- Live Reviews
It was a privilege to be at the O2 on Friday to listen to Leonard Cohen again.
He last performed there in 2008 the same year we were bowled over by his appearance one sunny evening at
He played for over 3 hours and so we were treated to all the classics interspersed with numbers from his new album of last year, ‘Old Ideas’. It was magical to hear the appreciative anticipation ripple through the packed O2 arena when the first couple of notes were played of an old classic like Suzanne or Hallelujah.
The band which numbered ten including, Leonard played a few solos. There was a beautiful number from the Webb Sisters which they accompanied on the harp and guitar. After a long encore Leonard finished with Save the Last Dance For Me an old Drifters number.
He will be back at the O2 in September so we can look forward to another enduring performance from this most gracious man.
Ken
- Live Reviews
Thousand’s were squeezed into the moderately sized stadium and they were standing shoulder to shoulder on the pitch. Looking at the size of venues that Bruce and the band usually play though tonight, could quite easily be classed as an ‘intimate’ occasion for 30,000 souls.
With the usual, no support, three plus hours show, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band show no signs of slowing up. The undoubted highlight of this show and perhaps standout moment of any gig attended so far this year was when; Bruce announced that in tribute to "Our good friend James Gandolfini" they would dedicate a performance of the entire "Born to Run" album in this memory.
For us grey haired veterans in the crowd this album also carries many personal memories, with the tragic passing of James Gandolfini on the previous evening, the man who made Tony Soprano a household name, this made the performance truly remarkable.
The earlier request spot had seen a tremendous version of ‘Trapped’ (Jimmy Cliff cover) and Long Time Comin' from 2005's "Devils & Dust" album. It was the first time Bruce had ever performed the song with the E Street Band in concert, so this really was, a special evening.
Needing a breather after ‘Born to Run’, for a trial run of the Coventry City pies (very tasty), it was back in the stands for rousing versions of Lonesome Day’ ‘Badlands’ ‘Born in the U.S.A’ and ‘Bobby Jean’ plus many more.
All quite civilised with a 10.30 ish finish, we headed off singing into the night. Just like we have after every Springsteen gig since the beginning!
Pete
Set
1. Ghost of Tom Joad
2. Long Walk Home
3. My Love Will Not Let You Down
4. Two Hearts
5. Seeds
6. Trapped
7. Long Time Comin'
8. Wrecking Ball
9. Death to My Hometown
10. Hungry Heart
11. The River
Born to Run album dedicated to James Gandolfini
13.
14. Night
15. Backstreets
16. Born to Run
17. She's the One
18. Meeting Across the River
19. Jungleland
20. Pay Me My Money Down
21. Shackled and Drawn
22. Waitin' On a Sunny Day
23. Lonesome Day
24.
Encore
25. We Are Alive
26. Born in the
27. Bobby Jean
28. Dancing in the Dark
29. Raise Your Hand
30.
- Live Reviews
A few years ago I walked out at the end of a NIN gig at the Brixton Academy, absolutely exhausted by the sheer power and pummelling of the performance. The same feeling washed over me standing outside the 02 Arena in Greenwich last night, after my second Neil Young & Crazy Horse gig of this European tour.
- Live Reviews
Neil Young is not a man caught looking back for long and tonight's show is all about giving the audience the live experience of the new album ‘Psychedelic Pill’ with Crazy Horse at full blast with the throttle wide open.
Before the band comes on stage there is the play activity of the white coated roadies as they uncover the giant stage prop amps i.e. the stage is dominated by what looks like three floor to ceiling amps. The band arrives on stage and promptly its hats off for ‘God save the Queen’ before the gig starts.
Neil, Frank and Billy hoist those guitars around their necks, Ralph settles behind the drum kit, and the band fire up 'Love to Burn'. The volume level (sonic) is set for the evening.
A surprise of ’Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze' follows from ‘Re-Ac-Tor' after which we are into the title song from 'Psychedelic Pill' and a lengthy and feedback-drenched 'Walk like a Giant'. This is the point of the set where the audience who came for a greatest hits selection of a gentle acoustic Neil, realise perhaps, it's not going to be their night. On the other hand, those audience members who relish the might and raw power of Neil with Crazy Horse must have felt like they'd just taken their first ‘psychedelic pill’.
An unrecorded 'Hole in The Sky' is next before that acoustic interlude - 'Heart of Gold' (one of those early songs we all reached for when first learning to guitar), Dylan's 'Blowin in the Wind' and another new unrecorded song 'Singer without a Song' which was lovely and had a lost girl with a guitar case in hand, wandering around the stage for effect.
- Live Reviews
Rock and roll is here to stay
The sound of Neil Young with Crazy Horse is unlike that of any other band. There’s a magical meeting of minds when these men get together with their guitars.
Three days and plenty of pilsners into a stay in Berlin, finally it was Sunday at the Waldbuhne, out on the western perimeter of the German capital, just near the Olympic Stadium.
It’s a pale grey evening. Not that we can see it, but the sun is slowly setting.
Two mates and I arrive at 19:00. Is that Los Lobos we can hear through the trees? You bet your David Hasselhoffs it is.
It’s still grey, but it’s getting brighter as the evening draws in. Weird.
- Live Reviews
On stage for a set lasting two hours the two New Yorkers and their band including Franic Rozycki from Wave Pictures entertain to such a level that it just leaves you marvelling at the level at which a gig can put a smile on your face.
Full of Fun 75 year old Stampfel may look his age but has the same energy as his younger compatriot Jeffrey Lewis as the band ripped through a set of band, solo, previous band and cover songs almost non-stop.
Peter on a Chinese copy banjo (better than the original $6,000 version) and Electric violin also had a great recollection of 1940/50's American TV & Radio jingles which were performed lot much hilarity during the evening.
Peter Stampfel
- Live Reviews
What a musical treat we had at Ólöfs’ first gig on her short
Singing in both Icelandic and English, the Icelandic songs had the mysery of the sounds which added an extra dimension and inspired the imagination, with thoughts of strange Icelandic landscapes and sagas. Of course the words in translation would mean something entirely different no doubt.
Ólöf accompanied her singing with acoustic guitar and her very accomplished finger picking style. Skuli Sverrisson accompanied her on the bass guitar which added so much beautiful harmony and tone to the sound.
She has an engaging natural shyness and doesn’t talk much between songs. Her performance though, was very confident and delivered with a happy enthusiasm.
The venue worked well. The large 18th Century church is conveniently next to Bethnal Green park and tube station. A good selection of beers, cider and wine were sold from the pop-up bar in the aisle and the shelves on the back of the pews were perfect for drinks!
We are looking forward to hearing her again at the Green Man Festival later on this year.
Ken
Last show of the tour is tonight - Friday 7th June Brighton –
More Photos HERE
- Live Reviews
We were lucky enough to get a couple of tickets via the Edith Bowman show on BBC 6 Music on Saturday morning, we found ourselves in Horse Guards Parade,
I thought the evening was laid out to see the movie and the gig but it turned out to just be the gig. We had to hang around for a couple of hours, but the time passed fairly quickly and Muse were on stage at 9.30pm for a greatest hits set lasting 50 minutes.
A mini stadium gig with explosions, flames, smoke, dry ice and cool lighting, it was all very spectacular and well worth the wait I hear Brad Pitt got a ticket as well.
Pete
Set List
1.Supremacy
2.Supermassive Black Hole
3.Follow Me
4.Starlight
5.Madness
6.Uprising
7.Knights of Cydonia
Encore:
8.Time Is Running Out
- Live Reviews
The tour bus must be pretty full on this latest Iron and Wine tour with Sam Beam and this 12 band members on board.
A more expanded band than last time out and accordingly a bigger sound which is driven by the string section and the dancing horns in equal measure as the evening progresses. Sam is a charming man, very appreciative of people spending their time at one of his gigs, and as usual was in a good mood. This becomes quite infectious and means a very relaxed atmosphere at his shows.
He seemed impressed, even slightly overawed by the venue and repeatedly asked whether the audience “came to many gigs here”? (Which, we Rock Club folks, answered in the affirmative). When one punter shouted out that he had seen Ryan Adams here, that then started Sam off jokingly seeking comparisons between his music and Ryan’s.
With a new record out, Iron and Wine supporters seem to be getting dragged into two camps; one enjoying the solo output and one more enjoying the bigger band and funky sound. Yes, Iron and Wine does funk, soul, jazz and all point in-between when in full band mode.
Fans of the earlier, less bombastic albums were catered for mid-set when the band left the stage to leave Sam alone with his acoustic guitar, and once again in the encore. The latter, a haunting solo take on 'Sodom South Georgia' from the 'Our Endless Numbered Days' album closed the evening after two hours and saw us leaving the venue with big smiles on our faces'.
Pete & Matt
Set List
The Desert Babbler
Carousel
Kingdom of the Animals
Tree by the River
Grass Widows
Sixteen, Maybe Less
Belated Promise Ring
Such
Resurrection Fern
Boy with a Coin
Innocent Bones
Debris (Faces cover)
Caught in the Briars
Jezebel
Grace for Saints and Ramblers
Passing Afternoon
Low Light Buddy of Mine
Lean Into the Light Play Video
Your Fake Name Is Good Enough for Me
Encore:
- Live Reviews
Ten years on from the release of ‘Give Up’ Seattleite and Death Cab for Cutie front man Ben Gibbard and Dntel mastermind Jimmy Tamborello are in the UK with Mynabird, Laura Burhenn and Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis onboard as The Postal Service.
The ‘imaginary (?) band, have collected million of followers over the 10 years since the release of their one an only album ‘Give Up’. These people who latched onto the prefect pop songs, (the Shins were certainly listening), or the lovable indie artwork that that accompanied the songs are now in seventh heaven with the band playing live in 2013.
Just three UK dates and no festivals (which seems strange), tickets as you would expect were like gold dust so it was nice to be at The Brixton Academy, even on a Sunday evening.
Stealing Sheep started the proceedings; an energetic three piece, playing their own brand of folk/indie. Good fun.
9pm on walk the Postal Service and straight into ‘The District Sleeps Alone Tonight’. What first hits you is actually the quality of the light show as the music of the song you have know for ten years, drifts over you.
Having recently headlined Coachella, the professionalism of the stage design should have been expected, but it was a pleasant sunrise. Simple but, very effective.
All four band members looked happy, the sound was great and the songs, well the songs were just like welcoming home old friends. Close to ninety minutes covered all of the original record and more. This was one fabulously enjoyable show!
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
We Will Become Silhouettes
Sleeping In
Nothing Better
Recycled Air
Be Still My Heart
Clark Gable
Our Secret (Beat Happening cover)
This Place Is a Prison
There's Never Enough Time
A Tattered Line of String
Such
Natural Anthem
Encore:
(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan (Dntel cover)
Brand New Colony
- Live Reviews
I have seen John Grant a number of times over the past few years and I was keen to see how the new album translated live. It wasn’t a show that I was desperate to see but, went along more out of interest than compulsion.
Two days later, the more I look back at the show, the more special I think it was. Two hours on stage with a full band, the new songs are a refreshing new direction in style. ‘The Queen of Denmark’ compositions now there as the bedrock of the solo catalogue.
John remains full of passion, anger and compassion and his strength is that he can channel that into his music, with quite startling results. The more electronic feel to aspects of his music feels a refreshing new start and someone moving forward.
A six song encore included the Czar’s ‘Paint the Moon’. it would be great one day if John could revisit some more material from the Czars but, we were grateful for ‘paint the moon’ on the night anyway.
Lap Top still missing but, an amazing show that should live with everyone who was there for quite sometime.
- Live Reviews
For a couple of hours on Monday evening, a little corner of
The Junction 2 is a nice intimate venue and a reasonable amount of people where there for American Singer-songwriter Nataly Dawn and guitarist Jack Conte. Original songs laced with humor and heartbreak meant an enjoyable 30 minute set from the pair.
Lord Huron are a 5 piece band led by Ben Schneider from
No better way to start the week!
Remaining UK Tour dates
May 16 The Great Escape
May 17 Thekla
May 18 Brudenell Social Club Leeds May 20 Hare & Hounds
May 21 The
May 22 King Tuts
May 23 The Deaf Institute
