Gig Plans - 2018

[Podie]

Nothing But Thieves on Saturday night with fellow PHer GregE240, as the O2 Academy Birmiongham.

The band was quite simply brilliant. I've seen them 7 or 8 times over the last few years and they just get better. First saw them in front of about 100 slightly ambivalent people as a support act, but the 3000 strong crowd at Birmingham lapped it up - great atmosphere and a fantastic set.

Sadly, the venue itself is... well. st. More specifically the bar. 46 minutes to get a drink at the bar (an entire support act's worth of time!) is a joke. Run out of beer before 9 as well. Not an isolated incident either... similar story seeing Greta Van Fleet there the week before.

[westberks]

Podie said:

Nothing But Thieves on Saturday night with fellow PHer GregE240, as the O2 Academy Birmiongham.

The band was quite simply brilliant. I've seen them 7 or 8 times over the last few years and they just get better. First saw them in front of about 100 slightly ambivalent people as a support act, but the 3000 strong crowd at Birmingham lapped it up - great atmosphere and a fantastic set.

Sadly, the venue itself is... well. st. More specifically the bar. 46 minutes to get a drink at the bar (an entire support act's worth of time!) is a joke. Run out of beer before 9 as well. Not an isolated incident either... similar story seeing Greta Van Fleet there the week before.

the bar at 02 Birmingham is an absolute joke; upstairs they had 2 people on each bar and likewise the queues are ridiculous. Brixton Academy is similarly ste!

[westberks]

well a quick recap of November

Nightmares On Wax @ Shepherds Bush Empire - enjoyable laid back evening
Maverick Sabre @ Jazz Cafe - massively underated singer
Florence @ Genting - surprisingly enjoyable, went for girlfriend and PA
St Paul & The Broken Bones @ Roundhouse - very consistent band; good bluesy soul
Christine & The Queens @ Hammersmith - love her, it's almost drama, not just a gig
808 State @ KOKO - really enjoyable, dance music with great live musicians too
Pete Tong Ibiza Classics - Genting tonight - love my house music and they do this really well. Best to stand as you can have a shuffle around

December looking like this (very Xmas works party feel to it)

Cream club weekend @ Butlins! - amazing DJ line up for my first trip to Butlins since 1977!
From the Jam @ Sub 89 Reading - Bruce and the boys are a good fun night out
Chic @ 02 - hate the venue but pretty good seats
Liane Carol @ Ronnie Scotts - post Xmas Jazz with a great singer and funny bird

2019 already getting busy, might summarise 2018 in 1 post but will take up about a page!

[Podie]

westberks said:

the bar at 02 Birmingham is an absolute joke; upstairs they had 2 people on each bar and likewise the queues are ridiculous. Brixton Academy is similarly ste!

Never had an issue at Brixton - and I go there a lot (maybe thats why?)

[popeyewhite]

Black Star Riders on Sunday.

Treat for girlfriend. I saw Thin Lizzy back in the 70s and they were excellent, so I'm preparing for a bit of a disappointment. Having said that a couple of BSR's singles have been OK.

[Podie]

Mudhoney tomorrow night... last saw them on 26 May 1995 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire!

[westberks]

Podie said:

westberks said:

the bar at 02 Birmingham is an absolute joke; upstairs they had 2 people on each bar and likewise the queues are ridiculous. Brixton Academy is similarly ste!

Never had an issue at Brixton - and I go there a lot (maybe thats why?)

I'm there pretty often, just find it too busy at the bars/staff disinterested. The upstairs ones seem to be very slow compared to Hammersmith and similar. First world problems though 😁

[aka_kerrly]

westberks said:

well a quick recap of November

Nightmares On Wax @ Shepherds Bush Empire - enjoyable laid back evening
Maverick Sabre @ Jazz Cafe - massively underated singer


Pete Tong Ibiza Classics - Genting tonight - love my house music and they do this really well. Best to stand as you can have a shuffle around

December looking like this (very Xmas works party feel to it)

Cream club weekend @ Butlins! - amazing DJ line up for my first trip to Butlins since 1977!

Great selection there, wanted to go to Nightmares on Wax but it clashed with another event- i was hoping to relive uni days!

ive met Maverick Sabre a few times before his commercial success, he was recording some lyrics for a mate of mine on a little project a few years ago. A very down to earth guy and very talented.

I saw Pete Tong on Wednesday at Birmingham arena and thoroughly enjoyed it, they were trying a few new tunes but you wouldn't have known it as they sounded brilliant. Good guest singers to with Beverly Knight and Becky Hill- who did a brilliant version of the source - You Got the Love.

will have to look into the Butlins gig, sounds fun!!

Next up is Skream at Bristol in December before new year.

2019 plans so far.. Chemical Brothers... in November

[Podie]

Mudhoney were epic last night. Thirty... THIRTY songs in the set (including a 6 song encore).

No bar issues at Electric Ballroom either!

[westberks]

Great selection there, wanted to go to Nightmares on Wax but it clashed with another event- i was hoping to relive uni days!

ive met Maverick Sabre a few times before his commercial success, he was recording some lyrics for a mate of mine on a little project a few years ago. A very down to earth guy and very talented.

I saw Pete Tong on Wednesday at Birmingham arena and thoroughly enjoyed it, they were trying a few new tunes but you wouldn't have known it as they sounded brilliant. Good guest singers to with Beverly Knight and Becky Hill- who did a brilliant version of the source - You Got the Love.

will have to look into the Butlins gig, sounds fun!!

Next up is Skream at Bristol in December before new year.

2019 plans so far.. Chemical Brothers... in November


[/quote]
NoW was great, he was sat with his decks on a comfy sofa, 2 singers flanking him in armchairs! Very chilled

Becky Hill was good and Beverley Knight has a great voice. Girlfriend has FOMO so might go to Tonight again at 02 tonight. I was toying with Defected/Glitterbox in Manchester on NYD, but don't fancy the drive. Chems are great, the visuals have really upped the game for their live show, saw them at Bluedot earlier this year

Bumped into Maverick at a Jill Scott gig, my first ever selfie. He had to take it as I didn't know how! Also met him when he was dueting with Jorja Smith at Village Underground. He's my PAs celebrity crush; we even went to see him in Dublin last year. Seems a really nice guy.

Edited by westberks on Saturday 1st December 09:55

Edited by westberks on Saturday 1st December 09:57

[skinny]

Brothers Osborne last night. Very very good. Was their last uk date for the tour tho.

[marcosgt]

Rounded out 2018's gigs with a trip to see Jess Glynne in Bournemouth.

I did wonder if maybe I'd made a bit of a mistake after listening to her second album (I really enjoyed the first), but I had a great time, really entertaining evening, one of the best shows I've been too, ever!

I rather surprised myself by enjoying it so much, maybe I need to go and see more 'big shows' (the support acts were pretty awful though! )

M

[popeyewhite]

popeyewhite said:

Black Star Riders on Sunday.

Treat for girlfriend. I saw Thin Lizzy back in the 70s and they were excellent, so I'm preparing for a bit of a disappointment. Having said that a couple of BSR's singles have been OK.

Well I was very pleasantly surprised. Very loud, very hard rock. Very like Thin Lizzy live actually. Only did two TL numbers and the rest was their own material. Some was a little same-y but standout tracks were Testify or Say Goodbye, Charlie I Gotta Go, Soldierstown, Blindsided, Heavy Fire and oh yes, Whisky in The Jar. Loads of energy from the band, the lead singer is very good and quite a character. They ripped through their whole set - no naff drum/bass/lead guitar solos and minimal audience participation. Highly recommended.

[Melman Giraffe]

I just got tickets to see Doves at the Albert Hall. 29th March

Cant wait its bee 10 long years since they last played

[V8mate]

Melman Giraffe said:

I just got tickets to see Doves at the Albert Hall. 29th March

Cant wait its bee 10 long years since they last played

You'll be needing this
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[silverthorn2151]

Madness at the O2 last night.

Put on a great show and had 98% of the audience up and dancing. They kindly slip in a few tracks which are take it or leave it to allow pee breaks without missing the great stuff. Important stuff when most of the audience are 50 plus.

[C&C]

Listening to Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds" right now, as we're going to see it at the O2 tonight - early Christmas present from my brother.

I've not listened to it for ages, but it brings back lots of memories - used to love it as a kid.

Really looking forward to it.

[P9DH]

808 State in Sheffield last Friday. First time seeing them live since early '90s.

Can't beat a bit of old skool laser reaching.

[dickymint]

Last for me this year - Bad Manners but more looking forward to special guests Max Splodge and Skalet. Tramshed Cardiff this Thursday.

[westberks]

saw From The Jam last week in Reading; always a good night and a mosh pit of overweight, balding fiftysomethings is always fun to watch (didn't participate)

Then Orbital last night in Bristol; excellent show with good visuals. These older electronic bands are very good and the hi tec visuals available does enhance the evening.

Have Chic at 02 on Wednesday for part of office Xmas do. Would rather not go to that cavernous venue but have pretty good seats