Bat For Lashes at the Barbican

Bat For Lashes

Mui Zyu

Barbican, 24 June 2024

Natasha Khan thanks us tonight for supporting her for almost 20 years. Can it really be that long? But yes it seems her debut album Fur And Gold incredibly came out 18 years ago. I distinctly remember someone in my office at the time recommending it to me. Unfortunately I didn't go and see her live that year but made up for my mistake by seeing Bat For Lashes live for every album since 2009's Two Suns, even going to see her brief side project Sexwitch in 2015. Now she has a new album out called The Dream Of Delphi, her first in five years inspired by the birth of her daughter, so I loyally traveled up to the Barbican Centre to see her latest show, and Ms Khan is as magical and mystical as ever.

Neko Case at the Barbican

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Neko Case
Kathryn Joseph
The Barbican, 8 November 2018

Neko Case really, really hates phones at concerts. A few years ago I saw her live and it seemed like she spent about 10 minutes just ranting about people who watch gigs through their phones and aren't present in the moment, which, to be fair, there is definitely plenty of truth in. After that phones were banned at Neko shows and there's always an announcement at the start of every one that states this. 

Emmylou Harris at the Barbican

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Emmylou Harris performing Wrecking Ball
Daniel Lanois 
Barbican, 26 May 2014

"Can you turn the sound down!" a faceless man yells from the darkened audience during Daniel Lanois' opening set. "You come up here on stage and say that!" Lanois half-jokingly responds. Yes, it's one of those audiences. A few others even leave objecting to the feedback. Admittedly Lanois playing a short set was a surprise to many (although it said it on the website) and it particularly annoys the hell out of the guy sitting next to me, who even goes to complain to the Barbican management after ("At least musicals start on time!" he amusingly if completely unfairly moans).

The Jayhawks at the Barbican

The Jayhawks

Chuck Prophet

Barbican, 8 February 2012

"This song is about unrequited love, that's when someone doesn't love you back," Californian singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet amusingly explains to us. "My wife told me that saying that is patronising. That's when someone speaks down to you. I never do that," he grins.

Marianne Faithfull at The Barbican

Marianne Faithfull
The Barbican, 23 May 2011

Having recently read Marianne Faithfull's autobiography and listened to her entire back catalogue, I'm more convinced than ever that she's not just a rock icon but a national treasure. Seeing her live tonight for the first time (on Bob Dylan's 70th birthday no less - she even mentions this herself) just confirms the fact for me because Marianne, at 64 years of age, is just as magnificent as I imagined.

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan at the Barbican

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Willy Mason
Barbican, 10 September 2010
I swear I’m not stalking Mark Lanegan, I know it seems like it, this is my third time seeing him this year after all. But then Lanegan has become something of a tour animal of late, whether by himself or with his numerous side projects and it’s hard to resist going to see him and hearing that amazing voice of his in the flesh.

The Flaming Lips' Christmas On Mars screening

Christmas On Mars

Barbican, 14 December 2008

A few years ago, before I got briefly obsessed with The Flaming Lips, I saw singer Wayne Coyne traveling up the escalator at Baker Street tube station. I was going down and he was going up and when I saw that shock of gray hair and the unkempt suit, I turned in shock and watched him rising to the top as I descended. He saw my reaction, gave me a grin and waved at me. I immediately called my friend who I had just left outside but sadly he missed the momentous occasion of Coyne, a bona fide rock star, leaving our then local station.