Poole Lighthouse 2.10.19 On Wednesday evening I returned to Poole Lighthouse for another ‘Live and Unheard’ session in the Sherling Studio. Three local acts given a showcase in surroundings where everyone can focus on the music and the artists, rather than accommodating the distractions of a rowdy pub gig – not quite everyone respects that …
Author Archives: ivaninblack
80s Classics – China Crisis
Engine Rooms, Southampton 27.9.19 Can there be anyone more classically early 80s than China Crisis? I associate their synth pop sound with 1982-83-84….. and I had largely left it back there until recently. I saw them support The Thompson Twins at Hammersmith Palais on 12 April 1982 and later in ’82 supporting Simple Minds at …
The Sisters of Mercy: out of the darkness
London Roundhouse 20.9.19 Fighting Cocks 1983 One night in January 1983 (I looked it up – it was 21 January), I wandered into the Fighting Cocks pub in Moseley, Birmingham to see the Sisters of Mercy, the princes of 80s darkness. They played from within clouds of dry ice in the pub’s upstairs gig room. …
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Spear of Destiny – One Eyed Jacks 35 years on
Kirk Brandon on your in Spear of Destiny most to celebrate the 35 year anniversary of One Eyed Jack. Tonight in Southampton.
My Kirk Brandon Years
My Kirk Brandon years? I suppose that would be 1982 until now. Maybe I had a lull; Kirk himself had a lull, but from Westworld onwards, with or without bassist Stan Stammers, Theatre of Hate or Spear of Destiny, I have never let it go. Kirk is back on tour and up the road in …
Live and Unheard – Poole
Capulus. Poole Lighthouse 4.9.19 Wednesday night in Poole. My 51st gig of 2019. 133 performances by 123 different bands this year. Still there are surprises; exciting surprises. After a four hour round trip to Bristol on Tuesday it was a relief to be able to walk to tonight’s gig in the studio at Poole Lighthouse …
‘An Evening with Richard Jobson’
St. George’s, Bristol 4.9.19 Beforehand I wasn’t quite sure of the format of Tuesday night’s gig. At one point I had a question mark over whether this was a gig or a chat but ‘an evening with Richard Jobson’ was exactly what it was. A gig and as billed. In the recently renovated, historic and …
The Skids back on track
This week I’m heading to Bristol on Tuesday night to catch THE SKIDS acoustic tour, or ‘An Evening with Richard Jobson of The Skids’ as it’s billed. My first SKIDS gig was 1980 at Hammersmith Palais. Circus Games was high in the charts. Jobbers was sporting cricket whites. Great venue the Palais. Don’t recall any …
Blue Sunday – Victorious Day Three
More perfect festival weather down on Southsea Common for Victorious Festival. We never assume good weather and when we get it for these events it is beautiful. Everything sounds better and this was the case from Ziggy Marley to New Order.
James Bay is Victorious – Day Two in Southsea
Well I never thought I’d see All Saints. I never thought I’d enjoy James Bay as much as that and I never thought I’d be eating a vegan paella watching the Fun Loving Criminals playing Scooby Snacks in 2019. This was Saturday by the sea on day two of Victorious Festival in Southsea. A bit …
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Gigs with Ivan 