Ray's Gigs

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Monday 30 October 2023.

Sunday 29 October 2023. REGENESIS live at Shepherds Bush Empire. ReGenesis are proud to present “The Last Supper”, a show featuring the very best of Early Genesis, with one or two genuine surprises thrown in for good measure. The unique set list will feature music from all the Genesis albums from Genesis to Revelation to A Trick of The Tail. ------ Stalls is seated tonight , and Levels 2 and 3 are closed, so maybe 500 folks here. Mainly older men but there are some older females enjoying it. Support act DB-INFUSION played a 30 mins set. They were a jazz fusion trio playing instrumentals with some nifty finger pickin' guitar playing and we even got a nice drum solo. REGENESIS arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played a long set of 2 hours 25 mins. I was too young for early Genesis listening in the early 1970s as I was into glam rock and totp. Five musicians on stage tonight. The singer does not look like Peter Gabriel but the band faithfully reproduce the tricky prog rock tunes from the Peter Gabriel era . The singer did bring out out three types of headwear that Peter Gabriel also used to do. The guitarist was really good, and moved around much more than Steve Hackett. I know some song titles but not many. Many of the songs seem to be 10 mins long. Highlights included ' The Musical Box', ' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway', ' Suppers Ready' and encore of ' The Knife'. Obviously it was a bit muso heavy in parts and you could see why punk rock had to come along in the mid 1970s to shake things up. ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Saturday 28 October 2023. THE MISSION live at The Roundhouse. Goth Rock legends are playing another UK tour. I have seen them several times since 1993, including last year at Shepherds Bush Empire. Special guests on the tour are THEATRE OF HATE. I have seen them a few times since they supported Ian Dury at Hammersmith Odeon in 1981. Kirk Brandon still fronts them, and I saw him fronting his band The Pack before Theatre Of Hate in 1979 and 1980. ---------- The loyal black clad goth rock fans have come out in force for this sold out show. Up first at 7.15pm we have IST IST for a 30 mins set. Never heard their name before, yet they have had three studio albums and eight live albums out. IST IST are a post-punk band based in Greater Manchester.They had nifty guitar sounds and a Peter Hook type bass style which sounded really good. THEATRE OF HATE on stage at 8pm for 45 mins. The have a nice sound feat nice bass and sax. Great to hear 'Westworld' again which was produced by Mick Jones of The Clash back in 1983. THE MISSION on stage at 9.10pm for 1 hour 45 mins. Singer Wayne Hussey has a mop of grey hair. Lots of moshing down front and the usual goth tradition as several stand on others shoulders. Amazingly Wayne said this was their first time playing here at this iconic venue. Highlights included ' Severin ', 'Deliverance' , 'Wasteland' and final encore ' Tower of Strength'. A realky good show. Full MISSION setlist played tonight... TAPE INTRO The Dam Busters Theme Beyond the Pale Serpent's Kiss The Crystal Ocean Butterfly on a Wheel Met-Amor-Phosis Garden of Delight Stay With Me Afterglow Severin Like a Child Again Swan Song Deliverance Encore: Wake (RSV) (Wayne solo) Blood Brother Wasteland You'll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers & Hammerstein cover) Encore 2: Tower of Strength I got a Mission setlist and drumstick from the show. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Friday 27 October 2023. MAC AYRES live at Shepherds Bush Empire R&B artist Mac Ayres is hitting the road is support of his latest album release, 'Comfortable Enough' . The self-taught singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist is from Long Island, NY, USA. ----------- The venue is not sold out, but is very full. A great equal mix of asian, black and white folks. with maybe 75% females under the age of 30. MAYA DELILAH arrived on stage at 8.15pm for her 30 mins set. She is a 23 year old English singer-songwriter and guitarist who played tracks from her two EPs. Her style has been described as a "unique blend of jazz, soul, and pop"....a decent enough set. MAC AYRES arrived on stage at 9.15pm for 85 mins. His cool band included keyboards and sax. The crowd are soon singing along loudly , and nodding and swaying along to the tracks played. Mac Ayres’ raw emotions reflect on his lyrical tracks, which makes the music so beautiful and uniquely connected to all his fans. His breezy, soulful, and dynamic jazz fusion songs tick along nicely, although they do sound a bit samey in places. Tracks ' Easy' and ' Get To You Again' were highlights, and he got a bit emotional with wiping away the tears at the great reception he got here tonight. An enjoyable show.