Last Gig You Went To...

[Tim]

Oh dear, we have him booked for Sat 1st June at the Albert Hall, and I'm hoping he picks it up by then.

[MartinT]

Mark Knopfler is a master musician who has only one peer in his ability to make his guitar truly sing - David Gilmour. He never even broke into a sweat as he made it all seem so effortless (while the drummer was drenched in sweat by the end of the show). He played a good selection of songs from his whole career, but the audience clearly preferred the old classics, raising the roof with Romeo and Juliet, Sultans of Swing and the awesome Telegraph Road. Finishing the gig with Going Home (Local Hero) was a great choice, too, the audience all standing and dancing for that one. One of my all-time favourites, So Far Away, was also a highlight for me.

The band were without exception a talented bunch, many of them having been with him since 1995 as he announced each one individually.

Ruth Moody provided great support, with a lovely voice, and also guested for two songs with Mark. She was very good throughout and an excellent addition to the show.

Apologies for the crap photo, my phone simply could not cope with the harsh contrast and bright lighting.

[Tim]

I take it you liked it then

Too much Celtic folk going on with the newer stuff for my liking and they all stood like wooden statures on stage, but there is no questioning his credentials as a musician. Glad you liked Ruth Moody, she's making her mark at the moment and she will be at Maverick Festival in July - I wonder if she likes pints of Earl Soham Victoria bitter like Amy Speace did? . . . somehow I doubt it, but I'll certainly try to buy her one

[MartinT]

She looked gorgeous when signing discs (the queue was far too long otherwise I would have queued myself), with a radiant smile. Go for it!

[MartinT]

I take it you liked it then

Yes, l really did and Ruth loved it. We've been playing Dire Straits' first album this morning and marvelling at how they arrived, fully fledged, with such an epic album.

[Tim]

She looked gorgeous when signing discs (the queue was far too long otherwise I would have queued myself), with a radiant smile. Go for it!

I'll get you a signed CD at Maverick if you want one Martin?

[MartinT]

Ooh yeah, baby. However, it won't have been handed over to me by her, so not quite the same thing. I'd still take it, though!

[The Grand Wazoo]

Last night was a long awaited gig from a musical hero of mine, playing with the band he plays best with: Neil Young & Crazy Horse at the NEC, Birmingham.

Long awaited is an understatement -to be precise, it's 18 years since I last saw him perform.
Apart from the fact that I utterly loathe the principle of gigs in monstrous cow sheds, this was for me, a fantastic experience. Words just can't do it justice! Utterly brilliant and what a noise! There were some people sitting close to us who were, apparently only familiar with 'Harvest' and perhaps one or two of the other acoustic things he's done. They got a few crumbs in the form of 'Heart of Gold' and others but to say they were a little surprised by the playing style when the four gents on the stage plugged it & turned it up would to understate the case a little. During the 10 minutes or so of the feedback wig-out at the end of 'Walk Like a Giant' from the new album a few people actually left the building!

Some words from a bit that I wrote about the first Crazy Horse album sum it up nicely:
Crazy Horse - 'Crazy Horse' A Lost Classic?
The playing seems undisciplined and maybe even a little unskilled but there's majesty in the sound of a band playing well together and bouncing off one another. The feel is more important than technical expertise – similar to something Led Zeppelin called 'Tight but Loose' and Neil Young was to later christen 'Ragged Glory'.

Almost two and a half hours of playing like that is a real feat for a guy in his late sixties, but he was obviously enjoying himself immensely. This will go down as one of my best ever gigs. 'Cortez the Killer' was just perfect.

Ragged Glory indeed.

1. Love To Burn
2. Surfer Joe And Moe The Sleaze
3. Psychedelic Pill
4. Walk Like A Giant
5. Hole In The Sky
6. Heart Of Gold
7. Blowin' In The Wind
8. Singer Without A Song
9. Ramada Inn
10. Cinnamon Girl
11. F*!#in' Up
12. Cortez The Killer
13. Mr. Soul
14. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
15. Powderfinger

[Oldpinkman]

Last big act, and most memorable gig (we have a lot of musician friends, so go to a lot of local stuff) was Kerry Ellis and Brian May - the Born Free concert at Tunbridge Wells. Magical up-close intimate atmosphere. Beautiful singing, and the boy May can play guitar a bit. VINYL copies of the music on sale in the foyer (yes folks, it was this which persuaded me after 20 years of believing vinyl had had it to dust off the kit and get it working again, on the basis that AK's claims that vinyl was making a come-back wasn't pure delusional fantasy).

On the "local musicians who are mates" theme, could I do a quick plug for my mate Joe Gibson who helps me with guitar playing, and his band. Check out Dave Migden and the Dirty Words - Killing it http://www.davidmigdenandthedirtywords.com/ . If I get enough people say they like it, maybe I'll get a limited edition vinyl run done. Needs about 250 people who would like an LP to make it viable.

Thanks - keep enjoying your HiFi But Keep Music LIVE!!

[johnB]

So, just completed a marathon 10 days of live music

Last Monday. - Public Image Ltd, Leicester
Last Tuesday - Bonnie Raitt, Birmingham
Last Saturday - The Who, London
Monday - Neil Young, London (& Los Lobos)
Last night - Springsteen, Coventry

I'm knackered, so staying in this weekend, recuperating ahead of Glastonbury from Wednesday.

I have to say that all the above were excellent, but Springsteen and particularly Neil
Young were stunning.

John