Then Jerico at O2 Islington (29.11.2024); Martin McAloon at Poole Lighthouse Sherling Studio (4.12.2024); The Bluebells at 229, London (5.12.2024).
Gigs are coming in waves now as the end of year approaches. Hard to keep up, but I don’t do a blog for everything. The last week saw me embrace three 80s popsters so I thought I’d just do a quick round up.
Then Jerico at O2 Academy Islington
We were in London for Hard-Fi on the Saturday, so me and gig buddy Dave took in Then Jerico the night before. We got in early to meet lead singer and sole surviving band member, Mark Shaw. A lovely opportunity before he got into stage mode.
The Big Area was the big song (no.13) and big album (no.4) for the band in 1989. Really good to hear that tonight, eventually – they made us wait. But Sugar Box and The Motive from the same album were other familiar singles.
Mark Shaw is extremely energetic on stage. He’s 63 and after leaping on with a cane and looking rather ‘Dave Vanian’, the shirt buttons open and by the end the shirt is off.
An impressive stage presence and plenty to enjoy about this dip back to 80s pop.
Martin McAloon
Down to the Sherling Studio in Poole Lighthouse for the former bassist and brother of frontman for Prefab Sprout. It’s a solo gig. Prefab Sprout were such an amazing band, a wander down the road can’t be missed.
No pics for this..a no no on phones and cameras. Fine. No visual relaying to the outside world of the experience – if that’s what you want.
This was something for the Prefab Sprout purist. Plenty in the seated audience of about 80. It’s nearly full and a real close up and intimate experience.
Martin McAloon is friendly and appreciative, loving the three sided audience: “It’s like being Taylor Swift”.
He plays the songs with multiple guitar layers and his solo adaptations. This mostly works but I didn’t think always. I was transfixed but easy Prefab Sprout numbers could seem over complicated – the songs probably were then and fantastically produced.
A pause and a shout for requests led to one guy asking for Appetite before he had to leave early for his train. Martin hastily complied – he was flexible like that.
The Bluebells
The Bluebells, a band I never saw live but an important part of the jangling guitar Scottish indie breakthrough. It had to be done.
Support is DJ Gary Crowley. He spins some very appropriate discs.
Even Clare Grogan was here to enjoy the reunion gig of The Bluebells. I found later that The Bluebells were given an important early break by being offered a support slot on an Altered Images tour.
This whole gig was just great. Live music, with an appreciative and nostalgic audience, and I am with a selection of friends from various stages of my life – by chance really… cheers Dave, and Chris and Womble, sorry..Andrew.
My first time at this venue, near to Great Portland Street tube station. A clean and practical subterranean venue.
If I didn’t know all the songs, I just loved the jangly guitar and the live sound of The Bluebells. A proper band.
They came to entertain and enjoy themselves and that came over – nostalgic pleasure.
Of course Young at Heart was the anthem of the era, and maybe now, but there was Cath wooah as well, as the top songs.
The band mingled afterwards and this weeknight reunion was a real pleasure that exceeded expectations.
Gigs with Ivan 