Square Eyes

After taking over the off-topic thread talking about music, I've decided I should really start a "Live Performances" thread instead.

So, today, I've been into my local HMV for an in-store appearance by Seth Lakeman on the day of the release of his 4th solo album Poor Man's Heaven.
For anyone who hasn't read any other of my Seth related posts and who doesn't know who he is somehow, then he's a folk singer/songwriter from Dartmoor. He mainly writes songs about old stories and legends from Devon and Cornwall. His latest album is a bit heavier, more rocky than previous stuff.
Anyway, he's been getting more and more popular over the years..he's been on TV and the radio a fair bit, played several times with The Levellers, and played loads of festivals and stuff too..he's just played one of the stages at Glastonbury. But today was just him, minus his band, doing a few songs and signing CDs in a record shop. There were loads of people there but I got there a bit early so got myself in a good position

I videoed him singing a song called Kitty Jay which is from his 2nd album and was nominated for the Mercury music prize a couple of years ago.
Here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4mOMqqgL6g

In-store appearances are fun - especially if you don't even realise until you pitch up that there's a band or artist you possibly like playing live in that very shop that day.

Of course, it can go the other way too. I was in Zavvi (the new name for Virgin Megastores - apparently chosen because they believe their customers are really "Savvy". So why spell it with a poxy Z & I then you tools?! ) last year when the dread news came over the in-store radio station that Louis Walsh was upstairs signing copies of the new X-Factor rip-off CD or book (or whatever). I couldn't get out of there quick enough!

As for actual paying gigs, Spike and me saw The Zombies supported by The Yardbirds the other week. An absolutely brilliant show. As loud a gig as I've ever attended though - those old blokes from the sixties must have absolutely terrible hearing by now after forty-plus years of that level of noise!

Yes, The Zombies and The Yardbirds were brilliant! Really tight bands and Colin Blunstone's voice is fantastic

Kathryn Williams, Karine Polwart and Kate Rusby were all charming and mesmerising live oiver the past couple of years as well.

There is really nothing you can put on a record to compare with a live gig

I went to a local folk festival on Saturday at a beautiful place called Morwellham Quay in Devon.
It was only a small one-day thing but it was lots of fun and the weather held out for most of it.
The main draw for me was the headliner....no prizes here...Seth Lakeman.
There were a few other local acts like the very popular Mad Dog McRea and some other regular festival-players from further afield like Dan Donnelly and Rev Hammer...I'm sure that doesn't mean much to anyone, but trust me, they were good and it was a great day/night out

As I've also just mentioned elsewhere, I'm off to see Seth again and the Levellers next month at Bowood House in Wiltshire. It's a "picnic concert with firework finale" ie outdoors again, so I hope the weather's okay!

Maria wrote: As I've also just mentioned elsewhere, I'm off to see Seth again and the Levellers next month at Bowood House in Wiltshire. It's a "picnic concert with firework finale" ie outdoors again, so I hope the weather's okay!

The Levellers are still going? Fantastic. If they do requests, shout out for One Way! Superb song

Hughesy wrote:

I wrote: As I've also just mentioned elsewhere, I'm off to see Seth again and the Levellers next month at Bowood House in Wiltshire.

The Levellers are still going? Fantastic. If they do requests, shout out for One Way! Superb song

I dunno about One Way, but things aren't going my way...the concert's been cancelled
I'm really disappointed cos I'd got a few friends together to go, ones I haven't really seen for a while and it was going to be fun

It must be a problem with the venue, cos a couple of other concerts there have been cancelled too.

GRR!!!

not a problem with the venue...a problem with the "event organisers"...they've gone into liquidation!!

that's probably the last I see of that £40 then

moan moan

Awww, that's rotten luck, Maria

Last night Hughesy and I went to see Kate Rusby (again). She was brilliant and note perfect all night. Her band were impressive too. She finished with a version of Who Knows Where The Time Goes which gave me a lump in my throat. She also had my favourite merchandise of anyone I've seen. We bought a Kate Rusby frisbee - a frusby, if you will!


Also in the audience, we happened to notice actor Mark Benton (currently appearing as an annoying bank worker in the Nationwide ads).



He looked a bit happier than this though...

I've booked up to see a couple more bands...first is Sigur Ros in Bournemouth next month.
This sold out before I could get tickets (they're playing Bristol too which is closer but also sold out).
I got tickets off someone through Scarlet Mist which allows people to sell tickets they can't use (supposedly) at face value and is supposed to be better than buying through Ebay.
I received the tickets this week...I just hope they're genuine...they look it, they've got the hologram logo on them, but I have a suspicious mind and won't really be convinced till I'm safely in the BIC! It doesn't help that the bloke I got them off charged me £4.95 for recorded delivery and then sent them on a normal 1st class stamp...he tried telling me he paid the recorded delivery charge and doesn't know why it wasn't sent that way, but I don't believe a word of it. He also charged me what he said was the face value of £27.50 each but when they arrived they said £23.50 on them....so I'm a bit worried that I've been dealing with a lying git!!! I guess he could have had to pay booking fees or whatever though...
I also looked on his ebay listings and he's got a couple more tickets for something else at the BIC on there, so I think he's out to make money really...he does have 100% positive feedback though
I'm probably going on my own too, which is slightly insane, but never mind.....
I'm also seeing Keane in February, here in Plymouth. I'm not sure about their new album yet, but I like their old stuff and they're bound to play some of that too. Anyway, I can't miss it when they're playing on my doorstep (almost)
Let's hope neither of these get cancelled or my tickets turn out to be fakes when I've driven all the way to Bournemouth on my own....

(why do I do these things?)

Maria wrote:I received the tickets this week...I just hope they're genuine...they look it, they've got the hologram logo on them, but I have a suspicious mind and won't really be convinced till I'm safely in the BIC! It doesn't help that the bloke I got them off charged me £4.95 for recorded delivery and then sent them on a normal 1st class stamp...he tried telling me he paid the recorded delivery charge and doesn't know why it wasn't sent that way, but I don't believe a word of it. He also charged me what he said was the face value of £27.50 each but when they arrived they said £23.50 on them....so I'm a bit worried that I've been dealing with a lying git!!!

Nah, I reckon you'll be alright. I suspect the bloke deals in genuine tickets but makes his profit margin on those "extras" he's foisted on you. If he makes £3 on the postage and £4 on each ticket then I'd imagine that would soon start to add up over time!

The only trouble is, sneaky opportunists like him give us honest sellers a a bad name!

Maria wrote:I've booked up to see a couple more bands...first is Sigur Ros in Bournemouth next month....
I'm also seeing Keane in February....
Let's hope neither of these get cancelled or my tickets turn out to be fakes when I've driven all the way to Bournemouth

Well, today's Sigur Ros day
...the day I drive to Bournemouth and find out if my tickets are the real deal!
Fingers crossed!

Well, I've just got back from Bournemouth.
Seeing Sigur Ros live was a fantastic experience...they were amazing! I would definitely see them again if I get the chance...well worth driving 2 and a half hours for
I started chatting to a girl in the crowd who is from Holland and has followed them around a bit and seen them in several countries! Easily beats my efforts

The support act was also really good (which is quite rare for me to say about a support band...let's face it, you normally can't wait for them to finish so you can see what you came for!)
They were also Icelandic...For A Minor Reflection...instrumental band, worth a listen if you like that sort of thing.

www.myspace.com/foraminorreflection

Next gig = Levellers in Exeter next month (fingers crossed!)

Last night I went to see the Levellers at Exeter Uni

It was worth waiting for
I've seen them twice before, 15 years ago (cue a song they didn't play last night...) in Torquay and then about 10 yrs ago here in Plymouth...and almost saw them about 3 months ago in Wiltshire except it was cancelled!!

It was a proper mixture of old songs (but not all the ones I would have expected, although they did do One Way...yay!) and stuff from their excellent new album.

They had 2 support acts...the 2nd one, Divokej Bill, was a group of 8 blokes from the Czech Republic who were very good and went down well with the crowd.

It was a fantastic night and even my eldest, who I dragged along with me again, enjoyed it (enjoyed the music, enjoyed staying up late but didn't enjoy getting up for school this morning!!)

Last night Hughesy and I saw This Is Soul which featured Jimmy James, P.P. Arnold and Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band. I can't speak for Hughesy, but I had an utterly fantastic time! Everyone ended up dancing in the aisles and all the performers were top notch!