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Haven't been to one for a while and wondered whether anybody else here actually goes out to see live acts, whether that is rock, pop, jazz, blues, folk, show or classical (I now expect AHB to be a fan of baroque). Thus a thread for the purpose.

Went to see the Stereophonics a few weeks ago, supported by the Enemy. Both groups were very good but the NEC is a bit impersonal.

Tonight we went to see Dodgy at the upstairs' bar of the Carling Academy, Birmingham.

Much as a like the Hereostophics and the Hemeny, I am a much bigger fan of "the most under-rated band on the planet" AKA Dodgy. They were wonderful and I had a chat with Nigel Clarke who is as nice as his songs. Great night.

Who else actually sees live music?

We have in the past but not for a couple of years. Last one's I remember were:

• Embrace at Keel University (great venue) and again in the open air in Leeds.
• Snow Patrol at the Birmingham Carling Academy (noise cap was a problem)
• The Pogues at Manchester Apollo - fantastic fun
• Rooster at Nottiham Rock City - Jo made me go cause she fancied the singer who kept taking his shirt off
• Gary Glitter - 1987 to 1991 at the SECC in Glasgow - before he was confirmed as a perv.

Derek

Just remembered something. In the very early 80's I had a ticket to see Queen perform to 70,000 Scottish nutters at Celtic Park. I gave up my ticket on the day of the gig because I managed to secure a date with a hot chick.

She was rubbish, and I've regretted that decision ever since.

...but I'm not bitter about it

Derek

Not seen any of those, despite liking both Snow Patrol, the Pogues and pre-paedophilia Gary Glitter.

Outings in recent years, other than toddling of to the Godiva Festival (about 1/2 mile away, great to see the Human League):

Blondie;
Starsailor;
David Bowie;
Duran Duran (honestly very good) with Goldfrapp (with a horse-tail);
John Otway;
Neville Staples (Specials);
Hazel O'Connor

No disappointments.

To be honest, I don't think I have ever been disappointed by live music. I love it.

Tonight we went to a new posh(ish) restaurant in Hathersage, deep in the Peak District, to celebrate my birthday and that of my (almost) mother-in-law. There was a keyboard player and a jazz singing female in the corner doing some ch, ch-ch-ch, ch, ch-ch-ch stuff at low volume and it was great.

Live music rules

Derek

Very jealous about (Specials)

I remember being somewhere scummy with a madness tribute band playing. I was only mid 20's but can remember thinking I might die of a heart attack if they played One Step Beyond one more time

Derek

Derek Tumbleweed wrote:To be honest, I don't think I have ever been disappointed by live music. I love it.

Very few examples where it has gone wrong. Mostly due to overly-high expectations.

I love going to concerts, and in Utrecht and Amsterdam we were lucky to get a very good range of artists. In the coming years, it will either be mega events in Dubai, or jazzy stuff in hotels (going to a jazz event tonight...). Some of the concerts that I thought were very good:

- Damien Rice
- I am Kloot
- Claw Boys Claw (dutch rock-oldies re-united)
- Calexico
- Manu Chao

I go about once a month.
Last gig I've been to was Eels, 2 weeks ago.
Before that it was Nada Surf.

Next week is I Am Kloot, if they don't cancel again.

Most memorable gigs (up to now):
Teenage Fanclub at The Barrowlands in Glasgow
Belle & Sebastian in Berlin
Dinosaur Jr. in Amsterdam
and looong time ago The Cure

KillerB wrote:...I now expect AHB to be a fan of baroque...

Funny you should say that...

My last attendance at a live music event was to go to the Woodley Music & Performing Arts Festival (an annual thing) for three consecutive weekends in Feb/March. The music is generally classical but some of the singing is local folk singing. There are some amazing performances - last year's stand-out was a 16 year old girl who sang folk tunes with no accompaniment and just made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up her voice was so haunting.

And yes, I did make a point of being at the Baroque Piano sessions as I do love Baroque music...

I go to a lot of classical music impromptus or jazz drop-in sessions when I'm in London. If I'm in London late afternoon or evening and have no-one to drink port with then I will pick up a ticket at the Barbican or Royal Festival Hall to see whatever happens to be on. I do the same when I'm in Dublin as the hotels that I use are 5 minutes walk from the National Concert Hall, I'll just pick up a ticket to see whatever is being performed. Last time I did that I saw a great performance of Verdi's Requiem For The Masses performed by the massed choirs of the Dublin Schools.

Last rock concert I went to was McFly in spring 2007. Next concert (of any kind) that I will be going to is this weekend to see the Berkshire Youth Orchestra perform a selection of classical pieces. Mid-April I'm off to see Scouting for Girls at the Hexagon in Reading.

Given the musical talents of my children, I see an awful lot of classical and jazz music - just as well I like it!

Alex

How was Eels? I just missed the show due to our move to the desert. I went to the 'with strings' concert a couple of years ago and liked it very much.

RonnieRoots wrote:How was Eels? I just missed the show due to our move to the desert. I went to the 'with strings' concert a couple of years ago and liked it very much.

The gig itself was great. It was just E and Chet and a lot of different instruments. A huge setlist and 2 lengthy encores.
The venue was poor though (Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn).

Scouting for Girls is on my list to go to, along with Squeeze, Sparks, Buzzcocks and the Divine Comedy. REM were sold out before I realised that they were on tour

Saw the Cure three times back when they were popular - twice in Coventry and once in Portsmouth. If we go back in time then I have a list as long as Conky's arm:

Boomtown Rats, Jam, Buzzcocks, Damned, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Stranglers, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Stiff Little Fingers, Kinks, Divine Comedy, Level 42, Simply Red, Will Downing, Cleo Laine, Carmel, Ruby Turner, B.B.King, George Benson, George Melly, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Spandau Ballet, Gillan, Judas Priest, etc. etc. etc.

KillerB wrote: George Melly

The man from the tele?

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote: George Melly

The man from the tele?

Yes, the one on the documentary a few weeks ago.

Unless you are thinking of Roger Melly.

KillerB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote: George Melly

The man from the tele?

Yes, the one on the documentary a few weeks ago.

Unless you are thinking of Roger Melly.

No. Definately George. I knew he had been on the tele at some point, something that I'm not sure Roger ever actually achieved?

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote: George Melly

The man from the tele?

Yes, the one on the documentary a few weeks ago.

Unless you are thinking of Roger Melly.

No. Definately George. I knew he had been on the tele at some point, something that I'm not sure Roger ever actually achieved?

No, Roger had a tele programme as well.

KillerB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote: George Melly

The man from the tele?

Yes, the one on the documentary a few weeks ago.

Unless you are thinking of Roger Melly.

No. Definately George. I knew he had been on the tele at some point, something that I'm not sure Roger ever actually achieved?

No, Roger had a tele programme as well.

What? On the real tele? Or just in drawings in a comic?

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote: George Melly

The man from the tele?

Yes, the one on the documentary a few weeks ago.

Unless you are thinking of Roger Melly.

No. Definately George. I knew he had been on the tele at some point, something that I'm not sure Roger ever actually achieved?

No, Roger had a tele programme as well.

What? On the real tele? Or just in drawings in a comic?

Real Tele

GARY GLITTER!!!


Thats so wrong on so many different levels.

Conky wrote:GARY GLITTER!!!


Thats so wrong on so many different levels.

oh, come on?
come on
come on, co-ome on
come on, co-ome on
come on. I say?

D-ya wanna be in his gang?

Apparently he was a great admirer of Dinosaurs?

So much so he always made sure the kids left his concerts with a Megasorearse.

(apologies if my spelling lets me down)

Luckily a good friend of mine works at a local (and well known) radio station here in L.A. So i get free tickets and (often) all-access passes to the shows. Nothing like being backstage or on stage with the talent. I've been lucky enough to hang out and talk for long periods with some of my favorite bands....and its amazing how many of them like good wine!

ADV wrote: I've been lucky enough to hang out and talk for long periods with some of my favorite bands

Have you really met Britney, Christina and New Kids on the Block?

Derek T. wrote:

ADV wrote: I've been lucky enough to hang out and talk for long periods with some of my favorite bands

Have you really met Britney, Christina and New Kids on the Block?

And Cher and N'Sync