Live Music You Were Pleasantly Surprised By
Discussion
A Couple of weeks ago we went to see a Stones tribute band, Rollin Stoned, at the Picturedrome in Holmfirth. Really wasn't expecting much but went along anyway. They were really good. Got me thinking of other bands I wasn't that fussed about seeing that turned out great:
Midge Ure - just something to do on a Friday at the Picturedrome again a few years ago. Just him, playing an acoustic set. He was absolutely fantastic...a proper entertainer and excellent singer/musician.
Nile Rodgers - he'd been on TV talking about his Hit Maker guitar so we got tickets for Leeds Academy, again a few years ago, thinking we'd know a few songs. Jesus, does this guy know how to party and put on an awesome show. We knew every word of every song!
Kaiser Chiefs - Thought their recorded music was ok so we schlepped down the M1 to Notts arena to have a singalong. f
k me, what a concert! It was absolutely electric. Me and Mrs E have seen almost all the top bands and this was right up there with the best. Still get goosebumps thinking about it.
Anyone else half heartedly go to a concert and come away with their socks blown off?
Midge Ure - just something to do on a Friday at the Picturedrome again a few years ago. Just him, playing an acoustic set. He was absolutely fantastic...a proper entertainer and excellent singer/musician.
Nile Rodgers - he'd been on TV talking about his Hit Maker guitar so we got tickets for Leeds Academy, again a few years ago, thinking we'd know a few songs. Jesus, does this guy know how to party and put on an awesome show. We knew every word of every song!
Kaiser Chiefs - Thought their recorded music was ok so we schlepped down the M1 to Notts arena to have a singalong. f
k me, what a concert! It was absolutely electric. Me and Mrs E have seen almost all the top bands and this was right up there with the best. Still get goosebumps thinking about it.Anyone else half heartedly go to a concert and come away with their socks blown off?
Mrs.T66 wanted to go and see Faithless a few years ago at MEN Arena in Manchester. Grudgingly went along as I'm not a fan of that 90's dance genre - but they were utterly brilliant and far more rock than dance.
Also went to see Halestorm at Apollo in Manchester. Support band were Avatar. I wasn't looking forward to them as prior to gig I'd listened to a few tracks and they were a lot heavier than I normally like. They were brilliant live, though, and blew main act offstage.
Motley Crue on their latest 'last' tour. Expected to see a band on its last, tired old legs, and it was (with Alice Cooper in support) probably the best gig I've seen.
Also went to see Halestorm at Apollo in Manchester. Support band were Avatar. I wasn't looking forward to them as prior to gig I'd listened to a few tracks and they were a lot heavier than I normally like. They were brilliant live, though, and blew main act offstage.
Motley Crue on their latest 'last' tour. Expected to see a band on its last, tired old legs, and it was (with Alice Cooper in support) probably the best gig I've seen.
By far the best act i ever saw was back in the late 80's/early 90's, in a run down football club in a local town. Wasn't really bothered about going but it was incredible
The Hamsters - think they have long since split but they were epic and far better than anyone else i've ever seen live
The Hamsters - think they have long since split but they were epic and far better than anyone else i've ever seen live
I always recall that Siouxsie and the Banshees (back in the early 80s) were unexpectedly (to me) excellent.
More recently, I was very impressed with Nouvelle Vague a few days ago and I think Editors are one of the best live bands around (if not ever!).
I was also very impressed a few years ago with The Illegal Eagles (Eagles tribute band) - None of the 'I'm pretending to be...' malarky some tribute bands go in for, but really good musicians.
Bootleg Blondie were unexpectedly good, too, musically.
M
More recently, I was very impressed with Nouvelle Vague a few days ago and I think Editors are one of the best live bands around (if not ever!).
I was also very impressed a few years ago with The Illegal Eagles (Eagles tribute band) - None of the 'I'm pretending to be...' malarky some tribute bands go in for, but really good musicians.
Bootleg Blondie were unexpectedly good, too, musically.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 8th March 09:42
Many moons ago, around 1990ish & my teens, I used to frequent a rock club in a community centre near the city centre in Chester. Local rock/metal bands used to play on a Friday night - usually about 3 or 4 per night if memory serves. There was something about being there in the moment, with mates, beer and live music that made it all seem sooooo awesome.
One band really stood out - Tai Shan they called themselves. I was really blown away; loved their set, thought they were amazing. Even bought their demo cassette, which was something I didn't do very often as it reduced the available beer tokens.
I was absolutely convinced this band were going places, and soon. After that night I would often scan the music press, local press and posters for signs of progress. But, yes, you guessed it, never heard of again. I've periodically checked t'internet to see if there any memories of them/that night, but to no avail.
Still on my list of best gigs - though possibly due to youth&inexperience/beer/the moment etc
One band really stood out - Tai Shan they called themselves. I was really blown away; loved their set, thought they were amazing. Even bought their demo cassette, which was something I didn't do very often as it reduced the available beer tokens.
I was absolutely convinced this band were going places, and soon. After that night I would often scan the music press, local press and posters for signs of progress. But, yes, you guessed it, never heard of again. I've periodically checked t'internet to see if there any memories of them/that night, but to no avail.
Still on my list of best gigs - though possibly due to youth&inexperience/beer/the moment etc
LeoSayer said:
Alanis Morrissette about 15 years ago. She gave it her all and absolutely rocked. Fantastic voice.
Agreed. Saw her at V Festival, 2008 I believe. She played mid afternoon, which is my favourite time at any festival as somehow expectations are lower and everything’s more relaxed, but yeah she was bloody awesome.A couple of weeks ago I went to see Smokie.
They had their hits when I was born so not really a band I know.
However they were brilliant.
Songs were good and they had great energy and stage presence
A couple of years ago I was in Berlin so went to a random gig.
This had Nova Twins supporting Yungblud
I hadn't heard either before.
Crowd was 99% young goths, so I certainly didn't fit in.
Both bands were fantastic, and it was probably in my top 3 gigs of all time.
They had their hits when I was born so not really a band I know.
However they were brilliant.
Songs were good and they had great energy and stage presence
A couple of years ago I was in Berlin so went to a random gig.
This had Nova Twins supporting Yungblud
I hadn't heard either before.
Crowd was 99% young goths, so I certainly didn't fit in.
Both bands were fantastic, and it was probably in my top 3 gigs of all time.
I want to one of those free Hyde Park gigs a few years ago and Duran Duran came on. I never lived their weedy synth pop but live they sounded like a proper rock band. Surprisingly good.
I went to see Blue around the time of Park Life. Again not a fan especially of that phase of Kinks-lite cockney geezer stuff. Blam! One of the most explosive gigs I've been to.
How something gets recorded and how it gets played live can be massively different. Also works the other way of course......
I went to see Blue around the time of Park Life. Again not a fan especially of that phase of Kinks-lite cockney geezer stuff. Blam! One of the most explosive gigs I've been to.
How something gets recorded and how it gets played live can be massively different. Also works the other way of course......
This lot, Yaatri. https://yaatri.bandcamp.com/
and this chap
https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/find-a-show/late-la...
Years ago we went to see Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip in Norwich, supporting them was a rapper called Itch. Now Norwich isn't exactly known for its rap scene so when this little guy comes bounding onto the stage doing his thing the crowd were a bit nonplussed. By the end of his set we were all blown away and bouncing around like the end of 8-Mile
We spoke to him afterwards to buy his CD but it wasn't out yet, and when we did check out his songs on YouTube they weren't anything special - think he was rapping over a garage type beat when we saw him but on his album it was a normal hip-hop beat.
We spoke to him afterwards to buy his CD but it wasn't out yet, and when we did check out his songs on YouTube they weren't anything special - think he was rapping over a garage type beat when we saw him but on his album it was a normal hip-hop beat.
Lionel Ritchie - so not my type of music but I was dragged along by my (then) wife. He was absolutely brilliant live. He's a really engaging person whilst chatting to the audience in-between songs, and I found myself really liking him. Obviously he has the capability to draw from world-class musicians and so it shouldn't have been a surprise to see them absolutely nailing it.
If I were invited to go again (by someone else), I would.
If I were invited to go again (by someone else), I would.
I've just remembered I went to a gig I would not normally be seen dead at. As part of a family deal I agreed to take my younger sister to see Michael Jackson. And it was epic. I recall at the time saying that I still wouldn't buy any of his records but I'd go to another of his concerts in a heartbeat.
slopes said:
By far the best act i ever saw was back in the late 80's/early 90's, in a run down football club in a local town. Wasn't really bothered about going but it was incredible
The Hamsters - think they have long since split but they were epic and far better than anyone else i've ever seen live
They were great and used to be one of the hardest working bands in the country, over 300 gigs a year iirc.The Hamsters - think they have long since split but they were epic and far better than anyone else i've ever seen live
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hamsters
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