Best Gigs Of 2019

I didn't go to as many shows this year but it was definitely quality over quantity as there were still so many memorable moments. 

The Who at Wembley Stadium

The Who
Eddie Vedder
Wembley Stadium, 6 July 2019

Let's face it Wembley Stadium is just one of the worst venues in London to see a gig but when I was offered a free ticket (yes! free!) to see The Who, I could grin and bare it to see old Roger and Pete play live again, even from the back of such a vast stadium. If there's anyone whose music could fill a place as big as this, well, it has to be The Who.

Pearl Jam at the O2 Arena

Pearl Jam 
O2 Arena, 18 June 2018

There were jokes about sounding like Liam Gallagher, a Donald Trump mask being forced to drink wine, the usual Eddie Vedder nostalgia about Britain (The Who etc, etc) and more and more tambourines being chucked into the audience. And of course Pearl Jam tunes aplenty despite Eddie clearly struggling with a sore throat. But I am so done with arena shows.

Best Gigs Of 2017

Out of all the shows I went to this year the two most memorable were touched by death and that's what will forever define them in my mind. There was the first night of Eddie Vedder's two shows at Hammersmith where Chris Cornell's death hung over everything like a huge black cloud. Cornell's suicide affected me more deeply than other celebrity deaths for many reasons so to experience that shared grief with other fans and also to witness Vedder's first public acknowledgement of it was very moving and cathartic and I will never forget it.

Eddie Vedder at Hammersmith Apollo (Night 2)

Eddie Vedder
Glen Hansard
Hammersmith Apollo, 7 June 2017

After the emotional nature of last night's show I really didn't know what to expect of Eddie's second night in London. Thankfully it was less sombre: I think a weight had been lifted from his shoulders after his difficult tribute to his friend Chris Cornell during the previous show. Obviously there were still sad moments but it was clear Vedder was using his music as a tool to heal tonight.

Eddie Vedder at Hammersmith Apollo (Night 1)

Eddie Vedder
Glen Hansard
Hammersmith Apollo, 6 June 2017

Wow, this was one sad but beautiful show. Ever since I heard about Chris Cornell's suicide these Eddie Vedder shows became so much more important to me. Not only because of the strong connections between Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam and the fact that Eddie was one of his best friends but because I knew I would be among fans who felt the same way. Whether Eddie chose to say anything about it or not, I knew - we all did - that his death would weigh heavy over these performances. It was a way for us fans to mourn together led by someone who knew and loved him well.

Best gigs of 2012

This year I seem to have been revisiting my youth as I saw more reunited bands than ever and my summer was like a big flashback to the early 90s. But it wasn't all nostalgia as I got to experience some great new bands too as well as a few legends I had never experienced before, like Mike Nesmith, who was back on these shores for a solo show for the first time in 38 years! I feel pretty lucky to have seen him, as different and quirky as his show was.  I also spent two days standing in the rain and mud in order to see Soundgarden and Bruce Springsteen, both of which were worth it but I don't know if I have it in me to do again. Still there's part of me that is sad that the Hard Rock Calling concerts will longer be taking place in Hyde Park, I definitely had some good times at those events over the years. Also sad was Cat Power cancelling her December show at the Roundhouse due to illness. I was really looking forward to that one but hopefully she'll be back next year to make up the dates. So anyway, with all that said, here's my list of my favourite shows this year:

10. Eddie Vedder at Hammersmith Apollo

9. Bat For Lashes at The Forum

8. Anaïs Mitchell at Camden Dingwalls

7. Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park

6. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at Royal Albert Hall

5. First Aid Kit at Shepherd's Bush Empire

4. Sharon Van Etten at the Scala

3. Wild Flag at the Electric Ballroom

2. Soundgarden at Hyde Park

1. Afghan Whigs at Koko

Eddie Vedder at Hammersmith Apollo

Eddie Vedder 
Glen Hansard 
Hammersmith Apollo, 30 & 31 July 2012 

Firstly, there are sadly no videos of this show up on YouTube because Eddie requested no recordings and photos (which is rare, as Pearl Jam always allow this) and people were pretty respectful of this, so the cool posters will have to do instead.

Gig memories: Pearl Jam back in 1992

So I'm seeing Eddie Vedder solo for the first time this week and I'm pretty excited. Me and Eddie go back a long way: Pearl Jam was the first gig I ever went to by myself, all the way back in February 1992 at the tiny ULU just before they became hugely famous rock stars. It's needless to say that gig probably changed my life and one day I will write a full Gig Memories post all about it. But in the meantime, rather incredibly and very generously, their support act that very night, Claytown Troupe, has recently uploaded footage of that very gig onto YouTube and it's brought back some very wonderful memories. Pearl Jam are still one of the best live acts in the world but from the clip you can see there's an youthful excitement, energy and joy that will never be matched again and it's amazing to experience it again in some small way.

Pearl Jam at O2 Arena

Pearl Jam
Gomez
O2 Arena, 18 August 2009

Going to arena shows is such an odd experience, especially when the band is attempting to pretend it's not an arena show by having the floor completely standing. Although we arrived early and managed to get practically at the barrier at the front, you turn around and there's literally thousands of people behind you. I tend to go to small shows on the whole, so I'm not used to it. It's a little claustrophobic and slightly worrying when the band starts and the fanatical, Pearl Jam-adoring crowd goes nuts and suddenly you feel that thrust of the hundreds of people surrounding you. Of course it's exciting too, that so many people are feeling that same communal excitement and joy through the music of this simple rock band: the energy of 20,000 people is something to behold, I can't even imagine what it's like for the band on stage.

Pearl Jam at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Photo taken from The Evening Standard's photo gallery

Pearl Jam
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 11 August 2009

One of the first gigs I ever went to was Pearl Jam back in the early 90s, just before they broke big, at the tiny ULU venue. Maybe it was my youth and concert-going inexperience, but to this day that show still holds up as one of the best I've ever been to, with the band playing so passionately and full of excitement, Jeff Ament and other members of Pearl Jam jumping into the crowd and Eddie doing his now legendary climb around the venue and landing just over our heads. The gig even ended with members of the audience jumping on stage and grabbing instruments to play along with the band.