I’m a 60 year old grey haired gig goer. I get to a lot of gigs and festivals in a variety of places. The last five years or so it’s cranked up a notch with the help of a similarly (even more gigaholic) enthusiastic mate and my gig-loving wife.
I seem to be on one massive tour and keep squeezing in the music where I can.
Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper with The Hollywood Vampires at Birmingham Resorts Arena (NEC)
I thought I could leave a blog trail as I go on my gigaholic wanderings – the bands – my photos – the venues – the festivals – bits on travel and parking – the odd handy pub and all that stuff.
With Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs at The Roundhouse
All photos are my own unless I mention otherwise. I use a Panasonic compact pocket-sized zoom mostly, a TZ60. Unobtrusive and only ocasionally not permitted, and that’s where there is a no phones or cameras rule which I always abide by. I occasionally take a better Nikon bridge camera to outdoor gigs, especially festivals so the pics there are best quality. Then there are gigs when I forget my camera, run out of battery etc 🙄
Keith Flint of The Prodigy at Victorious Festival
My mobile phone camera is pretty bang average, on an older Samsung A6, but I do take an occasional video clip if it isn’t going to get in anyone’s way – I like a pillar or a wall behind me. In Spring 2022 I started putting these on a YouTube channel. It saves memory on the WordPress account if nothing else but is getting hundreds of views in its own right, occasionally over a thousand. Link to my Grey-Haired Gig Goer channel.
The Covid pandemic hit activities hard but through my blogs you can see the various attempts to keep gig-fit and measures brought in during this awful period in our history.
A diversion from my norm. A very talented guy I saw at Glastonbury a few years ago. I must be near enough the oldest person here – Wu derhorse, the support band, may be more my thing but hey ho.
The Modfather returns to Poole – cannot resist this opportunity – just a short walk down the road, well it would have been if I had not buggered my knee up. I hobbled down with a crutch and knee support. Couldn’t miss this one.
Another one of those notable gigs I went to last year but at the time I just didn’t get to leave a note on. It was my first Devo gig, and it seems my last Devo gig as this was billed at the last Devo gig in the UK and the only gig in England on their ‘Farewell Tour’ and ‘Celebration of the 50th year of the band’.
This art-punk band, formed in Ohio in 1973, brought some very different sounds and visual aspects to the music scene around the punk explosion. Always eye-catching in the music press around 1979/80 but I didn’t dive in, even when Whip It hit the charts – we cared about the charts then. Bit of electronica and a lot of Americana in their mix.
But I made it here eventually, here near the front of the balcony of the Hammersmith Apollo as we waited for what would be the last chance to see them. I remember the large number of Devo ‘energy dome’ hats – you can see them from up in the balcony (all the red dots). There were some of these ‘flowerpot men’ hats on show outside. Inside, the merch stand had done a roaring trade and sold out of stocks, so numbers were boosted.
Waiting, at Hammersmith Apollo – look at all those Devo hats
There was no support band… well a DJ set from Rusty Egan (Visage, Skids and more). This worked well as a warm-up, with predominantly early 80s electronic based tunes. It just helped the build-up rather than merely distract and delay.
Great view from up in the balcony. Not been up there many times: I do like the sloping downstairs standing here but, as my legs knock on, I appreciate the seat option. There’s also a bit of stability and opportunity to zoom in with my trusty pocket camera.
Three originals in the band still, a line-up that started out with two pairs of brothers. The Mothersbaugh brothers remain.
Mark Mothersbaugh, from the balcony
It was one of those gigs where I felt like an imposter, given most of the crowd seemed to be Devo obsessives. The start of virtually every song got a roar of approval. I like their sound but I never grew up with it, only the radio listens.
Devo – Hammersmith Apollo 2023
Whip It was the one that got my little roar. The one I knew well. It was just after that – one more song – that the guys disappeared to change from the energy dome hats into the classic Devo yellow plastic suits. Their cover of the Stones’ Satisfaction followed.
The Devo yellow plastic suit look
The pounding beat is such a classic early electronic sound – groundbreaking at the time most of this stuff was released. My musical tastes were a bit limited when Devo arrived on the scene, I guess. All thrash, chorus and guitars.
This was like watching a stage of mad scientists play rock stars. Unique.
Once you’ve heard Mongoloid it’s hard to get that one out of your head – it repeated on me for days. Not sure this tale of a guy with Downs syndrome who just gets on with life, is one which would hit the charts in this form today.
The suits come off for the last leg of the set, the last leg of touring live in the UK.
The title track of their third LP, Freedom of Choice (1980) gets its own backdrop and a massive cheer.
As this special and final evening of Devo live in the UK came to an end there was the tongue in cheek promise of 100 year anniversary. Yes funny but then sad. None of us will make that.
The last song, Beautiful World, was indeed the last song. No need for encores. The whole gig was something of an encore. The crowd dissolved away, still excitement in the air but turning to sadness. That was that. At least I had a peak at this special band from 70s Ohio.
Muse at Home Park, Plymouth (27.5.2023) supported by Royal Blood and The Warning
Sunny day at Home Park for Muse in the summer of 2023
This was a cracker. Probably the best stadium gig I’ve seen and that surprised me. At the time I didn’t get around to posting anything in a blog. In my current relatively quiet period of gig-going, I thought I’d just put a marker down on my Muse gig-going, and some pics.
This was my sixth Muse gig, but the previous five were all 2000-2003. A small window which indicates my early enthusiasm but they got so popular that gigs got bigger, ticket prices rocketed and I lost my way – that’s not to say that I wasn’t listening to the albums.
Some early tickets
That first gig was in June 2000 with Coldplay supporting (pre-light up bracelet years), and the quite short lived My Vitriol. A sweaty one – I bought the classic t-shirt which I got too big for and the logo print slowly crumbled on. I could fit in it again now but it’s long disintegrated. (I do keep some of the nostalgic decaying garments in a bag in the loft but this one never made it.)
The following year it was Brixton Academy and then my first ever visit to Portsmouth Guildhall (before my south coast move) – both viewed from the balcony. (I remember my younger sister was messaging me from backstage at Brixton as she knew the tour manager.) After that, Reading Festival 2002 with Foo Fighters and one more at Bournemouth BIC in December 2003…and nearly 20 years on I finally see them again. The occasion: a meet up with gig buddy Dave and the Plymouth guys. A special one.
Crowds gather on a sunny day
Support bands were firstly The Warning and Royal Blood. First time I saw Royal Blood was at Glastonbury Festival and I thought they were fantastic. A short, high impact festival set which really impressed. On that basis I bought tickets to see them on tour at Bournemouth BIC and after a great start they seemed to run out of steam…and then go on..without the material to support a longer set at that stage. It’s hard going with just drums and bass.
Royal Blood – Home Park 2023
Mike Kerr – Royal Blood – in the Plymouth sunshine
With Royal Blood on, there was the feel that this was building to a really BIG gig. I enjoyed them – more so than the crowd at The Radio 1 Big Weekend in Scotland 2023, who didn’t cheer enough and the band stormed off. I get it. Not everyone’s cup of tea and they’re not that good to deal with it like that – up to them of course – rock’n’roll. They have a lot of punch though – maybe the lesson is Radio 1 punters are not for them.
It was still light. Beer was flowing…. but Muse time was coming and by the time they came on the fervour was there. Massive.
Masked Matt Bellamy
They started with mirror masks on, just to enhance the mystery and build up. It’s amazing seeing so few hold so many thousands in awe at their every move – but they do and I’m there.
Matt Bellamy – masks are off
I remember how, as the darkness came, the atmosphere intensified. The walkway down through the crowd became increasingly used. Matt Bellamy was able to be right in the centre of the Home Park pitch.
Matt Bellamy on the walkway
Full setlist here and a wonderful mix it was. During Behold, The Glove, Bellamy had a playable glove on, a musical robot arm, which he parades down the mid-pitch runway. It wasn’t that easy to get photos…too fast, dark and distant.
We are in the seats to one side with an elevated view over the pitch standing areas. This gives the full show view and the lights and all were pretty special.
Last song of the main part of the set was Starlight captured and stored here on my YouTube channel. Bellamy, by this time sporting a jacket that was its own little lightshow, on the walkway leading from the stage to an illuminated dancefloor at the end.
Bellamy had the whole stadium focused on him and carried it all. I am often sceptical of the big stadium gig: there is always compromise, but this was about as good as it gets for such an event.
Whether I get to see Muse again I don’t know but this was something to remember them well by.
London Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8EH (Last updated 23.4.2024).
The architectural dream that is The Roundhouse remained elusive for me for so long, but as time goes on it’s a more regular trip. Strange, as when I started gig-going from the London suburbs in 1979 but didn’t get to go there – I had to wait until 2011, when living in Dorset. As a teenager I focused on West/Central London venues and very rarely ventured north to Camden or Islington.
Street view – The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse was first on the radar for me in 1977 when The Stranglers recorded much of their Live X-Cert album there and it’s now unlikely to be forgotten as I proposed to my wife there in 2019, at a Rifles gig. (My blog of that one linked here.)
My visits have taken in bands such as Sparks, Psychedelic Furs, The Lathums, Echo and the Bunnymen, Sisters of Mercy, The Skids and Killing Joke. I’ve always found I have enjoyed the venue. Latest visit was for The Jesus and Mary Chain on 30.3.2024. (Links to my blog of that one.)
It was once an old train shed that was used to turn engines around in on a turntable – hence the beautiful and unusual round shape.
Plaque on the outside of the building
Inside, the ornate arrangement of refurbished industrial ironworks supports the roof. The pillars do make for a reason to choose a standing position thoughtfully, and if able to get a relatively exclusive seat, then even more carefully.
The Roundhouse ironworks from the balcony
Standing just in front of a pillar limits passing traffic, pushing through to the front. It’s also handy for taking photos without getting in the way. Front left is a good spot and I’m also happy around the mixing desk.
View from front right – Echo and the Bunnymen 2024
There’s plenty of more detailed venue info on the Roundhouse website. The capacity is still a bit unclear. I think it’s 1800 for standing gigs, which includes the fairly small circular balcony.
From the circular balcony
At standing gigs there is that seated balcony. There are about six rows of balcony seats, curving right round between two private viewing areas, one to the left of the stage being the members’ bar.
Balcony view – Jesus and Mary Chain 2024
A downside is the toilet provision, unless you’re lucky enough to have access to the members’ area. Don’t bother fighting it in an interval. You need to pick your moments.
The ales in The Roundhouse are pretty good and service works. Rear of the main auditorium downstairs bar is often the best option.
The Lathums – mixing desk view March 2023
Pre-Gig Options
Camden is your oyster… and The Roundhouse is just north-west of the heart of it. So many options. As you come up from around Camden Town tube (or down a bit from Chalk Farm – also on the Northern Line) there are so many decent pubs (including the Hawley Arms; The Lock Tavern; Camden Assembly Pub). There are the food stalls in the market and the Vietnamese restaurant Thanh Binh, just north of the bridge.
The Muang Thai restaurant on the main drag opposite the venue is another great spot to eat and wait for doors to open or queues to subside.
I used to aim for Joe’s Bar on the main drag but it’s all closed up, making The Enterprise even more rammed than it might be on a gig night, good boozer though it is.
Another different option is Powerplant (89 Chalk Farm Road): vegan heaven, with some decent canned ales in the fridge.
The Roundhouse, from the Regents Park Road railway bridge
Venturing up passed the Roundhouse and over the railway bridge there is The Pembroke Castle, with decent outside space, just out of the way. Often pleasantly busy. Good ale selection on the pumps and if very full then pop and sit in the upstairs bar area.
The London Roundhouse continues to be a highlight of many a tour and I will never tire of the selection of pubs to enjoy before you get there.
Declan McKenna at O2 Academy Bournemouth (14.4.2024) with Wunderhorse supporting.
My first Declan McKenna encounter was in the Glastonbury June sunshine, 2022, led by my wife and our friend (Ann P) who had heard of him, to The Other Stage. We sat in our camping chairs with pint cartons of chilled white wine, around lunchtime (if we have ‘lunchtime’ at festivals). The songs were original and varied and he was putting in a shift and grabbing attention. I think the surroundings influenced me.
It was Glastonbury where he appeared in 2015, winning an emerging talent competition.
Glastonbury 2022 – Declan McKenna
When his Bournemouth gig was mentioned I thought, go on then – tickets bought – I’ll give it a go – a bit of pre-gig ‘revision’ with top picks and latest album, What Happened to the Beach, on Spotify. I was still wondering if this was the right thing. Still, it’s local and I like the venue. More on the 02 Academy Bournemouth on this link.
I’m a bit the worse for wear after standing for five hours plus at The Vive Le Rock Magazine Awards event two days before, in Islington – great night that was with sets by Theatre of Hate, Ruts DC and Sham 69 and a range of appearances with the Vive Le Rock band for the evening. Hence I was relieved to find ‘The Gods’ open up the top of the O2 Academy Bournemouth, after a swift entry via the O2 phone contract queue jumping line – it doesn’t seem fair breezing passed a queue stretching a quarter of a mile down the road.
Support band Wunderhorse are on at O2 Academy Bournemouth
What I did find a few days before the gig was that a band called Wunderhorse were supporting. Playing their first album, Cub (2022), I realised that this lot were a band for me – I loved it, first hearing.
Lead singer, Jacob Slater sounds almost Lou Reed-like, hampered it seems by his ailing throat. He mentions this but the sound is still good. A few songs sound a bit early and earthy REM; shades of the solid rocky sounds of the likes of The Gaslight Anthem. Americana indeed.
The downstairs was packed. I’d already figured out I was just about the oldest person in the place – not just old enough to be mistaken for a supervising parent but possibly grandparent. Even for Wunderhorse they were singing all the words to a few songs.
Jacob Slater – Wunderhorse
Whether its Slater’s throat or just time pressures as support slot, they only do about five or six numbers. Although these were not, aside from Teal, on the album I’d been listening to, they offered familiar and appealing sounds. When they finished they were straight off. My first thought was when do I get to see them again then.
Wunderhorse – Jacob Slater takes a seat
At a quarter to nine the mountainous backdrop is lit and one hell of a high pitched scream rises up from the crowd below – the screams tonight are louder than the music and demand the ear protective plugs for that alone. I can only remember McFly inducing such noises (I know, I’ve seen them twice somehow).
McKenna is something of a musical genius – he can play pretty much everything and does so on his albums, majoring on stage with guitar and keyboards. He dances around like a lad playing guitar in his bedroom – different styles come out, all with such enthusiasm – poppy, rocky, even glam – and matched every bit by the crowd. He really does look like he is enjoying himself massively onstage – no posing – no attitude – super lively. Complex guitar pedal arrangement, no doubt with baffling looping going on…..but he has the air of someone without a care in the World.
This was the last night of the tour and having played Ally Pally the night before it must have been a bit of a squeeze getting all those fake mountains onto the O2 Academy stage – unusual. This latest album is his third. He’s 25 and being writing songs for 10 years with the other two albums being released in 2017 and 2020. Nine tracks from the newest album tonight, interspersed throughout the set – the audience knew all the stuff anyway so no notable lulls for newer material.
The early part of the set had me bemused at times – I felt like I’d gate-crashed a student party – but the anthem of Brazil from his first album is quite irresistible (captured here on my zoom camera video:Â Brazil YouTube @grey-hairedgiggoer) (The Key to Life on Earth can also be found here, from earlier in the set).
As the steam heat rises from below (it’s not usually this warm in here) Declan McKenna’s jacket is eventually discarded. He leaps over for some songs at the piano – a bit calmer. With ten songs from the first two albums adding to the nine from the new one, there’s a good mix there which has sent everyone wild – I don’t feel involved in the wildness from my position up in the Gods but no way I was going down in there tonight.
After the main set he and the band return. He announces Paracetamol – quite apt as I’ve been popping a lot of those this weekend – from the first LP (What Do You Think About the Car?) and the first time they’ve played it on the tour. Then there is a new one, Phantom Buzz, before the 2019 song not on any albums: British Bombs. Dancing and jumping while singing the chorus of ‘Great Britain won’t stand for felons; Great British Bombs in the Yemen’, apparently written about the hypocrisy or the British arms trade.
The waving phones adore
Bit of an eye-opener this one. Maybe I strayed a little from my comfort zone but an enjoyable evening and an insight into some even younger appeal music than any others I have tried in recent years.
Paul Weller live at The Lighthouse, Poole on 4.4.2024 with Barbara supporting.
This is wonderful to see: Paul Weller in Poole, embarking on his 2024 UK tour – second date after Shepherd’s Bush a few nights ago. This is no ‘strange town’ for Weller: The Jam played at the Poole Arts Centre as it was then and I was at the Paul Weller gig here in December 2006.
Since I moved here 12 years ago, the Lighthouse hasn’t had too many gigs of my tastes to really rave about – a few decent ones a year but it has been off the obvious circuit (Simple Minds and Nick Cave notable special ones).
This year, things are booming – we’ve had Noel Gallagher here a few weeks ago and another sell out gig tonight, in the main concert hall, the one that is home to Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The floor level moves to suit and the gently sloping terraces of seats can become a large flat standing area, with balcony seats above, giving a total capacity of around 2,400. It was brilliant to see the queues outside and the packed hall tonight.
My ticket from up the road in Bournemouth 19 years ago
I never saw The Jam before their 1982 split. A big, big regret. (They are selling a classic Jam t-shirt on the merch stand tonight – see he hasn’t forgotten). I just never tried hard enough to go and see them in my early gig-going of 1979-1982, when they were still around and in their last year (1982), The Gift album didn’t grab me like the others. I didn’t warm to The Style Council after that butWeller’s Wild Wood album (1993) brought me back. That and Stanley Road are still my favourites amid the huge amount of material that Weller has put out, and a lot of which I bought on CD.
My first Weller gig 30 years ago
This my eighth Weller gig, the first being in Wolverhampton in March 1994, which was recorded with tracks appearing on the Live Wood album. Then there was a Pheonix Festival headliner appearance later that year, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Here in Poole in 2006. A few gigs at the Bournemouth BIC in November 2005 and 2010 – I remember being disappointed with the BIC gigs – then a crowd pleasing Victorious Festival set in Southsea 2018, and my favourite Weller gig yet at the Westonbirt Arboretum in the summer of 2023.
Paul Weller at Westonbirt Arboretum 2023
Support band tonight is Barbara, an excited indie-rock/pop band (two brothers from Brighton but full band tonight) that I was perked up by and they quite impressed. I’d like to see them again. To be honest I had to save my ailing leg and go for a sit down so just saw half their set. A knackered swollen knee was hampering me and I limped down here this evening with a crutch – this grey-haired gig going lark is hard work at times. Could have sworn we were seated for this one. A lean on the mixing desk barrier pen was my chosen spot, and often is.
Weller at Poole Lighthouse 2024
Beautifully full – it was a fast sell out this. The old favourites are all here: Ben Sherman and his mate Fred Perry; the Weller haircuts, the parkas, the odd striped blazer. Happy aging faces. Happy grey-haired (and no haired) gig goers in large numbers.
The 29-song set is opened with Rip the Pages Up from the 22 Dreams album. Usual full of depth sound, including Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene and two drummers, without losing Weller’s vocals, guitar and piano.
The Modfather at the piano
The first song from Wild Wood hit the note: All The Pictures On The Wall – this remains my favourite Weller album, alongside Stanley Road. The title track gets aired later and Hung Up – great tracks – great album. There was a documentary on Sky Arts recently, called Record On: Paul Weller Wild Wood, that underlined the album’s place in history.
Paul Weller
Other early highlights were album title tracks Fat Pop and Stanley Road. Weller looks happy but doesn’t say a great deal. “Good to be back – this is Poole Arts Centre isn’t it?”, remembering previously visits. When he says “this is something really old” ears prick up; necks stretch. It’s Style Council classic Shout to the Top. The famous wooden floor starts to shake. The mixing desk area starts to move like it’s at sea.
My dodgy knee was complaining too much by the end of that one and I clawed my way out for a sit down and pain relieving alcohol top up. After a bit I hear a guy say, “I can’t believe we’re sitting here when he’s playing this”, and I can hear the distant but familiar sounds of one of Weller’s best: You Do Something To Me. I guess every person sat out in the bar at this point must have an injury, ailment or a story.
I return and don’t get much beyond the doors before progress is too difficult, so I settle for that and Jam classic That’s Entertainment is next. Brilliant – Weller’s voice and acoustic guitar so clear above the accompanying sounds. Then Wild Wood. Wow.
Poole Lighthouse – Paul Weller – a view from the back
The other Jam song tonight isn’t far behind – Start. I have got beyond being bothered about how many Jam songs are played at Weller gigs, but it’s hard not to note – a From The Jam gig is the place to go for a Jam song feast and I am happy with Russell Hastings singing them.
Peacock Street from the Heavy Soul album (1997) rounds off the main set. Another very good album to my ears.
I disappeared for another leg rest and propped myself up by the merch stand, listening and peering through the doors. So busy that once out of the auditorium many aren’t up for battling back in at this stage. Not a great way to enjoy a band but needs must – I wasn’t going home.
The outsiders peering in
Another six songs as an encore, including Style Council song Headstart for Happiness. The lights don’t come up after that and Weller and his band reappear, so I go forward to poke my head in again for The Changingman which ends the show. Good finish, but I did notice there were two more songs on the mixing desk, including A Town Called Malice which they didn’t get to.
So good to see this type of gig here in Poole…again. More to come later in the year (including Dexys, Elvis Costello).
Mr Weller is 66 in May and his album 66 is released to coincide with that birthday. I shall be 61. Maybe I should go for a Weller grey-haired mop top.
The Jesus and Mary Chain live at The Roundhouse, London (30.3.2024) with Deathcrash supporting.
My second trip to The Roundhouse this month, seated this time, in the balcony with an excellent ‘between the pillars’ view. More on the venue and pre-gig options can be found here in my Lathums blog.
Balcony view
There are about 10 rows of balcony seats, curving right round between two private viewing areas, one to the left of the stage being the members’ bar – I watched support band Deathcrash from up there. I could see why they were picked to support. Interesting and maybe best listened to alone in a darkened room. Slow and shoegazey.
Roundhouse ironworks
I was so keen to get to this one tonight. Over the years I have had several attempts to see TheJesus and Mary Chain (J&MC) thwarted by cancellations and aside from their set in the John Peel tent at Glastonbury in 2022, I haven’t seen them live before.
I love the J&MC general naughtiness – and they have a history of rocking the boat – walking off, late starts, short sets and the chaotic feedback and fuzz of their sound.
I first noticed them when they appeared on 7″ EPs free with NME music papers…yes actual vinyl records with actual hardcopy newspapers. I bought their 1985 single Never Understand but never added more to my collection. Lots of evening radio play I remember but it never tripped any purchases. Having listened to the new album, Glasgow Eyes, several times I think this could be the prompt for a J&MC vinyl LP… I’ve waited long enough…since the mid-80s.
Jesus and Mary Chain at The Roundhouse
This was a masterful performance by the Reid brothers, Jim (lead singer) and William (guitarist and main songwriter), and their current band. The setlist was a near perfect selection covering many bases, with 10 singles and just four tracks from the Glasgow Eyes album.
As dark as ever – Jesus & Mary Chain
Happy When It Rains makes an early appearance – a lyric underlining the band’s darkness eh. My pick from the new LP is The Eagles and The Beatles and that gets played – almost a pop song in there. All four new album tracks bed in well to the set.
The sound was as clear as fuzz pedals and feedback could be – there must be some benefit to be had from playing a second consecutive night at the same venue. A night for imaginary guitar playing – maybe a small one up in the balcony.
From my vantage point I did grab a video selection which I have saved on my YouTube channel @grey-hairedgiggoer which included Amputation, Sidewalkingand the final track if the encores: I Hate Rock’n’Roll. I love Sidewalking. A few songs before that one was Some Candy Talking.
Reid brothers
I have waited far too long to see The Jesus and Mary Chain on their tour, but it wasn’t too late. Maybe it was better for the wait. The time honoured test when you leave the venue, how much do you want to see them again… well I would have gone again the next day, and I’m sure some people who went on Good Friday did just that.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at O2 Academy Bournemouth on 18.3.2024 with Adam Zindani supporting.
As the smallest of three warm-up gigs (Portsmouth and Poole were the other two) for Noel’s March Royal Albert Hall show, he played at the 1800 capacity O2 Academy Bournemouth (my venue blog link). He must like it – we all do eh – as he played here last year as well.
View from ‘The Gods’
This was my fourth gig in four nights so a seat upstairs beckoned. I was going to wander down later on but had a great view so thought I’d stay put, having been greeted to ‘The Gods’ seats by an ex-work colleague Russell, now doing some Show Sec security work. He still let me in anyway. (This top tier is not always open and when it is, is usually capacity restricted by the issue of free wristbands.)
Support was from Adam Zindani to ease everyone in gently. Adam is rhythm guitarist with The Stereophonics, playing tonight with a keyboard player. Sounded very good and his cover of the brilliant What’s So FunnyAbout Peace Love and Understanding was appreciated by my ears.
Adam Zindani – tonight’s support
There are flowers lining the back of the usable stage, behind are the amps, the Manchester City emblem and a cardboard cutout of City manager Pep Guardiola. There was a time that football and rock’n’roll didn’t mix.
Noel Gallagher on his Manchester City badged stage
The first part of the set is Noel’s High Flying Birds material and the latter part Oasis. The first five songs are all from the last High Flying Birds album Council Skies (2023), and it’s the title track that’s best for me.
Blue 2 Academy Bournemouth
The Chasing Yesterday album (2015) section has In the Heat of the Moment as the stand
out piece. Noel’s not saying much, just ploughing on with the songs. Great sound. Great delivery. The only time he gets a bit animated is when he picks up some football banter and has a dig at AFC Bournemouth up the road, feigning ignorance of their league position in the shadow of his oil sheik powered Manchester City.
There’s a fair old crowd in Noel’s High Flying Birds: up to 13 on stage at time, with backing singing trio. It gives so much depth to the sound, behind Noel’s acoustic guitar and vocals.
The numerous High Flying Birds
I was hanging on the intros to grab a video clip and settled on If I Had a Gunfrom Noel’s first album. (@grey-hairedgiggoer YouTube channel)
It must be frustrating that Oasis material always gets the best reception, but he doesn’t fight it. All the Oasis material is in the latter part and there are nine songs, broken up only by the last song of the main set: a cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart. Nothing added to the song but a Manchester tribute I guess.
The three Oasis encores are pretty tremendous to hear live, still: Stand By Me, Live Forever and Don’t Look Back in Anger but Little by Little and The Masterplan run them close. I really like The Masterplan.
Noel among the flowers
Great opportunity this one. My gig of the year to date. I’ve only seen Noel with his High Flying Birds a few times – Bournemouth BIC in 2012 and at Glastonbury in 2022. I saw Oasis three times plus a festival but I wasn’t right there at the beginning. I prefer the kick arse snarling of Liam, if pressed to choose, but they both have their distinct talents and tonight was a real good ‘un.
Judas Priest at Bournemouth International Centre on 17.3.2024 with Saxon and Uriah Heep supporting.
My very occasional diversions to some heavy metal or heavy rock really had to include this local bill, but there’s nothing I can tell a diehard metal fan about tonight. I’m just on a musical excursion, tonight on my own, well aside from 6,500 other ageing gig-goers.
Bournemouth International Centre for Judas Priest
It’s a really big venue, especially when you get the full balcony view. In the 80s I would have said too big but with the monstrous halls that now pass for a gig, I guess this is almost ‘intimate’. I can see the faces on stage. No big screens required.
I won’t dwell on the BIC now, beyond remarking on the astonishingly poor toilet provision for all of the balcony seats, and you can’t get into the downstairs without tickets – I don’t ever remember it so bad downstairs, for men. Not a place to want a drink mind so I suppose we shouldn’t worry.
I was exposed to NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) around 1980, thanks to my mate Rich and a mutual friend ‘Curly’ who ‘transitioned’ from punk to metal at a Reading Festival around that time. In terms of record buying, I still just have two Motorhead singles, Iron Maiden’s first single and a UFO EP I received in a swap when I was maintaining it was better to have something new than a single you already have on an album. (Foolish lad – that cost me Buzzcocks’ Every Fallen in Love, picture cover.)
Of those schoolboy metal indoctrination sessions, Saxon and Judas Priest were right up there in my usual choices. I really had never listened to any Uriah Heep, until Spotify tastings after buying my ticket for tonight.
Early start, 6.30pm doors on this Sunday evening. A huge snake of leather and denim wound back and forth from the BIC doors. I don’t recall this off-putting start from other gigs here. Maybe I’m never here this early. I wait with a pint in the 1812 bar of the hotel over the road – far preferable to the BIC for a pre-gig drink anyway. The queue has only grown since I retreated, so I have to join or miss the first band. It moves, with muttering and scowls.
On first – Uriah Heep
A thirty-minute, seven song set from Uriah Heep is a great start. Formed in 1969(!), with 67-year-old, Canadian born, Bernie Shaw taking over on vocals in the mid-80s. His voice is still excellent – classic heavy rock sound. (Original guitarist Mick Box is still in the band. Rock on man, rock on.)
Bernie Shaw – Uriah Heep at the BIC
They share their pleasure at being on the bill, promising to see everyone again with a longer show another time. “We’ve got 150 years of rock on this stage tonight”, bellows Shaw, referring to the line-up they share. The audience is no spring chicken mind I can tell you and they are loving it. It’s beautifully loud.
Phil Lanzon on the keyboards
Some intricate keyboards come to the fore at times which brings that real late 70s vibe.
The balcony is a good vantage point for unobtrusive and unobstructed video clips and the one I dive in on is here on my Grey-haired Gig Goer YouTube channel: Gypsy. (Over 2k views in the last week so there are some fans out there.)
“We ain’t goin’ nowhere without playing this one”, screams Bernie Shaw. A cheer and they finish with the recognisable, dare I say hit, Easy Livin’.
Uriah Heep – Bernie Shaw
It’s Saxon next, who get a full hour, and every bit as good at the headliners for me.
Saxon in Bournemouth
Still fronted by Biff Byford (from Barnsley), a regular name to jump out of the pages of my weekly copy of Sounds when at school. The whole band have fantastic headbanging hair, used to full effect at stage front, and with the standing crowd reciprocating in pockets, with varying degrees of vigour.
Biff Byford
Well into the set, frontman Byford stops to suggest some choices to the audience and solicits cheers for three options – I like that and wonder if every crowd chooses the same – this time the band oblige with Crusader.
Saxon – BIC
We get to the big singles, the first being 747 (Strangers in the Night). I’ve had the first few lines of this at the front of my mind at every mention of Saxon for 40 plus years, well frankly virtually every time I see a 747 take-off or fly over (this was a lot when I lived near the flight path to America from Heathrow – so my enthusiasm for this one is hard to quash). I took a vid of this one: Grey-haired Gig Goer channel on YouTube. (@grey-hairedgiggoer)
It’s that 1980 LP Wheels of Steel that got the plays round at my mate Rich’s house (their second album). They also played Motorcycle Man from this one, but of course it’s the title track that everyone must be waiting for and hearing Wheels of Steel live has to go in my book of rock’n’roll experiences.
Biff Byford – nice jacket
They end with Princess of the Night and that set was as good as I could have wished for. My 17-year-old self would never have admitted it and would have been a bit surprised I think.
And so to tonight’s headliners Judas Priest. First thing – it was bloody loud. Loudest BIC performance I’ve seen. No challenge to my Motörhead at Southampton Guildhall experience but it’s premier league loudness. (Loudness is always a good discussion point – Buzzcocks have startled me a few times and god knows what damage Ramones gigs did to me.)
Judas Priest in Bournemouth
It was the 1980 album British Steel that got my ear back in the day. This is the Invincible Shield Tour, that being the name of their new album, which is in at #2 in the UK Album Chart, so the fan base is out there, with it also doing well across the World. Only three songs from the new album in the set, which is a likely relief to most, but a bit of a surprise. Four from British Steel so that suited me.
Judas Priest
Lead singer Rob Halford stomps around the roomy stage looking every bit of his 72 years, sporting his huge ball of grey beard. How do these guys keep at it? He is often at the front the stage to lean over, singing into the crowd or head down towards a monitor, leather and stud clad as ever (Hell Bent for Leather appears in the encore).
Priest
Breaking the Law – one of the singles from British Steel – is the third song in which boosts the crowd noise and my interest. Love it. This is what I came for.
The set is all heavy and loud, without let up, and this appears to be what everyone wanted.
The band wander off periodically through some curtained openings. I was expecting costume changes or something dramatic but they just popped out for a bit from what I could see.
The main set ends with Painkiller. On their return I grab a video of Electric Eye, a belter, from 1982 which you can find at this link and join the 2,600 viewers this week.
Rob Halford rides on
Then Halford disappears and returns on his motorbike, on stage. Suddenly I remember this party piece. I guess most knew it was coming. Hell Bent for Leatherand to finish, the big 1980 hit, Living After Midnight. The big emblem above the stage moves around again and that’s it… the show is over.
Three bands: live and loud. Job done. Heavy metal lives on.
Red Rum Club at The Engine Rooms on 15.3.2024 with The Bankes Brothers supporting.
Looks like Red Rum Club have jumped up a level and that is great to see. Two and a half years since a recommendation led us (wife Sally is a big fan) to CD purchases and a small gig in Exeter Cavern, Red Rum Club (RRC) have a top ten album and are selling out larger venues like the Engine Rooms tonight.
Western Approaches is the fourth studio album for the band, there’s also an album of acoustic sessions. This is our fourth time seeing them – other gigs feature in my previous Red Rum Club blog. (Venue blog of the Engine Rooms here.)
But first, support band The Bankes Brothers. When we rock up to the queue for the doors opening at 7pm, there’s a guy chatting over the barrier to some bods in the queue from Canada, soon joined by another happy Canadian and these are the Bankes brothers, the two brothers at the heart of the band.
I got here early to make sure I caught their set – I’d been impressed by what I’d heard on Spotify. It’s apparent from their exuberant chat that this is the last date of their support slots with RRC. They’ve flown over from their hometown of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada with baggage stuffed with cables, pedals and merch; guitars as carry-on luggage, then borrowed amps and a drum kit, before setting off on a dream trip.
“Have you been to Greggs yet?” Shouts one fellow countryman. “YEAH! Three times!” We gasp. My wife intervenes to apologise for Britain’s much loved calorific food retailer
They are clearly appreciative of RRC’s role in their lucky spring break, outside with the queue and on stage. Later, Francis Doran, RRC’s frontman explains how they played in Victoria to ’20 or so’ people and afterwards went up the street to an Irish bar, packed with a few hundred people enjoying The Bankes Brothers. They invited them over to play in the UK, for just a few hundred quid a night.
The Bankes Brothers – from Victoria BC – tonight’s support
They’re an indie rock/pop band but there are some folky bits in there – vocals remind me of Jake Bugg – and I think this five piece have a great future…surely. Their set is well received, amid a notable volume of Friday night babble from the rear of the venue. I captured this onewhich is saved on my YouTube channel: See Me Run. (Photos not much cop I’m afraid.)
Red Rum Club
Red Rum Club at a sold out Engine Rooms
Most of the new Western Approach album is on show tonight and my standout picks would be Houdini and Hole in my Home, which comes later in the set. There always appears to be an urgency in the songs, trying to get the story out – lead singer Fran singing like he’s a storyteller – so expressive.
The newer tracks still mostly have the trumpet playing as the essential ingredient that gives the band its unique style. So many tracks are lifted by the trumpet’s rallying call. The venue and sound tonight accommodates that brass element much better than more confined spaces I have seen them in.
Joe Corby – the distinctive trumpet – Engine Rooms
Lead singer Fran thanks everyone for buying the album, ‘spending 10 quid or so’ on a CD, a few pounds on a download, to make them happy people with their top ten album. (We have two CDs and a signed vinyl LP in our house due to a some over enthusiasm and under communication, so that must have helped!)
Francis Doran – Red Rum Club
He mentions a call from Elton John to the band to congratulate them, and talk about himself and their home city of Liverpool. Fran even waved his phone about to show the pics. This the big time… well it’s getting there.
There are still some older, more familiar gems to enjoy though: just one from the previous 2021 album How to Steal the World I think and that is Vibrate – you still don’t get that many songs featuring mobile phone use. Another cracker, captured on video here, from tonight, is the singalong and leap about opportunity brought by Kids Addicted – that really gets the crowd bouncing. (Grey-haired gig goer YouTube link.)
It’s an early start/early finish gig this one and the main set is over by 9.30pm. They return, unavoidably, for a duet first, then another older favourite, Eleanor.
Lead vocals – Fran Doran
Lastly Fran asks if we’re ready for the Hoo Ha song… big cheers and the opening bars of Would You Rather Be Lonely, and the big ‘Hoo Ha’ chant at the beginning.
Red Rum Club – on the up
Lovely to see this energetic and original band getting somewhere. Where next?
Echo and the Bunnymen at The Roundhouse, London on 8.3.2024 with Erica Nockalls supporting
A Bunnymen hits tour at The Roundhouse – couldn’t ignore it. A big part of my student years and album after album of great songs…to sing and learn. My Bunnymen history is expanded in the blog of my last time seeing them, in 2022. (gigswithivan)
After a relatively slow start, for me, to the gig-going year, March is blossoming and tonight is gig 9. My updates will have to be briefer for this busy period – four gigs in four days coming up. I couldn’t help it!
Erica Nockalls – tonight’s support
Supporting tonight is Erica Nockalls – she has been playing with The Wonder Stuff for nearly 20 years now and I’ve also seen Miles Hunt (Wonder Stuff) and Erica as a duo. I really like their We Came Here to Work LP that I bought in Lockdown.
The ballyhoo for The Bunnymen didn’t make this the best opportunity to absorb something new and another time perhaps.
The Songs to Sing and Learn tour badge makes this a hits tour and the result is one of the best Echo and the Bunnymen sets I can remember. Indeed, I left thinking I couldn’t recall a better Bunnies gig, and this is gig 11 on a countback that started on 9 March 1981 at Hammersmith Odeon.
My first Bunnies ticket – oh why did I write on that
So often there is a bit of I wish they did this or that. Over the years there are several occasions when I’ve been in audiences that didn’t live up to McCulloch’s expectations. He is, still is, so rock’n’roll. We still can’t understand what he says between songs but tonight he’s trying.
Ian McCulloch – The Roundhouse
It’s not all about him of course – well maybe – original guitarist and songwriter Will Sergeant is stage left front, but he keeps himself to himself.
Will Sergeant
There are two Bunnymen sets of roughly equal length – different, and it’s good to have a half time break that’s just enough to do battle with the Roundhouse toilet squeeze.
In part one some early belters: All That Jazz and Rescue for instance. The best for me was All My Colours (Zimbo) – one I used to play so much on a 12″ EP in my student years. Good to hear Flowers, title track of a lesser known and later album which I think is a goodie. Part one of the set ends with Bring on the Dancing Horses – a more poppy tune.
Echo and the Bunnymen at The Roundhouse
The sound is excellent – no ear defences put in tonight – and it’s amazing how McCulloch’s talking scouse mumbling can be transformed into such clear vocals.
Part two opens with Over the Wall, another early one from the combat gear years. Nothing Lasts Forever has become one of my life anthems and I loved hearing this – it was fused into Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side to create something special for the evening.
The Bunnies in London
They love a backlit, shadowy and smoky set. This usually makes for silhouettes in the gloom on photos but the lighting was a bit more revealing – it looks like I was right under Ian’s nose but that’s the zoom working and weird angle going on.
Killing Moon and The Cutter to end the main set – classics – Killing Moon being the song McCulloch says is the greatest song he’s ever written. I wouldn’t argue.
Two encores – I mean they actually went off and came back twice – of Lips Like Sugar and a calming Ocean Rain, ready for me to shoot off for the late train back to my mum’s and my old suburban stomping ground.
A look back at one of those special gigs last year. Devo, playing in the last chance saloon…in the UK anyway. Whip It boys.
Looking back at the big Muse gig at Home Park, Plymouth in Summer 2023 and my early Muse gigs. Muse nailed the stadium gig set up in my view.
As I frequent this London venue more these days, than the old days, a few notes and tips.
A diversion from my norm. A very talented guy I saw at Glastonbury a few years ago. I must be near enough the oldest person here – Wu derhorse, the support band, may be more my thing but hey ho.
The Modfather returns to Poole – cannot resist this opportunity – just a short walk down the road, well it would have been if I had not buggered my knee up. I hobbled down with a crutch and knee support. Couldn’t miss this one.
Gigs with Ivan 