Gigs 'n' Tours

[Will]

So, as we all know, I've been a huge Dream Theater fan for quite a long time now - naturally, there was nowhere to be except the o2 on Sunday night - a far cry from Leeds Academy where I saw my first DT show back in Spring 2009.

For those not in the know, drummer Mike Portnoy ended up leaving the band back in 2010 (meaning I'd only seen them with him 4 times) and this was his first gig back with the band after rejoining last year. It was also used as an excuse to play a 40th anniversary tour with plenty of classics - most notably, the 24 minute Octavarium, played in its entirety for the first time since 2006.

I've been feeling off colour for the last week or so, but there was plenty to get me out of my seat - I still don't much like the o2 - it's too big, too soulless, the acoustics aren't great and it tends to attract a somewhat disinterested looking crowd for some reason - and they also didn't play anything off 6DoIT (which I recently decided was my favourite album) - but even with a three hour set, there's only so much you can fit in I'll be curious to see if they go back to the MP setlist shuffling of the old days.

It was also a little nostalgic - I was with my brother in law who hadn't seen this incarnation of the band since the Leeds gig in '09 and with whom I'd spent a lot of my early twenties involved in music gooning. He's a fairly reserved chap, particularly when put next to me, but I'm not sure I've ever seen him so excited

... I also finally got the new cred at Thorpe yesterday. Not bad, is it?

 

[davidm]

Right since my busy June it's been a bit quiet concert-wise, with only an orchestral accompaniment
to (my favourite film) Blade Runner to keep me entertained.



That was pretty good - the film quality wasn't great (a projection rather than one of those flash
new video walls) as the orchestra lighting kinda spoiled the image a bit (lots of grey where there
should be black) but I've seen the film so many times that didn't really matter and it was all
quite a cool experience.

Then came October, and I got busy again...

First up was Tom McRae, who was briefly popular I think about 20 years ago (I remember him being
on 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' anyway!) but it had been a few years since I had listened to him, having
paid attention to him for a while (15-20 years ago).



Anyway it was just him, no band - and it was very good. The venue was new-to-me, being the concert
hall at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester - and being a concert hall the acoustics
were excellent - Tom went walkabout at one point with just his guitar and no amplification and it
was all still sounding fab.

--

Another new-to-me venue next, the Royal Albert Hall for David Gilmour - very posh venue that.
He played half and half old Pink Floyd stuff and his solo stuff, and it was all very good.
He's getting on a bit now, can't imagine another big tour from him (the tour is currently
continuing over in the US).



And that meant I'd seen all the living members of Pink Floyd this year (Nick Mason in June)

Coincidentally it was 30 years to the exact day that I last saw Pink Floyd, that time at Earls Court,
which does not even exist anymore. Am old.

--

Later that same week, another Albert Hall (the Manchester one) and another new-to-me venue for
Public Service Broadcasting.



Seen them a few times now, really enjoyed that and liked the venue too - quite a bit smaller
than the London Albert Hall anyway.

--

And since I was on a bit of a concert-roll, I then impulse-bought a ticket for Sum 41 at the new
Co-Op Live arena in Manchester (I had been there before for Pearl Jam back in June).

Can't say I'd paid much attention to them beyond their "early hits" but this was good too - it
was part of a big "farewell tour" that they are apparently doing.



--

Finally in October, on Halloween night, I went to see Creeper at the Manchester Ritz (great
venue that, not too big but big enough to be nice and boisterous)



I'd seen them before but just as a support act (for Babymetal in 2020, just before covid)
but this was their headline concert and it was really good. All the goth-kids made up in their
Halloween outfits and tons of atmosphere for that. Really enjoyed that too.

So quite a good run for October all in all

 

[Will]

Creeper are awesome - saw them in Wembley on Wednesday and they played their whole latest album (albeit in the wrong order) as well as the sad songs.

I've not been this into a band in a long time and it makes me feel young again

Saw Maiden in Philly last night and needless to say, they were really good. Great crowd as well, even up in the seating section - I had a crazy kid next to me with his arm in a sling who was out-singing me.

I know it's individual preference and all that, but people who sit there like zombies while the best band on the planet are playing really bug me - and there was very little of that

 

[davidm]

Finished off the year with a few more gigs;

November had the Australian Pink Floyd tribute band thing going on an Manchester Apollo (a venue I
do like), it was pretty good but not sure I'll do them again unless I get a sudden bout of
boredom/enthusiasm.

and then a few days later in November the local arts centre were having a festival thing and that
involved some chap (Minute Taker) singing a few songs on top of a video installation (in the rain,
bless him) around the corner from my house. Was free and worth 15 minutes of my time anyway, fair
effort from them all - this is what it was ; https://prismfestival.org/home#nocturnalmonologues

Much more worthy was the mighty Svalbard (opening for Alcest) at the Manchester Academy2 (a new venue
for me, been to the main Academy many times though)

Good stuff that again - only spoiled by them going off to McDonalds afterwards instead of hanging
around for me to say "hello" after the gig ended

and in theme with the LOUD music, final effort to the year was Slipknot at the new arena - I do like
a bit of Slipknot but had not quite realised that this tour was a special anniversary tour for their
first album (I did know this before the concert, but only a few weeks before the concert and I'd got
the ticket a year ago). That meant they weren't playing any of their more recent "hits" that I was a
bit more familiar with.

Anyway I hid away at the back, but it was still rather fun I think! Would see again anyway.

And that's it for 2024 - couple of weeks until the 2025 season starts (with a pagan festival of all
things, followed by a pilgrimage to Dundee - I kid you not!)

 

[roomraider]

2024 was my best year so far for gigs. I was hoping for the full 52 a gig a week, but conflicts and work got in the way. So a shockingly short 46 will have to do.

here's my years list
note - The way i do this is a gig i specifically goto to see a band is +1 (so Blossoms and Noel Gallagher cound only as 1) but Festivals being what they are If I or friends decide to see a band each one is +1.

• Half Lives – The Dome - March 2nd - 7/10
• Noel Gallagher/Blossoms – Royal Albert Hall – March 21st - 10/10
• The Twang – Bush Hall – March 24th - 8/10
• Feeder – The Roundhouse – March 28th - 8/10
• The Coral – Union Chapel – March 30th - 5/10
• James Blunt –Royal Albert Hall – April 10th - 10/10
• 30 Seconds To Mars – The O2 – June 4th - 2/10
• Britpop Classical – Hammersmith Apollo – June 7th - 4/10
• Paul Durham – Norden Farm Maidenhead – June 8th - 6/10
• Liam Gallagher/Cast – The O2 – June 10th - 9/10
• Swim Deep – Village Underground –June 13th - 8/10
• Scam Fender/Oasis96/SubArctric Monkeys/Copycat Killers – Electric Camden – June 15th - 8/10
• Kate Nash – Rough Trade East – June 21st - 3/10
• The Royston Club – Glastonbury – June 27th - 6/10
• Mr B The Gentleman Rymer – Glastonbury – June 27th - 6/10
• Frank Turner – Glastonbury – June 28th - 4/10
• Anne Marie – Glastonbury – June 28th - 6/10
• Scouting For Girls – Glastonbuy – June 28th - 5/10
• Bootleg Beatles – Glastonbury – June 28th- 7/10
• Jungle – Glastonbury – June 28th - 6/10
• Cyndi Lauper - Glastonbury – June 29th - 2/10
• Keane – Glastonbury – June 29th -8/10
• Bloc Party – Glastonbury – June 29th - 7/10
• Coldplay – Glastonbury – June 29th - 10/10
• The K’s – Glastonbury –June 30th - 7/10
• Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Glastonbury – June 30th - 4/10
• Shania Twain – Glastonbury – June 30th - 4/10
• Avril Lavigne – Glastonbury – June 30th - 8/10
• Two Door Cinema Club – Glastonbury – June 30th - 7/10
• London Grammar – Glastonbury – June 30th - 7/10
• The Feeling/Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Glastonbury – June 30th - 7/10
• Bloc Party/The Hives/Friendly Fires – Crystal Palace – July 7th - 9/10
• Phoenix – All Points East – August 25th - 10/10
• Death Cab For Cutie – All Points East – August 25th – 10/10
• The Postal Service – All Points East – August 25th - 9/10
• Nathan Ball – The Lower Third – October 3rd - 8/10
• The Grand Old Opry – The Gran Old Opryhouse, Nashville – October 16th - 7/10
• DWLLRS – The Van Buren Phoenix – October 20th - 3/10
• Breakup Shoes – Arizona Financial Theatre – October 20th - 5/10
• Air – Moody Amphitheatre Austin – October 31st - 7/10
• HUNNYBUZZ – The Outpost – November 7th - 7/10
• Jimmy Eat World – Alexandra Palace – November 16th - 8/10
• Howie Day – Bush Hall – November 17th - 7/10
• The Kairos – Camden Assembly – November 27th - 9/10
• Sam Fender – The O2 – December 12th– 9/10
• Travis – Shepard’s Bush Empire – December 13th– 8/10

Gig of the year - Hard to pick but finally seeing Noel Gallagher sing Talk Tonight was brilliant
Surprise Of The Year - James Blunt, im not a huge fan but he was brilliant live and so much fun.
Dissapointment of the year - 30 Seconds To Mars - Well produced set but no matter how much he loves himself Jared Leto cant sing.
Up And Comer Of The Year - The Kairos - I saw a lot of smaller bands this year, and having missed The Sway (my fav new band for ages) the set the Kairos did was incredible so much energy.
Song Of The Year - Noel Gallagher - Talk Tonight/Death Cab For Cutie - Translanticism - Both songs ive wanted to hear for decades, both incredible

Not much planned for next year. Frank Turners 3000th gig in Feb is on the cards, but nothing else yet.