...
OXO2 - showcase - Level 2 , Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, London SE1.
Event management company CAMM & HOOPER are showcasing at this iconic building.
OXO2 is a contemporary blank canvas event space on the second floor of the OXO Tower on London’s South Bank. A gorgeous panoramic view of London’s iconic skyline including St Pauls Cathedral and Somerset House can be seen from OXO2’s folding floor-length windows and balcony. It has 537 square metres of open gallery which has room for up to 400 standing guests and 200 seated guests.
Around 150 guests here , to enjoy lots of complimentary drinks and food.
We had half a dozen different cocktails including gin cocktails, vodka cocktails, whisky sour and
English sparking wines along with half a dozen food stations including oysters, tacos, cheese & bread selection, canapes, desserts.
There was a fun photo booth , and a hand magician was floating around showing off his skills.
A very enjoyable event.
Visit the CAMM & HOOPER website for information on the venues they deal with.
www.cammhooper.com - Visit their website here.
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Updated 20th April 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 18 April 2023.

Tuesday 18 April 2023...4pm to 8.30pm...
Today was the opening day for THE LONDON BOOK FAIR at Olympia.
The London Book Fair is an annual book-publishing trade fair. It is a “global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels”.
From publishers and dealmakers to copyright professionals, commissioners and the global licensors, including those involved in rights negotiation, the event unites the book community for three days of business, networking and learning.
Since its launch in 1971, the fair has grown in size and importance. It is considered as second in importance to only the Frankfurt Book Fair as “a mecca for European publishers, booksellers, rights agents, and media trend-spotters”.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (Wednesday) is the keynote speaker at this year's London Book Fair, in conversation with Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah. Elsewhere at the publishing industry event, which starts today, catch author Kate Mosse in conversation with Louise Minchin(Thursday) , the International Booker Prize shortlist announcement, and panel discussions around ChatGPT, sustainability, TikTok, and more. It is on for three days - 18-20 April.
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The largest Spring gathering of the international publishing industry assembled at Olympia today, as The London Book Fair kicked off its first day. Thousands of exhibitors and visitors from the UK and around the world gathered to do business, share expertise, network and attend sessions covering topics ranging from Ukraine to sustainability, tips for writers, social media, and augmented reality in education.
VIP's here today included Olena Zelenska - First Lady of Ukraine, Pulitzer-Prize winning US novelist Colson Whitehead, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
Judging by the big crowd here, folks are still very interested in buying and writing books.
Several of the stands have drinks receptions so we stop off at OXFORD PRESS, THE ITALIAN PAVILLION and ANDREW NUMBERG ASSOCIATES for a mix that included complimentary prosecco, wines, lagers, Guinness, canapes and nibbles.
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Monday 17 April 2023.
ELTON JOHN live at The 02 Arena.
ELTON JOHN will tour the UK in 2023 as part of his Farewell World Tour.
The UK last date of his massive world tour will be headlining The Glastonbury Festival in June.
The final show is in Stockholm on 08 July 2023.
Elton said he has had enough of the travelling but is open to a two or three week stint at
Hammersmith Apollo like Kate Bush did.
I have seen Elton John around 40 tines since 1974 , when i saw four of his shows at Hammersmith Odeon.
His hit single at the time was 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.
The UK shows include ten in London at The 02 Arena.
Elton is one of the worlds best selling recording artists of all time , as he has sold over 300 million records worldwide, which includes singles and albums combined.
"Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose" was a new recording of "Candle in the Wind", with new lyrics, written and recorded as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. Released in September 1997, the song peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom, becoming John's fourth No. 1 single. It also peaked at No. 1 in several other countries. This version was produced by George Martin. Guinness World Records lists this version as the second-best selling single in the world, with 33 million copies sold and as the highest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s.
Even though he has been rightfully honored, awarded and commemorated in just about every way imaginable for a musical entertainer, Elton John is on track to claim yet another triumph as his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour is poised to become the highest-grossing tour of all time. All indications point to the long-running world tour — that began more than four years ago — reaching that milestone in 2023.
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This was show number nine of ten sold out shows for Elton at this huge venue.
The combination of the success of the 'Rocketman' film and this being promoted as his
last tour, has meant he has filled this venue many more times than he would normally do.
The venue is totally rammed to see this music legend on his final tour.
One of those artists that has been around all my gig-going life.
We have a very nice massive screen mixing live footage and pre-recorded images.
His great band still include some members that were playing with him in the 1970s.
Given this aversion to things done by halves, it figures that John’s band features not one, but three percussionists: white-gloved drummer Nigel Olsson, plus multi-instrumentalists Ray Cooper and John Mahon on everything from maracas to vibraslap. All the rhythm tonight actually makes Elton’s tunes more ear-ringing, and more nuanced. In this long saunter through the hits, one deep cut – Have Mercy on the Criminal – features a lyrical Mahon xylophone part that vies with Davey Johnstone’s searing electric guit
Elton of course is a incredible showman, and says all the right things to the crowd.
Sooo many classic hits tonight were played, so pretty much a Greatest Hits setlist.
During the encore, it certainly got very emotional for everyone.
Pardon the pun, but tonight as usual, Elton John was Captain Fantastic...a superb show.
Full ELTON JOHN setlist played tonight....
Bennie and the Jets
Philadelphia Freedom
I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Border Song (Dedicated to Aretha Franklin)
Tiny Dancer
Have Mercy on the Criminal
Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
Take Me to the Pilot
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Levon
Candle in the Wind
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Burn Down the Mission
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word (Followed by Band Introduction)
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
The Bitch Is Back
I'm Still Standing
Crocodile Rock
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Encore:
Cold Heart
Your Song
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Updated 18th April 2023 Permalink

Sunday 16 April 2023.

Sunday 16 April 2023.
WILLIE NILE live at The 100 Club.
74 year old New Yorker is back for another UK tour.
Willie has recorded 14 albums since 1980.
Check out his classic track 'One Guitar' on YouTube where he is joined by his good friend Bruce Springsteen.
I have seen Willie Nile at the sadly missed Borderline Club in 2014.
Willie was at many punk gigs in New York in the 1970s.
Following the release of his debut album, Willie Nile, he joined The Who's 1980 North American summer tour.
He recently supported The Who at their Woodstock, New York show.
After his second album 1981's Golden Down, Nile became involved with protracted legal problems which curtailed his career for a number of years.
Willie has had great critical success, but not much sales success, but has managed to tick over ok.
On the afternoon of the gig he was on Johnnie Walkers 70s BBC Radio Show promoting the gig etc.
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MICKY KEMP BAND arrived on stage at 8pm for their 40 mins set.
A nice country-blues set with some good tracks including a great 'Cold, Cold, Heart'.
A couple of faces here tonight including guitarist JAMES STEVENSON who has played with many bands
over the past 40 odd years, DAVID SINCLAIR ex journo from The Times who reviewed many legends at UK gigs and overseas over a 30 year period, and he has his own band, who i have seen.
BBC Radio 2 legend JOHNNIE WALKER is here introduces Willie Nile to the stage.
WILLIE NILE and his band arrived on stage at 9.05pm for their 1 hour 45 mins set.
Just four club shows on this UK tour, and he has his American band with him, so hopefully
they make a few quid after all the expenses like flight tickets and accommodation etc.
Willie Nile is now aged 74, but still has plenty of rock n roll energy.
He has plenty of stage banter , that mainly focuses on New York stories, and living in Greenwich Village.
He said ' I have been looking forward to this show for months, as legends like The Who
and The Sex Pistols have played at this famous club venue, that has not changed much".
His band are great,mans several songs have great harmonies.
It got livelier and livelier towards the end with great tracks like ' People Who Died' and his
superb track 'One Guitar' where he was joined by support act Micky Kemp.
A great show.
See my Facebook page for my nice video of the band performing 'One Guitar' tonight.
WILLIE NILE and band played 20 tracks tonight...( a couple of tracks missing from the setlist)
Forever Wild
Black Magic and White Lies
Faded Flower of Broadway
Life on Bleecker Street
New York at Night
Heaven Help the Lonely
This Is Our Time
Lost and Lonely World
Children of Paradise
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Cell Phones Ringing (In the Pockets of the Dead)
The Innocent Ones
House of a Thousand Guitars
Run Free
People Who Died ( Jim Carroll cover)
One Guitar
Encore :
California Sun (Joe Jones cover)
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (The Ramones cover)
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Saturday 15 April 2023.
INSPIRAL CARPETS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Inspiral Carpets were part of The Madchester indie-rock scene of the 1990s ,
that included Oasis, Stone Roses and Happy Monday's.
They have released five studio albums since 1990.
They had 11 x Top 40 hit singles between 1990 to 1995 , but none of them made the Top 10.
On Friday 17 March 2023, the band released a singles compilation, featuring all of their hit singles on cd/vinyl from 1988 to 2015 and remixes of the tracks, and are touring the UK to promote it.
I have seen them just the once, back in 2003 at The V Festival, Chelmsford where they were on the
support band bill to headliners The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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Level 3 is half empty but the venue gradually gets full after folks have left the nearby pubs.
DJ DAVE SWEETMAN plays a perfect set of anthems to hype up this crowd before both bands,
so we have Oasis, Stone Roses, The Smiths, James, Joy Division, Primal Scream, New Order etc.
DIRTY LACES arrived on stage at 7.40pm for their 30 mins set.
They are local friends of the headliners , and play a decent set of tracks with a Manchester sound.
INSPIRAL CARPETS on stage at 9.10pm for their 90 mins set.
They have visual images on the curtain behind them , including band logos, home video clips
and punk poet John Cooper Clarke reciting a few lines from one of his poems.
Also some cow images , so chants of "moo" rang out after most songs.
The front stalls is soon a mosh pit of dancing bodies.
The Hammond Organ type keyboards dominates the sound, and sometimes drowns out the vocals.
Their big hit 'This Is How It Feels' was a played fairly early on, and was really good to hear again.
'I Want You' was another highlight, and the three song encore got everyone up and singing.
The encore also included a video tribute to their drummer Craig Gill who died in 2016, aged only 44.
An enjoyable show.
Full INSPIRAL CARPETS setlist played tonight....
Joe
Generations
Weakness
Butterfly
She Comes in the Fall
This Is How It Feels
Two Worlds Collide
Let You Down
Caravan
Find Out Why
Move
Sackville
Directing Traffic
Keep the Circle Around
I Want You
Uniform
Dragging Me Down
Encore:
Commercial Rain
96 Tears (? and the Mysterians cover)
Saturn 5

Updated 16th April 2023 Permalink

Friday 14 April 2023.

Friday 14 April 2023.
THE JAYHAWKS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
The Jayhawks are playing a UK & European Tour, before their massive summer tour of North America.
They are an American alternative country and country rock band who have recorded
eleven studio albums since 1986.
I have seen The Jayhawks twice - in 2008 and 2012 ( The Barbican).
The 2008 show was a on great line-up which The Sex Pistols headlined at The Azkena Festival,Spain.
Sex Pistols + Ray Davies + Hanoi Rocks + Sonics + Dinosaur Jr + Jayhawks + Gutter Twins + Duff McKagans Loaded + John Cale Band....This was a nice size festival of around 10,000 capacity.
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Level 3 is closed tonight, and there is space in other levels so maybe 1000 folks max here.
A middle aged crowd here tonight, with not many folks under the age of 30.
Support act SIMEON HAMMOND DALLAS arrived on stage at 7.40pm for her 30 mins set.
She was backed by two musicians , and played some good tracks.
Simeon Hammond Dallas is a singer-songwriter from London’s Camden Town. A unique take on classic genre, Simeon fuses Country, Blues, and Soul music to create her own blend of Americana, whilst keeping the integrity of a true Londoner. With unapologetic lyricism and storytelling at it’s core, her music acts as the soundtrack to a life framed as an intersectional feminist rom-com, held together with a powerhouse of a voice.
August 2022 saw the release of her second studio EP, Make It Romantic, held to high acclaim by the likes of Americana UK, Earmilk, Belles and Gals, Folk Radio, and more. The year also saw her hailed as a breakout star at Black Deer Festival, and with an electric EP launch show at iconic London venue The Lexington, plus a nomination for UK Song of The Year from the AMA UK under her belt, Simeon Hammond Dallas is definitely a name to look out for on the UK Americana scene.
THE JAYHAWKS arrrived on stage at 8.45pm and played for 1 hour 40 mins.
Like the Big Thief show a couple of days ago, the stage was sparse with minimal equipment and lights.
The band have that nice American sound that has hints of Neil Young and The Byrds.
Frontman Gary Louris, is at the forefront at most Jayhawks shows, of course. Many of the songs he helped craft with bass player Mark Olson in the band’s late-’80s and early-’90s days, and those he’s written himself since then, are—or should be—American standards. Of those, “Angelyne” and “Save It for a Rainy Day” made their usual appearances in the set.
Also as usual, Louris showed off his considerable guitar chops on several songs , which featured classic
Neil-Young-inspired solos....and he also got his harmonica out for several songs.
Gary said they first toured the UK in 1992, and had a little shout out to which football teams do we support.
Sid Griffin (who lives in London) from Long Ryder's joined them for a couple of tracks.
An enjoyable show.
Full JAYHAWKS setlist played tonight...
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
The Man Who Loved Life
Angelyne
Waiting For The Sun
Nothing Left to Borrow
Everybody Knows
All the right reasons
Bitter pill
I'd run away
Trouble
Backwards women
Save it for a Rainy day
We'll sweep out the ashes in the morning (with Sid Griffin from Long Ryder's)
Quiet corners and empty spaces
Somewhere in Ohio
Blue
Tailspin
Encore:
Listen Joe (Gary solo)
Settled down like rain (Gary solo)
Sound of lies
Big Star
Until you came along ( with Sid Griffin from Long Ryder's)
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Thursday 13 April 2023...I went to two gallery private views in Mayfair tonight.
6pm to 7.45pm
No 9 CORK STREET - multi-artist private view - 9 Cork Street, Mayfair, London W1..
A very lively gallery event as must be over 200 guests here over the different floors.
Complimentary Gin & Ginger cocktails, prosecco and beers for all the guests.
then
8pm to 9pm.
UNIT GALLERY - private view - 3 Hanover Square, Mayfair, London W1.
Opening reception for Sasha Ferré's Morphogenesis and Karms Thammatat's Utopia Now.
Huge paintings with lots of splashes of colour.
Around 100 guests here for complimentary tequila cocktails, vodka cocktails and beers.
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I was on the guest list for this drinks launch party tonight but did not get along to this event as it clashed with the above events, but i sent a couple of friends along to report back for me.
crisp aficionados and code-cracking fiends! Prepare for a tantalizing taste of adventure, as KETTLE® Chips celebrate two deliciously daring and top-secret new seasonings with the launch of their one-of-a-kind, free KETTLE® Chips Escape Room pop-up in Shoreditch from this weekend --- 14-16 April.
The action-packed escape room has been designed to transport your taste buds on a flavour-filled journey of discovery. Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test to crunch the numbers, crack the codes and chip away at hidden clues, to uncover the two top-secret new seasonings.
There are walk-in spots for the escape room experience available from Friday to Sunday or just pop in to sample the new flavours and crack some fun codes and puzzles.
More information on their website.

Updated 13th April 2023 Permalink

Wednesday 12 April 2023.

Wednesday 12 April 2023.
BIG THIEF + L'RAIN live at Hammersmith Apollo.
BIG THIEF play the second of their two shows at this venue, on their UK & European Tour.
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Like last night , it is not fully sold out, just a few unsold rows of seats at the back of the circle.
Like yesterday , Big Thief have a broad appeal of ages as there are folks here older than me and the
cool young indie female crowd are here as well.
They all seem more polite and intelligent that most crowds.
L'RAIN and her band again were on for the same 45 mins.
Her set again included some howling and barking in her pretty experimental tracks.
BIG THIEF arrived on stage at 9.15pm and played for 85 mins.
That was five minutes/one song less than the night before.
Big Thief always change their setlist around a bit each night, and tonight is no different.
There are changes in the set order and a few tracks have been added or dropped.
'Not' is played both nights, with it's great vocals, and stunning guitar solo, a superb track.
Guitarist Buck Meek was fantastic, as his stance involved leaning forward, and balancing
on the balls of his feet , when he played his nifty solos.
Another really good set.
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Tuesday 11 April 2023.
BIG THIEF live at Hammersmith Apollo.
BIG THIEF play the first of two shows at this venue on their UK & European Tour.
I was at two of their four sold out Shepherds Bush Empire shows in March 2022.
American indie-rock-folk band BIG THIEF are back in the UK to promote their fifth studio album. The band revealed plans to release a 20-track double album in early 2022. The album was recorded in four different locations across the United States.The band confirmed the album's title "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You" and a February 11, 2022 release date. The album got great reviews in the press...including five stars from The Standard. It went into the UK album charts at number 15.
The album went to number 31 in the USA Billboard Charts.
At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You" was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album and the track "Certainty" was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance.
Support act is L'RAIN.
Taja Cheek, known professionally as L'Rain, is an American experimentalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and curator known primarily as the lead vocalist and songwriter of her eponymous band.L'Rain has been recognized for experimental music that draws on a vast number of traditions and genres.
L'RAIN has released two albums
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The venue looks pretty full tonight, and includes a packed stalls standing.
Lots of indie-rock fans , who look the vinyl buying type of crowd. Indeed the merch stands are selling all
the Big Thief albums on vinyl for £30 each.
L'RAIN and her band arrived on stage at 8pm for their 45 mins set.
The support act was a bit too experimental for my liking, but the crowd liked them.
BIG THIEF arrived on stage at 9.20pm for their 90 mins set.
Their stage production is living room minimal, with just a few amps behind them , and a few lights.
Despite the small amount of equipment on the stage, the overall sound is top notch.
The Brooklyn based quartet easily move between folk, roots , country rock, indie , Americana and rockin out with some female fronted gentle vocals and nifty noisy guitar workouts. The band quite happily tick along outside of the mainstream.
A really good show.
Full BIG THIEF setlist played tonight...
Ruined
Flower of Blood
Simulation Swarm
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Contact
12,000 Lines
Dried Roses
Free Treasure (Adrianne solo)
Certainty
Vampire Empire
Not
Masterpiece
Sparrow
Horsepower
Spud Infinity (with Noah Lenker)
Encore:
Change
Cattails

Updated 12th April 2023 Permalink

Tuesday 11 April 2023.

Tuesday 11 April 2023.
Public Image Ltd. (PiL) have decided to continue plans to announce their 11th studio album and first album in 8 years, End of World, today, following the sad passing of John's wife of more than four decades, Nora Forster, on 5th April. 'End of World' will be released on 11th August 2023 on PiL Official via Cargo UK Distribution, followed by a 38-date UK and European Tour.
The London show is at The Forum on Saturday 30 September 2023.
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Saturday 08 April 2023.
SKY ARTS have an evening of programmes dedicated to THE BEE GEES.
They are the only band i have seen at the legendary Madison Square Gardens , on my
first visit to USA as a 20 year old for a month in Sept 1979.
Johnny Thunders Heartbreakers,Voodoo Shoes Maxs Kansas City ,New York 07.09.1979
johnny on home turf - brilliant
Bee Gees,Sweet Inspirations Madison Sq Gardens ,New York 09.09.1979 legendary venue
Buzzcocks,Monochrome Set Diplomat Hotel, New York 15.09.1979 we were staying at this hotel
The Clash,Sam And Dave,Undertones Orpheum Theatre, Boston 19.09.1979 3 great bands in a great venue
KISS,Judas Priest Amphitheatre, Chicago 22.09.1979 full american stage show - superb

Updated 9th April 2023 Permalink

Friday 07 April 2023.

Thursday 06 April 2023...7pm to 11pm....
VIVE LE ROCK AWARDS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Compere is Beki Bondage.
Featuring a special one-off LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH with ex Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe stepping into the shoes of the much-missed Stiv Bators, joined by original members The Damned's Brian James, Sham 69's Dave Treganna, with former Clash drummer Terry Chimes.
Also THE COCKNEY REJECTS.
Also NEVILLE STAPLE BAND - so expect a few classics by The Specials.
Also Kim and Jackie from Girlschool playing tribute to Motorhead.
Also The Vive Le Rock Allstars playing tribute to fallen musical heroes.
Vive Le Rock is the world's only Rock N' Roll, Punk and New Wave magazine. It is an independent music magazine published in the United Kingdom which covers punk, new wave, glam, and garage through to mod and primal rock 'n' roll.
Eugene Butcher, the Editor from Vive Le Rock has said this will sadly be theIr last awards show.
I have seen all the bands before including Lords of The New Church with Stiv Bators back in 1982.
I also saw Stiv fronting his band The Dead Boys twice in 1977, when they supported The Damned.
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Great to see so many punk rock friends of mine at this eagerly awaited event.
Some faces here who did not appear on stage included Gaye Advert , Spizz Energi, James Stevenson,
Del and Mannie from The Satellites, Jen from The Priscillas and Alan Hauser ( from Jungle Records who have put out Johnny Thunders albums and many others over the past 40 years).
From 7pm to 9pm we had The Vive Le Rock Allstars play two 30 sets with guest vocalists, and
the awards itself was also in two sections of 30 mins each.
First up on stage is Vive Le Rock Editor Eugene Butcher who thanks the crowd for coming.
The Vive Le Rock Allstars play a couple of tunes then are joined by Kim and Jackie from Girlschool.
They perform 'Bomber' and 'Please Don't Touch' as a tribute to Motorhead.
The band also performed a great version of 'God Save The Queen' in tribute to Nora...R.I.P.
Those presenting or receiving awards included Charlie Harper (UK Subs got Best Re-Issue Award)
Lee Thompson, Neville Staple,
Stuart Pearce, Brix Smith, Jim Jones , Rhoda Dakar and Record Mirror punk journo Barry Cain.
Vive Le Rock Allstars came back on and Jenny Bellestar sung a couple of tracks with them.
Beki Bondage performed 'Lucille' with the band , and Norman Watt-Roy took over bass duties
as they played 'Roxette' in tribute to Wilko Johnson...R.I.P.
The Awards part 2 started with Album Of The Year which went to The Interrupters.
Bob Vylan collected Best New Blood.
Richard England (Cadiz Music) presented The Cockney Rejects with The Lifetime Achievement.
Youth from Killing Joke presented Norman Watt-Roy with The Services To Music Award.
Rat Scabies presented Brian James with The Pioneer Award.
Terry Hall R.I.P. recieved The Icon Award.
From 9pm to 11pm we had the three main bands of the evening.
9pm THE COCKNEY REJECTS play just three of their best tracks.
'Paper Tiger ', 'Unforgiven' and 'Bad Man'.
9.30pm THE NEVILLE STAPLE BAND played an excellent 30 mins set of gems that The Specials
played , which got everyone dancing....they were certainly the tightest band playing tonight.
Do The Dog (Rufus Thomas cover)
Nite Klub (The Specials song)
Monkey Man (Toots & The Maytals cover)
A Message to You, Rudy (Dandy Livingstone cover)
Gangsters (The Specials song)
Concrete Jungle (The Specials song)
Ghost Town (The Specials song)
Longshot Kick De Bucket (The Pioneers cover)
1025pm THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH feat MICHAEL MONROE on vocals.
Michael Monroe is now a youthful looking 60 year old, and still with long blonde hair.
A seven song 35 mins set that was really good, and Rat Scabies joined them for a Damned classic.
New Church
Livin' on Livin'
Dance With Me
Russian Roulette
Method to My Madness
New Rose (The Damned cover) (with Rat Scabies)
Encore:
Pills (Bo Diddley cover)
Needless to say , it was a totally excellent evening.
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Thursday 06 April - Very sad news that JOHN LYDONS wife NORA has passed away.
Nora, the wife of singer John Lydon, has died five years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The former Sex Pistols frontman was married to the German publishing heiress for 44 years. She was 80.
See my Facebook page for photos I took of her at BMI Awards and NME Awards.

Updated 7th April 2023 Permalink

Thursday 06 April 2023.

Wednesday 05 April 2023.
BBNO$ live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
BBNO$ (pronounced "baby no money"), is a 27 year old Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his 2019 single "Lalala" with producer Y2K, which has reached over 800 million plays on Spotify.
The official video for the track has had over 500 million views on YouTube.
The viral rapper has had over 2 billion streams of his songs.
He has performed on the main stages at Reading and Leeds Festivals.
His seventh album 'Bag or Die' was released in 2022.
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Level 3 is half empty, but must be at at least 1500 mainly white folks here under the age of 30.
Female support act PIRI arrives on stage at 8pm to backing tracks for her 35 mins set.
Sophie McBurnie (age 24 ), known professionally as PIRI , is an English dance musician, pole dancer, social media personality, and sex worker....she set up an OnlyFans account and gets between £10,000 and £20,000
a month , that she uses to finance her music career and her North London flat.
PIRI had two female dancers with her, and the trio pulled off some top notch dance routines.
Some decent drum & bass tracks that eventually won the crowd over.
BBNO$ arrived on stage at 9pm and played for 80 mins.
He has no band, just a DJ playing backing tracks.
However , he has a great stage production with lots of lights and lasers.
Cannot remember the last time lasers were used at this venue.
The crowd were totally loving it from start to finish.
Lots of swearing throughout, and sometimes it felt like cheesy rap.
He picked a girl from the front row who was singing along to all his tracks, and sure enough she
sung with him on two tracks , and she was excellent.
BBNO$ stresses how surreal it is to him that he is given such a warm reception outside of North America.
“I'm gonna be back as soon as possible,” he promised – and it felt like a genuine promise.
The encore started with his big hit 'Lalala' , which was followed by two full on rave tracks that
had the crowd dancing madly, which created moshing and circle pits.
A good show that was much better than expected.
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Wednesday 05 April 2023.
KISS ticket sales must be going a bit slow as www.axs.com have offered 20% off tickets
for all of their six UK shows in June and July 2023.
Looks like the idea for KISS to increase ticket prices substantially compared to their previous
UK tour has backfired a bit.
Maybe they thought that by calling it "The Farewell Tour", folks would pay up...not so.
DURAN DURAN must also be struggling a bit , as you can get 20% off tickets for their
02 Arena show on Monday 01 May ( offer not valid for the 02 May show).
Also 20% off selected UK shows by ROD STEWART and THE WHO.
The code to be used is summer2023

Updated 5th April 2023 Permalink

Monday 03 April 2023.

Monday 03 April 2023.
TORI AMOS live at The Royal Albert Hall.
Tori Amos ( now aged 59 ) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range....She has recorded 16 studio albums since 1992.
I have seen Tori Amos twice before....both at The Royal Albert Hall in 2012 and 2017.
This is the last show on Tori's UK tour before heading to mainland Europe.
Tori played the The Palladium this time last year, and is back again in the UK.
Support act is female singer-songwriter SKAAR , who hails from Norway.
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The venue is not sold out, but it is very full.
A couple of timings were a bit odd today.
The support act was down for 40 mins but only played for 25 mins.
Why was there a piss-taking 50 mins interval gap between the two acts?
SKAAR arrived on stage at 7.45pm and played for 25 mins.
Opening the show, was the angelically-voiced and very well-received Norwegian songstress SKAAR, who performed beautifully written songs accompanied by a pianist and by herself on guitar. She also endeared herself to the audience by telling stories and displaying her slightly ‘kooky’ personality.
TORI AMOS arrived on stage at 9pm and played for 1 hour 40 mins.
Half a dozen photographers have told to take their photos from the mixing desk, rather than stage front.
Taking the stage , many in the crowd rose to give Tori Amos a standing ovation.
Backed by two outstanding musicians, bass player Jon Evans and drummer Ash Soan, the talented Ms Amos took her place seated between two keyboards on one side and a grand piano on the other. Throughout the evening, she alternated between the instruments, or expertly played one with one hand and one with the other.
The overall sound was perfect , and Tori changes has been changing the setlist around a bit each night.
There was a big curtain with some basic projections behind her.
Of course, there were many hints of Kate Bush.
Loyal fans down the front give her a standing ovation after every song, and the entire crowd
stand up for a stunning version of her big early hit 'Cornflake Girl'.
A really good show.
Full TORI AMOS setlist played tonight...
God
Ocean to Ocean
Crucify
Bells for Her
Give
Pandora's Aquarium
Losing My Religion (R.E.M. cover) (Solo)
Silent All These Years (Solo)
Climb
Little Amsterdam
Addition of Light Divided
Daisy Dead Petals
Cornflake Girl
Encore:
Precious Things
Take to the Sky (with "I Feel the Earth Move" interlude)
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Sunday 02 April 2023...7.30pm to 10.15pm...
MANE CHANCE CHARITY GALA live at The Theatre Royal , Windsor, Berkshire.
Mane Chance Sanctuary are dedicated to providing sanctuary and relief from suffering for horses, while promoting humane behaviour to all animals and mutually beneficial relationships with people.
I have been to this lovely old theatre opposite The Windsor Castle several times before.
The evening was a really good old fashioned evening of variety acts.
First set was 7.35pm to 8.40pm...
Compare Hilary O'Neil introduced the acts and told a couple of jokes each time...
Basil Brush & Kevin Cruise - Unleashed - was on from 7.40pm to 7.55pm.
Max Fulham - Comedian & Ventriloquist - was on from 8pm to 8.15pm.
Terry Alderton - comedian - was on from 8.20pm to 8.40pm.
Second set was 9pm to 10.15pm...
Basil Brush & Kevin Cruise - Unleashed audience Q n A - 9pm to 9.10pm.
Matt Daniel-Baker - Mind Reader & Mentalist - was on from 9.15pm to 9.35pm.
Mane Chance head Jenny Seagrove gave a speech.
Joe Pasquale - comedian - was on from 9.45pm to 10.15pm
A very enjoyable evening, with lots of laughs.
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Very sad news that American record company executive SEYMOUR STEIN has died aged 80.
Seymour Stein founded Sire Records and signed Ramones, Talking Heads, Pretenders, Madonna, The Cure, Depeche Mode and many more.
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Saturday 01 April 2023.
STEVE HILLAGE BAND live at The Forum.
Steve Hillage (now aged 71) an English musician, best known as a guitarist.He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his solo recordings he has been a member of Khan, Gong and System 7.
Steve's career includes prog rock / jazz fusion / ambient dance and as a producer on many albums.
He has produced albums by the likes of Simple Mindscand The Charlatans.
I saw him headline Hammersmith Odeon back in 1976.
Hillage was also a key figure in getting the Glastonbury Festival to recognise the dance scene and set up the Dance Tent, which he programmed in its first year.
His band includes members of Gong , and the show will feature tracks from his 1970s albums and
high-powered psychedelic projections and visuals.
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The circle was closed tonight as only 800 tix sold , so this older crowd are suffering a bit with the standing.
Many of them had that frazzled hippy look of having spent too much time at Glastonbury Festivals.
The venue put out extra seats at the rear of the stalls, rather than opening the upstairs seating.
Support band UTOPIA STRONG arrrived on stage at 7.45pm for their 45 mins set.
Utopia Strong feature snooker legend STEVE DAVIS....yes that STEVE DAVIS.
Steve Davis saw French prog rock band Magna in 1974 and has championed them ever since.
Get over the novelty aspect, and The Utopia Strong make perfect sense. World Snooker champion Steve Davis and left-field visionary Kavus Torabi – whose extensive list of projects includes Knifeworld, Cardiacs, Gong, Guapo and The Holy Family – are music obsessives with a shared outlier sensibility, first pooling their love of all things strange and experimental on their long-running radio programme, The Interesting Alternative Show.
Their progression from DJ sets to a band was secured with the addition of Michael J York, once part of the Coil collective and, latterly, Torabi’s cohort in Guapo/The Holy Family. The Utopia Strong’s compelling 2019 debut set the template: synth-heavy instrumentals salted down from long-form improv pieces. Through Bandcamp, they’ve since issued three album-length live recordings on limited-edition vinyl, all of which sold out in a heartbeat. Clearly, this thing has legs.
The trio’s MO seems straightforward. Davis makes no great claim to being a musician, but provides a grounding for Torabi and York, armed with a battery of modular synths and an impeccable sense of musical taste. “I see myself as a strong midfielder or a centre back,” he says, dipping into football parlance. “Kavus and Mike are like the Lionel Messi or Ronaldo of the equation, and I’m setting situations up for them.” Nothing is over-discussed or pre-planned, they just set up and play. Soon enough, a direction will present itself.
Steve Davis twiddled some knobs on stage. It sounded like one continuous track to me but someone said
there were a few tracks played. No vocals or chat whatsoever. Not really my cup of tea at all.
The trio had use of the big screen for some visuals.
STEVE HILLAGE BAND arrived on stage at 9pm and played for 1 hour 50 mins.
As promised the big screen pyschedelic visuals and the light show was stunning.
Music trends come and go, but Steve Hillage just doing his own thing for over 50 years is admirable.
The six piece band – including Steves partner Miquette on keyboards – all line up across the front of the drummer. Steve Hillage himself is decked out in his System 7 shirt and the by now familiar Steinberger guitar – as iconic as his 70’s Fender – eyes behind the glasses closed as he spirits out those guitar leads in front of the backdrops of swirling graphics.
Amidst the Dervish riffing, we can close our eyes and imagine being in the UFO Underground of the experimental 60s. The Pink Floyd could be waiting in the wings, minds not already altered are getting a little nudge, the retinas being imprinted by the kaleidoscopic projections that run through the show, enhancing the psychedelic soundtrack. The band sound great, and there are more vocals than expected.
A couple of great cover versions near the end..... A much better than expected show.
Full STEVE HILLAGE setlist played tonight...
Fish
It's All Too Much (The Beatles cover)
The Golden Vibe
The Salmon Song
Octave Doctor
Sea Nature
Ether Ships
Why Are We Sleeping? (Soft Machine cover)
Lunar Musick Suite
The Fire Inside
Solar Musick Suite
The Dervish Riff
Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan cover)
Encore:
I Can Hear the Grass Grow (The Move cover)
Crystal City
The Glorious Om Riff
Are You Experienced

Updated 2nd April 2023 Permalink

Friday 31 March 2023.

Friday 31 March 2023.
SPACE live at Islington Academy.
Space had several x Top 40 hits in the UK, in their 1990s heyday, and two hit albums,
'Spiders' from 1996 which when to number 5 in the charts and
'Tin Planet' from 1998 which went to number 3 in the charts.
They will be playing both these albums in full for this tour.
I saw Space play live in 1998 and 2000.
Support band is fellow Liverpudlians THE REAL PEOPLE.
They had singles and albums that tickled the bottom of the charts, at the same time as Space.
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Not sold out so maybe 400 or 500 folks here , as it has a 800 capacity.
Last time i was here was four years ago for The Vive Le Rock Awards.
Stranglers + Rich Kids + Suzi Quatro + Barrie Masters + Glen Matlock.
I was also at the mega rock gig by KISS here in 2010.
THE REAL PEOPLE arrived on stage at 7pm and played for 60 mins.
They played some good catchy tracks.
SPACE arrived on stage at 8.25pm and played for 95 mins.
They played some good tunes , and their well known hits, including...
Avenging Angels - reached number 6 in 1998
Female of the Species - reached number 14 in 1996
The Ballad of Tom Jones - reached number 4 in 1998
Neighbourhood - reached number 11 in 1996
An enjoyable show.
It was an early start , early finish gig, as the venue turns into a club at 11pm on a Friday.
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Thursday 30 March 2023.
SAM RYDER live at Hammersmith Apollo...as part of his UK tour...
Sam Ryder is the former wedding singer and TikToker who revived the UK’s Eurovision fortunes.
Sam Ryder’s debut album has entered the charts at number one in Dec 2022, outselling Christmas releases from Michael Bublé, SZA, Taylor Swift and Cliff Richard.
The success of "There’s Nothing But Space, Man! " caps an extraordinary year for the 33-year-old from Essex, who said of his meteoric rise to fame: “I’ve spent the vast majority of my life working on building sites and singing at weddings.”
Ryder was chosen to represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision after posting cover versions on TikTok which attracted millions of views during lockdown.
Soaring anthem "Space Man", which showcased his operatic voice, came second in the competition, as an outpouring of public support helped Ukraine to victory. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the highest-charting UK Eurovision entry since 1996.
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The signage outside says sold out, and yes inside was a 5000 capacity stalls standing sold out show.
A couple of faces here including rapper KSI and CHESNEY HAWKES.
I chat to Chesney Hawkes about taking my two young boys to see him at this venue in 1991.
Sam Ryder and Maneskin have proved you can have success after Eurovision.
Lots of parents here with their teenagers, and not really your normal gigging crowd.
The interval before Sam came on, had non-stop tunes from Abba.
SAM RYDER arrived onstage cat 9.20pm and played for 85 mins.
As soon as Sam comes on stage , you can feel the goodwill towards him.
Sam arrives on stage wearing a sparkly boiler suit and his trademark long blond hair, he looked nothing short of a proper rock star. The stage presence and vocal range being reminiscent of Freddie Mercury and
Adam Lambert.Completely illuminating the faces of everyone watching.
The stage production had loads of lights, and confetti cannons are used a couple of times.
Sam is backed by a four piece band, and Sam riffs out on guitar a few times.
Lots of call and response like Freddie Mercury used to do.
His album tracks ticked along ok, but the crowd got livelier for the cover versions.
A good show, and the future looks bright for Sam Ryder.
Full SAM RYDER setlist played tonight...
Somebody
Living Without You
Put a Light On Me
Tiny Riot
Ten Tons
Deep Blue Doubt
All the Way Over
Whirlwind
Mountains
This Time
You've Got The Love (Florence + the Machine cover) ( 60 to 90 seconds Snippet)
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift cover) (60 to 90 seconds Snippet)
Misery Business (Paramore cover) (60 to 90 seconds Snippet)
More
Encore:
Lost in You
SPACE MAN

Updated 30th March 2023 Permalink

Wednesday 29 March 2023.

Wednesday 29 March 2023.
ENDY CHOW (now aged 43) live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Endy Chow is a Hong Kong actor, singer and songwriter.
Over the past 20 odd years he has appeared in many films, many TV shows and has
released many albums during this period as well.
He headlines arenas back home in Hong Kong.
Could be interesting to see what kind of show he puts on , as normal tickets are £80, and VIP tix are £200,
for early entry and entry to the meet & greet after the show.
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Levels 2 and 3 are closed tonight, so maybe 800 or so here tonight.
It is pretty much a 99% crowd from Hong Kong heritage.
A very polite crowd, and not many folks are drinking booze.
ENDY CHOW and his eight piece band arrive on stage at 7.50pm and play for 2 hours 25 mins.
Pretty amazing how long he was on stage for.
There is a nice big screen mixing live gig footage with pre-recorded images.
Many of the songs were ballads of sorts , and mostly sung in the Hong Kong language.
There was an English song 'You Are My Sunshine'.
A few tracks were a bit rockier as one of the guitarists riffed out on his Flying V guitar.
No surprise to say that the music was a big tame overall.
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Wednesday 29 March 2023.
Two huge surprise shocks.
PAUL O'GRADY has died aged 67.
Paul was an English comedian, broadcaster, actor, writer and drag queen. He achieved notability in the London gay scene during the 1980s with his drag queen persona Lily Savage, through which he gained broader popularity in the 1990s. O'Grady subsequently dropped the character and in the 2000s became the presenter of various television and radio shows, including The Paul O'Grady Show.
Paul was such a great entertainer...and he loved animals , especially dogs too.
He was an ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for the past decade.
I saw Paul on stage as Lily Savage and at The London Palladium Christmas Panto.
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SCOTLAND beat SPAIN 2-0 in their World Cup Qualifier.
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Monday 27 March 2023.
CHERIE CURRIE live at The Underworld, Camden.
Cherie Currie (now aged 63) is playing a UK tour to promote her new album 'Blvds of Splendor'.
I saw Cherie Currie when she was the singer in the all-girl American band The Runaways in Oct 1976 ,
when i saw both their debut London shows at The Roundhouse.
Check out the YouTube video of their classic debut single 'Cherry Bomb'.
I saw her at this same venue on her last solo tour visit of the UK, which was in 2015.
It was her first UK tour for over 35 years, and another great female rocker Suzi Quatro came on for a duet.
Tickets are £18 plus £3 booking fee.
www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk - Visit their website here for more info and to buy tickets for all shows at The Underworld.
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Nice to see Del and Mannie from West London punk legends THE SATELLITES here tonight.
BLUE RUIN arrived on stage at 8.15pm and played for 45 mins.
Blue Ruin are a punk-inspired all girl five-piece band from Auckland, New Zealand.
Their sound is influenced by various genres including punk, hardcore, pop-punk, hard rock, riot grrrl and metal.
Blue Ruin enjoy rocking out, not taking things to seriously, but with awareness in their lyrics of issues like anxiety, sexism, relationships, and societal expectations....an enjoyable set.
The interval had the venue pa playing all AC/DC classics.
CHERIE CURRIE and her all male rock band arrived on stage at 9.25pm and play for 60 mins.
Cherie Currie arrives on stage, and is amazingly looking 20 years younger than her real age.
She is clearly glad to be back playing at this Iconic London club venue.
Every song gets an introduction of sorts.
Like my recent gigs by Killing Joke and The Skids at The 100 Club, it is really great to
be at another intimate venue like this to see Cherie up nice and close.
The 14 song setlist was evenly split with seven Runaways oldies and seven others.
Two new album tracks in the middle of the set were written by members of Guns N Roses.
Cherie got very emotional during her cover of 'Life on Mars' , as it was dedicated
to her younger brother who died just before the start of this tour.
A couple of mentions of fellow Runaway member Lita Ford suggests they don't exchange Christmas cards.
It was great hearing all those Runaways classics again , and Cheries guests all joined her
on stage for a rousing finale version of 'Cherry Bomb' which was fantastic.
A great show.
Full CHERIE CURRIE setlist played tonight...
Queens of Noise (The Runaways song)
California Paradise (The Runaways song)
Roxy Roller (Sweeney Todd cover) (with Gretchen Bonaduce) (new album track)
Rock & Roll (The Velvet Underground cover)
Mr. X ( new album track)
Rock & Roll Oblivion (new album track)
Is It Day or Night? (The Runaways song)
Life on Mars? (David Bowie cover)
Midnight Music (The Runaways song)
You Wreck Me (new album track)
Heartbeat (The Runaways song)
American Nights (The Runaways song)
C'mon (The Runaways song)
Cherry Bomb (The Runaways song) (with Gretchen Bonaduce and support band Blue Ruin)

Updated 28th March 2023 Permalink

Sunday 26 March 2023.

Sunday 26 March 2023.
2023 Teenage Cancer Trust shows continue at The Royal Albert Hall this week.
I have been to at least one TCT RAH show every year since the first event, which was in 2000.
Sunday 26 March - Roger Daltrey and Friends of Teenage Cancer Trust including Richard Ashcroft, Far From Saints (Kelly Jones new side project playing only their second ever show, after playing a warm up show at Oslo, Hackney the night before this one), Joan Armatrading and more special guests!
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The venue is full, but it's not a completely sold out show...maybe because it is a Sunday.
A few faces are spotted here tonight...
Legendary booking agent Rod MacSween (looks after The Who, Richard Ashcroft and many more)
Legendary manager of The Who - Bill Curbishley
Celebrity hypnotist - Paul McKenna
A close friend of The Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook was here, and told me they went
to see Killing Joke at The Royal Albert Hall a fortnight ago and Suede in Bexhill the night before this show.
FAR FROM SAINTS arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set.
Kelly Jones seems to play a TCT show every other year , whether playing solo or with The Stereophonics,
and he performed at the first one in 2000.
The 7 piece band open with a Stevie Nicks cover and actually have nice hints of Fleetwood Mac.
Full FAR FROM SAINTS setlist played tonight...
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (Stevie Nicks cover)
Screaming Hallelujahs
Let The Light Shine Over
Turn This Back Around
Take It Through The Night
The Ride
JOAN ARMATRADING & band arrived on stage at 8.25pm for their 25 mins set.
The big screen showing live footage kicks in from Joan onwards.
A good set including a couple of her big hits.
Full JOAN ARMATRADING setlist played tonight...
Into the Blues
Down to Zero
Mama Mercy
Empty Highway
Drop the Pilot
RICHARD ASHCROFT arrived on stage at 9.25pm for his 30 mins solo acoustic set.
A great set as he played all The Verve classics.
Full RICHARD ASHCROFT setlist played tonight...
Sonnet (The Verve song)
Lucky Man (The Verve song)
The Drugs Don't Work (The Verve song)
C'mon People (We're Making It Now)
Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve song)
LOLA LENNOX arrived on stage at 10pm for her shirt 10 mins set.
Lola is the daughter of Annie Lennox.
She should really come on in the first half of the show , as Roger Daltrey kept talking about the venue curfew
of 11pm and looking at his watch throughout his set.
ROGER DALTREY and his eight piece band arrived on stage at 10.15pm for their 45 mins set.
The legendary singer of The Who is now aged 79, but he is still a great front man.
An excellent set.
Full ROGER DALTREY & band setlist played tonight...
Let My Love Open the Door (Pete Townshend cover)
Squeeze Box (The Who song)
After the Fire
Who Are You (The Who song)
Giving It All Away (written by Leo Sayer who also recorded it for his album)
Tattoo (The Who song)
Days of Light
Substitute (The Who song) (with Kelly Jones)
Baba O'Riley (The Who song)
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Saturday 25 March 2023...I went to two events today...
1pm to 6.30pm
SARACENS 36 HARLEQUINS 24 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,North London.
The Showdown 3 - The London Edition....the game was 3pm to 5pm...
Some scorelines can in fact be unflattering because in this kind of form it is hard to see who is going to stop Saracens from lifting the Premiership trophy at Twickenham for the first time in four years when the season wraps. The post-match celebrations might have focused on Saracens securing a home Gallagher Premiership semi-final but to get that far and no further would be catastrophic given the quality they displayed here.
Always relentless and abrasive, now they have an attack which can overpower the very best, even the league's great entertainers in Harlequins. No team this season has beaten more defenders or produced more offloads and how it shows - Saracens began with an offload from Ben Earl to set up Alex Lozowski and three of their five tries feature the kind of quick handling defence coaches hate.
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Plenty of good tv coverage of quality rugby these days, is always worth watching, but I was thinking
when was the last rugby match I went to in person?....certainly many ,many years ago.
I think it was just over 20 years ago when a French friend was visiting London and French club Lens
were playing Wasps at QPRs Loftus Road Stadium.
Thanks to John at City Index for the tickets which included full hospitality.
A near full house of 55,000 folks are here, to create a great atmosphere.
Saracens are leading the Premiership Rugby Table.
We had a great view behind the teams dugouts.
A high scoring game , so very entertaining.
Great to see England's Owen Farrell live in action.
Hospitality - we had Steak and Ale Pie with Horseradish Creamed Potato & Gravy,
Roast Pork Bap with Sage and Onion Stuffing and roast potatoes, and dessert was Salted Caramel Tart.
Drinks were Guinness, Lagers, Ciders and wines.
The ground was cleared out , but we were allowed to stay in the hospitality area until 6.30pm,
so the train stations were a lot quieter when we left.
A very enjoyable afternoon.
then
8pm to 11pm.
NO 17 DICKENS YARD - showcase - Longfield Avenue, Ealing, London W5.
This bar is one of several venues around London that are owned by Neighbourhood Bars.
This newish restaurant and bar is situated near to Ealing Town Hall.
My band Gun Control played Ealing Town Hall in Oct 1980, with me on drums.
The bar looks great from the outside , with a nice selection of flowers and plants.
It has an alfresco area along with an outside terrace balcony.
We are in the upstairs area , where around 40 are seated in comfy sofas and chairs.
There is a female DJ playing some well known older tracks.
We had complimentary drinks and food including three different vodka cocktails, wines, beers
and lots of nice food including cartons of calamari.
A very enjoyable evening.

Updated 26th March 2023 Permalink

Friday 24 March 2023.

Friday 24 March 2023....6.15pm to 11.30pm...
PLATFORM - launch party - Unit 40, 1 Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14.
Platform, the gaming and esports bar in London, opens its second site in Canary Wharf.
The new Canary Wharf site, will offer a unique competitive socialising experience, complemented by a food and drink offering including cocktails inspired by retro games.
Set over two floors in a 4,700 sq. ft site, the Platform Canary Wharf esports bar will accommodate up to 250 guests in 24 console gaming booths – each kitted out with ninth-generation consoles.
Each semi-private booth is for both experienced gamers and novices alike, with the choice between current-generation consoles and a curated library of multiplayer games on the agenda.
Upon entering the esports bar venue, guests can expect to be transported to Venice Beach, greeted by sunset hues and neon signs, contrasting the industrial bar, stocked with wine, beer and spirits, where visitors will be encouraged to enjoy Platform’s curated cocktail list. In addition to the traditional drinks offering, the team will serve up alcoholic and non-alcoholic slushies, canned drinks, popcorn and bar snacks.
Downstairs there are 20 booths, seating between two to 30 guests, each decorated with cinema-style interiors. The addition of ‘service buttons’ in each booth will allow guests to order food and drink at their table with the press of a button. The menu includes Platform’s usual pizzas plus other treats.
Opening hours for the Canary Wharf esports bar are as follows:
Monday – Thursday 11.30am – 12am
Friday & Saturday 11am – 1am
Sunday 11.30 am – 11.30 pm
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Canary Wharf has got so many restaurant and bars to choose from these days.
Over 100 guests here at this venue near to Canary Wharf tube / DLR station.
We got there early to get one of the seated booths with the big screen.
Don't do gaming at all these days, but it was good fun picking up the controls
and play the retro games i used to play with my kids , around 25 years ago.
Nice sounds over the pa gave it a nice clubby vibe.
The staff were a bit slow making the cocktails, but they were doing their best to learn.
Complimentary food and drinks included....we had a few of the eleven cocktails on offer,
along with prosecco, wines, beers, various pizza slices and cheesy nachos.
An enjoyable time here.
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Thursday 23 March 2023.
DANNY BAKER live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Comedy writer, journo , radio and tv presenter who has got plenty of banter.
In the late 1970s he wrote for punk magazine Sniffin' Glue and NME.
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Some quirky tunes from the 1960s and 1970 over the pa before the show.
Levels 2 and 3 closed, and it is stalls seating, so maybe only 400 folks here.
A mainly older crowd, like me , who have seen him/heard him on various things the past 45 years.
Iron Maiden guitarist JANICK GERS is sitting near the front of the stalls.
DANNY BAKER (now aged 65) arrived on stage at 7.30pm and finished late at 11.10pm.
Minus the interval , that means he was on stage for a staggering 3 hours 15 mins.
Danny and his chirpy cockney banter really can talk for England.
He said it was the 31st show on his tour.
Basically it was a full run through of his life from start to finish...with plenty of amusing bits.
Photos on the big screen were prompts for many of the stories.
Loving family life growing up in a council flat in London SE16.
School days and family holidays.
Sniffin' Glue founder Mark Perry was in the same school football team as Danny.
Mark asked Danny's sister to borrow her typewriter to do the first issue.
It went from selling 200 a time to 20,000 by the final 12th issue.
Only 12 issues as Mark thought it was time to end it, as he thought punk had sold out.
Danny worked in a Soho record store and met Elton John and Rod Stewart there.
His mate punching Sid Vicious at The Ramones at The Rainbow gig.
Going to London clubs like Global Villlage (now Heaven). I went there a couple of times.
He then got a job with NME for three years in its heyday , where he was flying off to USA
and mainland Europe often for interviews and reviews with all the big names of the time.
He met his wife at NME, and they are still married after 43 years.
Janet Street-Porter gave him his first job on tv called 'Twentieth Century Box',
which included the first tv appearances of Spandau Ballet, Iron Maiden and Depeche Mode.
In 1982 he got a prime tv job for six years with The Six O'Clock Show.
Every show he gives out a signed vinyl album from his record collection.
Remember Danny in the tv advert 'The Daz Doorstep Challenge'.
Remember Danny had a Spitting Image puppet.
In 1988 he met up with Chris Evans to work on various radio and tv shows, including
five years writing for that great tv programme 'TGI Friday'.
Danny was very frank about talking about how much money he got paid for everything , which included
£175,000 for his 2017 appearence on 'I'm a Celebrity , Get Me Out Of Here'.
He said it was fantastic, as it was the only time he felt like he was on a real film set,
as so many people working on it, along with the first class flights and five star hotel.
He most recent project was 'Cradle To The Grave' , with Peter Kay.
Danny has had a great career , and tonight was very enjoyable.
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Wednesday 22 March 2023.
MAISIE ADAM live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Up and coming female comedian is starting to play bigger venues on her current Buzzed UK tour.
You will recognise Maisie from her distinctive skinhead girl feather cut hairstyle.
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Levels 2 and 3 are closed , and it is stalls seated , so maybe just 400 folks here.
During the show Maisie said it was the last date on her massive 70 date UK tour.
Her first ever headline tour, after being a support act for many years.
She clearly loves doing what she does.
The first set was on from 8pm to 8.30pm...30 mins.
The first set was ' getting to know my audience' , so she interacted with folks in the crowd,
about where they come from, what jobs they do , their relationships etc.
Lots of enjoyable jokey ad-libs during this section.
The second set was her main show from 8.50pm to 9.55pm...65 mins.
Maisie is fast talking , and she never stops for a breather.
Buzzed – the title comes from the fact that she has plenty to be buzzed about right now – does not break any artistic boundaries, it is simply a succession of brilliantly observed dispatches from her life. She recently got engaged and there’s a wonderfully witty routine about her boyfriend’s proposal involving a madcap dash to the right spot on a bridge in Prague so that he could get down on one knee just as the sun was setting.
Even when the stories seem superficially mundane a sharp turn of phrase or image makes them sparkle. Adam is not the first comedian to talk about Zoom gigs or Twitter trolls but she has a way of bringing something fresh to every topic. I particularly liked her description of a face that resembled “the wrinkly bit of your elbow”, which was worthy of Victoria Wood.
This is not cruel comedy. Nor is it particularly zeitgeisty, although there is plenty of subtext about inclusivity and diversity. Adam adds a modern spin to the stand-up template without ever sermonising. A story about appearing on a panel show where her male team captain kept getting her name wrong is never nasty. There is a dusting of feminism in her riff on the weirdness of wedding ceremonies and the strangeness of taking your husband’s surname though only a light dusting.
The only time the big screen is used is at the end , to show a video of her on Soccer AM tv when she scored
a perfect penalty in the top right corner.
Her vocal clarity was perfect throughout , and there were many funny bits....Really good.
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Tuesday 21 March 2023.
MARCUS KING live at The Forum.
27 year old American singer-songwriter who mixes blues rock with southern rock and Americana.
His 2020 debut album 'El Dorado' recorded under his own name received a nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards...and made 142 on the USA Billboard 200 chart.
His second album 'Young Blood' was released in 2022.
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The show is totally sold out tonight.
The great actor BILL NIGHY ( he was in Hollywood earlier in the month as was shortlisted for Best Actor)
is here...but he is sitting in the front circle in the unreserved seats , and not at the VIP tables.
Support act IDA MAE arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set.
They hail from Norfolk, but spent five years in Nashville.
Female vocals, nifty steel/electric guitar and double bass for a good set.
MARCUS KING arrived on stage at 8.35pm and played for 1 hour 55 mins.
Marcus King arrives on stage looking like he is member of Lynryd Skynryd.
Cowboy hat, rhinestones in his stage wear and a southern drawl.
There are eight musicians on stage including a three man brass section.
Marcus and the other guitarist and bass player, all playing in front of Orange amps.
Lots of great blues guitar solos , many songs are several minutes long each.
A few cover versions played including a very nice 'Many Rivers to Cross'.
There was a full drum solo after 75 mins.
A really good show.
Full MARCUS KING setlist played tonight...
It's Too Late
Virginia
Had to Cry Today (Blind Faith cover)
Trouble Man (Marvin Gaye cover)
Pain
Many Rivers to Cross (Jimmy Cliff cover)
Beautiful Stranger
Horny Jail
Aim High
Guess Who (Jesse Belvin cover)
Dark Cloud
Danny Boy / Fraudulent Waffle
Can't You Hear Me Knocking (The Rolling Stones cover)
Good and Gone
Drum solo
Wildflowers & Wine
Lie Lie Lie / Rice Pudding
Madman Across The Water (Elton John cover)
Comin' Home (Delaney & Bonnie cover)
Play Video
Goodbye Carolina
Turn On Your Love Light (Bobby Bland cover)
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Monday 20 March 2023.
PIXIES play The Roundhouse.
PIXIES play the first of two sold out pronto shows at this North London venue.
Their last UK tour in 2018 included five sold out nights at this venue.
I have seen The Pixies a couple of times before, with the first time at Hammersmith Odeon in 1990.
PIXIES (Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Paz Lenchantin) are back, their latest album Doggerel is a mature yet visceral record of gruesome folk, ballroom pop and brutal rock, haunted by the ghosts of affairs and indulgences, driven wild by cosmic forces and envisioning digital afterlives where no God has provided one. And all the while, right there on the news, another distant storm approaches.
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Support act SLOW READERS CLUB were down to play 30 mins but i missed their set.
A surprise to see a dozen or so folks looking for tickets outside and a couple of street ticket touts.
A very rare sight these days as electronic tickets on smartphones has messed the touts up badly.
I kinda miss the days when a dozen touts would be outside some of the big sold out shows.
PIXIES arrived on stage at 9pm for their 1 hour 55 mins set.
They have a nice stage production, with lots of lights behind them.
Pixies always change their setlist around a bit , and there is not much chat or movement on stage.
The sound is superb , and the band play a staggering 37 songs tonight.
A few songs from their recent album were performed.
Highlights included 'Here Comes Your Man', 'Caribou', 'Monkey Gone To Heaven',
'Debaser' and 'Where Is My Mind' near the end.
A great show.

Updated 21st March 2023 Permalink

Sunday 19 March 2023.

Sunday 19 March 2023.
MORRISSEY live at Hammersmith Apollo.
Moz plays his only UK show on his seven date European Tour.
I never saw The Smiths live as i was always working front stage security at Hammersmith Odeon during the 1980s , but have seen Morrissey solo around a dozen times.
Needless to say , that i am really looking forward to seeing this show.
Morrissey fans are meeting up at Beluhshis Bar on Hammersmith Broadway before and after the show.
Gig tickets on the expensive side tonight as stalls standing were £75 and circle seats were £100 and £75.
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Folks are handing PETA leaflets all over the front of the venue.
My security chums told me 33 hardcore Morrissey fans had camped out overnight under the flyover,
to get the front row stalls standing positions when the doors open.
Folks have come from all around the country for his only UK show on this tour.
The merch stands are doing a roaring trade.
The show is completely rammed sold out by the time Morrissey comes on stage.
Lots of the fans have Moz hairstyles and his style of clothing.
BOY GEORGE is sitting in the front circle seating.
From 8pm to 8.30pm we have a big screen showing a film of some of Morrissey's fave videos
which included two of his fave bands - The Sex Pistols and The New York Dolls.
I did not go to any shows on his last UK tour, but i think this film was also used then.
MORRISSEY arrived on stage at 8.35pm and played for 85 mins.
He introduced the show with the words "Happy Mothers Day" (Morrissey recently lost his own mum).
His top notch band sounded great as usual.
The big screen remained, to show pre-recorded images.
Chants of "Morrissey, Morrissey, Morrissey" ring out throughout the evening.
The front stalls standing is a heaving mess of bodies.
Lots of classic tracks played along with a couple of new tracks from his upcoming album.
A few oldies from The Smiths played, and 'Everyday is like Sunday' was totally mega.
As usual he muttered away between songs.
He never seems to play for than 90 mins and tonight Morrissey was on stage for only 85 mins,
which seems short for someone with 40 years of material, but there were 20 songs played.
As usual the encore was pretty crazy as Morrissey fans tried to get on stage (some did),
to shake his hand or give him a cuddle , but he had two personal security on stage sorting that out.
Moz then threw his Smiths t-shirt that he was wearing into the crowd.
A great show.
Full MORRISSEY setlist played tonight...
Our Frank
Alma Matters
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before (The Smiths song)
Irish Blood, English Heart
I Wish You Lonely
Jim Jim Falls
I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings
Istanbul
Girlfriend in a Coma (The Smiths song)
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Knockabout World
The Loop
The Night Pop Dropped
Without Music the World Dies
Half a Person ( The Smiths song)
Trouble Loves Me
Suedehead
Jack the Ripper
Encore:
Sweet and Tender Hooligan (The Smiths song)
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Saturday 18 March 2023...I went to two events tonight...
6pm to 8pm
FLAT IRON - press preview - 9 Young Street, Kensimgton, London W8.
Kensington residents on the lookout for a decent steakhouse now have the arrival of Flat Iron.
Everyone's favourite budget steak restaurant has opened up a 90-seat restaurant on Young Street, just off Kensington High Street. As per their usual operating model, it'll all be about their titular Flat Iron steak which, right now, is on sale for £13.
In addition to that steak, there will also be a "rotating board of beef specials" so you can look out for sirloin, bavette and also the odd burger special. On top of that, sides will include crispy bone marrow garlic mash, truffled macaroni cheese, creamed spinach, and beef dripping chips.
A pretty basic menu here which features steak, beef, wagu as mains choices and several side dishes.
For desserts that is only ice-cream and that is free to all to take out in a cone or tub as you leave the venue.
We had a Flat Iron steak each and a British F1 Wagu Flank to share and half a dozen side dishes to share.
Great music over the house sound system included The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Sex Pistols.
The food was delicious and the staff were great.
Visit their website www.flatironsteak.co.uk for locations and menu.
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then
THE SKIDS live at The 100 Club.
The Skids play the second of two sold out pronto shows at this iconic club venue.
I have seen these great Scottish punk legends around a dozen times, which included
seven times during their heyday period of 1979 to 1981.
Skids,Dole Marquee Club, London 28.03.1979
Skids,Angelic Upstarts Lyceum Theatre, London 03.06.1979
Skids,Fingerprintz Rainbow Theatre, London 02.11.1979
Skids,Simple Minds,Pink Military Hammersmith Palais , London 26.08.1980
Skids,Ruts DC,Books Hammersmith Odeon, London 21.10.1980
Skids Hope And Anchor Pub, London 01.11.1980
Skids Venue , Victoria , London 10.02.1981
They had five Top 40 hits in the UK including one Top 10 which was 'Into The Valley' in 1979
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Nice to see a few friends here...including one who was filming the entire show.
THE SKIDS arrived on stage at 9pm and played for 80 mins.
The band, originally hailing from Dunfermline in Scotland put together some of the most memorable and recognisable tunes of the late 70s. Stuart Adamson, sadly, took his own life in 2001 which Richard Jobson reminded us of with a brief moment of reflection and a warm smile and humour.
Bruce Watson and his son are now on guitar duties.
Back in the day singer Richard Jobson would do his energetic dancing , and he is still doing it.
Sweating buckets with a big smile, but these days he has a rest between songs for some charismatic banter,
including rants on Leo Sayer keeping The Skids off the top of the charts, the age of the crowd tonight,
the dodgy clothing he wore on TOTP back then, being 20 years clean....off drinking IRN-BRU.
All the classic hits got the crowd dancing , and 'Into The Valley' sent the crowd into overdrive.
When the band appears to have enjoyed it as much as the audience you know you’ve witnessed something special. An excellent show.
Full SKIDS setlist played tonight...
Charade
Of One Skin
Charles
Destination Dusseldorf (track from upcoming new album)
The Saints Are Coming
Working for the Yankee Dollar
Melancholy Soldiers
Out of Town
Masquerade
Hurry On Boys
Circus Games
Into the Valley
A Woman in Winter
The Olympian
TV Stars
Complete Control (The Clash cover)

Updated 19th March 2023 Permalink

Friday 17 March 2023

Friday 17 March 2023.
TURIN BRAKES live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Turin Brakes are an English band.They had a UK top 5 hit in 2003 with their song "Painkiller (Summer Rain)". Since starting out in 1999, the band have sold around one million records worldwide. They are currently signed to Cooking Vinyl. They have released several studio albums.
Their ninth studio album 'Wide-Eyed Nowhere' was released in 2022.
They had seven Top 40 hits in the UK, including one Top 10.
I saw Turin Brakes supporting Travis at The Royal Festival Hall in 2018.
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Level 3 is closed and there is space on all other levels so maybe only 700 or 800 folks here.
UNE arrived on stage at 8pm for their 30 mins set.
UNE are BBC 6music and Radio 2 broadcaster, musician and author Mark Radcliffe and electronica tech head Paul S Langley (Robs Records/Yeti-MusicMan/SonyBMG) ​ UNE is electronic music spanning many styles with a plaintive lonely voice at its heart. A happy accidental collision of man and machines.
A decent 1980s style synth-pop sound with their keyboard, electric guitar and backing tapes.
TURIN BRAKES arrived on stage at 9pm for their 1 hour 40 mins set.
The band's sound is very much like the acoustic rock of Travis and Starsailor that was very popular
around 20 years ago....they played new album tracks along with the hit singles from their two debut albums.
'The Optimist' released 2001 - reached number 27 in the UK - nominated for the Mercury Album Prize.
'Ether Song' released 2003 - reached number 4 in the UK.
An enjoyable show.
Full TURIN BRAKES setlist played tonight...
Isolation
Up For Grabs
The Door
Future Boy
Lost In The Woods
Dark on Fire
Into The Sun
Keep Me Around
We Were Here
World Like That
Long Distance
Last Chance
Pain Killer (Summer Rain)
Fishing for a Dream
Black Rabbit
Encore:
Something in My Eye
No Rainbow
Underdog (Save Me)
Encore 2:
Feeling Oblivion
Slack
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Thursday 16 March 2023...I went to two events tonight...
6.15pm to 7.45pm.
Zheng Lu 'Liquid Narratives' - private view - The House Of Fine Art, 11 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London W1.
Zheng Lu's latest solo show, featuring a never before seen selection of works by the exciting emerging artist.
Around 70 or 80 smartly dressed guests here to look at the steel sculptures and installations.
Several of them had too many sharp points sticking out for my liking.
Complimentary Charles de Fere sparking wine for all the guests.
It is on here from 17 March to 29 March.
then
8pm to 9.15pm.
W1 Curates presents Constellations by Rewind Collective - Launch Night.
Flannels , 161-167 Oxford Street , London W1.
Around 150 guests in this gallery space , in the basement of this store.
It is on the dark side, and with the DJ sounds, it feels more like a nightclub.
Philip Sallon (now aged 71) was here..He is a British club promoter, event organiser, socialite, style innovator, impresario, and clothing designer.He was born in London, England.He is particularly known for being a prominent member of the Punk sub-cultural and New Romantic pop cultural movements during the 1970s and 1980s.
Complimentary sprits with mixers, wines and beers for all the guests.

Updated 17th March 2023 Permalink

Wednesday 15 March 2023.

Wednesday 15 March 2023.
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
American rock band from Florida are promoting their seventh studio albums 'Complete Collapse',
which was released on 14 October 2022.
They have sold over a million albums during their career.
This show is part of a European Tour.
Two of their albums have made the UK Top 40 charts....'Feel' in 2013...and 'Madness' in 2015.
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The venue is not sold out tonight, but it looks very full.
Loads of interesting looking female emo rock fans here tonight.
CHARMING LIARS arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set.
A British band who have an American singer.
Some decent rock songs played by them.
STATIC DRESS arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 30 mins set.
Static Dress is an English rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire. The band formed in 2018 and currently consists of vocalist Olli Appleyard, drummer Sam Ogden, bassist George Holding, and anonymous masked guitarist Contrast. They have released one full length studio album alongside various standalone singles and an EP.
They were much heavier than the first band, and this created some moshing and crowd-surfing.
Their sound was a bit too hardcore for me, but the crowd liked them.
The interval was non-stop ABBA classics over the pa, that had the girls here all singing along to.
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS arrived on stage at 9.10pm for their 80 mins set.
They certainly put on a great stage show, as there were loads of lights and the first song had streamers,
and every other song after had smoke plumes and pyros and ticker-tape.
As with the second support band there was plenty of moshing and crowd-surfing.
The vocals seemed to get lost a bit in the mix from my seat upstairs, or maybe it sounded ok from the floor.
There were a couple of acoustic tracks played including 'Iris' by Goo Goo Dolls.
There was a small film crew , filming all the headline band tonight.
A decent enough show.
Full SLEEPING WITH SIRENS setlist played tonight...
Break Me Down
Kick Me
Leave It All Behind
Never Enough
Talking to Myself
Do It Now Remember It Later
Crosses
Agree to Disagree
Go Go Go
Better Off Dead
Scene Five: With Ears to See, and Eyes to Hear
Iris (The Goo Goo Dolls cover)
Bloody Knuckles
Ctrl + Alt + Del (Live Debut + Music Video Recorded)
If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn
Encore:
If You Can't Hang
OUTRO SONG OVER THE PA I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
(by Whitney Houston played as they exited stage)
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Tuesday 14 March 2023.
LADY BLACKBIRD live at Shepherds Bush Empire.
' Black Acid Soul' is the tiitle of the debut album from LA musician Marley Munroe’s as Lady Blackbird.
Upon its 2021 release, The Guardian gave it a glowing five star review.
This show is part of a European Tour.
Lady Blackbird has already got some good tv exposure by singing a tune on The Graham Norton Show,
and the following day after this show, she records a track for The Jonathan Ross Show, which will be
aired on Saturday 18 March 2023.
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It does not say sold out , but the venue is very full.
The cool older jazz/soul crowd look like they would be more at home watching this show at
Ronnie Scott's rather than squashed together in the floor standing area here.
LADY BIRTHDAY arrived on stage at 9.05pm for a 1 hour 40 mins set.
She arrives on stage , and you think straight away - Grace Jones - as she has a huge cone headwear,
and a tight black leotard showing off her bum cheeks and boobs.
She is backed by a four piece band including double bass, and has some nice stage banter.
She has got an amazing jazz/soul voice and the respectful crowd are listening quietly to it all.
Some great covers that were all jazzed up , which went down well with the crowd.
A drum and bass improv section was played as she nipped off stage to add a huge silver neck collar.
A really good show.
Full LADY BLACKBIRD setlist played tonight...
Black Acid Soul
Walk With Me
Blackbird (Nina Simone cover)
Collage
It's Not That Easy (Reuben Bell cover)
Five Feet Tall
Fix It (aka Peace Piece) (Bill Evans cover)
Did Somebody Make a Fool Out of You (Tony Joe White cover)
Baby I Just Don't
Drum & Bass Improvisation
Come Together (The Beatles cover)
Woman
Feel It Comin'
It'll Never Happen Again (Tim Hardin cover)
Encore:
I Am What I Am (Jerry Herman cover)
Life on Mars ( David Bowie cover)

Updated 15th March 2023 Permalink