Damn, I didn't know she was performing :(Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatGig
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Damn, I didn't know she was performing :(Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatGig
I just went to see Adam Ant at the o2 academy in brum last night....
His voice isn't what it was, but he is still a great showman and charismatic performer... Had a great time. He focussed mainly on the early punky stuff, which was a nice surprise.... Also, no Puss In Boots, and no Young Parisians.
Emmylou Harris
Royal Festival Hall - 1.6.2011
As many here probably know I go to quite a few gigs (19 so far this year), but have decided to only post here occasionally, as I'm sure you would get fed up of seeing my avatar! However, some deserve special mention and last night was one of them IMO. I have never seen Emmylou Harris before and to be honest have only really listened to her since Brokeback Mountain came out, as I loved her song in the film (A Love That Will Never Grow Old - Spotify). So I arrived with no preconceptions at all, but obliviously excited to be seeing a legend from the Country scene.
The show was sold out and it really looked it too, unusually I couldn't see a vacant seat in the house. The set was very minimal, with no backdrop as the choir seats at the rear were full as well. Just a drum kit, keyboard a collection of mic stands and two very small amplifier stacks. She was backed by the Red Dirt Boys and bounced on stage at the start, looking very sprightly and dare I say it rather hot!
Anyway, we got 1h 50m which covered a lot of favourites from over the years and I particularity liked the fact she talked to the crowd and told stories to explain her songs. The sound from where I sat was really good, but the hall helped a lot I'm sure. The best bit for me was when she sang solo in the middle of the set, when the band left her on stage - you could really hear her voice at this point and like her music or not, I think she has one of the most beautiful voices in modern music.
A fantastic night and I felt very privileged to have been able to enjoy it, Emmylou's appearances are few and far between over here and at 64 she may be getting close to calling it a day - mind you, judging by last nights performance, that doesn't look like it's going to be anytime soon.
The videos aren't mine, just ones I found on YouTube, but it gives a flavour.
A bloody good night and tomorrow I'm back there for k.d. lang :)
I didn't know that Andr'e . . . they are actually raising funds at the moment to restore it, there's a big collection box in the foyer - I'll drop a few quid in tomorrow night ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre
Didnt know that i'll let Emmo know.Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatGig
Yep, they've been raising funds for a while now.Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatGig
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/ch...lmusicandopera
Just a quick one,
k.d. lang. Royal Festival Hall - Friday 3rd June
One word ...... fantastic :)
(with a very lively audience of like-minded fans of k.d. who quite frankly added a great deal to the ambience ;))
She also did one of the best performances of Hallelujah I have seen. I'm a confirmed fan now and will try to see her whenever I can.
Again, these are not mine and from Thursday's gig as she did 2 nights.
Along with some other AoS members I saw Mud Morganfield with a backing band at the Victoria Hotel, Menai, Anglesey, last Sunday.
As you might imagine from his name Mud Morganfield is Muddy Waters’s son. This concert was a long time coming; having been previously cancelled owing to ill health of the organiser. However in the end the concert was able to go ahead.
In the past Mud Morganfield’s backing band has been ‘The Dirty Aces’ a four-piece consisting of: Giles Robson, on harmonica and occasional vocals; Fillp Kozlowski, on electric guitar; Paul Bisson, on electric bass, and Tim Bryron drums.
For this concert ‘The Mud Morganfield Band’ consisted of Steve ‘West’ Weston on harmonica and occasional vocals, a guitarist from Denmark whose name I missed, bassist on upright bass and drummer. Again, unfortunately I missed their names as well (!) It was nice to see, and hear upright string bass used – shades of Willy Dixon!
Before the Big Man came on his backing band played a couple of numbers. I was very impressed by the harpist who didn’t have a bad blues singing voice. The guitarist was an accomplished blues guitarist and certainly had the technical capability, though I found his ‘touch’ rather heavy. However it is churlish of me to be too critical as I am unable to play any musical instrument at all – though I used to play on the linoleum as a small boy.
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ydhunt/076.jpg
It is always difficult being the son of a world famous musician and clearly Mud Morganfield had a lot to live up to. Rather than simply doing covers of his father’s numbers, Mud sang a mixture of his own compositions as well as some of his father's numbers.
We were sat near the back of the function room that was seating about 100, and the set up of the PA of the backing band was sufficient and well balanced. However the gain of Mud’s microphone was too high and whilst not distorting, caused the speakers to ‘shout’ on vocals to the detriment of vocal articulation. After a couple of numbers the soundsman was able to improve matters by adjusting levels, but not before losing the harp microphone channel, and at one time the whole of the PA!
Whilst I enjoyed the concert overall, the highlights for me were Mud’s cover versions of ‘Mannish Boy’ and ‘Forty Days and Forty Nights’, which is more or less what I expected.
After seeing my poor efforts at concert photography you are probably glad I haven’t show any photographs of my accompanying AoS members. Well I wouldn’t have taken any anyway for the following reasons. Chris (codename The Grand Wazoo) is a high level officer in MUDSHARK, a clandestine organisation whose covert activities are to fulfil an avowed mission to secrete copies of Frank Zappa’s work into every lending library in the land. As such an important member, his identity must be kept secret. And Marco is, as everyone knows, nosferatu or one of the un-dead who cannot have their likeness captured on film. Shame, as he was dressed for the occasion: wearing a tight-fitting black turtle-neck sweater and black tights with a carmine pink Ra Ra skirt and matching shoes.
All in all and excellent and thoroughly enjoyable evening: convivial company and some excellent beer available at the bar.
Superb Barry - you're a comedy genius in waiting! ;) (Or if Marco has his way, a lady in waiting!)
Off to see Journey tonight (in a hour) who are promoting their new album Ecl1pse. Foreigner and FM are the support groups.
Journey are quite a bit heavier these days so I am not sure about the new album. However I love the older material and this may well be my one and only chance to see them live.
Regards D S D L