Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers at the Royal Albert Hall

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Jonathan Wilson
Royal Albert Hall, 18 June 2012

Although I've been a fan of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers since I was a kid (one of my few musical loves that actually outdates my Fleetwood Mac obsession), in all my years of being a fan I only got to see them live twice in 1999 (two absolutely stunning back-to-back shows at the Shepherd's Bush Empire) and they haven't been back since.

Hawksley Workman at The Borderline

Hawksley Workman
The Borderline, 15 June 2012

I've pretty much comes to terms with the fact that seeing Hawksley Workman these days is not about hearing songs from his latest album or surprise additions to the set list. Instead it's about hearing old favourites from his first few albums with lots of audience participation and letting Hawksley tell funny stories in between. And you know, it's a formula that works and is always fun plus, with all Hawksley's often surreal ad-libs and spontaneous additions of other pop songs, it's definitely never boring and the songs always sound different.

Anaïs Mitchell at Camden Dingwalls

Anaïs Mitchell & The Young Man Band
Rachel Ries

Camden Dingwalls, 12 June 2012

Looking like she's just stepped out of a 1950s picture book wearing a full-skirted blue and white gingham dress, Rachel Ries (who is also a member of Anaïs Mitchell's band) immediately ruins the illusion by strapping on a bright red electric guitar. Her music though isn't far removed from that first impression: lonesome country-tinged folk songs with a nice line in storytelling.

Goodbye Bob Welch

I'm just completely saddened to hear about the death of Bob Welch, one of the most underrated members in Fleetwood Mac's long history and definitely the bridge between the blues of the Peter Green Mac and the California rock of the Rumours era.

Patti Smith and Neil Young

I had to post this amazing photo of Patti Smith and Neil Young taken at BookExpo America yesterday where Patti conversed on stage with Neil about his forthcoming memoir (out in October), Waging Heavy Peace. My favourite part (courtesy of a report from The New Yorker) is this wonderful exchange when Patti and Neil compare their books (Patti's being the fantastic Just Kids):

Patti: Our books are very different but I think there’s something about them that’s similar. Neither was written vindictively or to settle a score. Both were written humanistically.

Neil: I think they actually are quite similar. I’m a highway and landscapes. You’re a city and painted bricks and lots of people. I’m travelling and you are, too, but I’m on the road and you’re travelling down streets. 
                         

Wow. Beautiful. I really can't wait to read Waging Heavy Peace.

Mazzy Star at Shepherd's Bush Empire

 
Mazzy Star
Unison
Rick Tomlinson
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 3 June 2012

While others were out partying or returning home from the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, I set out in the rain to Shepherd's Bush to catch yet another reunited band from the 90s, the lovely and still hugely influential Mazzy Star.