I went to yet another book event this time as part of the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, with Keanu Reeves chatting about his new book he has collaborated on with author China Mieville, Book Of Elsewhere.
Yet another postponed Covid gig, this celebration of the 20th anniversary of Goldfrapp's debut album, Felt Mountain, was supposed to take place two years ago. I must admit I didn't buy tickets back then as I'm pretty sure it sold out quickly but I have been wanting to see Goldfrapp live for years now, having bought every one of their albums, and when it was announced Alison Sudol was supporting, for her first UK solo shows, it seemed too good to miss. Thankfully I managed to get a last minute fourth row ticket and it felt meant to be.
Florence + The Machine Shock Machine Royal Festival Hall, 8 May 2018
Ten years ago I went to see MGMT - at the time flavour of the day - at the much-missed Astoria for a sold out gig. MGMT, who live were like a younger, brattier Flaming Lips, really divided opinions (I overheard one guy calling it the worse show he'd ever been to!) but the uniting factor for pretty much everyone there, regardless of what they thought of the headliners, was the support act, a tall, skinny redhead in a white ra-ra skirt and a big grin on her face: Florence Welch.
Seeing Sufjan Stevens live has to be one of the most sublime and exhilarating experiences I've ever had. I've seen him once before of course, on his Age Of Adz tour, which was something of a spectacular music extravaganza, that left you full of the joy of life. His new album, Carrie & Lowell, though is all about death, in particular the death of his mother and the complicated relationship he had with her. The album, not surprisingly, is quiet and powerful and more reminiscent of his earlier acoustic album, Seven Swans (which just happens to be my favourite Sufjan album) so I anticipated a more low-key acoustic show but what I got was so much more.
It can be hard watching your heroes get old but I think it's fair to say that Marianne Faithfull does it with a great deal of defiance and style. Despite shattering both her hip and her thigh bone earlier this year, here she is touring at age 67 using a walking stick, making fun of herself, telling off rude audience members, doing Tommy Cooper impressions and swearing like a sailor. There's no doubt about it but Faithfull is something of a trooper and she still puts on one hell of a show.
Given Joan Baez has been more in the news recently for falling out of treehouses than her music I did wonder, at the grand old age of 71, whether I would ever get the chance to see her live.
Steve Earle & The Dukes (and Duchesses) featuring Allison Moorer
Royal Festival Hall, 25 October 2011
Despite not being in the best of health I dragged myself to the Royal Festival Hall to catch Steve Earle and his band figuring that at least I had a seat and it always ends fairly early there. I'm really glad I did although I didn't make it through the encore but the two hours beforehand was certainly more than worth the effort.
Oh Emmylou, could you be any more perfect? I've seen Emmylou Harris before but this time she seemed energised and happier, walking on to the stage with a little dance. It almost goes without saying that she looked absolutely radiant, wearing a silver headband and layers of brown velvet, satin and lace and the most amazing fringed suede boots, she launched into a song from her new album Hard Bargain, the upbeat, toe-tapping Six White Cadillacs, following it with Orphan Girl and Red Dirt Girl, both of which got a big cheer. Tonight, she told us, she would be digging out some old tunes and trying out some new ones and it really was a lovely mixture of both.
Hello, Royal Festival Hall old friend. Seems like I've been spending more time at the RFH recently but I have to admit it's one of my favourite venues, location-, sound- and seat-wise. It's also one of the best places to see acoustic acts and although Grant Lee Buffalo aren't strictly acoustic, this is still the perfect venue to see them again.
Astonishing. Breathtaking. Exhilarating. Is there a word to sum up Sufjan Stevens' show? All I know is that my jaw dropped somewhere in the first few seconds and remained that way for a few songs until the amazement couldn't suppress the grin any longer. Visually exciting, amazing fun and riveting throughout, for the most part I thought it was the most unique show I had every been to but the end, while great fun for the audience, owed much to The Flaming Lips with confetti and balloons and dancing in the aisles coming straight out of the Wayne Coyne party handbook. Not that it mattered because after the first two-thirds where else did it have to go? It just had to turn into a party or a light show and it kind of did both.
"I like kittens and little babies. Can't you see that's the kind of guy I am?" Richard Thompson sings at the start of the show. It's the opening line of The Money Shuffle, the first song on his excellent new album Dream Attic (which he amusingly dedicates to the bankers of the world) but somehow it seems the truth, because all through this three hour show Thompson comes across as a truly nice guy: funny, sweet and self-deprecating, not one of the greatest guitarists in the world today and a true British music legend, which he most definitely is.
Wilco Philip Selway Royal Festival Hall, 14 September 2010
Surprisingly, given Radiohead’s status as one of the biggest and best bands in the world today, when I arrive at the Festival Hall in time to see support act Philip Selway (aka Radiohead’s drummer), there are a worrying amount of empty seats. Maybe it’s because the shows here start early at 7.30pm on the dot and the bar is outside the theatre in the foyer or that Phil Selway isn’t exactly the most famous name in Radiohead (I tend to subscribe to the booze theory though), but for whatever reason those folks who only turned up to see Wilco definitely missed out.
Elvis Costello Kami Thompson Royal Festival Hall, 20 June 2010
Looking a cross between a 30s gangster and a vaudeville man, Elvis Costello seems glad to be back in London despite showing a reluctance in recent years to return home. Bouncing onto the stage full of energy, his surprisingly booming voice fills the Royal Festival Hall and it becomes quickly apparent that this is to be the loudest acoustic show I’ve ever been to.
Joanna Newsom Roy Harper Royal Festival Hall, 12 May 2010
There’s obviously a mutual appreciation society going on between Joanna Newsom and Roy Harper because the last time I saw her live Roy was also there playing support. He obviously hasn’t played live since then because he tells us it was Joanna who coaxed him out of retirement to play these two shows at the Royal Festival Hall, his first in three years.
Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers Mary Black Royal Festival Hall, 9 November 2009
On paper the idea of a Hollywood comedian indulging in a spot of serious banjo-playing sounds more curious than entertaining but in this case the comedian in question is an absolutely superb banjo player who has just released the best banjo album of the year, full of bluegrass tunes he wrote himself. Add to that the fact that he's been playing with the first-rate bluegrass band, North Carolina's The Steep Canyon Rangers (who have to be some of the finest musicians I've ever witnessed), then what you have is a pretty damn good show. And that's not even taking into account that on stage (between songs) Steve Martin is still one hell of a funny guy.
An Evening With Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan Jimmy Gnecco Duke Garwood Royal Festival Hall, 19 July 2009
"I've been found out," quips a particularly well-fed-looking Greg Dulli when amid the screams for Lanegan as they walk on stage, comes a lone "Duuuuuuulllliiiiii". Appropriate really given that this show, more than any others recently, saw The Twilight Singers frontman take back the spotlight from the domineering presence of Mark Lanegan, unafraid to overshadow his deep-voiced best pal.
