A chilly autumn evening did little to dampen the enthusiasm of concertgoers for the first official gig on James’ UK and Ireland Arena tour, which kicked off in Leeds on Thursday 25 November.
After a delightful Sunday roast with friends I make my excuses and leave. I have a night of excitement ahead of me, so leaving the wife at the friends, I quickly drop in at home, pick my camera gear and then head off to the West Midlands once again. This time the destination is the O2 Academy just on the side of the A38 in the middle of darkest ‘Brum’.
Following the blinding sets the previous day, topped by the incendiary Wildhearts, the gathered masses shook their fuzzy heads and climbed out of warm beds not long occupied to embrace the second day of the festival.
So, I get the call from the ‘boss’ asking me if I’d like to cover a show in Nottingham. Without checking the band, I said why the hell not, it was at Rough Trade, a record shop in Nott’s which I knew had a venue above, so it’ll be somewhere new to visit.
After several attempts to get Those Damn Crows to appear at ‘Rockin the Bowl’, sadly, to no avail, the Rockin’ the Bowl team decided to put on a special night dedicated to those who ‘volunteered’ to man the event, and without which it would be a non-starter.
With replacement singer Joel Peter from Bootyard Bandits the band came to prove a point...they are one of the best live acts in the UK.
Now in its 14th incarnation HRH returns to the East coast of Norfolk for a second time. Following the initial west to east transitional shift to Great Yarmouth in 2019 this is an emotional gathering of the musical clans; the HRH family are back as one.
It’s back to familiar ground after last weeks ‘Road Trip’, tonight it’s Rock City in Nottingham, we’re in the Main Hall to see The Dead Daisies on their ‘Like No Other UK Tour’ supported by one of my long-time favorites, The Quireboys.
The time of the liturgical calendar when the dead are remembered is impending. The point of dedication, Allhallowtide, to saints, martyrs and the deceased alike is convergent.
What better time for an album launch gig for horror rockers So Long Until The Séance than on Halloween night? Backed by three other bands on the line-up.
So, this is a first for me, a trip to KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, a venue I’m looking forward to seeing as much as the bands performing tonight. Living with Rock City effectively on my doorstep, in my eyes the benchmark is set pretty high.
Having seen that American songstress Beth Hart had cancelled her previous tour due to the hateful global pandemic, it was great to see that her long awaited visit to these shores had no arrived with a short tour of only five dates.
The Patriot, post-lockdown, has roared off the starting line like a finely tuned v-twin; all shining chrome and matt black paintwork, purring in delight.
Just the merest of drop kicks from the hallowed turf of the Millennium Stadium, heading in the direction of Cardiff Castle, is the historic Womanby Street.
This one's for Tom. Sat here the day following this gig in the hours after the shock announcement of the sudden, and far, far too soon, taking of Wolf Jaw's vocalist and guitarist Tom Leighton there's a tangible realisation of how precious time truly is.
In my gig going years, which now number almost 34 to the day, there has been more than a few instances where a band I love has toured and I have caught that tour more than once.