Your most recent gig

Madness in the Odyssey, Belfast, last night. Never been a huge fan but got tickets for my missus as a birthday prezzie. Glad I did, really great show.

Gary Numan at The Corporation (Sheffield).

Saw him just over a month ago performing all of the Pleasure Principle album as part of his 30th anniversary album tour. I have seen Numan on many occasions and I always come away thinking how awesome he was and this gig was no exception. Not a lavish show (the venue size does not permit it) but what there was I found exciting and complimentary to the music.

Once Numan had finished the PP album material, he segued into his more current sound which is a lot heavier and darker, where he builds tension and builds songs to the point of explosion. I just love the mix of synths and guitars in an almost NIN'esq way.

I am not surprised Numan has seen a resurgence in popularity. The albums Jagged and Pure are never off my iPod Touch, it's just a good job mp3's don't wear out !!!!

Depeche Mode, MEN, 18th December. Truly tremendous.

Steve Hackett at the Brook in Southampton, almost a year since he last played there. Although he is still touring the same album, the set was changed considerably from last year and it was wonderful to hear numbers he has never played before in his 36 year solo career. He is fanatastic musician - I have yet to see a more inventive use of the guitar. A brilliant evening that made a lot of his middle aged fans very happy.

The Phantom Band again last night at the Brudenell in Leeds, another awesome show from those guys.... a slightly crazy Scottish synth-guitar-folk-pop-bonkersness outfit.

Second album The Wants is another winner to join Checkmate Savage, just hope they get some success, "The best band youve never heard of"

Grant Lee Buffalo. Melbourne, Australia. 1999.

bretty:

Grant Lee Buffalo. Melbourne, Australia. 1999.

Really?

Ludovico Einaudi 25th November 2010 Leeds Town Hall. Very Nice Indeed.

Athlete 1st Dec; Band of Horses 26th Jan and Mogwai 17th Feb.

Oh, and a small matter of RUSH 19th May in Manchester and 21st May in Newcastle!

I'm looking forward to Neurosis at Koko in Camden on 6/12.

Haven't seen them in about 5 years or so.

Aha final UK concert at Wembley Arena last night.Fantastic.

Stiff Little Fingers, Holmfirth Oct, 2010.

Brilliant night.

Massive Attack, Hammersmith Odeon (or whatever it's called these days), 11/02/2010.

A fine bunch of decent and very cool human beings who gave a fabulous performance; stunning light show plus images on the rear-screen gizmo thingy (spooky tech); an extraordinary and breathtaking sound system that was internal-organ-rumbling loud/deep, yet had zero distortion with uncanny levels of detail.

But, the evening was ruined by the ever-present breed of peasant that seems to attend all contemporary gigs: numerous bunches of bumptious tosspots in the audience who stand around jabbering, incessantly.

Even at the front there's no escape from the chit-chat - it was like standing in a packed pub with a jukebox playing - as these YouTube vids demonstrate (limitations of camcorder's SQ accepted):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8dKTzhO5A&playnext=1&list=PL296C4738D1697CB1&index=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eoFoVTBNa8&playnext=2&list=PL296C4738D1697CB1

Placebo @ Brixton Academy 27/09/10

Really dissapointed.

I have meant to go and see them for years but for one reason or another, never have. Was expecting a big show, but left feeling a little flat.

Support band - Little Fish - however, were excellant.

Graham_Thomas:

bretty:

Grant Lee Buffalo. Melbourne, Australia. 1999.

Really?

Yep. I'm not including festivals (I used to work at 'V' in Chelmsford from '96 - '04). I have to really love a band to want see them live, otherwise I find gigs boring. There's only been three gigs that i've been to that i've really loved: Counting Crows at the Apollo, Radiohead (OK Computer Tour) at the Brighton Centre and the GLB gig over in OZ.

EDIT: I forgot. My most recent gig was actually Iron Maiden at Twickenham in 2008. The Sound was so rubbish at that gig, that I couldn't wait for it to be over. 

bretty:

Graham_Thomas:

bretty:

Grant Lee Buffalo. Melbourne, Australia. 1999.

Really?

Yep. I'm not including festivals (I used to work at 'V' in Chelmsford from '96 - '04). I have to really love a band to want see them live, otherwise I find gigs boring. There's only been three gigs that i've been to that i've really loved: Counting Crows at the Apollo, Radiohead (OK Computer Tour) at the Brighton Centre and the GLB gig over in OZ.

EDIT: I forgot. My most recent gig was actually Iron Maiden at Twickenham in 2008. The Sound was so rubbish at that gig, that I couldn't wait for it to be over. 

What about 'Designs Of Chaos' at The Purple Turtle, Camden on 11/12?

Big Chris:

bretty:

Graham_Thomas:

bretty:

Grant Lee Buffalo. Melbourne, Australia. 1999.

Really?

Yep. I'm not including festivals (I used to work at 'V' in Chelmsford from '96 - '04). I have to really love a band to want see them live, otherwise I find gigs boring. There's only been three gigs that i've been to that i've really loved: Counting Crows at the Apollo, Radiohead (OK Computer Tour) at the Brighton Centre and the GLB gig over in OZ.

EDIT: I forgot. My most recent gig was actually Iron Maiden at Twickenham in 2008. The Sound was so rubbish at that gig, that I couldn't wait for it to be over. 

What about 'Designs Of Chaos' at The Purple Turtle, Camden on 11/12?

Oh, gutted! I'm seeing 'Sketches of Order' at the Lime Lizard, that night.

Are you gigging much next year, BC? Keep me in the loop with the dates, I wouldn't mind checking you guys out. The few tracks you put up a while ago sounded good.