Gigs with Ivan

Maxïmo Park – live in Bournemouth – at last

Maxïmo Park at O2 Academy Bournemouth (10.2.2026) with Art Brut supporting.

Maxïmo Park were formed in Newcastle and released their first album, A Certain Trigger, in 2005. After a further seven albums, all of which I have bought, mainly on CD (and one quite a recent cassette), I finally get to see them live on tour. Their tours haven’t reached the Bournemouth area that I can remember. I did see them at Victorious Festival on Southsea Common in 2017 and 2024 (possibly another set at Reading Festival back at their start?) but never caught one of their own gigs.

Some bands have a sound, a voice, lyrics that just click with you and they do that for me. I realise from talking to people that Maxïmo Park have passed many people by. I can see that since their first few LP chart toppers (and a first LP Mercury Prize nomination) they may not have hit those heights: maybe they are not so popular down south, perhaps they don’t clearly identify with one genre, but I get a lot of blank looks when expressing my enthusiasm.

But they are here now, at O2 Academy Bournemouth, at last (my venue blog). The standing balcony and top ‘Gods’ seated balcony are closed tonight which indicates lower ticket sales.

It’s as full as it needs to be downstairs though. We start by sitting on the edge of the bar steps – a leg saving inconvenience, just for support band Art Brut. They start with the instantly appealing Formed a Band, which I had listened to a few times when I saw they were supporting – they started out around 2005 but I wasn’t aware of them previously. I stood for that first song and went to have a look, but back to the steps for the rest. Sounded OK and with some novelty and humour, despite my lack of visuals but after a long musically accompanied monologue that followed the opener they lost me a bit. I needed to be down there in full view really. I’m wondering at what point I give up and secure a chair in the accessible area.

I survey the incoming gig-goers. A good mix. Some arty dressers and some scruffy ones. I find the steps a good place to review the footwear variety. Some lovely Doc Martens..quite a heel on the ladies’ ones.

For Maxïmo Park we go down the left and across into the centre behind some very tall young chaps – not a bad view with a bit of bobbing around. The backdrop curtains enhance the old music hall architecture, as does the frequent deep red lighting.

There are some bright lit steps leading back up to the drummer, Tom English, an original member from 2000. The steps facilitate the trademark leaps by Paul Smith – no I couldn’t catch one on camera. Smith has been the frontman since 2003 and for all the albums. Guitarist Duncan Lloyd is also an original.

I hadn’t actually clocked that the tour was in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the first album, A Certain Trigger. Hence, they played all but one track from that one but interspersed with at least something from each of the other seven albums.

It’s indie pop/rock with some poetic lyrics and a varied pace – punchy ones and relaxing ones – keyboards and guitars but with Paul Smith always the focus, always with his black hat.

Three great tracks from the second album, Our Earthly Pleasures. My pick is the softer Books From Boxes, which is saved for later, but Girls Who Play Guitars and the punchier Our Velocity were also top tracks to pick.

A defining aspect of the attraction of Maxïmo Park for me is Smith’s north east accented vocals, subtly accented. The band formed in Newcastle although Paul Smith was Stockton born, a little south. This explains his pause to mention football (always divisive to mention on stage but..) and his love of Middlesborough FC, remarking on them going top of the league in a game he was able to catch on TV, on their previous day off.

This softer vocal features on a few of my later LP faves: Versions of You and the dreamy Leave This Island. (Link to YouTube version.)

The frantic Limassol was a first album single that got a lot of play when it was released. This stirred the crowd up to end the main set along with another debut LP bouncy one, Apply Some Pressure.

I’m done and hobble off to the side for one of my wall lean stances. The short breather doesn’t last long as Books From Boxes features in the encores. I peer under the balcony overhang.

Some lovely songs in Maxïmo Park’s box. The later albums have never reached the audiences of the first few but they have got noticed and gone in high in LP charts on release. There must be a committed fan base core.

I’ll be looking for future tours – back for more. That’s always the test.

Suede live – Pompey

Suede at Portsmouth Guildhall (31.1.2026) with Bloodworm supporting.

Ahhh Suede. Somehow a band that still look and sound fresh, despite being around for over 30 years. Their first LP surfaced in 1993 and I’ve been with them all the way, as my last Suede blog testifies. The band had a seven year hiatus 2003-10 and the bassist and drummer are still the originals, along with frontman Brett Anderson.

The latest LP, Antidepressants, is a belter. The opening two tracks, Disintegrate and Dancing with the Europeans are in my mind among their top tracks, so when they open with these live, my night is made.

I’m in the balcony and it’s all a bit of a squeeze. Surely the length of my thighs hasn’t increased. In hindsight, downstairs with friends tonight would have been better – knees are behaving and legs resilient – good view mind up here. (More on the venue here in my venue blog).

We were in the large downstairs bar too long and missed most of support band Bloodworm. Another error as the two songs I heard sounded right up my street…dark indie rock/ pop. I will try again.

No camera for me tonight: just my ageing phone. Some choices to be made on that front soon. Portsmouth Guildhall prohibits cameras so I didn’t travel with my trusted pocket zoom. Do I ditch a blog on this one? No. Just a bit different. One of my mates downstairs offered me their pics to use, for which I am most grateful, to enhance the memory (Cheers G).

I took a few with my phone – such as the first few here – but they are not up to much. You get the balcony perspective though. It does hang over the stage nicely.

After the opening wonders, three tracks in all from the latest LP, it’s Trash, just about my top track, from my favoured album, Coming Up. What a start. Brett is already leaping on and off boxes . He’s 58. How can he do this? Beautifully slim of course, which must help but he’s still got it.

Brett Anderson – Suede – Portsmouth (pic G Alsop)

With the arrival of Animal Nitrate I’m starting to get concerned that the set might be a bit front ended. Of course it isn’t but very well balanced – no lulls. There is the quieter Life is Golden with Brett singing with just the piano accompanying. Even a brand new song Tribe is greeted with excitement – introduced by Brett referring to the fans as his tribe, or rather the band’s tribe.

Brett ventures down into the pit in front of the stage several times and around the barrier and into the crowd on a few wanders. He doesn’t mind the grabbing hands from the adoring ones – shirt wringing wet with sweat. It is an adoring crowd. A good mix, age and gender wise and a notable lack of idiots.

There is some trademark Anderson mic swinging if course and the microphone lead is an ever present hazard he dices with. The show just wouldn’t be the same with a radio mic.

I was pleased to see as many songs in the set from Coming Up as the new album. Filmstar and the final song, Saturday Night – part of the two song encore – were highlights from that chart topping 1996 LP. All in all an excellent mix of the new and the old in a near perfect set. As I have seen Suede state: this is not just a nostalgia trip.

Best gig of the year so far, indeed since last summer.

Thanks for the pics G 🤝

The Molotovs – A Monday Night in Southampton

The Molotovs live at The Brook, Southampton (26.1.2026) with South Street supporting.

It’s raining again. It’s dark. It’s Monday night in Portswood, Southampton and as we approach The Brook, I see the biggest queue I can remember outside this venue. The Molotovs are in town, riding on a wave of positive publicity and TV appearances. The new LP, Wasted on Youth, is out at the end of the week.

Exciting times for this teenage brother and sister duo, with a drummer, live tonight. It’s Matt (17) and Issey (19) Cartlidge and they are upstairs wandering and chatting to people before they are due on stage. Without bringing down any image of Southampton gig goers, Matt and Issey stand out a mile as they are wrapped in style…. I even found myself admiring Matt’s shoes in the bar as I sipped my Guiness Zero in one of the leather settees near the upstairs bar.

Support band, South Street, are a well selected support – mod sounds and a Jam song to finish. It is absolutely rammed in The Brook tonight and as it’s my third standing gig in five days, I sit back and listen to South Street but see nothing through the bodies at the upstairs balcony rail.

I pop down the back stairs to emerge at the back of the downstairs area. So busy. I’d left it too late. I took a few pics and had to retreat back upstairs. A 600 capacity here (capped at 550 for comfort I read). It is reassuring to see it full. Genuine excitement buzzes through the place with this new band’s visit. I say new. New to most of us but they’ve been playing live at one hell of a pace, clocking up 600 gigs I read somewhere, over recent years. This is their breakthrough – the new LP.

I was supposed to see them support Adam Ant in 2024 but Adam cancelled due to ill health and they were nowhere to be seen when he returned a year later. Then last November I caught the end of their support set with Palaye Royale in Birmingham (link to that blog here).

It’s fast and frantic from the outset – very little slow down or lull, from the off. In the first few songs Matt cuts his lip on the mic but after a brief mention realises there’s nothing to do but keep ripping through the setlist.

I do like being upstairs here. It is quite hard to get a clear full view but the sound is great and you can peer over, through and wander and certainly zoom through the railings effectively. Anyway no choice tonight as we weren’t downstairs early enough, with people packing the back downstairs near the door.

The Brook – side balcony view – The Molotovs

It is impossible not to pass over any Weller/early Jam reference. The songs have that excitement and rapid guitar strum – their sounds have their roots in mod revivalism but there’s a punky edge.

Issey’s stage movement is incredible, strutting and ducking, singing backing vocals while playing bass throughout. So much energy goes into the show from the pair of them… not to mention the drummer keeping them firing (I didn’t catch his name anywhere.)

As I write these notes, the LP, Wasted on Youth, has been out a week. It made it to no.3 in the UK Album Chart and no.1 in the UK Download Chart. There are the rewards for hard live gig work and a touch of rock’n’roll class.

They play Rhythm of Yourself early in the set. This has a slightly slower bass and drum beat, I mean slightly, and is one of my favourites from the album, and a previous 2025 single.

Bowie’s Suffragette City is the only cover in the set and I don’t doubt they have an extensive bag of 60s and 70s faves to pluck more from. Their music is soaked in the best of influences, in my ears.

The title track earns that mantle as a mid-set choice, but not sure it’s my favourite or most familiar yet. New album numbers Geraldine and the rousing More, More, More, shine – maybe I’ve just heard it more as it’s another 2025 single. The LP has a very live sound to it and playing my fresh pinky blue coloured vinyl copy brought the gig to my living room.

After an intense set the trio disappear through the little door in centre back of stage to re-emerge minutes later with two more from the album to finish, including the latest single from the album, Get A Life. Another anthem.

What is interesting about The Molotovs is they have captured a massive age range with their sound. That age range is represented here tonight. The grey haired gig goers, youth and everyone in between.

A rainy Monday January night in Southampton – and one not to be forgotten. The Molotov’s fire is burning.

The Skids – live in Brum

The Skids at The Crossing, Digbeth, Birmingham (24.1.2026) with The Au Pairs supporting.

My second night at The Crossing and more about the venue in my Bruce Foxton blog from the previous night.

I was so pleased when I heard of the re-emergence of The Au Pairs for live gigs this year. This was tempered a little after social media exchanges revealed that this wasn’t quite the triumphant reunion I had anticipated. Lead singer Lesley Woods had formed a band with no other original members and advertised the new Au Pairs dates. More detailed explanations of the line-up appeared to clarify and calm some anger and confusion.

Anyway, I had bought my ticket to see them in London only to find them added to most dates on The Skids tour…and I have two more of those after this.

Still, Woods is the key vocals of the Au Pairs and main songwriter. I saw her solo acoustic set at Rebellion Festival a few years back and the idea of a full band and her voice airing Au Pairs old classics certainly appealed. I wasn’t disappointed.

Lesley Woods – Au Pairs – live in Brum again

I saw The Au Pairs several times in London and then Birmingham when I came up in 1981 for a seven year stint. Having become one of my favourite bands of the moment I was surprised to see them walk past my student house one day in Balsall Heath, the interesting world that was Birmingham B12. Only then did I realise they were from round there.

Their brilliant LP, Playing With A Different Sex, was one I played and played. The single It’s Obvious, backed by Diet, would remain on my list of lifetime classics. It was the final song of their set tonight. What a cracker. Other special mentions for the opening Come Again and Dear John but really, the whole short set is a pleasure to hear again. There’s even a new song in there.

So many Skids gigs for me since the comeback. Richard Jobson has persevered with different line-ups and remained the key source of energy in any Skids version. It’s been 13 months since I saw them last (Skids blog Southampton has more detail)

This tour is the 45th anniversary of the Absolute Game LP, which marked the height of the Skids chart success.

Richard Jobson with The Skids at The Crossing

This Absolute Game celebration means eight songs from that LP, including the single Circus Games – a corker live and vastly improved without the children singing the chorus, I always feel.

Happy to be With You and Hurry on Boys are the familiar starters with Out of Town bringing the faster punky option from tonight’s chosen LP.

Woman in Winter gets the crowd sways and woah-ohs going and more importantly the Jobson head swagger with that granite jaw carving out the words. A great song – I always like the way Jobbo announces it so clearly and carefully.. “A Woman in Winter“, its arrival called out with pride.

After Arena, a song that sounds every bit that last song, closing the album as it does, there’s room for some other Skids classics. There’s The Saints are Coming: yes, we are reminded that it’s a Skids song given away for U2 to mainstream it – it was for charity.

Masquerade: ahhh. Still just about my favourite track, despite the better known Into the Valley which can’t be omitted. Working for the Yankee Dollar, which Jobson notes as more relevant than ever. Great songs and Jobson still gives them every ounce of energy in his performance of them.

The awkward B-side, TV Stars (Albert Tatlock etc), is another track which a Skids setlist can’t escape these days. We smile and singalong and punch the air. It’s Charles to end the main set, the title track of that first 1978 EP.

The band return smartly for a short encore. I move back a bit, having drifted towards the front right earlier on and I find I am standing next to ex-England footballer and Stranglers super fan, Stuart Pearce. (He won Celebrity Mastermind a few days later with punk rock as his specialist subject!)

The show ends with the excellent cover of Complete Control (The Clash). It’s a great version and is one of the songs featured on Songs From a Haunted Ballroom – a Skids homage to the early days of punk. Songs that kick started their enthusiasm in those early days in Dunfirmline.

Another top night out with The Skids. “We’re so happy to be with you.” I’ll be back for more soon… on their original home turf 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

Bruce Foxton – a New Start

Bruce Foxton and his All-Star Band live at The Crossing, Birmingham (23.1.2026) with Block 33 supporting.

A trip to Birmingham for a few gigs at The Crossing in Digbeth, south of the city centre. My first visit to this venue and I’m very impressed. A 600 standing capacity, with a couple of rows of seats at the back on tonight’s set up – looks like other options are available.

There is also an area off to the left of the main room with some tables and chairs, like a café, which can be used as a waiting area before or between bands.

The sound in this high ceiling, square auditorium is excellent. It is all part of a student complex for the South and City College. A modern facility in the post-industrial redeveloping heart of Digbeth. ‘The Crossing‘ name comes from it being the site of the original crossing point for the River Rea. It’s surrounded by old factories, designer graffiti and railway arches.

Birmingham’s oldest pub, The Old Crown, is just south a few blocks and was a worthy point to start our evening.

Support tonight was Block 33 a mod revival band – various supports on this tour and they are on the first two dates. I wasn’t familiar with them but the punchy set was enjoyable… enjoyable enough for me to buy their best-selling CD afterwards – their third album, The Promised Land, released in 2025.

Daniel Dodson – Block 33’s lead vocalist

The stage is quite high and it’s easy to see the bands from anywhere. Tonight we stay at the back mostly – handy seats and pop up bar in the auditorium selling several varieties of craft ale, amongst other things. Very little queuing on either night. (It was busier for The Skids on the following night.)

The Crossing, Digbeth – first date for Foxton’s new band

I purposefully selected this as it was the first outing for Bruce’s new band. Many have found it a little strange that Bruce announced that he was retiring near the end of the last From The Jam tour in 2025, only to announce this new venture. A lot of us thought health was an issue with Bruce not playing the whole of the sets on that last tour. But it’s his call. I imagine the intense From The Jam touring was just too much for the Foxton frame, notably knees. Now he can control the pace.

The All-Star band was announced when tour adverts appeared: Mark Brezezicki on drums (best known for Big Country); Andy Fairclough on keyboards (Secret Affair) and Craig Joiner (Rosemary’s Daughter). So who is this big hairy front man? I couldn’t hear much of what was said on stage and I didn’t find out until the next day that he was Pete Barton, Bruce’s long time manager, manager of From The Jam and vocalist with a Creedance Clearwater Revival tribute band.

No sharp mod image sought here. Did I enjoy it? Very much so. I was a bit surprised that all the songs were Jam songs, bar two covers, that The Jam covered: David Watts of course, with the Foxton lead vocals and In The Midnight Hour. Nothing from Bruce’s Stiff Little Fingers years. I was waiting for the bassline of Gotta Gettaway or something. Pre-tour blurb mentioned songs from other parts of Bruce’s career.

You can’t grumble at hearing Jam songs of course and like I said..I was happy. A lovely evening and the crowd appeared happy, certainly happier than the moaners on social media on seeing and hearing evidence of the gig. There is always a body of fans who somehow think only the original line up of any band will do. Most unreasonable. You stay at home then. Fine.

I posted my recording of the last song, Eton Rifles (YouTube link here) and within a few days it had 5,100 views, so the interest is there, but it wasn’t without its critics. The Andy Fairclough keyboards on that are wonderful.

The full setlist is here and it’s a great selection of Jam hits. Bruce looked more mobile than last year – good to see. Watching the man play those basslines is still special. He never says much but looked to be enjoying it, and he did a brief stint on the merch stand afterwards.

Bruce Foxton – Birmingham first date of the tour

I’d go again tomorrow, if it was a bit more local and yes, I would go and see From The Jam with Russell Hastings. No original Jam members but Russell has a great voice and a sharp authentic delivery of the beautiful Jam songbook. There’s room for everyone…yes even you Mr Weller. See you in the summer in Southampton.

My Top Gigs Live in 2025

Top 10 gig selection and review of the gig-going year.

A ‘calmer’ year again. 55 gigs – my methodology takes a day at a festival as one gig – is down from 66 last year and 70 in 2023. I can’t see me hitting the 100 again, my 2022 peak. I’m 62 and a gig a week average seems about right these days. It wasn’t quite that smooth though, with two gig free months and the 12 gigs of ‘Rock-tober’.

133 acts or 114 different acts, with doubling up on several and me specifically seeking out The Stranglers, Red Rum Club and Andrew Cushin gigs twice – other doubles were incidental due to support slots.

These gigs have been in 33 different venues in 18 UK towns and cities. This year, the most have been in Southampton (9) with Bournemouth, London, Poole and Portsmouth featuring strongly, and in that order. I am trying to keep it more local if I can as costs continue to spiral on the overnighters, especially with London hotel prices. I can’t face trekking back after distant gigs these days and no longer working full time means I don’t have to.

So here are my top ten. Never an exact science. So many factors can influence gig enjoyment: familiarity, venue, company, performance, sense of occasion, audience, atmosphere, comfort and even ailments and injuries at my age.

There are links to my blogs for each of these ten. Here we go…

10. From the Jam

Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa

With Bruce Foxton announcing his retirement from From The Jam and ex-Jam and From The Jam drummer Rick Butler passing away, this became a keen key target for me. Bruce played about half the set as he did for the end of the tour, due to some health problems.

Curiously, shortly after the tour, Bruce announced a tour with a new band in 2026. Most had assumed his retirement to be totally and not just From The Jam. I will be there.

Blog of the From The Jam gig.

9. Psychedelic Furs

De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill

Ruchard Butler – Psychedelic Furs in Bexhill

Quite a trip this one and part of four gigs in four days but it was the only date I could make. Lovely venue and a great set from one of my long term favourites – each song a gem.

Blog of the Furs gig.

8. Simple Minds

Guildhall Square, Southampton

A crowd pleasing set at one of the outdoor Summer Sessions on a lovely warm sunny day. New Gold Dream, their best LP, featured strongly.

Blog of the Southampton Summer Sessions.

7. The Reytons

Victorious Festival, Southsea

Best band for me at Victorious Festival this year. A steamy heat generated in the dusty surroundings and then out came the flares for this short sharp shock of a set. It closed their touring year and was triumphant in its delivery.

A genuinely independent band who have no corporate record label but still hit the top the album charts. The ‘kids from the estate’ have climbed to the top.

Blog of Victorious.

6. The Stranglers

Bristol Beacon

My all-time favourite band. This was my 33rd Stranglers gig. I concede to being biased in this selection. I had a brilliant view of a great set. A calm, controlled performance with everyone playing their part with perfection and great sound quality.

Blog of the Stranglers gig.

5. Gene

Hammersmith Apollo

Much anticipation for what was an emotional return: a return no one thought was possible and it was a really special evening.

Blog of the Gene gig.

4. Pulp

Utilita Arena, Birmingham

No support band but two sets, one newer material mainly and then a celebration of the old stuff. Jarvis had the huge crowd in the palm of his hand. His crowd orchestration was quite brilliant. A fine new album.

Blog of the Pulp gig.

3. Manic Street Preachers

O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

The special aspect here was to see the likes of The Manics in the intense atmosphere of this old theatre. I had something of an aerial view of the stage. Great new album. I wish I had been to both nights.

Blog of the Manics gig.

2. Stiff Little Fingers

Guildhall Square, Belfast

Jake Burns joined by Gerry McAvoy on bass

My second visit to see SLF in Belfast. Again I stood in awe at the sense of occasion. There I was in the middle of city I could never have imagined visiting when I first started seeing SLF, listening to songs like Suspect Device and Alternative Ulster. Dreams can come true.

Front man Jake Burns seemed blown away to be joined on stage by Gerry McAvoy, bassist for Belfast rock legend Rory Gallagher’s band.

Blog of the SLF gig.

1. Oasis

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Believe the hype. The second night of the most anticipated tour of my lifetime. It was near hysteria but no madness on the stage and a crowd all there to have a bloody good time. No gimmicks just straight rock’n’roll. Yes, we were miles away but we were there. We were all there.

Liam’s performance was magnificent. After all the nonsense he was so focused. This had to work and they blew all the doubters away and went on to rock the world.

My face value £100 tickets took 20 minutes to buy with the pre-sale code. Hotel prices dipped after the initial fuss and the Cardiff trip was a superb yet exhausting day out.

Blog of the Oasis gig.

I get to my top ten and having worked through that, there is still some dissatisfaction with such a list. There was barely a gig or festival day that I left without having really enjoyed it and wanting to go again.

There are some newer bands and some support bands below that just couldn’t trouble my top ten, mainly due to my long term involvement with many older bands and the nostalgia factor and familiarity of tunes that goes with that.

I could find no room for Turnstile for instance. Not a new band but these Baltimore hardcore ‘punks’ were new to me. A great new album, Never Enough, clearly softer and more accessible than their earlier material and a gig at Ally Pally that was a real eye opener, and ear opener – there is hope for youth. Mosh pit of the year – indeed most of the crowd was a mosh pit.

The Forever Now one day festival in Milton Keynes was a highlight but no one band stood out above the top ten gigs I have reflected on – probably my best day of music with the likes of The Psychedelic Furs, Johnny Marr, Kraftwerk and Theatre of Hate.

My Best Newer Band Gigs

The Reytons (Victorious)
Red Rum Club (Bournemouth Old Fire Station)
Yungblud – album release gig. (Engine Rooms Southampton)
The Clause (Papillon Southampton)
Inhaler (Portsmouth Guildhall)

Disappointments?

For main acts I would go with Queens of the Stone Age, The The and Adam Ant. With the first two, both festival headliners, I think I had just missed their boats and didn’t know their material like everyone else seemed to, but Adam Ant was sadly just not up to it. I read somewhere that he wasn’t well with a bad throat and it was the first night of the tour but that was way below anything like par. Still glad I went to see the legend he is.

A clutch of support acts that I knew very little about but was very impressed by, in no particular order, were:

The Molotovs

The Rolling People

The Kairos

The Florentenes

Freddie Halkon

In addition Over Pass gripped me at Victorious Festival.

Lastly, a pick of the venues I went to this year.

My Favourite Venues

Hammersmith Apollo

A key venue in my youth and the huge, beautifully restored art deco theatre is well placed to revisit these days, with riverside pubs nearby. Just visited for the Gene reunion gig this year.

Papillon Southampton

A relatively new venue in a smartly restored church. Smaller capacity of around 450 with a small standing balcony level to look down on the stage. My debut visit was for Spear of Destiny this year, closely followed by a packed sell out crowd for The Clause.

O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Another old fave from two periods of my life. Steep tiered balconies offer alternative views to the standing floor. Brimming with atmosphere with its height and this year was chosen by The Manic Street Preachers for a couple of special gigs, because they used to knock around Shepherd’s Bush when they started staying in London.

That’s my lot for 2025. We rock on in 2026. Be lucky!

Slade at Christmas.. the final tour

Slade live at O2 Academy Oxford (16.12.2025) with Sons of the Seventies supporting.

No photos to share with this blog and it’s just a brief note to mark the occasion. This was the pre-Christmas get together of me and a regular gang of gig-going friends. Our gig was spent drinking, dancing about and singing along at the back. No camera and just a distant phone shot (and several drunken videos of our group enjoying the music which I kept for myself).

I had come straight from my work Christmas lunch in London and started my evening in the adequate and Slade fan filled, Cowley Retreat pub, about 100 yards from tonight’s venue, The O2 Academy Oxford. The number 3 bus is convenient to get out there from the main station.

Having met up with friends there, we were a bit late in, so no queue but the near sell-out crowd was already in position and Sons of the Seventies already well into their set.

Not much chance to find space for the group of eight of us so we settled for the back, near the bar, where we were happy. Sound was good, but hard to see much of what was going on up on stage.

There are two venues in one here and this gig was switched to the bigger of the two as tickets sold well. After all this is billed as The Final Tour.

Slade only have one original 70s member these days: guitarist Dave Hill. I saw the same line up in Salisbury in December 2019. The vocals are good mind.

We all know the hits but Slade have such a depth to their catalogue. While they glammed up at the end of their chart topping era, they were a hard rocking band earlier on. You can hear the influences in later heavy metal bands and even in Oasis material – and they cover some so the influence is acknowledged. (Oasis live)

Sons of the Seventies are a welcome support band choice. Covers of AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz was more squarely on the Slade glam rock trail. Then to finish, Born To Be Wild and a big singalong to Queen’s Fat Bottomed Girls. Crowd suitably warmed up, while the aircon at the back poured cold air on us.

It’s a low ceiling in this venue and that gives it more of an old club feel. I remember seeing Elbow on an early tour here, and Echo and the Bunnymen in more recent years. Many legends have played here including Black Sabbath, as the wall mural reminds us. The other room is smaller with a higher ceiling and we went in there to see The Slow Readers Club a couple of years back.

In the first part of the set there is a great run of more mellow numbers: Everyday; Run Run Away and Coz I Luv You (oh to hear Noddy Holder sing that one live with his beautifully gravelly Black Country voice).

A family trio in front of us have a teary huddle – this means so much but who knows why. Emotional just watching them.

The stomping My Friend Stan hints more at Slade’s pub rocker origins. Far Far Away is another classic single. Fifty one years old that song and it still does the job. So many gems to rediscover. Even older is the wonderful Gudbuy T’Jane (they do luv their yobbish spellings eh). (1975 YouTube video link.)

Seventeen consecutive top twenty hits, six of which made number one. What a massive band they were!

The main set finishes with the wilder Mama Weer All Crazee Now. (Top of the Pops video).

On the return, Dave Hill says his words of thanks and shares his gratitude for a lifetime in the band. Is he done? Who knows. It seems that in so many cases ‘you can’t stop rock’n’roll’.

Then it’s the arm and imaginary scarf waving of My Oh My before maybe their best song – Cum On Feel The Noize. I say ‘best’…of course they finish with the monster lifetime hit that is Merry Xmas Everybody. It is a special thing to hear live, one original member or not.

I think my Spotify Slade selection maybe about to take a hammering. Perhaps time to watch the Slade in Flame film again.

Merry Xmas Everybody! 🎶🎸

Sham 69 at The 1865

Sham 69 live at The 1865, Southampton (6.12.2025) with Club Brat supporting.

As a lad, I lived over the river from true Sham country but the South West London suburbs were still Jimmy Pursey heartlands. I bought Angels With Dirty Faces when it charted which got me started – I was 15 and a wore my “lace up boots” (army cadet boots) “and corduroys” (black flares taken into a drainpipe with a bit of mum sewing).

Graffiti at Sunbury Cross in the early 80s – featuring my mate Chop

I never went to see Sham live back then though. Their gigs attracted trouble – right wing skinheads began infiltrating – and it proved to be a burden. One of their 12 inch singles, Hersham Boys, even has Pursey breaking up a fight on the B-side.

No bother here and it’s nostalgic smiles tonight and a happy place to be. A lot of older single blokes in – back to see Jimmy Pursey and the 1977 line up.

I didn’t see Sham live until nine years ago in Bristol and the only other times I have reunited with these tunes from my youth were a Butlins Minehead festival performance a few years back, and support slot for Stiff Little Fingers in Belfast earlier this year. All excellent.

Uncomplicated songs to stir the mood up with anthemic air punching choruses. Raw. Still raw and no let up.

Jimmy Pursey is 70 years old now and what a performer he is still. Pained expressions accompanied by knee and back flexibility I can only dream of.

“What have we got?” Bawls Pursey – “Fuuuck all” is the cheery response as the set kicks off.

The rest of the band play hard and fast but no one challenges Pursey’s limelight. Between songs he swigs from his water bottles, squirting the contents and discarding them over his shoulders – it adds to the chaotic look and fuses the lights at one point, plunging the stage into darkness.

The set is compact and intense at around an hour but 17 songs on the setlist. They have a lot of short songs – that was the way – you only needed 3 minutes to make your point.

The best known hits, yes they were ‘hits’ (If The Kids Are United got to number 9; Hersham Boys, number 6) are the most singalong rabble rousers of all, but there is a familiarity in every track. When we were 16, we played our limited collection of records to death, so leaving an indelible marker in our brains. Even the stuttering Rip Off or more inaccessible Tear Gas Eyes sound melodic to my ears.

Borstal Breakout – Feltham Borstal and its naughty boys was a few miles away home – was always the first song I thought of with Sham. The Borstal Breakout graffiti just sat there uncleaned for years under the concrete flyover that took the M3 into London. The single cover hung on the wall in Sunbury Record Scene. Hence it was that song I latched onto as it started and recorded here on my YouTube channel.

Angels With Dirty Faces is my favourite song tonight though, but who can resist the finale of the defining Hersham Boys and almost comedic Hurry Up Harry. This is extreme pleasure. So glad I came.

By the end, Pursey has given his all and shed his top clothing to reveal an Iggy Pop like image. He’s still lean and mean.

The support band tonight, Club Brat, are really well worth clocking. Novel. A special collection of noise: heavy bass and drums; scratchy guitar and bold rasping vocal. Punky yet hard to define. Have a listen but it is a live sound to experience. (Official YouTube clip.)

You can hear all the instruments distinctly working away frantically. A gymnastic small female bassist throws shapes while everything is led by the big man Ike McCormick.

Between some songs Ike reads from a small book. Poetry? Or just words of wisdom..or doom?

Yup – another successful night at The 1865.

The Clause at Papillon, Southampton

The Clause live at Papillon, Southampton (22.11.2025) with The Kairos and Harvey Jay Dodgson supporting.

Only my second visit to the smart and compact old church that is Papillon. Last time was recently for Spear of Destiny and more notes on the venue here in that blog.

Bit slow getting in after a later than advertised doors opening time – slightly irritating as it is pissing down and I am not up for any long standing.

The venue is being tested a bit more tonight as it’s a sell out and is soon packed. With more dodgy knee issues I was grateful for a bar seat upstairs first, where I could hear but not see the support bands. There must always be some room up there. I could get up for a wander round the little balcony and peer through heads at the stage briefly, but I had to save the legs. What an old codger eh.

First up is near local act from Pompey, Harvey Jay Dodgson. A very promising start and very much a suited support to go with the other two guitary indie rock pop bands tonight. The place is quickly rocking and full.

A second support slot is taken by The Kairos, a band I would go and see on their own. Again, guitar based indie rock. Rather like The Clause, it’s been hard going to get a significant release. Their 2023 Better Late Than Never is their main one and I see they are inviting pre-orders on a spring 2026 EP.

I caught them first when they were supporting The Rifles in Kentish Town and later they had a support slot on the 2025 Reytons tour.

Noisy, charismatic indie pop rockers with an edge, from around Liverpool. Hardcore Cast sound at times and guitar and vocals led by Tom Dempsey. Excellent.

Tom Dempsey fronts The Kairos – Papillon

It’s a good package, these three bands tonight. A full Saturday night out.

It doesn’t seem that long but it’s almost exactly a year since my first Clause gig, noted here in my previous Clause blog.

This band, from Solihull, are really accelerating now. The debut LP is out: Victim of a Casual Thing. This has half new songs and half earlier singles and EP tracks. A cracking start.. I say start: it’s taken eight years or so to get this first LP out.

There is certainly that air of rowdy excitement that lets you know this is the place to be tonight. An anthemic start with the clear lyrical opening of Nothing’s As It Seems and its loud singalong chorus. The pin is out of the grenade and the party has started.

The band have more confidence than a year ago and they really know how to work the audience. They are absolutely buzzing. So much more to come as well I’d hope.

The songs have a variety of pace to them and it’s the faster poppier ones that get the biggest reaction, naturally. There are softer songs that still have a bit of guitar edge in there.

Tonight there are ten tracks from the LP and another five from singles and EPs. Weekend Millionaire and I Don’t Care are my pick of the whole lot.

We have come downstairs for The Clause – there was no way I was going to fail to savour the full atmosphere of this one, without actually venturing down the front. My alcohol pain killing is working and I last the hour or so set. Certainly a set that makes you want to go again as soon as the opportunity arises.

The backlit stage is the favoured approach – rare chances to snap a pic that isn’t a silouette view, effective though that is.

They finish with In My Element and the floor is bouncing down the front end. It is a mixed audience age-wise, with a notable contingent of grey haired gig goers who like their music and find bands like these to enjoy – without having to resort to the nostalgia market. It is so reassuring to see young bands and punters at gigs like these. All hope for youth is not lost eh.

Good luck lads. See you again soon. Pleased to see them recently announced to play Victorious Festival in Southsea on the Saturday. I will be there, all being well.

China Crisis in Lyme Regis

China Crisis live at The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset (20.11.2025)

As time goes on with my blogs there is increasingly the chance of repetition. Tonight’s gig is another old favourite from the 80s but the novelty is the charming Marine Theatre, on the edge of Lyme Regis harbour and right in the middle of the small town.

I won’t go over my previous China Crisis notes – here in another of my China Crisis blogs. My only other visits to the Marine Theatre have been to see Los Paciminos (a Paul Young band) and earlier this year, The Magic Numbers. That blog gives a bit more detail on the venue and location.

Frontman Gary Daly at The Marine Theatre

No support band tonight but a China Crisis two part set, the second half featuring the older, better known tracks. This is a well-honed approach that works. From the off, frontman and main vocalist, Gary Daly, outlines how the evening works. This includes explaining that we would all get up from our seats for the last few songs ‘so it feels like we’ve been to a gig’ – this is what happens later, on cue.

Tonight, the venue is unreserved seating but with the twist of filling the surrounding space with standing guests. I mean filling – it is packed and Gary notes it. It’s a sell out and makes for a lovely, busy feel.

It’s a four piece band with Eddie and Gary playing with Eric Animan on saxophone and a keyboardist, Jack Hymers – both have toured with the band in recent years. The sax is a most welcome addition where it’s used. Eric also plays some other electronic wind instruments which couldn’t identify!

Eric Animan on sax and some other devices

Daly hams up the ageing nature of the audience, which here seems even older, and even jokes about either him or Eddie having to perform on their own when the other one pops their clogs. Humorous, irreverent and yet politely put by a realist.

A few sound problems with Eddie’s monitor eventually leads to it blowing – very rock’n’roll – and it’s switched off in favour of a rear amp, after some open conversations with their sound man at the mixing desk.

At the break between sets I go to get some more drinks in and am surprised to see Eddie Lundon pushing up next to me at the bar to get a few in. How times have changed he reflected – what with all the riders and backstage antics of yesteryear. We let him in to get something.

The big songs are naturally most appreciated: the likes of African and White; Black Man Ray and King in a Catholic Style. All their material is packed with great tunes – synth pop tunes that make for such a relaxed evening. This is a 40th anniversary tour celebrating their third LP, Flaunt the Imperfection, but only four or five additional tracks to the latter two of the singles noted above.

There’s the ‘whoppadoahhh’ singalong for Arizona Sky to get the lungs working and endorphins flowing, conducted carefully by Daly: “Not too loud. No one has paid to see you. It says China Crisis on the ticket”.

Eddie is referred to by Gary a few times as ‘the Chinese looking one’ and it is he that was the singer for one of their big early singles, Wishful Thinking which Eddie performs tonight. When that early video was out, I remember thinking Eddie was the lead singer for ages.

As assured, Gary gets the crowd who can stand, to stand, for the last few songs. These include Tragedy and Mystery and Christian.

Rather than hide from the threat of obtrusive phone waving, Gary solicits it by asking everyone to get their phones out with torches on – he wants to show mock rivals Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark that they have wild concerts as well.

Gary takes his own photos to promote the good time – participation is enthusiastic, once a lot of people had fiddled quizzically with their mobiles.

Daly mentions their love of performing live in this sort of community based hub, recognising the importance of keeping them going and people coming out – which he appreciates, while hinting that maybe there isn’t much else in Lyme – hence the sell-out crowd ‘even though half of you haven’t heard of us’. He is funny. The whole evening is full of smiles.

China Crisis pitch their gigs just right. I can’t imagine not going to see them as long as we all keep going – they seem willing.