Ray's Gigs

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Sunday 20 October 2024.

Sunday 20 October 2024. BIFFY CLYRO live at Shepherds Bush Empire. The Scottish rockers will play a different album each night, along with their best known songs. Under the title of 'A Celebration of Beginnings'. Sun 20 Oct (Blackened Sky) (First album) Mon 21 Oct (The Vertigo Of Bliss) (Second album ) Tues 22 Oct (Infinity Land) (Third album ) All three shows sold out very quickly. They have released nine studio albums . Five of their albums have got to number one in the UK. Their biggest hits are on their 4th and 5th albums. These are intimate shows , as they have headlined many big festivals over the past 20 years including Reading Festival/ Leeds Festivals , Download Festival , Glastonbury Festival, The Isle of Wight Festival and others . I have seen them several times , including from 2008 , when they were a support band to Linkin Park, Bon Jovi and Iron Maiden, and support to Muse in 2010, then headline shows at The Royal Albert Hall, The 02 Arena and an intimate show at The Forum in 2021. -------- The venue is fully rammed sold out tonight. The trio are joined by two other musicians. The drums , keyboards and amps are all white. A ton of arena level lights and strobes. They spent their career seemingly on a mission to play every venue in the land from London to Llandudno. As a result, the band has built a dedicated following the old fashioned way – what some would even refer to refer to as ‘the right way’: through writing fantastic songs and performing them relentlessly in front of anyone willing to listen. BIFFY CLYRO arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for 1 hour 55 mins over two sets. The first set was 55 mins of their debut album. The second set of 60 mins was their best of tracks. Their loyal fans know all the words to all their songs. Lots of moshing , and a dozen crowd surfers. A stunning ' Bubbles' was a big highlight tonight. A great show. Full BIFFY CLYRO setliat played tonight... FIRST SET - Blackened Sky album Joy.Discovery.Invention ( First time live since 2014) 27 ( First time live since 2014) Justboy ( First time live since 2018) Kill the Old, Torture Their Young ( First time live since 2014) The Go-Slow ( First time live since 2014) Christopher's River Convex, Concave ( First time live since 2014) 57 Hero Management (First time live since 2014) Solution Devices (First time live since 2005) Stress on the Sky ( First time live since 2014) Scary Mary ( First time live since 2014) SECOND SET A Hunger in Your Haunt Howl (First time live since 2019) Fever Dream ( First time live since 2019) A Whole Child Ago ( First time live since 2017) Modern Magic Formula ( First time live since 2017) Space Hope for an Angel (First time live since 2014) Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies The Pink Limit Witch's Cup Bubbles Encore: Break a Butterfly on a Wheel ( Simon solo acoustic; first time live since 2014) Stingin' Belle ( First time live since 2019) Note: Intermission of 10 minutes between end of Blackened Sky and rest of set ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Saturday 19 October 2024 I went to two events today 12.30pm to 6pm QPR 1 PORTSMOUTH 2 Massive relegation clash, as both near the bottom. We are in the SUMMIX CAPITAL HOSPITALITY LOUNGE for a three course lunch and drinks. Ex QPR player Andy Sinton is hosting a nearby table. Smoked salmon and marinated prawns. Corn fed chicken breast with sides. A plate of desserts including Irish cream cheesecake. My drinks were a few JD n cokes. Half time was a steak n ale pie with another JD n coke. After the game was a cheeseboard selection ,along with another JD n coke and coffee. We had a fantastic afternoon ,despite the score. then LEIF VOLLEBEKK live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Canadian folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leif Vollebekk tours his latest album, ‘Revelation’, which is his fifth studio album. He is playing a full UK & European Tour -------- Level 3 is closed tonight, but other levels are full. The crowd looks very polite and well mannered. CONNOR YOUNGBLOOD on at 8pm for 30 mins. Just him with his guitar and some backing tracks His voice was too low and muffled to enjoy. LEIF VOLLEBEKK on at 9.05 pm for 95 mins. Leif and his musicians are casually dressed . Leif has a sleeveless vest , that looks very shabby. He easily mixes playing piano , electric guitar and acoustic guitar. When he plays the piano he waves his arms in a strange gestered way. The music is pretty much laid back listening. Leif played a few solo tracks on his own. JAMES BAY joined him for three songs , including the evenings highlight,which was a cover of Prince ' Purple Rain' as the last song of the night.