Magnum - Friday 6th November - O2 Academy, Islington

Rammed, rammed rammed!

Yep, it was packed.. could barely get through the door. Once we did (upsetting several people), we squeezed over to the bar (where you could actually breathe and get served!). The show was good (complete setlist change) and featured many songs from the excellent "Into The Valley of The Moonking" album (rubbish title, great music!). Only complaint (besides the crush) was that the show could have been a bit longer.

We walked up past the Union Chapel on the way out. Attempted to gate-crash the last few minutes of the show - I've even forgotten the artists name (I know it's someone Richard likes!) Blagged our way in through an exit, but got in just as she'd left the stage. Unfortunately, no encore, but a nice try!

Oh and I should also mention the torrential rain (we got soaked!) and the very pleasant delights of the Baverian Brewhouse near Old Street.

Setlist
Cry To Yourself
Take Me To The Edge
Brand New Morning
The Moon King
When We Were Younger
No One Knows His Name
Dragons Are Real
A Face In The Crowd
We All Run
Les Morts Dansant
All My Bridges
All Englands Eyes
Vigilante
+
Don't Wake The Lion
The Kingdom Of Madness

Photo - ALX PIX http://www.flickr.com/photos/alxpix/4237450817/

The Mods - Friday 23rd October - Tooting & Mitcham FC

Continuing our regular visits to see Johnny Warman and the boys - this time at the home of Tooting & Mitcham FC - a new venue for me. Pre show, we checked out the delights of Mitcham - the best pub by some distance was the "Hooden On The Green" with excellent darts facilities and attractive staff. Some of the others were a bit rough and ready, but by no means unfriendly. 

The gig itself was of the normal excellent standard. It appears (unfortunately) that guitarist Steve Byrd has been permanently replaced which is a shame. He's even been removed from their website, so I wonder if there was a falling out? That said, his replacement - Gary Grainger - is also one hell of a guitar player, so it was interesting to check out his playing and try to pick up a few tips! We'll look forward to seeing the band again in 2010.

Mott The Hoople - Friday 2nd October - Hammersmith Apollo

Met up with a couple of colleagues by the River before Richard joined us. Had a good chat about record collecting, gigs and the usual rubbish - it turns out we were in the company of a serious Mott The Hoople fan in Steve! Many beers later - and having skipped the support - we were inside for the much anticipated reunion. 

I thought it was a little rough around the edges to start (not surprising), but got better later on. The band did look old though! Ironically, Ian Hunter (70) and Mick Ralphs (65) looked in better nick than the others who were 60 or below. I wonder if that's because they've been musically more active over the last decade? Drummer Dale Griffin wasn't well enough to play most of the set, but did appear for the first encore.

Sitting behind us we spotted Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) and Paul Guerin and Guy Griffin from the Quireboys. Jimmy Page and Mick Jones were also in attendance and I suspect there were a few more "faces" dotted around.

I was gutted to find out that on the Tuesday Joe Elliot (backed by the Quireboys) was the support act, playing a selection of Ian Hunter / Mott The Hoople classics. Why don't they publish these things beforehand! 

Setlist

Hymn for the Dudes

Rock and Roll Queen

Sweet Jane

One of the Boys

Sucker

The Moon Upstairs

Original Mixed-Up Kid

I Wish I Was Your Mother

Ready for Love

Born Late '58

Ballad of Mott the Hoople

Sweet Angeline

Walking With a Mountain

The Journey

The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll

Honaloochie Boogie

All the Way From Memphis

+

Roll Away the Stone 

All the Young Dudes

Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)

+

Saturday Gigs

Woodedz - Friday 25th September - Half Moon, Putney

Rhino from Status Quo (and most of his family) playing at the popular Half Moon venue in Putney. The location allowed for a bit of a crawl beforehand and we got to the venue around 9:00 to see Rhino still in the bar. This gave us time for a win on the Quiz machine and a game of Pool where - despite the amount of beer consumed - I was uncharacteristically brilliant. 

The show was good (although it was a shame the late start meant a shorter set) and was the normal mix of solo stuff, Quo Material (mainly lesser played album tracks and 'B' sides) and a smattering of Rock covers.

Pretty much every member of Rhino's family seemed to be in attendance and most performed! All in all, good fun. Didn't hang around to chat afterwards - instead went for a bit more classic rock from the DJ's in the B@1 bar.

Jeff Beck - Monday 21st September - Indigo2

Ambiguously billed as "Jeff Beck with the Imelda May Band", it was unclear if Imelda May and her band were supporting (as they had done on the last tour) or Jeff was joining her band for the evening. A call to the O2 on the day of the show confirmed the latter - no support and Mr Beck in the band. Knowing that this would mean a night of Rockabilly as opposed to Jeff's normal material, in the bar beforehand Dave was making all sorts of threats to "sue Harvey Goldsmith for misrepresentation" etc. As it turned out, there was no need to worry. 

The band were solid, Imelda May's vocals quite stunning and the whole evening was full of enough classic tunes, whatever style they were played in and we all enjoyed it. Ronnie Wood and Jimmy Page were in attendance, but unfortunately had declined the offer to perform - taking a bit of stick from Jeff as a result.

Few performers seem so uncomfortable speaking to their audience, but who cares when the guitar playing is so good. Found out later that Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton are playing the O2 next year. Price £125. Errr... no thanks Harvey. It's good, but not that good. 

Setlist Feel Me Love Tattoo Baby Let's Play Outside Double Talking Baby Cruisin' Train Kept a-Rollin' Poor By My Baby Left Me Rockin' is Out Business Apache Sleepwalk Peter Gunn Remember (Walking in the Sand) Please Mr. Jailor Corpus Christi Carol Lilac Wine Green Onions Casting My Spell The Girl Can't Help It Brush with the Blues Rock Around the Clock Cry Me a River How High the Moon Shake Rattle and Roll Somewhere Over the Rainbow 

Setlist from http://www.songkick.com/concerts/2459851-jeff-beck-at-indigo2

Upcoming shows

Looking forward to these over the next month or 2:- 

Jeff Beck - Indigo2 

Woodedz - Half Moon, Putney 

Mott The Hoople - Hammersmith 

Magnum - Islington

U2 - Friday 14th August - Wembley Stadium

Let me be honest, I'm not too much of a U2 fan - especially the lead singer! That said, I recognise that they are a pretty good band with some excellent songs, so - pride suitably swallowed, I shelled out for a "view from the Gods" ticket at Wembley. And guess what? Apart from one truly awful song involving words like "password", "click" and "reboot yourself" - I think it was "Unknown Caller" - the rest of the set was very good.

Setlist Breathe, No Line On The Horizon, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, London Calling (snippet) / , London Bridge Is Falling Down (snippet) / Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet), Elevation, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Movin' On Up (snippet), Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Unknown Caller, The Unforgettable Fire, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo / Acquiesce (snippet), I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight / Two Tribes (snippet) / Reverend Black Grape (snippet), Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rock The Casbah (snippet), Pride (In The Name Of Love), MLK, Walk On / You'll Never Walk Alone (snippet), Where The Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love (snippet) / Acquiesce (snippet), One, Mysterious Ways / Norwegian Wood (snippet)+ Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment of Surrender 

Setlist from http://www.u2setlists.com/360.shtml

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Sunday 26th July - Borderline

Mr Baird and friends at the intimate Borderline. When we got there for the early start, the place was empty. By the time the show was 30 minutes in, it was totally rammed. Great band, great set with some unusual covers. 2 hrs 25 minutes almost non-stop and we even made the tube!

Anyone got the setlist?

Scouting For Girls - Thursday 23rd July - Epsom Racecourse

2nd visit in a fortnight to evening racing + gig at Epsom racecourse. This time it's for Scouting For Girls - a band whose album I bought on the strength of a single - and really enjoyed. The relative lack of material led to a set that included all the songs that I liked plus an excellent cover of "Live and Let Die".

Setlist

I Need a Holiday

Glastonbury

Keep On Walking

Elvis Ain't Dead / Can't Help Falling in Love

It's Not About You

The Airplane Song

The Mountains of Navaho

I Wish I Was James Bond

Live and Let Die

Michaela Strachan

Heartbeat

Thank You Epsom

She's So Lovely

Thunder - Saturday 11th July - Hammersmith Apollo

A week on, and Thunder's final headline show. An emotional evening at a packed Hammersmith Apollo provided a fitting end for a great band after 20 years. Thanks for the memories guys - hoping to see you reconsider and be back for the 25th Anniversary! 

Setlist (from Thunderonline.com) Loser / On the Radio / Higher Ground / Low Life in High Places / The Devil Made Me Do It / Gimme Some Lovin' / Empty City / Like a Satellite / River of Pain / You Can't Keep a Good Man Down / Love Walked In / I Love You More Than Rock ‘n’ Roll Encore: A Better Man / Backstreet Symphony / She's So Fine / Dirty Love (Including ‘Billie Jean’ excerpt and ‘Shakin’ All Over’)