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!

Thursday 16 February 2023.

Thursday 16 February 2023....6.45pm to 10.15pm... BEYOND THE STREETS - opening launch party - Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea, London SW3. A massive event as over 1000 folks on the guest list tonight. Guests here included NICK RHODES, NATALIE IMBRUGLIA, FATBOY SLIM ,PATTI PALLADIN, DANIEL LISMORE , New York photographer BOB GRUEN and many of the others who are exhibiting. On the same day of Vivienne Westwoods memorial service there is an entire room dedicated to Viv and Malcolm and The Sex Pistols, along with lots of other punk rock memorabilia. Over 100 artists from the world's of graffiti, street art, hip-hop, punk rock and photography. There is a lot to see as the exhibition covers 13 rooms. Djs playing tunes in a couple of the rooms. Complimentary Pommery champers, Asahi beers and White Claw cans of spirits with flavoured water. It is on here until 09 May 2023....paid ticket for admission. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Wednesday 15 February 2023. BRIAN JONES MASSACRE live at The Forum. American psychedelic rockers play a London show that sold out a month in advance. As part of a European Tour to promote their 20th studio album 'The Future Is Your Past'. Their 2004 documentary 'Dig' is up on Youtube and well worth a look. Features the bands early days of chaos, fights, drugs , booze and jealousy as their friends The Dandy Warhols got a major record deal before them , and a 400,000 dollar budget for the mega video for their great track 'Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth'. Features The Dandy Warhols and their ups and downs with Capital Records. Brian Jones Massacre joy at getting to play Japan before The Dandy Warhols play there. This show will certainly come with the warning...anything could happen on the night. ----------------- Really looking forward to this show, as i have never seen BJM play live before. THE MAGIC MOD arrived on stage at 7.40pm for his 20 mins set. His intro song was The Clash 'London Calling' which was a good start. A magician supporting BJM seemed like a bad idea but it worked out ok. The merch is selling a t-shirt "Who The Fuck is The Magic Mod". He looks and acts like a magic version of Liam Gallagher. He has actually just joined an Oasis tribute band as 'Liam'. He has played some gigs supporting his heroes Paul Weller and The Libertines. He won the crowd over with his cockney geezer banter and some sweary jokey magic. His said hello to his mum & dad in the VIP tables upstairs. THE SOUNDCARRIERS arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 30 mins set. Nottingham based band with female vocalist & keyboard player , who was backed on some nice West Coast 60s psychedelia harmonies by the two guitarists. Anton Newcombe came on at the end of their set, to tell the crowd what a great band they were. There are BJM t-shirts with the words EAT SHIT. on sale. BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE arrived on stage at 9.05pm for their two hour set. Singer and main man Anton Newcombe looks cool, with his slender tall frame and cowboy hat. He is actually standing sideways with his lyric book and lecturn in front of him, and spends more time looking at his band members for their competence, instead of looking at the crowd. Anton looks frazzled and mutters away during tracks , and his guitar tech is helping him often. There are seven musicians on stage , with three guitarists for most songs, but a few songs have four guitarists ,to create a nice wall of sound 60s pyschedelia. Anton is no stranger to provocation and on-stage dramatics but tonight only long-time tambourine player Joel Gion throws his maracas up in the air to big cheers from the crowd. The bands style is a bit ramshackle and there are overlong delays between many songs. Creation Records boss Alan McGee came on stage for an introduction. Highlights of the set included 'Anemone', 'Servo' and 'Abandon Ship'. For the finale BJM are joined on stage by the support bands and guitar techs. A really good show.