Sunday 04 January 2026.

Sunday 04 January 2026. Hard to believe that PHIL LYNOTT passed away 40 years ago today. He was aged only 36. I was lucky to see THIN LIZZY with him 23 times. Many shows at Hammersmith Odeon. Including their last UK show , which was headlining The Reading Festival in 1983. Thin Lizzy were such a great live rock band , and Phil was so charismatic. I also saw Phil Lynott twice with THE GREEDIES at The Electric Ballroom in 1978. The Greedies band members included Steve Jones and Paul Cook and others . ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Saturday 03 Jan 2026 . THE ANIMALS + GENO WASHINGTON & The Ram Jam Band live at 229 Great Portland Street , London W1. I went to see this very nice double bill this time last year , at the same venue . Two legends from the 1960s play the first gig of the January Blues Festival at this venue. See the front page of my website for the full list of the 19 shows. With original founding member John Steel (now aged 84), Having served as the Animals drummer at its inception in 1963, he is the only original band member playing in the current incarnation of the Animals. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. The Animals greatest hits include House of the Rising Sun, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place, Baby Let Me Take You Home, Bring It On Home To Me, It’s My Life and many more which helped make The Animals one of the biggest groups in the world during the 1960’s. The Animals played a five week tour of Australia just before Christmas . Geno Washington (now aged 82) is an American R&B singer who released five albums with the Ram Jam Band between 1966 and 1969, and eight solo albums beginning in 1976. His status as one of the "Kings of Soul" was cemented forever by Kevin Rowland and Dexy's Midnight Runners in the 1980's with the World-wide No. 1 smash hit single "Geno", which paid homage to the great man himself. ----------- The 620 capacity looks pretty full on this cold January evening. The DJ is playing just the right tunes to get folks in the mood for the bands. GENO WASHINGTON & The Ram Jam Band arrived on stage at 8pm for their 55 mins set. His backing band are actually known as The YoYos. Geno looks a bit frail , when he shuffles on and off the stage , but once he gets behind that microphone , he is a man transformed. His voice and enthusiasm and stage banter is pretty amazing. Geno jokily teases his musicians and unveils a succession of increasingly tall funny tales to the crowd. A great set , full of classic soul and r n b covers. Chants of "Geno, Geno, Geno" from the appreciative crowd throughout his set. The overall sound for both bands was top notch. A quick changeover of only 10 mins as both bands used the same drum kit. THE ANIMALS arrived on stage at 9.05pm for their 70 mins set. Younger faces stood beside long-time faithful who’ve carried this music with them for decades — the kind of crowd where the songs feel inherited, almost woven into people’s DNA. That blend of generations gave the night a special warmth, the sense of a tradition being passed on . Vocalist Danny Handley was in wonderful form from the moment he stepped up to the mic. His humour, warmth, and relaxed wit have become central to the modern Animals identity, and his banter made the crowd feel part of the show rather than spectators. Lots of their classic hits played, along with a few choice covers. Just before the encore John Steel thanked us for coming , and said see you next year. A great show. Full setlist played by The Animals tonight... Baby, Let Me Take You Home It's My Life Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed cover) I Believe to My Soul (Ray Charles cover) I'm Crying Bring It On Home to Me (Sam Cooke cover) Don't Bring Me Down Big Boss Man ( Jimmy Reed cover) (With snippet of "Hi-Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker) Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone cover) Night Time Is the Right Time ( Roosevelt Sykes cover) We Gotta Get Out of This Plac ( (Barry Mann cover) Encore: The House of the Rising Sun ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Thursday 01 January 2026. My fave gigs of 2025 . 2023 - I went to 189 gigs. 2024 - I went to 189 gigs. 2025 - I went to 157 gigs. That brings the total to 7907 gigs seen by me since Sept 1973. Another great year for gig-going . The 10/10 stand out gigs for me personally were... My top gig of the year has to be ... THE SEX PISTOLS with FRANK CARTER live at The 100 Club on 21 March 2025. The Sex Pistols play this iconic club for the first time since I saw them at The 100 Club Punk Festival in Sept 1976, and it's even a semi - secret warm up gig for the Royal Albert Hall show under the S.P.O.T.S. name that they used in 1977 . No doubt John Lydon didn't fancy going back there during previous reunion tours , but now Frank Carter is on vocals it can at last be done. Three original members and a fantastic front man playing tracks from the greatest album of all time , at this particular venue was incredible. THE SEX PISTOLS with FRANK CARTER live at The Royal Albert Albert 24 March 2025. THE WHO + LEVEL 42 live at The Royal Albert Hall on 27 and 30 March 2025. IRON MAIDEN live at The London Stadium on 28 June 2025. BLACK SABBATH + OZZY OSBOURNE BAND + METALLICA + GUNS N ROSES + STEVEN TYLER + SAMMY HAGER plus many more at Villa Park, Birmingham on 05 July 2025.

Posted 1st January 2026