Court and Spark and American Music Club at Cafe du Nord San Fran last thursday. Great concert, superb laid back atmosphere, both bands in fine form, this is the start of their tour which is well worth catching if you can.

Jeremy

"The Sadies" at London's Borderline last Thursday. Very good indeed and a bonus with the wonderful rock icon Robyn Hitchcock on vocals for the last four songs, including some incredible harmonica and a rousing "Maggies Farm" Catch em if you can.

Chris

quote:

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and I'm kicking myself for not going to a Janes Addiction gig when I chose to go to another gig on the same night that ended up being cancelled

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If this was Jane's Addiction after they reformed, then you missed nothing. If, on the other hand, it was before they split, then that is probably the most appalling error in gig going judgement I have ever come across! Who were the band that cancelled?
Simon

Nickel Creek, Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte NC
Very good show!!

ShawnG

Sarah McLachlan at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge last night. Raw talent like this is becoming a rarity and I felt priveliged to witness such a fine display of musicianship.

Only topped by James Taylor live at Blickling Hall in Norwich this Summer - now that was spine tingling!

It only took 16 years for Sarah to make it to the UK - I only hope it doesn't take Nickel Creek that long.

The Finn Brothers at the Plymouth Pavilions on Sunday night. Fantastic. Played lots of Split Enz and Crowded House faves as well as the new stuff off the Everyone is Here album.

Cliff Richard

Earlier this year at the Albert Hall. Three hours of superb entertainment by a guy who, like Elvis, really can sing.

Mama Mia

A couple of months back at the Prince Edward. Again superb songs, in a new light, but very well presented. could almost feel ABBA in the theatre.

Buddy

OK, a couple of years ago, and a few other concerts in between. But, this time, I would say even better than the original (better instruments, better trained voices, better amplification)

Cheers

Don

quote:

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Originally posted by Simon Perry:
If this was Jane's Addiction after they reformed, then you missed nothing. If, on the other hand, it was before they split, then that is probably the most appalling error in gig going judgement I have ever come across! Who were the band that cancelled?
Simon

---

It was this year - or was it late last year?
It was Mogwai that cancelled, but we just hung around the bar with lots of "faces". Bobby Gillespie strode in looking purposeful quite late on and poor old John Peel was surrounded by a gaggle of admirers at the bar, and he didn't seem able to escape. It turned out to be a live radio broadcast thingy - a week of Brighton live venues, and the only way we were there was because we were with some guy who is apparently a radio 1 DJ - but I don't know who he is. He kept blagging me beer all night though, so I shouldn't complain. Bit of a twat though, as these people tend to be sometimes.
This was just after Strays came out, so I wanted to see Janes Addiction.

Kate Rusby at Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Bit dissapointed, she admitted to having a cold but I found the whole performance a bit flat. She sang about sailors and Botany Bay which didn't seem to have any emotional meaning to her or to me or my partner for that matter. The performance only came alive on a couple of occasions where she covered contemporary songs such as Richard Thompson's 'Withered and Died'. She has a beautiful voice but not a lot of range so every song is one-dimensional. Her band was excellent though.

Coming back and seeing Nick Cave on Later perform with conviction and excitement made Kate's performance seem pretty dismal.

Andy

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi and Helene Grimaud (my hero on piano, currently...) in Alte Oper, Frankfurt
Nielsen - Maskerade (boooh)
Beethoven - Piano concerto #4 (divine), encores etudes tableaux, Rachmaninov
Dvorak - Symphony #4 (well done), encores Liszt (?) and Sibelius

Best regards, freundliche Grüße

Stefan

Larry Coryell, Badi Assad, John Abercrombie in the Centralstation, Darmstadt: Very relaxed Guitar evening based on their latest Chesky record (recommended)

Best regards, freundliche Grüße

Stefan

Two weeks ago it was Shostokovich's 11th, wonderful
Last week it was seeing the film of Phantom of the Opera with the new organ
and Monday night it was contemp. composers (all seemed to be in their late 20's -30's)who ended up being very musical and wonderfully done.Last peice even had the composer on stage with his Mac adding trance rhythms
Tonight it's Adam's Violin Concerto and that's going ot be fantastic at the new Disney Hall. second year there and well worth the price of admission.

I read about Brian Wilson doing Smile in the hall and the reviewer liked it better than the recording.

Life is analogue, enjoy it while you can.

I'm always SO jealous whenever you write about your Disney Hall experiences, Wolf... From all I hear and see, it must be a great music making place.

Best regards, freundliche Grüße

Stefan

Tonight just back from Buxton Opera House where I saw John Mayall with Mick Taylor guesting supported by Chicken Shack with Stan Webb guesting. Chicken Shack were on first. They were good but as soon as The Bluesbreakers started playing you knew it was like comparing Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal, they both play football but then again they don't! Great evening but oh, Mick Taylor does look poorly!

Bob

Last night, Brave Captain. Solo project of Martin Carr, former Boo Radleys main man, playing stuff from his new record, All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace. Psychedelic laptop electronics, some lovely songs, and a very good guest drummer. Picked up a copy of a limited edition (250 copies) live CD, only available at the gigs or from his website:

http://www.bravecaptain.co.uk/

Buy his records. He's a very nice man, and makes very good music.

-- Ian

Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings, November 7th, Llandudno. Tremendous. Great Band, great fun. Vocals provided mainly by Mike Sanchez, as Georgie Fame is on tour himself. Sanchez, after behaving like a man possessed for 2 hours came into the foyer after the show to chat and sign autographs. Top fella!

The Finn Brothers at the Hammersmith Apollo last Sunday night.

Absolutely fantastic! Good range of material from Split Enz, Crowded House and their solo material.

I'd recommend the new album "Everyone is here", quite different from the first, but then it has been 5-6 odd years in between.

Back in late March apparently and well worth seeing again.

Jay

Tommy Emmanuel at St Georges Hall in Bristol.

This guy is amazing and my thanks to Ian Hughes in introducing his music to us last year.He is an amplified acoustic guitarist in his mid 40s who has been playing since he was 5.His ability to play 2 or 3 parts simultaniously astounds as it is so effortless but it in no way gets in the way of the emotion.If you get a chence to see this guy I guarantee that you will leave the venue on a memorable high.
See his website www.tommyemmanuel.com and look at the postings from people who have seen is concerts.Looks too good to be true?
He is playing the Artsdepot tonight in N London.See for yourself.
This guy is not nearly widely enough known.

You may have heard it here first!

Eric Bibb and Friends
At the Bridgewater Hall Manchester 9 rows from the stage. He did a lot accoustic numbers with Martin Simpson. Have never seen Martin before but a brilliant guitar player.
Ruthie Foster also performed but I much preferred the music when there were 6 musicians playing altogether.
Managed to pick up a DVD of Eric " Live at the basement"

Dave

Steve Earle & the Dukes at Manchester Apollo on 11/11/04. A great gig. He didnt talk at all until after the 6th or 7th number and the crowd was starting to get restless. Then he started talking and all became calm. Good value for money too. They were on for roughly two and a half hours.