Dave, please do us all a solid and refrain from eating your mother until Christmas - some of us need this tour on a molecular level ❤️ ticket got, see you in Belfast 🥳
I’m using you, Narina, I hope you don’t mind. I’m using you as an excuse to spend a weekend in Belfast, somewhere I’ve wanted to explore for a long time. So I’ve bought a few tickets for the Belfast Empire in November to introduce your music and anecdotes to my friends, and I’m hoping you will cover my favourite of all Labi Siffre’s songs, Watch Me. He was the first live act I ever saw when I was about 12, at Lewisham Concert Hall circa 1973. The guy has been a soundtrack to my life. As you have, but obviously for not quite so long.
Oh I am fully behind this, don’t you worry! I’m very touched that you are coming all the way to Belfast for this; a nice way to discover a new city. Belfast is tons of fun - people there are very friendly and given its history it’s a fascinating place.
What I wouldn’t give to have seen Labi in 1973. I too have had a formative experience in Lewisham - my Aunty took me to the Odeon there to see Watership Down. I think it might have been one of my first trips to a cinema, ever.
Tickets booked for ‘A Night At The Poly-dium’ in Falmouth. You can pop down the road to the local hypermarket Trago Mills: a dated emporium of random things randomly arranged. But don’t buy anything because the owners are Brexity.
I have heard of the famous Trago Mills and political leanings of owners notwithstanding I shall have to investigate. 😂 I am so looking forward to coming back down to Cornwall, I have missed it so much!
Glad to see you are playing the Greystones, it was my local 40-odd years ago. It was called the Highcliffe back then, which is a slight exaggeration although it is at the top of a fairly steep hill. It was a rough place in those days but I think it is fully gentrified now.
But I don't live there anymore, so hopefully I will be able to make the Oxford show instead.
It was definitely gentrified when I played there last - they had a pop up wood-fired pizza oven truck in the car park. There’s probably a Gail’s next door now…
Thank you! I do believe that apart from playing the Hop Farm festival many years ago, this is the only other time I’ll have done a gig in Kent. Shame on me!!
Memories! 15-20 years ago I used to head to Cannock Chase most Thursday nights for a couple of hours on a mountain bike with a regular group. We used to see a few parked cars at one of the remote car parks and one time as we rattled down a historic old tram line into Milford we saw people doing ‘interesting things’ on top of a car. Our big lights spooked them and they quickly stopped whatever they were doing and we headed to the pub for an orange juice and nuts. Crazy times.
I was going to compose a lengthy response. However, aside from Sough Tesco (know it well, I'm also a fan of large retail establishments), ex knobs, Labi and a corpulent Dave, I would just like to say thank you for coming to see us again down 'ere in little old Exeter. X
Agree about Labi. His originals are generally better than the covers, but the covers paid the rent. Have a great tour. Until I get a new hip (maybe later this year) I'm stood down from gig attendance. Mike x
Ouch, I hope that gets sorted sooner rather than later Mike. Yes, the early Labi albums have been a revelation. I think when ‘Something Inside So Strong’ came out I enjoyed the song but not so much the production, so I never bought that album. Then I’d hear older songs and started to revise my opinion, and one of the good things about streaming (there are some!) is that you can try whole catalogues for next to nothing. I couldn’t have afforded to do that as a teenager and so Labi went undiscovered for me. Until now. Bliss.
On day I shall actually return to the Isle of Wight (only played there once, supporting Suzanne Vega) but this is the closest I can manage for the time being, Wendy.
Thank you for showing the grassroots venues a little love Nerina ❤️ without them the future of live music is on very shaky ground indeed and the "Cultural Wasteland" outside of the major metropolises will continue to spread and grow.
I'm of an age now that, as well as checking out new artists, I often buy tickets for anniversary shows from bands I grew up listening to playing through those early albums they released 30, 40 and even 50 years ago. And you know what? for the most part they don't disappoint, (sorry Mr. Coverdale, sadly it may be past time for you to put away the microphone, the spandex & that rolled up sock and admit defeat), and some now actually play those early albums better than they ever did as callow spotty youths dreaming of stardom back in the 70s & 80s.
My point? All those grassroots venues, clubs, civic halls, pubs, even church halls they played back in the day on their ridiculous 120+ date tours, taught them their craft, honed the songs in front of an audience, gave them that confidence, that stage presence and ultimately, the skills to make a career in music spanning three or four decades, sometimes even longer.
I very recently stood in Wardour Street, Soho, where one of London’s most iconic music venues, The Marquee Club, had once been. Throughout the 60s, 70s and well into the 80s pretty much every up-and-coming rock band graced its small stage – the list is too long to post here – many going on to become music icons in their own right. Today? it’s Soho Lofts, trendy upmarket apartments, with marble worktops, maid service and all the amenities.
The gentrification of Soho aside, I wonder how, with so many pubs gone forever, clubs closed for good and the cost of touring through the roof, will any of today’s wannabe rock stars take even those first few faltering steps towards a lifetimes career in music. London will always have a live music scene but once you head out to the sticks, with more & more venues having to close, then what future is there for music unless we value and support those remaining, struggling local pubs, bars and halls still offering that tiny corner stage to the next generation of artists?
TLDR:
Support live music and most of all, support your local grassroots venue.
I was pleased to see The Fiery Bird venue in Woking included in the Big, Big, Big, Blimey that’s a big tour, Tour. I grew up in Woking, so have purchased my ticket and will of course be attending.
Your mention of Prince Andrew – “The Duke of Pork” as Spitting Image once named him – and Jeffrey Epstein reminded me that, just a literal stone’s throw from The Fiery Bird, is the infamous Pizza Express that HRH claimed proved he wasn’t a despicable sleaze, as he had been attending a children’s pizza party in Woking and gone straight home afterwards, like a good little Prince. Yes, THAT Pizza Express. There’s no Blue Plaque or “By Royal Appointment” stamped on the menu to commemorate his patronage but this is one of Woking’s more recent claims to fame. And it used to be such an innocent little town.
Dave, please do us all a solid and refrain from eating your mother until Christmas - some of us need this tour on a molecular level ❤️ ticket got, see you in Belfast 🥳
I have relayed your request. Dave says ‘we’ll see, we’ll see…’
Was so pleasantly surprised to seeing you playing Stockton and tickets purchased on the spot. Can’t wait for the show! Best of luck with the tour.
Thanks Brian!
I’m using you, Narina, I hope you don’t mind. I’m using you as an excuse to spend a weekend in Belfast, somewhere I’ve wanted to explore for a long time. So I’ve bought a few tickets for the Belfast Empire in November to introduce your music and anecdotes to my friends, and I’m hoping you will cover my favourite of all Labi Siffre’s songs, Watch Me. He was the first live act I ever saw when I was about 12, at Lewisham Concert Hall circa 1973. The guy has been a soundtrack to my life. As you have, but obviously for not quite so long.
Oh I am fully behind this, don’t you worry! I’m very touched that you are coming all the way to Belfast for this; a nice way to discover a new city. Belfast is tons of fun - people there are very friendly and given its history it’s a fascinating place.
What I wouldn’t give to have seen Labi in 1973. I too have had a formative experience in Lewisham - my Aunty took me to the Odeon there to see Watership Down. I think it might have been one of my first trips to a cinema, ever.
That was a big ol’ Odeon - great memories. Looking forward to being in your audience again…
Tickets booked for ‘A Night At The Poly-dium’ in Falmouth. You can pop down the road to the local hypermarket Trago Mills: a dated emporium of random things randomly arranged. But don’t buy anything because the owners are Brexity.
I have heard of the famous Trago Mills and political leanings of owners notwithstanding I shall have to investigate. 😂 I am so looking forward to coming back down to Cornwall, I have missed it so much!
Glad to see you are playing the Greystones, it was my local 40-odd years ago. It was called the Highcliffe back then, which is a slight exaggeration although it is at the top of a fairly steep hill. It was a rough place in those days but I think it is fully gentrified now.
But I don't live there anymore, so hopefully I will be able to make the Oxford show instead.
It was definitely gentrified when I played there last - they had a pop up wood-fired pizza oven truck in the car park. There’s probably a Gail’s next door now…
I've snared myself a ticket to see you in Ramsgate. I've been telling myself to take a trip to the Kent coast for ages and this cemented it for me!
Thank you! I do believe that apart from playing the Hop Farm festival many years ago, this is the only other time I’ll have done a gig in Kent. Shame on me!!
"That ex was a knob" - Oh, I so hope he reads that! :D Oh, and I'm in for Woking! See you there!
Memories! 15-20 years ago I used to head to Cannock Chase most Thursday nights for a couple of hours on a mountain bike with a regular group. We used to see a few parked cars at one of the remote car parks and one time as we rattled down a historic old tram line into Milford we saw people doing ‘interesting things’ on top of a car. Our big lights spooked them and they quickly stopped whatever they were doing and we headed to the pub for an orange juice and nuts. Crazy times.
Ah. It all makes sense now. Those kinds of ‘interesting things’…I see. 😂
I was going to compose a lengthy response. However, aside from Sough Tesco (know it well, I'm also a fan of large retail establishments), ex knobs, Labi and a corpulent Dave, I would just like to say thank you for coming to see us again down 'ere in little old Exeter. X
Agree about Labi. His originals are generally better than the covers, but the covers paid the rent. Have a great tour. Until I get a new hip (maybe later this year) I'm stood down from gig attendance. Mike x
Ouch, I hope that gets sorted sooner rather than later Mike. Yes, the early Labi albums have been a revelation. I think when ‘Something Inside So Strong’ came out I enjoyed the song but not so much the production, so I never bought that album. Then I’d hear older songs and started to revise my opinion, and one of the good things about streaming (there are some!) is that you can try whole catalogues for next to nothing. I couldn’t have afforded to do that as a teenager and so Labi went undiscovered for me. Until now. Bliss.
Ooh, Southampton! Hurrah!
On day I shall actually return to the Isle of Wight (only played there once, supporting Suzanne Vega) but this is the closest I can manage for the time being, Wendy.
I was there when you supported Suzanne Vega, Nerina. Loved it! Southampton isn’t far. I will check out tickets.
Nerina,
Have a good tour!
BTW that Labi Siffre song is beautiful. I'd never heard it before.
David
Isn’t it? The whole album it comes from is magic.
Thank you for showing the grassroots venues a little love Nerina ❤️ without them the future of live music is on very shaky ground indeed and the "Cultural Wasteland" outside of the major metropolises will continue to spread and grow.
I'm of an age now that, as well as checking out new artists, I often buy tickets for anniversary shows from bands I grew up listening to playing through those early albums they released 30, 40 and even 50 years ago. And you know what? for the most part they don't disappoint, (sorry Mr. Coverdale, sadly it may be past time for you to put away the microphone, the spandex & that rolled up sock and admit defeat), and some now actually play those early albums better than they ever did as callow spotty youths dreaming of stardom back in the 70s & 80s.
My point? All those grassroots venues, clubs, civic halls, pubs, even church halls they played back in the day on their ridiculous 120+ date tours, taught them their craft, honed the songs in front of an audience, gave them that confidence, that stage presence and ultimately, the skills to make a career in music spanning three or four decades, sometimes even longer.
I very recently stood in Wardour Street, Soho, where one of London’s most iconic music venues, The Marquee Club, had once been. Throughout the 60s, 70s and well into the 80s pretty much every up-and-coming rock band graced its small stage – the list is too long to post here – many going on to become music icons in their own right. Today? it’s Soho Lofts, trendy upmarket apartments, with marble worktops, maid service and all the amenities.
The gentrification of Soho aside, I wonder how, with so many pubs gone forever, clubs closed for good and the cost of touring through the roof, will any of today’s wannabe rock stars take even those first few faltering steps towards a lifetimes career in music. London will always have a live music scene but once you head out to the sticks, with more & more venues having to close, then what future is there for music unless we value and support those remaining, struggling local pubs, bars and halls still offering that tiny corner stage to the next generation of artists?
TLDR:
Support live music and most of all, support your local grassroots venue.
Addendum:
I was pleased to see The Fiery Bird venue in Woking included in the Big, Big, Big, Blimey that’s a big tour, Tour. I grew up in Woking, so have purchased my ticket and will of course be attending.
Your mention of Prince Andrew – “The Duke of Pork” as Spitting Image once named him – and Jeffrey Epstein reminded me that, just a literal stone’s throw from The Fiery Bird, is the infamous Pizza Express that HRH claimed proved he wasn’t a despicable sleaze, as he had been attending a children’s pizza party in Woking and gone straight home afterwards, like a good little Prince. Yes, THAT Pizza Express. There’s no Blue Plaque or “By Royal Appointment” stamped on the menu to commemorate his patronage but this is one of Woking’s more recent claims to fame. And it used to be such an innocent little town.