Chicago Symphony Hall: Yo-Yo Ma and Darenboim playing Cello Sonatas (Chopin, Debussy, Franck). Quite a nice place for music, the event being amongst the highlights of the year, the audience was - well - accordingly. But, still a nice concert event. So glad they didn't use the internal PA to "amplify" Ma's and Barenboim's playing !

Best regards, freundliche Grüße

Stefan

Litmus/Ozric Tentacles, Exeter Phoenix, Saturday 14th. Bloody fire alarms went off again - luckily just after the Ozrics finished.

Blinding gig.

There again this Friday for System 7 (Steve Hillage!)

__________________________
Don't wanna be cremated or buried in a grave
Just dump me in a plastic bag and leave me on the pavement
A tribute to your modern world, your great society
I'm just another victim of your highrise fantasy!

Trashcan Sinatras last Saturday at Life Cafe in Manchester. Terrible venue as ever (a growing trend in Manchester bar the Hop and Grape and MDH - sorry Academy 2 and 3) but a good gig.

Am I just getting old but why would you just talk all the way through a gig?

Mike

The Necks live at the Basement in Sydney - excellent improvised concert all made up on the spot - atmospheric.

Adrian

Status Quo, on Wed 26 Jan in Harrogate. Quo was also the first concert I ever attended (1972 in Preston). Absolutely fantastic! For atmosphere, and just a sheer good time, the best live group I've ever seen - as good now as they were 33 years ago.

Steve D

Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Hellmut Rilling, Orchestra Hall, 1/25/05 - Missa Solemnis.

Didn't get to sleep until 3:30 AM. on 1/26....

Phil

A weekend in the Hunter Valley Vineyards. Last night I took my wife to see Harry Connick Jr with his band and the Sydney Symphony at the Wyndham Estate Vineyard.

I have to say he was absolutely outstanding - far exceeeded my expectations. The musicianship was first rate and the voice was awesome. Add to that a wicked sense of humour that all added up to a wonderful summer evening of wine and music.

Cheers
Adrian

Just been to a storming show at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney to see David Byrne. Fantastic show and the audience went crazy. Loads of good Talking Heads numbers mixed in with new songs, plus a Jimi Hendrix cover and a Cole Porter tune. The violin and cello section were superb and really added to the Talking Head tunes.

Finished with a great version of Lazy. Fave tune of the night - Burning Down the House closely followed by What a day That Was.

Fab.

Adrian

Last one for me was a week ago, Hayseed Dixie at the Edinburgh Liquid Rooms - mad bluegrass AC/DC covers. Was right at the front, great gig.

Next gigs coming up are Antonio Forcione quartet and K.T.Tunstall.

John

Nine Below Zero at Komedia last Friday night.
Is Oldie reading this?.....It was crap...really. Didn't miss anything.

Went to see the Warsaw Village Band on Monday - contemporary versions of old Polish folk songs performed by 6 musicians in their 20s . Great night - they are hoping to play at Glastonbury this year and , if you can ignore the fact that they look like extras from Lord of the Rings , a guaranteed good time.
Off to see Clayhill tonight in the first of a series of concerts assembled by those nice boys at Diverse Music.

Paul Weller last night at the Apollo having seen him loads of times always a good show last night the performance was stunning!

The band was tight the audience was up for it and a few Jam songs were thrown in who could ask for more.

Amy Wadge @ The Talbot Hotel, Tregaron

The diminuitive Bristolian was in fine form covering numbers of her last album, Wadge, and some new stuff. A good time was had by all.

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by Dan M:
Madeleine Peyroux - great performance. Opening act stunk - truly horrible.

Dan

where (the venue) and what (the opening act) was that ? I have tickets for March, and don't think there will be additional performance. Tell more...

cheers,
Stefan

The Pixies at the Forum, Kentish Town. Warm up gig for the V festival performance.

Well we did not have much on last night, so we decided to pop along to the Sydney Superdome and see Rod Stewart strut his stuff. Never seen him before and probably never will again - it was all OK, some really good old song moments - Sailing, Maggie May, I don't want to talk about it - but at the end of the day all a bit too much showbiz for me, particlualrly the American Songbook segment of the show. However, it was all very professional.

After a storming David Byrne show earlier in the week in a small venue, this was a little bit too routine.

Cheers
Adrian

quote:

Originally posted by sjust:
where (the venue) and what (the opening act) was that ? I have tickets for March, and don't think there will be additional performance. Tell more...

I believe it was a local singer (google says Leslie Helpert). I was immediately turned off when she remarked on how wonderful our auras were - ugh.

Still Peyroux was amazing - you will enjoy the show!

Dan

The Black Dyke (Mills) brass band in two weeks ago in Marlborough College in Wiltshire (where else) and they were absolutely stunning!

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings!!!

John Martyn at Shepherds Bush Empire last November. The grumpy old sod is still pissed and wonderful.