šŸ—£ Gigs

Good work KRG! Fucking West Brom fucking fucked up my fucking accy. Would have fucking been Ā£3.5K. Cunts.

Iā€™m not bitter.

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Yeah, WBA ruined a 836/1 10fold for me as well. Probably for the best, Iā€™d have done myself some damage if they had both hit.

OK here we try again. Last Thursday Night.

Dubai Tennis Stadium is our ā€œoldestā€ and pretty much only fixed stadium veue for concerts. Itā€™s been open about 20 years and used to seem REALLY BIG. I guess it takes around 3,500 for a gig.

The show was due to start at 9pm but this being Dubai the audience didnā€™t bother to turn up until 9:15 and, to be fair, it was about 80% full (vs 40% for the last gig we saw there - The Happy Mondays"

90% of the crowd were clearly not locals, and the average age had to be around 45 pushing 50, it was also bloody cold.

The band came on stage at 9:15 and set straight into one of their classic #1ā€™s. It seemed to be played at a slower tempo, strangely, the lead vocals seemed to be in my vocal rangeā€¦ they did their greetings and we all noted that the (Glaswegian) commented on how bloody cold it was and was wearing a Jacket & Scarfā€¦

They morphed into some pleasant ā€œalbum trackā€ stuff that (surprisingly) a good 50% of the crowd knew, for me I found myself really liking the music, they kept their signature sound and tone and yet the songs managed to not be repetitive like some old bands. The singer did start to grate a bit, perhaps he had been to the Phil Oakey school of stage presence? WALKING from side to side, waving at each and every part of the audience.

They slid slowly through another smash hit, by now I had realised that YES every song was in my vocal range. Then I consulted Mrs D_P (who knows about music stuff) and she said yes, it seemed to her that they had taken all their songs ā€œDown Oneā€ as we say in Karaoke Land. And off we went again with some La Lalalalala Laaa Laalaa La laaas.

The original members were still there, especially the lead guitarist, who I must say was AWESOME - not in a Slash way but in constantly changing Guitars to produce different styles and sounds yet still somehow even if you had entered the stadium blind & heard their most obscure song you would have known instantly who you were listening to. The keyboard player created an almost Gary Numanesqu sound, Ms Davis (from almost in Wales) filled in on the really high notes & some keyboards - her voice was not strong but clearly she got the gig as she sounded like / covered the old fart in the scarf.

About half way through, a random Amazonian woman with BIG HAIR came out and did all that WOO WOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOO ing stereotype backing vocals and then nailed a solo and a duet with Ms Davis, she stayed on to the end.

At 1 hour 40 minutes they buggered off, drank their Sanatogen, gulped Oxygen and returned to finish with 4 of their greatest hits.

IF the Tennis Stadium had had a roof, it would by now have been lamding close to that Malaysian Plane out in the Indian Ocean. They blew the Goddam Roof off. Nobody, not one VVIP look at me obnoxious git was still sitting down. That NEVER happens in Dubai. The place rocked so much it set off the local Seismic Detectors.

Me? I was sober, 1st Gig in 23 years where I did not touch a drop before during or after (Meds Harumph).

So yes the tempo of all the songs was slower, yes the vocal range has diminshed. But you know what? It now makes them THE best singalong band on the planet. I fooking LOVED it.

Simple Minds.

You bloody rocked the house guys.

Go see them before they get too old as well and wind up on your FB Newsfeed

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Mrs RB loves them so we have seen Simple Minds loads - give me your hands shouts Jim!

They sure do put on a good show.

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Got to respect a man that survived marrying both Chrissie Hynde and Patsy Kensit.

Lucky git!

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Maccabees the other week were seriously good. A band o got into early doors as a teen, really nice watching them mature into a proper band with such a massive sound. Potential festival headliners in the near future I reckon.

Not sure if it counts as a gig, but dunno where else to put it. Gf took me to Cirque du Soleil last week as an cams present. The things those folks can do are mind blowing. Did my anxiety absolutely no good mind.

few more coming up as well. Tame Impala & Jamie xx both at Ally Pally, and Hinds in between at Koko.

Tempted to grab tickets for Young Fathers/Massive Attack too. As yeah, thatā€™ll be a cracking night. Feel like Iā€™m getting better value for money when I like the support act too.

Graham Coxon :slight_smile:

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Originally posted by @TheCholulaKid

Originally posted by @Intiniki

Add Beady Eye (but not Noel), plus Stone Roses too. But that was Stafford V Festival where I witnessed a domestic abuse incident a few years earlier. Has a real edge to it.

Consequence of the lad culture a few years back? Or just alcohol?

Stafford?

Sorry one in Staffordshire rather than the Essex one.

Forgot to mention Foals at Wembley & Eagulls in Hackney in amongst all this as well.

The gig pig is well and truly back at the trough.

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oink, oink.

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The boss and I are going to see Calexico at The Brighton Domeā€¦26th April. :lou_lol:

Iā€™ve been to seated gigs at the Dome beforeā€¦do they ever have mixed, seating and standing?? Iā€™d rather stand at a Calexico gig.

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At Massive Attack at Brixton Academy via e detour at the David Bowie memorial. Still a massive pile of flowers, art and so many messages.

Enjoying Young Fathers. Wish Iā€™d had time to check their stuff out before gig

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Last night, John Grant at the Soton Guildhall.

I have only recently discovered John Grant but have bought all of his solo albums and this was a fabulous night of Music. Went with OH, (who cannot stand for a long time now, due to hip problems) so we were sat in the balcony with the other oldies. His band were tight (including drummer Budgie, ex of the Banshees), the sound was good (considering where we were sat and the Guildhall accoustics) and he was on good voice. Considering what he has gone through (drugs, alcohol, etc.) he was remarkably chipper and seemed to be really enjoying performing.

Played all his best stuff with a good mix of slow and uptempo stuff, highlights being Marz, Pale Green Ghosts and the wonderful GMF. Even the OH, who is not really a fan, enjoyed it.

Fabulous stuff. Next up Turin Brakes at the Brook in a few weeks.

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No matter who it is I just wonā€™t go to the Guildhall anymoreā€¦which is a pity as I would have liked to have seen Mr. Grant. I love Pale Green Ghosts and the Scandi-noirish videoā€¦fuckinā€™ masterpiece, any excuse to post it. :lou_wink_2:

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Originally posted by @Intiniki

Enjoying Young Fathers. Wish Iā€™d had time to check their stuff out before gig

Glad you liked them. One of my favourite new bands I saw last year.

So hard trying to sell them to other folk though, fucked if I know what genre you would categorise them as.

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Wonderfully entertaining evening with Green Gartside, last night.

He started off explaining how he hadnā€™t played live for over 25 years due to stage-fright and promptly broke his guitar strap. Much fumbling and embarassed quips and he was away.

Still got the same fantastic voice and played lots off the first album, Songs to Remember and some which pre-dated that. Did all the singles and then finished with a medley of his latest, unfinished songs.

The Roundhouse is a funny venue. The hall is spacious and the sound was good, but it has a row of pillars seperating the stalls from the Circle and they obscure the stage for quite a few seats.

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I was at my second home of Brixton academy last night. Not massively up for a night out. Missed 2 supports but caught Drenge. May have to try listening to them when in a better frame of mind. Bloc Party even with a new line up were on form. They did a few encores too. Managed to cheer me up a bit. Still up in the balcony had a few dicks who thought weā€™d come to see them.

I do have an issue with the securityā€™s management upstairs and the fact they have seats in one of the isles that goes across the building making it difficult to get by people. Surely it should be kept clear.

Still getting proper pat downs by security.

Iā€™ve got Little Mix with my 10yo daughter to look forward to in the weeks ahead. Deep joy. Iā€™ve had to endure 1D, Taylor Swift, Katie Perry and now Littlw Mix.

The things we do.

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You have taken one for the team - four times!

Originally posted by @Lets-B-Drinking

The Roundhouse is a funny venue. The hall is spacious and the sound was good, but it has a row of pillars seperating the stalls from the Circle and they obscure the stage for quite a few seats.

Yep - that is an issue. Always get standing tickets at the Roundhouse. Off to see the messianic Father John Misty there in May.