Live gigs - Who you've seen were they good, bad etc.

[CaledonianGonzo]

29 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Jason Isbell solo acoustic last night. Excellent. Earliest gig I've been to in a while. 8.10pm to 9.40pm.

 

Think His Bobness beat that.

[Looother]

Justice last night at Ally Pally. First time I've gone to a concert to see the lights rather than the band, but what lights they were.

[Fishman]

16 minutes ago, Looother said:

Justice last night at Ally Pally. First time I've gone to a concert to see the lights rather than the band, but what lights they were.

Top notch sound too. Not been to Ally Pally for a while and I was very impressed. (Shame they've ditched the Marshall stacks though). Also, what was the mid-set break about? Had someone stepped on a plug?

[Badlands]

17 hours ago, Talcroft said:

Maribou State were a lovely vibe in Manchester tonight. Not sure they would've convinced anyone who was ambivalent, but if you're into them it's a good show. Couple of extended/reworked versions that sit nicely. They need to either swap Midas and Blackoak round though, or speed Blackoak up a touch, for the finish they want. Blackoak is my favourite but Midas was better tonight and there was a hint of anticlimax about the encore. 

 

 

I went on Sunday and have remained on the fence, where I was with them pre-gig. The slower ones are canny, without actually going anywhere but they were at their best later in the set when the tracks went moodier.

[Justcalledtosay]

Maribou State at Manchester Academy last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Only point I’d pick up on is the encore and no Holly Walker. Tallulah Ruby is good replacement but there were one or two songs she didn’t quite nail.

[The Nal]

16 hours ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Think His Bobness beat that.

 

Aha so he did. Had to leave some of my charcuterie board uneaten to rush to the gig in Paris. 

 

Thoroughly inconvenient

[Quark]

41 minutes ago, The Nal said:

 

Aha so he did. Had to leave some of my charcuterie board uneaten to rush to the gig in Paris. 

 

Thoroughly inconvenient

And the award for most middle class gig grumble goes to...😁

[The Nal]

8 minutes ago, Quark said:

And the award for most middle class gig grumble goes to...😁

 

Didn't even have time for an armagnac FFS.

[Semprini]

On 2/13/2025 at 5:08 PM, Fishman said:

Top notch sound too. Not been to Ally Pally for a while and I was very impressed. (Shame they've ditched the Marshall stacks though). Also, what was the mid-set break about? Had someone stepped on a plug?

 

 

I'd completely forgotten about that until I read your post!! Didn't look planned but they came back on fairly quickly so couldn't have been that much of an issue.

Fourth time seeing them and really enjoyed it. Didn't get home until 2am, and was up again at 6, so my appreciation of the night was slightly clouded by how rough I felt on Thursday! Show was different to last summer at Field Day but not as good as the 2018 tour when I saw them at Pukkelpop in Belgium. They're back again at the festival in August and it won't kill me if someone else is on at the same time that I'd rather see. 

[Quark]

Inhaler in Brighton tonight. Was as much about a night out as a gig for me, but actually really good! I know 4 lads with guitars isn't cool these days (kids still say cool, right?) but really can't grumble. They were tight and played some decent tunes! Solid late afternoon Other material,  and had a great time

[mjtko]

Saw Biig Piig in Birmingham on Saturday night -- the opening date of her headline tour in support of debut album 11:11 released earlier this month. She put on a great show, bundles of energy and was obviously blown away by the reception given by the few hundred fans gathered in the O2 Institute2. Could see her slotting in to early-mid afternoon on Woodsies, Park or Avalon. Would go down a storm I reckon.

 

First time (recently? perhaps ever?) I've seen an artist properly come back for an encore after finishing and replaying a song from earlier in the set (Switch) cos obviously she and the band hadn't reckoned on needing to prep an encore track and they'd already played the Big Ones!

[Robinn]

Duke Garwood played six ‘Mark Lanegan/Mark Lanegan Band/Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood’ covers last Wednesday. I mean his own music is great, but this was even better than I could’ve hoped for!

[Ben7amin_]

Heartworms - 5* absolute brilliant -  Jojo Orne - is one hell of a performer, great showmanship had the crowd eating out of her hand.   Small venue - but id be willing to bet she will tour again in academy size venues prior to the end of this year.

Only gripe is the set list order was a bit strange - very front loaded with what felt like the bigger moments - though it so soon after the album its probably gonna take a bit of time to really nail the order.

 

Really hoping one of those early Woodsies slots gets thrown her way - Kind of act that gets the Who? on the first poster prior to the massed of praise after the festival..  hopfully anyway. 

[Pipine]

16 hours ago, mjtko said:

Saw Biig Piig in Birmingham on Saturday night -- the opening date of her headline tour in support of debut album 11:11 released earlier this month. She put on a great show, bundles of energy and was obviously blown away by the reception given by the few hundred fans gathered in the O2 Institute2. Could see her slotting in to early-mid afternoon on Woodsies, Park or Avalon. Would go down a storm I reckon.

 

First time (recently? perhaps ever?) I've seen an artist properly come back for an encore after finishing and replaying a song from earlier in the set (Switch) cos obviously she and the band hadn't reckoned on needing to prep an encore track and they'd already played the Big Ones!

Thanks for this, got tickets for the Leeds date and was wavering about whether to go or try and sell the tickets as it’s a bit of a trek on a Sunday night from Sheffield..  but will definitely make the effort and go. 

[Brunty9]

Cage The Elephant last night in Wolverhampton. 4th time seeing them and always amazing. Such a good live band, loads of energy and a brilliant setlist. 

 

Were due to play Glastonbury in 2020 having played previously in 2011.

 

They currently have no gigs planned in June & July before supporting Oasis on the the American leg of their tour. 

[RossTC]

Maribou state at Ally Pally on sat, very enjoyable and with Holly Walker they nailed all her songs. Loved it and the sound a lot better than usual at Ally Pally.

[Jarski75]

Saw The Rifles at Quarterhouse in Folkestone on Saturday.  Great little venue that is.  Not really my usual band but really enjoyed them.

 

Fat Dog in Oxford last night who were excellent too.

 

My head hurts!

[chloe_91]

21 hours ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Heartworms - 5* absolute brilliant -  Jojo Orne - is one hell of a performer, great showmanship had the crowd eating out of her hand.   Small venue - but id be willing to bet she will tour again in academy size venues prior to the end of this year.

Only gripe is the set list order was a bit strange - very front loaded with what felt like the bigger moments - though it so soon after the album its probably gonna take a bit of time to really nail the order.

 

Really hoping one of those early Woodsies slots gets thrown her way - Kind of act that gets the Who? on the first poster prior to the massed of praise after the festival..  hopfully anyway. 

I went to the manchester show, agreed very good and expect her to be in forums, institutes etc by end of the year.

 

Not sure theres much more to add, but it felt like the big hitters  blended in a bit early to the middle- whilst it was all good it felt more could be made from them ( it was a very static, admire from a far crowd rather than engage), and then by the end it was more gripping with songs that maybe had a bit more range but were lesser known to the room.

 

Also it was my first time visiting the white hotel, as a venue i thought it was great, sound was top,  the secret bottle bar in the floor brilliant as it killed the queues, a little window inside the venue where you could see the sillhoutte of the staff room, lovely quirky room.

[Ben7amin_]

29 minutes ago, chloe_91 said:

I went to the manchester show, agreed very good and expect her to be in forums, institutes etc by end of the year.

 

Not sure theres much more to add, but it felt like the big hitters  blended in a bit early to the middle- whilst it was all good it felt more could be made from them ( it was a very static, admire from a far crowd rather than engage), and then by the end it was more gripping with songs that maybe had a bit more range but were lesser known to the room.

 

Also it was my first time visiting the white hotel, as a venue i thought it was great, sound was top,  the secret bottle bar in the floor brilliant as it killed the queues, a little window inside the venue where you could see the sillhoutte of the staff room, lovely quirky room.

 

YEah ditto on white hotel and first time - looked sketchy as f*ck on the aproach though. Lovely once inside  closer to Manchester City centre than it looked on maps.

 

you thinking what i am thinking..  Jacked should have been the big finish track - playing it 3rd or 4th was too early 

 

Id be willing to bet she tours again in Academy size venues before the end of the year. 

Edited February 17, 2025 by Ben7amin_

[chloe_91]

I'm calling Ritz, at a push albert hall for this year Manchester wise, then onto Academys next year. Friendly wager

 

I parked up near strangeways but I was glad to see loads of free parking closer to the venue for next time.

 

[cidy]

Frank turner and the sleeping souls cheese and grain frome

Just brilliant from start to finish 

First time at cheese and grain fantastic venue 10/10 

[NorthernSoul52]

Snow Patrol at Connexion Live. Robust, which may seem to damn with faint praise, but also undoubtedly a notable chunk better than on their 2019 tour, where Gary Lightbody was clearly still recovering slowly from his demons. 

[CantWaitForGlasto22]

Enjoyed Snow Patrol at The 02 last weekend. They played quite a lot of their new material but it sounded mostly good (a few were a bit slow, though lighting was good!). They’d be great on The Pyramid playing a shorter set of their more well known songs. 

[A Particular Grey Chihuahu]

Saw Seth Lakeman last night (Bristol). He was really good (although you know what you're going to get). Great night out.

[Yokel Again]

14 hours ago, cidy said:

Frank turner and the sleeping souls cheese and grain frome

Just brilliant from start to finish 

First time at cheese and grain fantastic venue 10/10 

Was at this - was really great. Frank really knows how to make every gig a top night.

Have to mention the sound too - was crystal clear from the word go, and nicely not too loud either.