Thursday 14 November 2024.

------- Thursday 14 November 2024. SCOUTING FOR GIRLS live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Scouting For Girls still consists of its founder members Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Peter Ellard, who together have so far achieved four Top 10 singles, four Top 10 albums, 2 million sales, more than a billion streams, four BRIT Awards and an Ivor Novello. The band’s rich catalogue of hits includes “She’s So Lovely”, the Number 1 smash, “This Ain’t A Love Song”, “Heartbeat” and “Elvis Ain’t Dead”. They tour in celebration of their 2023 album, The Place We Used To Meet. I have seen them a few times before , and the last time I saw them was in the summer as a support act to Sugababes at Windsor Racecourse. They are playing a full UK tour ----------- The venue is full with a 75% female crowd. VINCE FREEMAN on at 7.25pm for 30 mins. He did an ok set of acoustic tracks. JAMIE LAWSON on at 8pm for 30 mins. Jamie Lawson had some success several years ago, but seems to have lost some of his momentum . He certainly does not look anything like his 48 years old. He was the first artist to be signed by Ed Sheeran's new record label, Gingerbread Man Records. Lawson is best known for his hit single, "Wasn't Expecting That", (which he played tonight), and his self-titled album which peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart in 2015. SCOUTING FOR GIRLS on at 9pm for 90 mins. A nice stage with lots of lights and vertical lighting poles. The females here love their girl friendly catchy pop songs, and sing loudly all to all the tracks. The singer knows how to work the crowd well , and for one song he goes up to the Level 1 seats to sing it. They played all their greatest hits. An enjoyable show Full SCOUTING FOR GIRLS setliat played tonight... The Missing Part Heartbeat Dancing in the Daylight Love How It Hurts Michaela Strachan I Wish I Was James Bond Bad Superman Butterflies Posh Girls Year 3000 ( Busted cover) This Ain't a Love Song Raise a Glass Elvis Ain't Dead (Can't Help Falling In Love snippet) Encore: Glow Christmas in the Air (Tonight) She's So Lovely -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Wednesday 13 November 2024. BOB DYLAN live at The Royal Albert Hall. This is the second of his three sold out RAH shows. Bob Dylan s playing another UK & European Tour. The music legend is now aged 83. I have seen him over 20 times since two of his shows at Earls Court Arena in 1978. Not as good as he was then , but still worth seeing this icon , whose fans hold him in such high reverence. Bob Dylan will bring his Rough and Rowdy Ways World tour to the Hall. The impact of Bob Dylan cannot be overstated. Nobody else so revolutionised the way we think about singing, song-writing, music as protest and the very definition of folk music, all in their first decade as a performer. That Dylan did all this while remaining elusive, chameleonic and defiant sets him apart from almost anyone else to ever sing into a microphone. Thinking of the two times I saw in him in 2009. Bob played The 02 Arena then the Roundhouse. Bob at The 02 Arena with no big screens, imagine being at the back for that show. --------- You will not see much footage of these shows on YouTube as you have to put your phones in a pouch for the duration of the show .Extra security on hand with body scanners to stop anyone trying to sneak one in. The venue is rammed solid with loyal Dylan fans. Minimal promotion no interviews , but all sold out. As usual there is no support act for him. As usual he comes on at 8pmish and finishes well before 10pm. His band are musicians for whom the term seasoned professional was invented – longstanding crack sessioneers, men whose collective CV encompasses everyone from Paul Simon to Steely Dan to sundry former Beatles – and yet you somehow get the impression that even they aren’t quite certain exactly what’s going to happen next. An artist who pronounced himself freewheelin’ in 1963 seems no more inclined to keep to any script 61 years on. Best to stick close to the guy in charge and keep your eyes peeled for clues as to where he’s headed. As they hawkishly follow his unpredictable vocal phrasing and a piano style that’s simultaneously florid and ragged – Art Tatum by way of Les Dawson – he’s still capable of wrongfooting them: there are moments when you could swear the band start building to a climax or slowing to a conclusion, only to discover their leader has other ideas. This is, of course, the way Dylan has done things on stage for decades now: in a world of backing tapes and tightly drilled setlists, you’re very aware that this is music happening in the moment, before your very eyes and ears. At Dylan gigs you really feel you are in the present of greatness ....even more than Macca or Jagger. I don't really know much of his latter material, so he can be hard work at times , but his loyal fans are lapping up whatever he plays. There was only a few tracks I knew. Always an interesting event to see this legend, but I enjoyed Squeeze much more a couple of days before at this same venue. Full set list played by BOB DYLAN tonight... All Along the Watchtower It Ain't Me, Babe I Contain Multitude False Prophet When I Paint My Masterpiece Black Rider My Own Version of You To Be Alone With You Crossing the Rubicon Desolation Row Key West (Philosopher Pirate) Watching the River Flow It's All Over Now, Baby Blue I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You Mother of Muses Goodbye Jimmy Reed Every Grain of Sand

Posted 14th November 2024