Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Friday 03 May 2024.

Friday 03 May 2024. THE MEMBERS live at The 100 Club. The Members play a special show to launch their new studio album ( their 8th) ' Greetings From Nowhere'....which features legendary bass player Guy Pratt on a couple of tracks......I have seen The Members around 20 times since 1978, when they supported Devo twice at Hammersmith Odeon. Special guests are LOS SANTOS. Los Santos feature members of the Ruts DC, The Saints, Members, Dangerous Measures..cadiz music Houseband, Richard England, Michael Bayliss, Lee Hegarty, James Sherry. ------------------ Nice to see so many punk rockin' chums here. Spizz Energi is here ...reminder that a couple of days later on Sunday 05 May ,he headlines The Punk Pile-Up Festival at The Purple Turtle in Reading which is FREE ENTRY. LOS SANTOS on stage at 8.30pm for their 30 mins. They played some good tracks, including 'On The Strip '(Vegas Baby) ' from their cd , and a great version of The Saints Top 40 hit from 1977 ' This Perfect Day ', that they dedicated to Chris Bailey R.I.P. THE MEMBERS on stage at 9.30pm for their 70 mins. The Members played a nice mix of tracks from their 45 plus years career. They still have that reggae slant on a few songs which was great to hear. We get the first ever live performance of their current single ' The Boy From Nowhere' early in the set , and later on we get plenty of older gems including ' Offshore Banking Business', ' Solitary Confinement,,' ' Working Girl',' their anthem ' Sound of The Suburbs', ' Muzak Machine', a nifty cover of John Holts ' Police In Helicopter' , ' Chelsea Nightclub' and encore of ' One Law'...a great show as always from The Members. ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Thursday 02 May 2024....5pm to 10.15pm .... THE PELLIGON - launch party- 43 Bank Street , Canary Wharf, London E14. Excellent evening to launch this new event space. Over 300 guests here tonight. The venue’s crowning feature is its twenty-seven-metre-high glass vaulted Main Hall. With a capacity of up to 750 guests, the uninterrupted space can be adapted to suit a number of occasions and configurations, including gigs , parties, weddings etc. The Mezzanine level can host an extra 250 guests. There was a stage , where we had a DJ , percussionist , sax player , electric violinist who all did short solo sets...then from 8.30pm for 60 mins , they csme together and were joined by male and female vocals for non-stop party hits that got folks dancing. We made use of the fun photo booth . Lots of complimentary drinks and food, including five different cocktails, wines, beers , bowl food , canapes and desserts. Upstairs were two chefs tables of ten ,where they cook in front of you, so we had a 6.30pm 30 mins session for a delicious Vadouvan turbot , curry leaf potatoes and saffron...with a paired red wine. See my Facebook page for photos and videos . ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Thursday 02 May 2024. Sad news that guitar legend DUANE EDDY has died aged 86....i saw him supporting The Everly Brothers at Hammersmith Odeon in the 1980s, and headlining The Royal Festival Hall in 2010 and The Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2012.