Been To Any Good Gigs Lately?

[ladyfiona 2,488]

19 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

Good for you. I wish I'd had the initiative to go to events on my own when I was younger.  There really is no need to miss out on something because nobody else is interested.

 

Hexagon is a decent little venue, they have a lot of comedy there and some good bands once in a while.

 

I saw Jimmy Carr at the Hexagon about 10 years ago. He seems to do yearly shows there. Because Paul McCartney was on my bucket list I also went alone to see him at the O2 years ago.

 

Going alone is great because you go by your rules, your timeframe and don't have the frustration of trying to find tickets for 2-4 people as well. I've started to do that more, as i'm trying to get out of my comfort zone and be more confident. Going alone to concerts is part of that step so to speak.

 

 

 

[TQR 14,318]

37 minutes ago, ladyfiona said:

Going alone is great because you go by your rules, your timeframe and don't have the frustration of trying to find tickets for 2-4 people as well. I've started to do that more, as i'm trying to get out of my comfort zone and be more confident. Going alone to concerts is part of that step so to speak.

I still don’t really go out and do things on my own unless it’s just for a walk or a drive, and I don’t really know why. It’s a weird one; It’s the other people who get my arris in gear to go to gigs and stuff, but my social battery is seriously flat afterwards and often I wonder if I’d have preferred it on my own.

[Clorox Bleachman 2,324]

I went to 9/10 of my most recent gigs alone.

 

Before anyone has a go, yes I'm chronically single and I have 3 pals who don't like live music as much as me.

 

I find it empowering to decide I want to go somewhere and simply... go. I don't have to explain to anyone. Even better when I do it with only a few hours' notice.

 

The only part I don't like is the 20 minutes of nothingness between openers and main acts. I try to find other folk who don't have signal and look shy/bored, but they don't always want to talk to this yin. Understandable.

[Phantom 2,520]

I prefer going to gigs alone these days and then meeting up with people when I'm there 

I used to have a friend that would buy the tickets and I will pay them back. But, then they would keep hold of them until the gig. He was habitually late, so I'll miss the opening bands. In the end, I got pissed off with missing so many bands, that I just said "sod it. I'll buy my own tickets and meet you there "

Admittedly there were a few times when I didn't bother looking for them when I was inside the venue. 

 

[Phantom 2,520]

9 minutes ago, Clorox Bleachman said:

The only part I don't like is the 20 minutes of nothingness between openers and main acts. I try to find other folk who don't have signal and look shy/bored, but they don't always want to talk to this yin. Understandable.

 

I usually kill that time by browsing the merch table. 

Since I work a lot of merch tables , I usually make conversation with whomever is running it. Especially if there are unusual items for sale. 

Admittedly I've only been to a couple of shows each year where I'm a spectator. Other than that, depending on the show, I'm either kept busy from beginning to end. I'll hear the show, but not see it. Or I'll be busy before the show starts, during an interval (if there is one), and at the end. So, that way I can step away and watch the show with everyone else.

[ladyfiona 2,488]

26 minutes ago, Phantom said:

I prefer going to gigs alone these days and then meeting up with people when I'm there 

I used to have a friend that would buy the tickets and I will pay them back. But, then they would keep hold of them until the gig. He was habitually late, so I'll miss the opening bands. In the end, I got pissed off with missing so many bands, that I just said "sod it. I'll buy my own tickets and meet you there "

Admittedly there were a few times when I didn't bother looking for them when I was inside the venue. 

 

 

I am usually a person who buys the tickets because i'm a ticket ninja (even if i'm at work at the time because why the fuck are tickets being released at 9am on a Friday). Recently i've been using AXS as Ticketmaster has hidden fees etc. If you have the app and more than one ticket, you can easily transfer the ticket to someone else/a friend.

 

If you are going alone but may feel like an awkward turtle. Go on social media becuase there will be lots of people, like you and could meet up with someone. Then go for a drink then see the gig etc. I've arranged that with people on Tumblr and some i've known for a few years now. Especially when it comes to more less well known acts who have small fandoms (or are only Youtubers).

[Phantom 2,520]

2 minutes ago, ladyfiona said:

 

I am usually a person who buys the tickets because i'm a ticket ninja (even if i'm at work at the time because why the fuck are tickets being released at 9am on a Friday). Recently i've been using AXS as Ticketmaster has hidden fees etc. If you have the app and more than one ticket, you can easily transfer the ticket to someone else/a friend.

 

Now with the apps it's easy to transfer tickets. I was talking about the days before that option when all you had were physical tickets.

I still prefer physical tickets and would often go to the box office in person to buy tickets. AXS in the U.S. has a fair amount of hidden fees which they're trying to pass laws on to curb that nonsense.

[ladyfiona 2,488]

I miss the days of physical tickets. I was pleasently surprised Pink gave the option to print out the ticket. Knowing my friend has a memory box, I printed it out for her to keep.

[Phantom 2,520]

2 minutes ago, ladyfiona said:

I miss the days of physical tickets. I was pleasently surprised Pink gave the option to print out the ticket. Knowing my friend has a memory box, I printed it out for her to keep.

I'm not sure the situation where you are. But even ordering via AXS there's the option to have physical tickets mailed to you at an extra cost. I did that for the last couple of shows I paid for. Frustrating thing was that the tickets for The Charlatans arrived the week after the event. Thankfully they let me into the venue when I showed them the email with the receipt.

And I forgot my tickets for Stiff Little Fingers at home on the kitchen shelf. So, there's that drawback with physical tickets.

[Phantom 2,520]

I always love seeing the guys perform 

Tony Andreason and The Surf Dawgs at Chateau St Croix Winery in St Croix, Wisconsin.

Pure Midwest rock and roll royalty 

Bernie Bomberg (The Accents), Tony Andreason (The Trashmen), Dave Maetzold (Gregory Dee and The Avanties), Tom "Zip" Caplan (The Litter) and lastly "Cadillac" Sally West (The Fendermen)

Thankfully it had cooled off from the past couple of days so the weather was perfect. 

[Toast 15,897]

Went to see Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at Shepherds Bush Empire.

 

I probably wouldn't have gone except a friend who lives oop north is a big fan, and she doesn't come down south that often, so I went along with her.

We got on the rail despite not turning up early, I rather suspect her elbows were in play

Entertaining but not really my cup of tea, too much noodling about and I'm like, just play the bloody song.

 

However the support act was worth the price of the ticket.

P. P. Arnold !

She had 2 big hits in the 60s, although younger viewers will probably know more recent covers - Angel Of The Morning and The First Cut Is The Deepest.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._P._Arnold

She was fantastic, 77 years old, could pass for 25 years younger, and still has a hell of a voice.

 

[TQR 14,318]

Not a gig per se but I’m at Silverstone right now after a stunning return to the top step of the podium from Sir Lewis Hamilton and soaking in the electric atmosphere, sun, beers and fucking tunes from DJ Anna de Ferran in the mix now

[Phantom 2,520]

I had the honour of working for The Surfaris last night in Minneapolis. It was the first time they had ever played here. 

Bob Berryhill is the only remaining founding member still performing after 62 years. 

The line-up now comprises of his wife Gene (bass) and his two sons Deven Berryhill (guitar and backing vocals), and Joel Berryhill (drums and vocals),

Naturally they closed their regular set with that timeless classic Wipe Out.   

[ladyfiona 2,488]

While I didn't go to the gig, my brother and dad went to see Love in Guildford last night. They both loved it.

[Pedro67 231]

Saw Beaux Gris Gris and the apocalypse at the 100 club last Friday. Absolutely brilliant Blues and Rock night. Get a chance, definitely worth it.

Went alone. Good not to be in the 'hope the other person is enjoying it' complex.

[Phantom 2,520]

Forgot to post this at the weekend.

We had our annual Big Kahuna Bash on Saturday.

Special guests were Tony Andreason from The Trashmen, and Eddie Angel from Los Straitjackets.

Scorching hot day. We managed to persuade Eddie to wear shorts for this one 

[BuffaloPhil 888]

Was at the Glastonbury Extravaganza yesterday, headlined by Keane. As always (seen them nearly 20 times) they were stunningly brilliant, Tom Chaplin has an incredible voice and I've never once heard him hit a bum note.

 

[TQR 14,318]

3 hours ago, BuffaloPhil said:

Keane. As always (seen them nearly 20 times) they were stunningly brilliant

 

Well fuck, that explains away your KoS votes 

[Toast 15,897]

I may have mentioned I went to both the Bruce Springsteen shows at Wembley.  And caught Covid.

[BuffaloPhil 888]

17 hours ago, TQR said:

 

Well fuck, that explains away your KoS votes 

 

I'm just waiting for the 2000s #3 competition, finally get some Keane to vote for!

[maryportfuncity 10,479]

On 04/08/2024 at 20:44, BuffaloPhil said:

Was at the Glastonbury Extravaganza yesterday, headlined by Keane. As always (seen them nearly 20 times) they were stunningly brilliant, Tom Chaplin has an incredible voice and I've never once heard him hit a bum note.

 

 

 

The young 'un just saw them at Kendal Calling and rated them. 

[Phantom 2,520]

I've got a few gigs lined up this month.

Tomorrow and Saturday, I'll be working for Mason Jennings who is performing tunes from his album "Use Your Voice" as part of a 20th anniversary tour for that album  

I'll be doing my usual stint working for The Scarlet Goodbye next weekend.

And on the 21st I'll be working for Midge Ure.

[Phantom 2,520]

Had a great time working for Mason Jennings as part of the 20th anniversary for his album "Use Your Voice" at The Parkway Theater 

As a bonus, he gifted me a copy of " Use Your Voice " and a copy of" Underneath The Roses " which was released last year and his album release show that I worked.

[Phantom 2,520]

Just this morning I received confirmation to work for Marky Ramone at the Minnesota State Fair.

I will get to see part of the show as where I will be located, there's a big tree obscuring part of the stage  

But, at least I'll get to hear the show.

I'll post as many photos as I can.

[Sleepiestpeep 136]

Just back from Green Man festival for the fourth time. The setting is beautiful so there's an inherent sort of magic - but some personal highlights this year...

 

 

Sampha - Sunday's main stage headliner. Process has been in my frequent album rotation since 2017 - his voice is incredible, everything about it was on point & the energy was captivating 

 

Lynks - absolutely bizarre for a midday set. Queer, explicit, hilarious, chaotic, perfectly choreographed and frankly just a series of absolute bops. 

 

Big Thief - Saturday headliner. Stripped back, absolutely none of the showiness you'd expect from a headline set, but just breathtakingly gorgeous

 

Gia Ford - on the rising stage for upcoming artists, but absolutely had the stage presence for a larger crowd. I'm not sure the recording of this does her justice as a live performer!

 

Omar Souleyman - sometimes you just need to dance in a field to a Syrian uncle with the vibes of a wedding DJ and zero stage presence (imagine the clip of him clapping here, without the dancers in the background, for an hour) doing an electronic version of a dabke and it's great, actually. 

 

Honourable mentions to Porridge Radio, Ellie O'Neill, Jess Williamson, Wednesday, the Mary Wallopers, Lambrini Girls, Hotline TNT, and John Francis Flynn. Dishonourable mention to the pizza stall because I can't believe I paid £12 for a pepperoni pizza with a measly 7 slices of pepperoni on.