Posts Tagged 'Gig'

David Byrne Review: Songs Of David Byrne & Brian Eno ~ Royal Festival Hall

Published April 12, 2009 Uncategorized 1 Comment
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The way this gig was billed I was thinking that Eno was going to be playing with Byrne. (“What on earth would he be doing I kept wondering to myself.”) Alas there was never going to be any Eno, just his music. This ended up being a good thing as it gave Byrne more brainroom to concentrate on delivering a show that would have to rival those from the Stop Making Sense tour.

Byrne came on and was on the best form I’d ever seen him (having seen him about half a dozen times so far). He greeted us with a Happy Easter and explained that the menu was going to be of early stuff with Eno and stuff from their 2008 release Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. And he would be our waiter this evening. And his name is Dave.

There was a very large gathering of photographers for the event. They were given their cursory three song allowance at the beginning. Byrne also invited the “amateurs” to take photos and email him the good ones to him so he can put them on his blog. Nice to see the guy having a more inclusive approach.

Here’s the set list (based on this photo):

  • Strange Overtones
  • I Zimbra
    • Dancers came on for this one. Theme was that they were teaching the backing vocalists how to dance.
  • One Fine Day
    • Mauro Refosco moving onto some weird one drum percussion. (Was it a sampler?)
  • Help Me Somebody
    • Byrne explained that this was taken from an album he recorded with Eno in which neither of them sang but instead featured “found vocals”, i.e. pre-sampling (and lawyers). Tonight he would be the sampler.
  • Houses In Motion
    • Souped up version from Remain In Light with dancers lifting it also.
  • My Big Nurse
  • My Big Hands
    • From the brilliant Catherine Wheel which was a piece choreographed by Twyla Tharp who has performed at the RFH and was not responsible for the choreography for this version. “That is all you need to know at this stage.”
  • Heaven
    • An obvious audience favourite which reminded me that this show was possibly better than Stop Making Sense. Kaïssa sang main backing vocals.
  • Poor Boy
  • Life Is Long
    • Dancers providing almost a narrative with a beautiful outro from Steven Reker
  • Crosseyed and Painless
    • Beautiful dancing from Natalie Kuhn. Excellent guitaring from Byrne.
  • Born Under Punches
    • This is the song that got everyone on their feet. And me to the from where I took most of my pictures.
  • Once In A Lifetime
    • Dancers ensured that you didn’t know where to look for fear of missing something.
  • Life During Wartime
    • I’d seen this song performed with a string section and usually they provided a fantastic outro. This time the outro was left to Lily Baldwin
  • Feel My Stuff

Encore I

Encore II

  • Air
    • Weirdly counted in in Japanese. Choreography probably meant that it should have been Guitar, but it was Air.
  • Burning Down The House
    • The climax.

Encore III

  • Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
    • Byrne usually finishes on a downbeater. Lovely song.

I think it actually surpassed the Stop Making Sense show as the dancers interacted moreso with the performance that you would expect giving it all an extra lift. Every song had something different. Thank God Eno wasn’t there, otherwise the spectacle would have suffered. Still would have been nice to have seen him bashing something out on a Casio or something all the same. Meantime lads get back to the studio and knock some more stuff out.

Duration: 2 hours. Flickr. Youtube.

U2 Regent Street Gig Review

Published February 27, 2009 Uncategorized 2 Comments
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Having read that U2 were going to play a secret gig in Upper Regent Street between 18.00 and 18.15 to promote their new album No Line On The Horizon I made my way in the direction of where I thought the gig was going to take place – somewhere around the Apple Store. When I got there there was no sign of anything U2ey. I checked my Twitter and was able to establish that the band were on the Chris Evans show so then I realised that it must be up at the more northern part of Regent Street where the BBC broadcasting house is. D’oh!

Sure enough when I got there at about 17.30 there were people in florescent jackets trying to look cool and casual but to no avail. Nonetheless I realised that this is where the show was to be.  After some surveying of the area I established that the best place must be opposite the broadcasting house and on the east side of Regent Street so I mounted the stairs of the church opposite.

18.00 came, and went.

The band were introduced by Chris Evans at about 18.45 GMT. Bono did his usual thanking and then they launched into Get On Your Boots which works really well live. I couldn’t help but notice that the bass is more complicated that Adam’s root note delivery – is he getting paid more money per note now or something?

Magnificent kind of reminded me of a weird disco version of Achtung Baby‘s So Cruel in its laid back delivery. I thought I could feel it dragging a bit at times but then I thought that this track, like the new album, was going to be a grower. I thought it was admirable of them to play something that wasn’t 900 miles per hour. They obviously really like this new stuff. All this reminds me of Actung Baby.

Having read on Twitter and on various blogs that they were due to play for 15 minutes I was expecting the third track to be their final one and with that I was expecting it to be something off their new album No Line On The Horizon. It was a bit of a surprise therefore when they played Vertigo. The whole crowd joined in on the for “Hello! Hello! I’m at a place called Vertigo!” and then promptly forgot the rest of the lyrics. That was funny to notice. (Note to Bono: Write choruses like that guy who wrote “Ruby! Ruby! Ruby! Ruby! Aahhh!”) Vertigo reminded me of how a great a song it was.

To be honest even though I saw the Vertigo tour, and was absolutely amazed by it I should add, I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. It seemed to lack energy or cohesion or direction – or something! It was all just a bit flat for me. After having listened to No Line On The Horizon on Spotify today I can tell already that the album has a greater depth to it and one that should be granted greater attention. All that said, it was great to hear Vertigo again.

So then just when I thought the gig was over, and the band seemed to think so also with their goodbye waves, on came Chris Evans to welcome the band back on for “another quick one”. Again I was expecting them to play something off the new album, and why not, but The Edge started the intro to Beautiful Day. The crowd went wild in a restrained on Regent Street kind of way. It was great to hear this track also – though I do rate All That You Can’t Leave Behind as a greater body of work than How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

All in all I would say that U2 are definitely relevant, they definitely kick it and have a place in our world as they approach a half century each – regardless of their age. I heard somewhere recently that U2 releases are not just album releases but are events. Today, whilst it wasn’t exactly The Beatles on top of Apple it still was something monumental and I am glad to have been a part of it. Actually come to think of it it was probably better than The Beatles as no one could actually see the band play could they? Nor hear them.

The setlist:

  • Get On Your Boots
  • Magnificent
  • Vertigo
  • Beautiful Day (Encore)

Go here to listen to the album now legally and for free!

Go here to see my YouTube footage.

Fri 12 Dec 2008 – World’s First Web 2.0 Gig?

Published December 9, 2008 Gigs , Uncategorized 2 Comments
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I am playing in the 12 Bar Club in London on Friday at 8.04 pm.

In 2005 I wrote a song with John Devlin called Welcome To The Paul Gadd Institute Of Child Psychology, or rather John wrote it and I threw in the odd comma and full stop, and then in December I performed a musical comedy show called Welcome To The Paul Gadd Institute Of Child Psychology – The Nativity Rock Opera! OK it wasn’t a real rock opera but it had songs, some gags and a vague plot.

I have decided to stage the show again to mark the former Glitter king’s release from prison.  To be honest as it was my first proper “show” I ever staged and it was well rough round the edges. So how could I do it again and keep it fresh along with the edginess?

For the last 12 months I have been intrigued as to how a Web 2.0 influenced gig would work. As in, the audience would write the content and therefore guiding the performer, as well as interacting with the space in a more performerlike fashion. Well the way I saw it was that if the audience were to give me come content and play some songs then maybe it might actually have more sense in it as well as sounding nice. So here it is: my first Gig 2.0 gig. Is it the World’s first? Not sure but I haven’t heard of any of this before.

Come on down. I wanna hear you play.

Madonna & Live Nation Need To Apologise

Published September 13, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments
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It would seem from this thread that Madonna and Live Nation need to apologise for putting on a show where the sound quality was unacceptable.

Many people had spent quite a lot of money and travelled from afar with high expectations for the show only to be treated to a performance which had substandard sound quality. Now Madonna’s fans are up in arms and are demanding that the star provides a full apology and assurances that this type of fiasco will not happen again.

To add a further insult to the the fans Madonna came on quite late and therefore just as she was coming off the stage the tube station was shutting leaving many fans stranded in Wembley without a clue to get home.

Large star musicians need to remember how they became stars in the first place and they need to be aware that if they charge about half a week’s wages for a ticket then they have a moral obligation to put on a show which the audience can hear without too much fear of how they might get home at night.

As Ian Lloyd has commented:

In case anyone is thinking that the promoters are listening to all the negative comments, think again … I spotted this update on Twitter and, frankly, they might just as well have given me a good kick in the balls: http://twitter.com/livenationsocal/statuses/920523957. Getting *very* angry now!

Madonna Complaints

Published September 12, 2008 Uncategorized 48 Comments
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Madonna played Wembley last night and many are complaining that the sound was awful as well as the fact that her show started late and therefore ended very late leaving many people stranded and even some having to sleep rough on the streets of London. So where to complain about Madonna concert?

Those wishing to complain about the Madonna gig should write to info@livenation.co.uk stating their full contact details (name, address, phone number, email), the nature of their complaint (please be specific, e.g. what you could or could not hear etc.) and your seating and booking reference numbers (these will be on your tickets).

Warning! Live Nation are only able to deal with the purchaser for those of you who bought off eBay. (That includes me!)

You can also write to Madonna via her website here.

Live Nation will be handling Madonna’s new studio efforts, tours, merchandise, DVD releases, sponsorships, licensing agreements, fan club, Web site, and TV and film projects until 2017. They also other large acts including U2.

Madonna Review: Wembley Gig – September 11 2008

Published September 12, 2008 Uncategorized 153 Comments
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Hard Candy. Madonna.

I’d never seen Madonna before so I was going to this gig with high expectations. I mean this girl has been around the same amount of time as Prince!

The video intro sequence set the whole thing up – it was amazing. A candy-styled pinball extravagansa. You could see that this five minute intro was a project in itself. From the video content to the way it was displayed on moving screens. It really set the gig up. Dancers appeared and then the Queen of pop was revealed on a throne turning on a platform.

The opening ‘Candy Shop’ was Madonna informing everyone that she is still working on delivering her best material. Then she followed it up with another one off the new album ‘Beat Goes On’ and then ‘Human Nature’ so when ‘Vogue’ kicks in the crowd are well up for it. Madonna is in great shape and is dancing flat out.

An interlude follows where two of her dancers perform a mock boxing match which Madonna slips into something less comfortable and presumably catches her breath. She reappears with a black Gibson Les Paul and plays ‘Into The Groove’ complete with Keith Haring-like video content broadcast behind her. Another new one ‘Heartbeat’ follows and then she’s back with another Gibson for ‘Borderline’, this time it’s a pink SG complete with a whammy bar!

‘She’s Not Me’, ‘Music’, Video Interlude (with Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams’), ‘Devil Wouldn’t Recognise You’, ‘Spanish Lesson’ and ‘Miles Away’ are next. ‘La Isla Bonita/Lela Pala Tute’ get the crowd going frantic and then there is a strange Romanian folk interlude where Madonna is sitting whilst being serenaded by the eldest guitarist of the folk group. Quite touching and nice to see Madonna take a much needed rest – she’s really been giving it plenty! ‘You Must Love Me’, Video Interlude, ’4 Minutes’ and then ‘Like A Prayer’ which is electric. So retro it’s great though I would have liked to have seen the backing choir instead of hearing them recorded.

‘Ray Of Light’ is awesome. And the projections behind seem very current what with CERN’s LHC recreating the Big Bang this week. Then Madonna tells us she’s up for doing requests but “I’m not doing that one cos I can’t remember the lyrics…I can’t even remember the words to the new ones”. Then, with just the drums backing her, she delives a quick rendition of ‘Express Yourself’ with the audience providing a very convincing accompaniment. “This is why I love the UK!” she explains, then dropping into the opening guitar riff of ‘Hung Up’.* She’s been having the craic with the audience throughout.

Ending with ‘Give It 2 Me’ Madonna is definitely stating that this is no farewell tour and that she these new songs are just as relevant, timeless and anthemic as the classics she didn’t play. In fact she didn’t even need to play ‘Material Girl’ or ‘Like A Virgin’ or ‘Holiday’ or ‘Lucky Star’ or Crazy For You’ or ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ or… you get the idea.

Great gig and the Queen of pop she is… but she ain’t no Prince.

* Girls take note! For this track Madonna used an open tuning and just played the 4 bass strings meaning she could rock out with just using one finger. She’s definitely a worthy guitarist though as she proved with ‘Borderline’.

Footnote: Many people seem to have had an awful experience because of the sound. Those wishing to complain should write to info@livenation.co.uk stating their full contact details (name, address, phone number, email), the nature of their complaint (please be specific about what you could or could not hear) and your seating and booking reference numbers (these will be on your tickets). (Thanks Martyn!)

Live Nation will be handling Madonna’s new studio efforts, tours, merchandise, DVD releases, sponsorships, licensing agreements, fan club, Web site, and TV and film projects until 2017. Yikes!

You can also write to Madonna via her website here.

Noel Gallagher Gets Pushed Over

Published September 8, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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In the ongoing fight between Oasis and Blur my sources tell me that Damon Albarn has become increasing jealous of Oasis incessantly trying to take over North America. So much so in fact that he allegedly hired a man to go onstage and push the arguably less miserable Gallagher brother over during one of their so called “hits”.

Have a look and see for yourself. If you look closely you’ll be able to see that the pusher is in fact wearing a Blur t-shirt. Scroll forward about 1 min 30 and turn the volume down.

Valentine’s Day Gig In London

Published February 10, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Valentine’s Day is looming. Only four days to go. Confused? Are you in London? Well come on down to Songs For Lovers in the 12 Bar Club, Denmark Street. I am preparing a special show with Kevin Hylands. Punk love songs on the banjo. See the gig section.

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