There are few things more embarrassing than a band berating an audience for thinking they're shit.
(Reminds me of a work Christmas party years ago where they hired a DJ who ended up just shouting "dance you miserable bastards!" into the microphone...)
I saw Blur at Newcastle City Hall last night. (Reg, you might want to look away)
I saw them at IOW Festival in 2015 (still the only Festival I've been to). Will never forget the absolute anarchy that erupted when Parklife started. One of those moments I'll never forget. Definitely the second best act I saw (1st place went to Fleetwood Mac of course!)
I've got a spare ticket to see The Hives at the Garage in London on Tuesday 13th June if anyone's interested? £35 face value and no obligation to attend together
Poppo was spot on as expected, The Hives were superb last night. Not surprising for a band that have been playing together 25+ years but they are incredibly tight, still full of energy and Pelle is just a great frontman. Icing on the cake to see them in a small venue like that too!
Although I swore I'd never go and see them again after 2 very disappointing performances in the past (plus, their best days are far, faaar behind them), my youngest son really likes Queens of the Stone Age.
So, I've just bought 2 tickets for their gig at the Hydro in Glasgow. Could not fucking believe how expensive the tickets are - fucking £85 each. Absolute fucking piss take. I'm going to a full day festival gig in August that's cost me less.
Primal Scream performing Screamadelica at Connect Festival yesterday. Never been a huge fan of PS, or even that album, but what a performance. Backed by a gospel choir and, musically, finding that sweet spot between tight as fuck and loose & groovy - they were incredible.
Apparently (according to my mate who's across all that kind of stuff) the Martin Duffy issue was really quite over-played his family - who, obviously grieving, were looking for a target to place the blame for the death of a clearly troubled individual. No-one will ever really know the truth except for Duffy's family and Gillespie. Anyway, like I said, I was never really a fan.
Like Ian Brown, Bobby Gillespie has never been the reason to like PS - he's the weakest link in the band for sure. Last night, his voice ranged from barely audible to atmosphere generating mumbling - but despite that he was a great front man, very funny and charismatic.
Was a great gig. As for the review, I've always thought Alex Petridis was a cunt - I struggle to get through any of his writing as he's always struck me as that kind of music critic who is so incredibly bitter about something that happened in his past that killed his own musical ambitions that he struggles to find joy in much at all.
Saw the Glastonbuy show and they were woeful so I'm glad you got to see a good gig.
I once heard BG described as "the most deluded man in rock" and I can see why.
They certainly have their moments but I'm struggling to think of anything worthwhile in the last 25 years. 2 and a bit albums worth of great material and their most famous song was a remix by someone else. Accelerator is epic though.
I think Primal Scream are one of those bands who are often astonishing, but just as frequently shambolic. (See also The Fall.). I'm glad Grem got them at their best. (I have several friends who rate Primal Scream gigs as their favourites.)
I saw them once, and they didn't manage to make it to the end of the first song before getting in an argument with a member of the audience and storming off. (I think they eventually came back on, but the sulk is the only thing I remember, and I think pretty much set the tone for the evening.)
I reckon they've got a fair few good records under their belt - but then I'm one of those strange people who thinks Vanishing Point is not only really good, but their best album. (It dips a little in the middle where it sort of reheats Give Out But Don't Give Up, but the rest is an eclectic, beautifully crafted little experiment in fusing all the sounds they'd played with before and a few more besides. XTRMNTR takes everything learned in that experiment and turns it up to 11, but for me loses a little of its variety.)
Yeah, I don't disagree with the criticism - but they were objectively amazing when I saw them. Any band that records 'Kill All Hippies' is ok by me though. What a track.
It was very weird. I was watching a youtube video about The Breeders and then the mrs walks in to the room and asks me if I want to see them. Then an article popped up on the Guardian front page talking about the 30th anniversary of The Last Splash. A little bit eerie. Fate is telling me I must go. Bonus result: I get to spend a night away from the mother in law.