Category Archives: Music

Trouble

It’s mad that it’s the 20th anniversary of Trouble. But what an album. And song.

Ray Lamontagne was simply amazing tonight. No other words.

Jack Bauer

So we went to see ~~Jack Bauer~~ Keifer Sutherland at the Boilershop tonight.

And he was pretty good. His newer stuff has hit a whole new level.

A couple of covers too, including an unexpected ‘in the air tonight’, which was really impressive.

Hillbilly Moon Explosion

I was about to say that I’d been to see the Hillbilly Moon Explosion last night at the Cluny.

But, since it’s now nearly three in the morning, it was the night before last (today, or yesterday, was a very long day).

Anyway, I did see the band at the Cluny. and they were pretty good.

Birthdays II

The bar’s birthday party actually took place a couple of days early. Because bars can’t have a birthday on a weekday.

While a silly amount of planning was involved, the day was pretty special. People are still talking about it.

Some pretty cool people were there on the day too.

Miles

So, I went to see the Hold Steady at the Electric Ballroom the other day. I saw them play there a couple of years ago, but had to leave before the end because I had to work at the bar the next day. They were silly good and, not having to rush away, I enjoyed it more than the last time.

With some time off work, and a dog sitter, there was an opportunity to visit a couple of beer ‘miles’.

First was Bermondsey.

There were more taprooms, but I didn’t take pictures of all of them.

And then there was Blackhorse Road.

Hackney Church aren’t opening until next month, with a trade night, so they’re still at the arch in Hackney (there wasn’t enough time to go there).

I had a pretty good time, but missed the dog badly.

Quireboys

I’m not sure why, but I’d never seen the Quireboys before last night.

To be honest, they were way better than I’d expected; I’d even go as far as saying I quite enjoyed the gig. At Digital.

Three

Something I’ve not done in a while; three gigs in just over a week.

Generally, I’ve not looked forward to a gig at Digital. It’s not the best venue and the beer’s awful. But, last night, they actually had semi decent beer, albeit in cans. There was no draught beer at all, since the bar with taps was closed. But, looking at that bar, that was probably a good thing.

Nouvelle Vague were very, very good last night. Only a French band could pull off covers of mostly British classics songs in their unique style. I’d only seen them once before, with a slightly different lineup. There should have been another occasion, but Covid got in the way of that.

Just over a week before, there was CMAT at the City Hall. This was the third time I’d seen her in three years. She just keeps getting better, although I think I more enjoyed the first time I saw her in Nottingham, before she became so well known. But she’s still great.

Sadly, the choice of beer at the City Hall is terrible.

The day before, The Offspring played at the arena. It’s an awful venue, but the band were on great form. I’d only seen them once previously, 14 or 15 years ago at Lowlands festival, in Holland.

This time, it was more than a gig, though, it was a show.

I won’t mention the quality, or choice, of beer at the arena. I gave up on that years ago.

But it’s been a good couple of weeks.

Savannah Gardner

I can’t believe that I’d forgotten to mention Savannah Gardner; we saw her play around the corner to the bar, in the Central. They’ve gotten their level of live music just right.

She, and her band, the Recovering Good Girls, were really impressive. They’ve a silly good album out too.

I think the tour’s finished now, sadly.

There’s a drummer there too.

Eggs

A bunch of us went to see the Lovely Eggs a few days ago. I’ve seen them quite a few times now, until last week the most recent was August at Krankenhaus festival.

They’re always good. They were good this time too. A nice punchy set with no encore. Perfect.