A Night with Royalty
Went to see the Kings of Leon with the lovely L1z tonight. On Saturday L1z had asked where the
venue was, knowing that it was her least favorite in all manchester I tried to put off telling her by changing the subject several times. Boy that girl's persistant, so I told her. Predictably she was disapointed and spent the rest of the night moaning. I pointed out that I had tried to save her from this pain but she wasn't having any of it.
Back to Sunday, they were good musically tight, good stage show and creative use of video. Yet having said all of that there was something missing I consult L1z for her opinion. I should have known "that's what you get for holding a gig in the equivalent of an aircraft hanger" was her response as she looked up from the card game she was playing on her phone. Mmmmmm perhaps the gig didn't quite hit the mark or L1z iz right the venue is crap, oh well I'll chalk that one down to experience.
The night was rounded off nicely when a fight broke out in front of us as we left. You know when you have one of those nights when you would have been better off staying in!
Labels: Friends, Gigs
A Duke Special night
Church this morning, friends house warming in the afternoon and off to see
Duke Special at
the academy this evening. Great gig, he was chatty, witty and on good form. There was an informal feel to the night, laid back and chilled. After such a busy few days this was just what I needed. Earlier
1iz had echoed my thoughts by saying that had we have not already had the tickets she could have easily stayed at home. Perhaps this was the reason why that as we attempted to find a parking space 1iz suddenly remembered that the tickets were still on the fridge door. So we rushed back and decided to try again rather than give it up and stay at home. Still I'm glad we did, as I said to 1iz on the night 'in a world full of Sco*tch is good to have an intelligent musician'.
His playing was accomplished, lyrics thoughtful and provoking and his voice had the capability to take you elsewhere. The gig finished with the band coming down into the audience to busk. As soon as the lights went down we took advantage of our position at the back and made a quick exit. As we left the venue, we once again heard music only to discover the band coming up one the exit stair cases where we were treated to what can only be described as an intimate gig, hence the close up photo's.
All in all a good night so glad now I didn't stay in.
Labels: Friends, Gigs
Recovered and Ready
That's exactly how I felt as the night approached and we got ready to go and see
The Feeling at the Manchester Apollo, the venue this mammoth gig going week started at last Thursday. Tonight there were six of us going. The usual suspects being myself,
Liz and Karen. However, tonight we were being joined by K junior her friend I and my nephew S. There was much excitement amongst the younger members of our group when they found out the support act were
The Fray an American group currently starting out over here but with a track in the charts at the moment. So off we set, luck was on our side we found a parking space right outside the chippy, good said several of our younger members that will be chips when we come out then.
So into the gig, up to the bar for a quick drink (diet coke for the younger members and Liz), then off to take our places for The Fray.
The Fray are signed to Sony Music and the money behind them showed, they were not your usual support act. Obviously bigger in the states than here their slick musical performance showed along with their ability to work the audience. However, after you had heard the first couple of tracks you could not help feel that you had heard them all. Not
unpleasant but all just a bit the same, Liz commented half way through the
set "I think this would be the point where I shut my windows and drew the curtains" a fair point I think.
During the break however, the strangest thing happened. Rather the strangest question was asked, a man
sidled up to us and wanted to know the name of Micheal Bolton's first hit. What concerned me the most was Liz was able to supply the answer! The man having remembered the name then proceeded to sing it to us, as he then felt compelled to do with every other song The Feeling played. You don't know how close we came!
By this time we had lost the youngsters who were now down by the front of the stage having weaved, barged, jostled and fought their way there. Content to stay in
position to the left of the sound desk we settled down for the start of The Feeling.
They started with a video montage of their fans singing their hits taken from U Tube, very funny and an original way to start. This was followed by them rocking their way onto stage. High energy music with a high energy performance.
I was
criticised recently for complaining about the Snow Patrol gig where I felt they had taken two superb albums and not lived up to the occasion when performing live. The Feeling were the opposite taking one good album and completely bringing it too life. They had energy, were together all the way through, worked the crowd well and left us wanting more, renditions of Video Killed the Radio Star and Fat Bottomed Girls added to their own more than capable set. Closing with Blue
Piccadilly (my favourite track) the night for me was complete, all that was left now were those chips and home.
We arrived back at the car everyone piled in and Karen and Liz volunteered to go get the late night feast. Seconds later they were back, empty handed! Would you believe it, the chip shop closest to one of the largest music venues in Manchester, had just stopped selling chips to coincide with emptying out time. Left with no other choice we headed home happy but still ever so slightly peckish!
Labels: Gigs
Back To Normal - For Now!
The last two days have just been kind of normal, no gigs just work stuff, college and family life. I have been reading the purpose diven life, mmmmm clashed with some of it and as soon as I get chance I will post my thoughts for each day so far. To be fair it has got me thinking in a good way I just struggle to agree with a lot of its theology.
Wednesday is back to gigging off to see The Feeling at the apollo, I might just of recovered by then!
Labels: Gigs, Lent, Stuff
Fading
Tonight was the last of three nights in a row gigging. It was also the smallest venue and the newest bands. I guess to be fair they had a hard act to follow from the previous two nights. Academy 3 is a compact venue but does have an advantage that the bar is inside the venue so you can queue and listen at the same time. Having forgotten my phone (Hence why I have pinched Liz's pics) the night did not start well,
Liz managed to upset some poor impoverished student at the bar who had't quite figured out how to get served and the band hadn't even started yet.
We had been looking forward to
Cherry Ghost, tipped as the next big thing. However, we were sadly dissapointed. They weren't really bad just, well really bland. The kind of thing you couldn't help feel that you had heard before but only better. Not unpleasent, not offensive and at £7 even worth the money but not about to set the musical world alight. We managed to laugh and joke our way through their set and it was good for the three of us to collectivley make the gig.
Polytechnic were much better, they had a bit off umph about them. The crowd seemed a bit more up for it as well. Good tunes and catchy lyrics and you did feel you were watching a band who could possibly be on the edge of something big. Like Liz, I too worry about the Keane tour, still I guess there is no such thing as bad publicity. However they do need to learn one lesson, remember not to act bigger than you are. They left the stage declaring 'that's all folks', rather expecting I think a large shout of encore. Sadly, by the time they came back on stage half the venue had already cleared, a lesson to be learnt I think.
By the time it had all finished the toll of the previous nights was beginning to tell. As we sat down to eat at the Punjab it was all I could do to stay awake. The past three nights had been great, good music, good company, good beer, good food all I needed now was a good sleep, go on
Jude what's your secret how do you do it?
Labels: Gigs, Stuff
Party at Boothy's and the Academy
Just me and
Liz tonight, K has a night off. So we start in
Big Hands always the perfect start for a pre gig drink. Its the kind of bar that proves that even with cheap furniture and poor flooring its the music and atmosphere that counts. However, we leave showing our age, after all it was a bit loud. On to
Kro bar for a quick drink and then to the gig at
Academy 2. Not quite as slick as last night but that was more than compensated by raw enrgy and emotion. For such a new band
Little Man Tate have quite a following. The crowd sang along and crowd surfing seemed to be a must, heck I thought Liz was going to go for it at one point. Really good gig which is saying something after last night. After the gig we went back to Kro bar for a few drinks, a good night roll on tomorrow when Karen joins us again.
Labels: Gigs, Music
Kaisers Doing it the Modern Way
What a gig! Musically so tight, superb stage show and presence, crowd rocking and best of all it was completely free.
Even managed to remember to phone my friends during their favourite songs, what a top night, thanks
XFM, roll on Little Man Tate
Labels: Gigs, Music
I Predict a Riot
Some morning's you wake up and wonder to yourself, what will today bring? Well today in my case it was two free tickets to see Kaiser Chiefs at Manchester Apollo tonight. These came courtesy of the
XFM ticket monkey. Basically clues are given out on air and if you can work out where they are walk up and say are you the XFM ticket monkey then you get the tickets. Simple as that and I got those tickets. So check out the
link and over the next few days there should be a picture of me appearing in the gallery stood next to a gorilla.
So then that's a free Kaiser Chiefs gig tonight and then Little Man Tate tomorrow followed by Cherry Ghost / Polytechnic Saturday and The Feeling on Wednesday so go on then
Jude Adam follow that if you can!
Labels: Gigs, Music
