Last Gig You Went To...

[John]

So Govt Mule Under the Bridge Good gig but a bit to jam based for my likings

[dantheman91]

Thea Gilmore - Superb

[Tim]

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!

Not handed over personally Martin, but the next best thing





(inside cover)

Not sure I want to trust it to the post, unless you want it ASAP - but up to you how I get it to you?
She was superb at Maverick too, it was their last gig before heading back to Canada - a little different to the RAH, a barn in East Suffolk!

[MartinT]

Ah, you're a star Tim, and I owe you a couple of drinks as well as payment. No rush, we'll probably see each other some time this year. Did you have any further thoughts about Hawkwind?

[Tim]

Patty Griffin
Union Chapel, London
25th July 2103

Union Chapel is a pain in the arse for me to get to, especially on a week night, but as regular readers will know its one of my favourite London venues - the sound and atmosphere in there is superb and more than compensates for the hard pews and long journey home time!

This was the first time I have seen Patty without a band and although not solo, she was centre stage for the entire night and the support from David Pulkingham was superb. He is a very accomplished musician in his own right and added just the right level of balance to Patty's performance without being intrusive. This was a sublime performance from Patty and of the dozens of gigs I go to every year, a handful of them stand out . . . this was one of them - being front row and bang in the centre helped too



Waiting for Patty



Setlist



'Gonna Miss You When You're Gone' - from the album American Kid

[stupinder]

This. Utterly fantastic!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4btK83EcJN8

[Barry]

Etran Finatawa are a Niger-based band, formed in 2004 during the Festival au Désert near Timbuktu, Mali. The music of Etran Finatawa blends the traditional music of the Wodaabe and Tuareg people with western instruments such as the electric guitar. The band’s name Etran Finatawa means "the stars of tradition".

Niger is a region that for thousands of years has served as the crossroads between the Arabs of north Africa and the sub-Saharan traditions.

Originally the band consisted of 7 members including three female singers, but for practical reasons of touring, the band is reduced to four members, all male: two Wodaabe and two Tuareg. They play acoustic and electric guitar, electric bass, percussion; including an unusual drum consisting of an upturned gourd floating in a second, larger water-filled calabash.

Their singing is accompanied by hand claps whose timing is rhythmically so precise you could set your watch by it. A close comparison might be with the Tuareg group Tinariwen, however the rhythm is less heavy, and the music a little more melodic and the singing lacks the ululation associated with Tinariwen. This however is most likely due to the absence of the female singers in Etran Finatawa, since it is they who do the ululation. On the debut album “Introducing Etran Finatawa”, which included the three female singers, the ululation can be heard.



I saw Etran Finatawa at Menai Bridge in Anglesey ,the middle of last month, performing on a very small stage in a rather crowded function room. The performers were wearing traditional costume. The Tuareg wearing their traditional blue robes and black turbans, with the Wodaabe members having ornate face make up. To say their music and singing is infectious was immediately apparent by the fact that the, normally reserved, audience were all nodding their heads with several members up and dancing; a phenomenon that put a smile on the faces of the performers.

All in all a good time was had by everyone.

[Tim]

A close comparison might be with the Tuareg group Tinariwen

I saw these last year Barry, really superb performers. I have not heard of Etran Finatawa, so will keep a look out - thanks

[The Grand Wazoo]

I just wish that we could have made it Barry, but it wasn't to be - sounds like it was a good un.

[Ali Tait]

Saw Jools Holland in Edinburgh on Sunday night. Great gig, had Roland Gift as guest singer.