Adam Ant Gig Review Leicester Academy 24 April 2013

Adam Ant: Leicester Academy 24 April 2013

I don't know quite what it is about Adam Ant, but his gigs are electric, it may be because of the 2 drummers, it may be because of the incredibly catchy tunes, it may be the swagger of Adam front and centre, it may be the foxy backing singer, it may be the warmth from the crowd but every gig is electric. That's 4 times now I have seen Adam Ant, crack through just short of 2 hours of blistering tunes, and every time I have come out of the gig on cloud 9.

I think however it may be the memories evoked from the songs. Tonight I went with one of my oldest mates (not old old, but I have known him since the first day of school) and in between songs we were reliving the memories that the songs evoked, listening to the albums in our bedrooms, taping albums off record players whilst being incredibly quiet (and having a Mum shouting did we want a drink on tape) the listening to Lady surreptitiously due to its lyrics commenting on a naked lady.

A great memory was of the old C90 that my Dad got me with Friend or Foe on it, sadly it had Shaking Stevens on the other side, but I can still recite every word on the album. My mate also recalled the gatefold sleeve he had with Adams ankle looking deformed as it was on the fold.

Tonight's gig was littered with a sprinkling of the new songs, with most sitting very well, particularly the Bob Dylanesque Cool Zombie. Pretty impressive for a guy who must be comfortably in his 50's at least.

Going back to the Burundi Drumming, why hasn't Anyone else done anything like this over the years, it's so powerful, really enjoyed the Prince Charming with both drummers stood up, 2 big gong sticks in hand going dum der dum der, dum der dum der......

Couple of encores, roof raised, a rocking cover of Get it on(bang a gong), acoustic sing along to Prince Charmings, 'Dont you ever, don't you ever, lower yourself forgetting all your standards'

Early start for the gig meant I missed support band New Killer Shoes but the charms of my mate obtained a signed CD from them, each so I will relive their set at my leisure.

Georgie Girl

Walking back to the car, my mate confirmed this was one of the best gigs he has ever seen, and he's seen some legendary gigs like Stone Roses at Spike Island. Final comment, its funny to see backing singer Georgie Girl in the flesh knowing that she was the cause indirectly of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's Radio shows (she being the focus of Sach's gate, his granddaughter), anyway I blame the outraged daily mail readers for that one, 'Outraged from Surbiton, they should be sacked, hung, drawn and quartered'.

I would recommend Adam Ant to anyone, no one at this gig, of any age, left without a smile on their faces, the highlight for me, Ant Invasion - I have always loved the tension in that track, brought out tonight by Adam & guitar playing the chords throughout.

Marc Almond @ Birmingham Symphony Hall Gig Review

Marc Almond: Birmingham Symphony Hall
Gig 41: 28 September 2012

After filing deadline day passed, a couple of beers sunk at a leaving do, I was off to Symphony Hall, to see Marc Almond. Heading up to the gods, the usherette suggested me and Fabrizio (I found his name out later) go to the box office to get stalls tickets, following which I settled down to watch support act Baby Dee, not much to write home about massive red dressed shaggy haired 'entertainer' on the piano who emptied the room.

A 15 minute interval then Marc came on, the voice amazing, flanked to my delight by Neal X from Sigue Sigue Sputnik and an hour or so of excellent tunes, for the die hard, full of passion and emotion, and the odd bit of flamenco style, a handbag moment when we were told off for talking and going to the loo in the quiet songs, not as bad a crime as the lighting mans crime of yellow lights destroying the mood.

We had a cracking tribute to Andy Williams who had died this week, and then a pick up and a half, Gene Pitneys, somethings got a hold of my heart, Jackie, Ruby Red, the days of Pearly Spencer, Tainted Love, Bed Sitter, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye followed by one of the best covers I have ever seen to finish with, Trex's Hot Love.

Interestingly his was the first time I have seen the Symphony Hall rocking, with everyone on their feet. It felt like party time, and I can see why someone like Fabrizio gets obsessed by Marc Almond (he is, we discussed this,he found out when Marc had his motorcycle crash).

All round brilliant.

New Order At the Ballroom Gig Review

New Order: Birmingham Ballroom.
Gig 20: 29 April 2012:
Now the was a gig that had been looked forward to for sometime 3 members of New Order (Hooky absent) were coming to Brum, I had never seen them and was pretty excited. The gig passed Mrs P's criteria of 'not being a crappy band I've never heard of' and she was in (in fact she found out about the gig and told me to book it) and 2 of the pub quiz team were coming too (much to the disgust of our remaining pub quiz member, whose more of a 70's than an 80's man when it comes to music - his explanation, who had to valiantly battle on on his own).


We got into town, in the pouring rain, and into the Ball Room (nee Carling Academy, nee Hummingbird, all redone and worst of all, the sticky carpet has been replaced!!!!!). We got there just as the support came on and it was absolutely rammed, New Order are probably the biggest band to have hit this venue for years and years, and it was rammed with blokes. To be honest blokes and blokes and blokes and blokes and baldy blokes....and the Missus.


Support band Jake Evans was pretty good, normal indie rock, backed with a big banner shouting simply www.jakeevansmusic.com - not too inspiring but at least it meant that in between each song I was not willing him to explain who the band were and wondering if I had misheard him which happens with a lot of other support bands. The subliminal advertising did work as I have visited the website and downloaded the free tune. Turns out he was in Bad Lieutenant and so I presume that this was Bernie's helping hand now he had left that band for the time being.


Couple more beers had by all and we worked our way to somewhere that the shorties could see, which was at the back by the merchandise stall, which worked sensibly enough, whilst not being the greatest of vantage points as can be seen by the photo. Plus it did pose the problem that the Ballroom has always had, if you are under the balcony the sound quality is radically reduced. 


On came New Order, who despite their size (tiny tiny specs) and the sound quality, did not disappoint. The crowd welcomed them on and they started off with Crystal, a blistering recent song that I absolutely love (or thought I did). Whilst it is a brilliant song, its on the ipod, it has 5 stars, next to the likes of True Faith, Blue Monday or the encore Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart it is just fine! I hadn't realised at all how brilliant those songs are, its only when you see them live that they really knock you sideways.


The crowd lapped up the performance, each song cheered on, big screen films, lazer effects, drum machines....welcome to the eighties, and its telling that even being that far back, with the pillar box view of the band, with crap sound, it was still an experience and a half.


Was particularly impressed to have guessed the encore before it happened, and a little disappointed not to have had the World Cup song world in motion (but how do you replace John Barnes' rap).


Better than quiz night? - yep!




Set List:

1. Elegia 
2. Crystal 
3. Regret 
4. Ceremony 
5. Age of Consent 
6. Love Vigilantes 
7. Krafty 
8. Round and Round 
9. Bizarre Love Triangle 
10. True Faith 
11. 586 
12. The Perfect Kiss 
13. Blue Monday 
14. Temptation 
15. Encore:
15. Love Will Tear Us Apart 
    (Joy Division cover)

Bow Wow Wow Gig Review

Bow Wow Wow @ Leamington Assembly Rooms


Gig 21: 1 May 2012


Tumbleweed


Walking into the Leamington Assembly Rooms was an odd experience this time, said my name on the door and could see only 3 names with e tickets on the list, upstairs to the bar, 4 people milling around and no queue, into the venue itself and it was dark with no one in there. 


Was I mega early, no, not at all, doors opened at 7:00, I got there at 8:00, no one else did. So a bit of milling about was called for and people started drifting in, but let me emphasise, slowly.


However that was a shame, because what was to come was a good night indeed. 

After quite a while on came Pint Shot Riot, reasonable indie band, playing to the 25 or so people who had now gathered. Great stage presence from the front man, keen to gauge reaction of new songs, he could have asked us individually really. For me the song (presumably called) Breakdown was stand out, but the songs did nothing really to stand out from the crowd. Pretty good enthused indie rock.

Rough count is 40 here now, it's very sparse. The tunes while we wait a good selection of Clash tunes to get people in the mood. A quick audience watch reveals a cowboy hat, vivid red died hair mom dragging round her lad, funny bobble hat, no one under 40 except for the lad, some stand out stand up hair (which may just be hair envy on my part).

A potter to the merchandise stall shows it to be unmanned and just support band merch of which there is a signed album, unsold, t-shirts unsold, free cd singles, 'please take one' the chap standing near the stall says, 'nothing to do with me but I have been asked to try to clear them, in fact there's 2 different ones take a couple each for friends.'

So I did. To be polite......

On came the blokes of Bow Wow Wow a quick instrumental and drew us in. The drums set things apart from the first beat, the Burundi drums inherited from the ex ants (as original drummer isn't with Bow Wow Wow) are incredibly fresh sounding. 'Where is she?' was the call and then on came Annabella Lwin, she's filled out a little at 45 but the voice and energy were undiminished from 30 years ago.




Annabella drew everyone closer to the the stage and launched into her set, her first song showed that there were a few die hard dancers such as Whip it (with the cowboy hat) and the big fish little fish cardboard box man, who was so impressive he got to high 5 Annabella. This would have been more impressive if he hadn't missed then injured her hand.

The passion in the songs came thick and fast, no bum songs with Annabella whirling and chatting throughout. Not bad for a 45 year old, sorry in hind sight phenominal for a 45 year old, loved it! She had so much energy and passion for the gig, backed by the original bassist (a suitably bald bloke) and 2 glamorous replacements who probably hadn't been born when the tracks were first released.

I want candy and C30 C60, C90 go were the highlights for me, but I will be pulling my Bow Wow Wow greatest hits off the shelf to investigate more as the quality of the other songs was superb live, such as afrodisiac.

They went off and the small congregation managed to keep up enough noise for the full 5 minutes to warrant a 3 song encore, including another instrumental.

Then it was the end and I realised that I had a strained face from having grinned my way through the set, not taking themselves too seriously, drums galore and bringing the small crowd to life made thus gig somewhat special. I did kind of go wild in the country for the night.


Why so few people there? touring one hit wonders from 30 years ago is a challenge, but they could be using social media to drum up support, dull facebook page, no twitter, no show times on line, no website for updates......a staple in the modern day and age, as they had been doing the traditional stuff like Radio interviews.

Back to the Eighties, Howard Jones:

A gig it was impossible to turn down, 27 years on from seeing the Dream into Action tour with Mom and Dad for my 13th Birthday, he was back in town to play the full album and humans lib at the dome.

Posting this fact on Facebook also revealed a lot of love for Howard and memories being rekindled from as far away as Thailand.

Getting there we were greeted by large merchandise banners telling us about the £35, £30 and £20 box sets on offer, a little rich for my taste no matter how well remastered the albums sounded.

Settled in with cooking lager, on walked Howard, but actual fact it was a baldy man reemphasising the value of the box sets, and telling us that real Howard Jones fans felt his new album was the best he has ever done - the inference being I suppose I am not a real fan, pah

Then on came 2 chaps behind a bank of electric drums and computer, neither Howard but they played a mash up of the first album, leaving me concerned that the actual album would be reinterpreted, but no, on bounced Howard, looking mad professor, large forehead and red leather jacket - back to the eighties is on.

The gig kicked off with a personal favourite Automaton and the song took me right back to the days of lp heavy rotation, on Mom and Dads old stereo in my room, with clicks and pops and wirrs. A time when I had maybe 4 records to my name.

A nice touch to the songs were the backing videos. Not the most amazing but well thought through, Automaton launching with a video showing a massive Howard Head looking very Holly from Red Dwarf.

We got lots of discussion between songs, things like when recording Dream into Action, at the playback to the record company they slated it for no hits and HJ went home in a panic to write life in one day over night for a massive smash. Another touching story was how HJ's Mum (82 years old now) being part of the fan club and writing letters to fans, and particularly HJ being given a scrap book from a fan (clearing space) and finding letters from his Mom he had never read.

A massive part of the 80's was Jed the mime artist for HJ and he was there, in spirit with 2 of he films featuring him, the first a miming of eating dinner at a table in silhouette (Jed's a little more portly now) and then in the second half a cracking video where a split screen head of Jed was incredibly expressive, one all colourful, one black and white, both looking aged.

What else jumped out, the sing alongside, HJ would wander to the front Nd lead lots of sing songs and the crowd were transported back, as was HJ to the NEC, and the filming of LiF in one da live at the concert by the man who went on to direct Michael Jacksons videos.

After a half our interval, HJ was back with Humans Lib, after another baldy man sales pitch, and confirming from back stage that he had reached 10,000 followers on twitter.

Other things, a false start on one song to prove it was all live, the fat chap on keyboards playing media ski poles - bizarre and in line with HJ's experimentation in the 80's, that's one of he things hat grabbed me he was always so forward looking with his music, which when he came out for the encore with his guitar keyboard, cutting edge to retro in a mere 27 years.

The keyboard guitar encore was for New Song, not hard to guess the encore being the massive hit and only song missing from the run through of Humans Lib, HJ walked us through it in a slow appreciation the blasted out a massive sing along.

Ending on a high, I absolutely loved HJ way back when, and played Dream into Action and Humans Lib (a cassette copy) no end.

A real value for money gig and whilst not quite back to 1985 in a Delorean,

Was I tempted with the mega bucks box sets?

No I picked up Humans Lib on vinyl off eBay for 99p, which was the album and format I had coveted back in the eighties.