At The Drive-In at Brixton Academy

At The Drive-In
Brixton Academy, 28 August 2012

"We consider this the last show of the Relationship Of Command tour,” guitarist Jim Ward, who has been silent for much of the show, tells us near the end. “It’s taken us 12 years to get here, but I love these guys more than life itself."

The Afghan Whigs at Koko

The Afghan Whigs
Oupa
Koko, 19 August 2012

Damn Dulli. I really don't know how you do it. 

There was a moment during tonight's show, during the instrumental middle of Fountain & Fairfax (the above clip) where it sounded so perfect and special that I felt myself close to tears. Given all the hundreds of shows I've been to and how few times that has actually happened to me, probably only three or four times in all, that should give you some idea of how incredible and moving and fun this gig was.

Françoise Hardy sings Ce Petit Coeur

French legend Françoise Hardy has seen a resurgence in interest since Wes Anderson included one of her songs (Le Temps De L'Amour) as well as the EP on which it first appeared in his latest movie, Moonrise Kingdom, but I've been a fan for a while and she's one of my most played artists on my iTunes. I'd love to see her live but unfortunately Hardy gave up touring back in the 70s. But at the very least there are lots of TV clips from the 60s and 70s on YouTube like this rare live performance of Ce Petit Coeur from 1966. There is something completely timeless about Hardy's music and her beauty, she could have come from any era, I love her.