Concerts 2024

[DerekF]

First gig of the year was last Monday at the Manchester AO Arena to see Depeche Mode. I was never a huge fan but this was an exceptional live event. Great live band.

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[Mgmarky]

Great shots considering how far away you were.
Judging by the size of the crowd they appear to be more popular than ever.

[Berf]

Nice shots Derek it's always good when a concert exceeds your expectations. It was a bumper year last year for me in Sweden - there were still some catching up with delayed Covid events. This year is not looking so good though, far fewer Uk bands coming at the moment - the costs to tour Europe are having an effect. Have been to one so far a Bowie tribute band from Denmark. They were very good. Ultimate Eagles tribute band next up, then a friend (former Hammerfall bass player) Magnus Rosen with his MRB band and first album which did very well. Tony Martin, ex Sabbath is on it. Then Pendragon (at last) with ZZ Top in June - not my favourite band but I am going for the venue which is Dalhalla a former quarry https://www.dalhalla.se/om-dalhalla/

[iainpeden]

Hi Berf - thanks for the heads up about ZZ Top - got our tickets for Wembley today. I hadn't noticed they were in the UK.
I saw Pendragon a decade ago but listen to them a lot at the gym. A real shame they do only one gig a year in the UK - this year its in Peterborough (near me) but its a two nighter and rapidly sold out.
Looking forward to Australian Pink Floyd, Focus and "The Story of Guitar Heroes". Limehouse Lizzy are worth seeing too.

[DerekF]

Last night saw us at the Albert Hall in Manchester to see the Pixies playing albums Bossanova and Tromp Le Monde in full. A great night.

Support from the Pale White. Excellent band.

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The Pixies
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[DerekF]

Second gig this week. This time back to the New Century Hall in Manchester to see the Blinders - and possibly their last as well after they announced a "hiatus" They were certainly on form with an absolutely blistering set. Superb.

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[DerekF]

Back to the Albert Hall in Manchester on Friday to see a band I've liked for nearly 40 years. I first heard the Jesus and Mary Chain late one night on Radio Clyde when I was student at Glasgow Uni. I was blown away then and I still am.

Support band Aircooled. A three song set that lasted over half an hour - great stuff.
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The Jesus and Mary Chain
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[gamecock]

I like Aircooled but they do test your patience a bit. Long songs are great as long as they have plenty of ideas and don't outstay their welcome! Was that the gig with Jane Weaver guesting? I'm going to see her in Glasgow next month. Then King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard in May. Can't wait!

[DerekF]

I like Aircooled but they do test your patience a bit. Long songs are great as long as they have plenty of ideas and don't outstay their welcome! Was that the gig with Jane Weaver guesting? I'm going to see her in Glasgow next month. Then King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard in May. Can't wait!

No, that was the second night in Manchester. We went on the Friday. Riz Maslen from Aircooled and Rachel Conti (Jim Reid's partner) guested.

[gamecock]

Cheers

[Berf]

Seems the most appropriate place to put this - more doom and gloom but explains why I am not seeing many UK bands in Sweden anymore

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/ ... ylor-swift

[gamecock]

Yeah it's awful, with no obvious answer in sight. it's the same at the Fringe, TV and film. No working-class (whatever that means now) access to the arts. I went to see Jane Weaver in Glasgow recently. Average age of the crowd must have been mid-fifties. Plenty of vinyl being sold as well. All well and good if you can afford it. I suppose the kids have their own things, circuses and fairs...

[Berf]

Can't believe Gilmour announces six dates at the RAH when I am in the USA

[iainpeden]

Can't believe Gilmour announces six dates at the RAH when I am in the USA

Steve Hackett and Alice Cooper are also around then and I’m also away

[Berf]

I'm hoping to catch Steve H for the Lamb tour in Europe later..

[DerekF]

A quick update.
A few weeks ago we saw Gary Numan at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. The tour was to celebrate 45 years since "The Pleasure Principle" and "Replicas". Great versions of "Down in the Park", "Tracks" and "Are Friends Electric" made for a great gig. It was the first time I'd seen him (on stage) and was very impressed.

zz20240524_204201 - Copy by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

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Last weekend it was a return to the New Century Hall in Manchester to see Lancaster's finest, The Lovely Eggs. The Lovely Eggs are quite unique and very much DIY. They show that they don't have to get involved with the corporate music circus to make great music and command a loyal following.

Support was from Loose Articles.
zz20240601_203113 - Copy by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

Holly Ross out of the Lovely Eggs
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The Lovely Eggs try and occupy the large New Century stage
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[Berf]

Numan was great when I saw him a few years ago. It is alway good when something way exceeds your expectations. Unfortunately my latest, Pendragon, fell victim to the promoter going bankrupt two day before.

[DerekF]

A first for us on Thursday night. Our first visit to the new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. On the whole not too bad but there are a few things that are poor and on the whole I prefer the AO Arena. However the sound quality inside was very good indeed. We had seats at the back so the stage was pretty distant - big screens would have helped. The seats are far too small and the seat and row numbers were tiny meaning that late arrivals struggled to find their seat as the ushers had all but vanished. The main food hall was out of bounds to those of us seated on level 1, something not mentioned on the website, meaning we a very limited selection of food. Not a problem normally but when the gig starts at 6:15pm and goes on until 11pm it becomes a bit more of an issue. Getting in and out was a breeze with very convenient (if expensive) parking.

Anyway, enough of that, we went to the Smashing Pumpkins/Weezer double header and very enjoyable gig it was too. Photos either with a Galaxy S23+ or Sony HX-99 at full 720mm zoom!

Teen Mortgage opened the show at 6:15 and ripped through some proper old school punk rock. I enjoyed it a lot.
zzDSC06957 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

Then Weezer came on for a 75 minute set that some good sing-along moments - all the hits. Its the third time I've seen Weezer (or "The Weezers" as Rivers Cuomo called themselves) and I think they get better and better
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At just before 9, the Smashing Pumpkins came on for a set that lasted over two hours. It was an awesome set that included all the hits as well some newer stuff.

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Next gig - Liam Gallagher at the same venue.

[DerekF]

A return to the Co-op Live to see local lad Liam Gallagher. I'm not surprised he sells out venues like this. A great night with a great crowd. I don't know if an Oasis reunion is going to happen but frankly who needs one?

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[DerekF]

A update from a few weeks ago. A dull evening weather-wise in the Castlefield Bowl in Manchester but livened up immensely by two of Britain's best bands. Suede and the Manic Street Preachers in a dual headline tour.
First on were Suede. Are they the best live band in the UK? Probably.

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Followed by the Manic Street Preachers - still sounding fantastic.

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[DerekF]

A small update from last week. The Kills at the Albert Hall. Brilliant as always.

zz20240821_212856 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

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[cg_341]

I must have been sat immediately behind you at Liam Gallagher Derek! Granted, I was in the control room Hope your subsequent visit(s?) were better than your first.

[DerekF]

Latest update from this week. We had a very enjoyable evening at Manchester's Deaf Institute to see a loud, noisy feast of indie/shoegaze whatever you call it. One thought I had was I would far rather go to ten concerts like this than one standing in a field to see an set of overpaid, overblown "musicians" reunited for purely financial reasons.

Anyway, first on was Blushing from Austin, Texas. Lush/Ride/Curve sort thing. The band members are actually two married couples.

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The main act for the evening was Ringo Deathstarr, also from Texas. Clearly influenced by My Bloody Valentine and none the worse for that and probably just as loud.

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[gamecock]

Love a bit of psychedelic rock, I'll have to check them out. Saw Ride at SWG3 in Glasgow on Sunday. Fantastic. The early stuff obviously went down better, especially Seagull for me. Amazing. Andy Bell will have to get used to playing stadiums again next year with Oasis!



LCD Soundsystem at the Barrowlands and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at Usher Hall from earlier in the year:

[DerekF]

Missing Ride in Manchester this year as I'll be at Duxford but I've seen them a few times now.