Gig Reduction - Sort Of

The end of any calendar year seems to get quite busy with gigs. This year I said mine wasn’t going to be busy and I was going to cut down on the number I went to. You know what they say about best laid plans right? Yup, it went astray. Between today and the end of November, I have 12 gigs and one festival planned and that doesn’t include the 5 I’m thinking of buying tickets for. It also doesn’t include other things that I have tickets for such as comedy or sports.

8^th July – Faith No More @ Hammersmith Apollo, London. When this band got announced for Sonisphere, I was pleased but also gutted. Pleased because it meant there were more dates in this reunion but gutted as again, I wouldn’t be able to make it. Then Sonisphere got cancelled and Faith No More announced 2 London gigs. I got tickets for both but decided to sell one on as it would have meant 3 really late nights in a row. Not a good idea. But anyway, this gig is tomorrow and I should finally be able to see FNM!

12^th July – Black Stone Cherry @ Concorde 2, Brighton. I saw this band at the tail end of March this year, so to be seeing them again is quite an odd thing to do for someone who is trying to cut back on gigs. However, I saw them in a room that holds roughly 2000 people. This gig is in a room that holds 600. This is far more intimate and therefore, I imagine will be significantly better. Plus, Black Stone Cherry are awesome!

1^st –5^th August – Wacken Open Air, Germany. I’ll be writing a full blog on this later in the month.

11^th August – Bath Rugby v London Welsh @ The Rec, Bath. First friendly for Bath. Really looking forward to going back to the Rec.

12^th August – Refused @ HMV Forum, London. I will admit from the off that I got into Refused following their reunion. I liked New Noise but that is all I knew. Now we have got that out the way (as if it matters), I cannot wait for this gig. They were superb in the time they had at Download and I can’t wait for a longer set in a smaller setting.

16^th August – Billy Talent @ XOYO, London. Another intimate gig by a band who I also thought were superb at Download. I’m secretly hoping as this is a warm up for Reading that they bring Cancer Bats with them (who are also playing Reading). Well, guess it’s not so secret anymore. Do it BT!

17^th August – Kvelertak @ Borderline, London. Why don’t I just move to London? Oh right, the cost thing. Anyway, I saw a bit of this bands Wacken set last year but was outside the tent. This gig ticks two boxes for me – getting to see Kvelertak and going to the Borderline. I’ve heard it’s a genius venue.

24^th August –Bath Rugby v Cardiff Blues @ The Rec, Bath. This is another pre-season friendly match. Going to this one with some good people so that should be fun.

15^th September – John Bishop @ BIC, Bournemouth. How many comedians can do warm up shows in small arenas? Impressive I say!

21^st September – Firewind @ Talking Heads, Southampton. I quite like Firewind, and this is a Friday night so I’m in favour. Also, the support band is Leaves Eyes, a band whose awesome Viking Ship Show I’m going to miss at Wacken!

28^th September – Malefice @ O2 Academy Islington 2, London. I have liked both of this bands headline shows in Portsmouth, and the local-ish date clashes with another gig, so have decided to travel for them.

30^th September – Halestorm @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. Another band who were really good at Download and another band I’m looking forward to their headline show. Also, the supporting bands are The Zico Chain and Heavens Basement, who are both good.

26^th October – Muse @ O2 Arena, London. Their headline set at Reading 2011 was stunning, and I’m hoping for more of the same here.

27^th October – Alice Cooper @ BIC, Bournemouth. Alice was excellent at Sonisphere 2010 and after that set, I said I wanted to see him at Halloween. I now have that chance. This will be superb I’m sure.

4^th November – WWE Live Show @ Wembley Arena, London. Nice way to spend the birthday. I went to a TV taping in April and really enjoyed it, so I am looking forward to a non-TV taping show to see what the difference is.

9^th November – WWE Live Show @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Urm, see above!

10^th November – England v Fiji @ Twickenham Stadium, London. My first competitive England game since Argentina in 2000! (Barbars was fun but I think it is an uncapped game). I am really looking forward to this (even if the travel to get there will now be a ballache!).

14^th November – Motorhead @ Portsmouth Guildhall. Three things in life are definite. Death, taxes and a November tour from Motorhead.  This time they are on the road with Anthrax – something which I think makes for an excellent gig.

29^th November – Frank Turner @ Southampton Guildhall. I caught both of his sets at Reading and he was excellent. I am really looking forward to this one.

So, a pretty hectic few months as far as gigs etc go. Looking forward to it though. There are a few more which I am thinking of buying tickets for. These are:

7^th October – Dragonforce @ Pyramids, Portsmouth
29^th October – Evile @ Cellar, Southampton
15^th November – Pulled Apart By Horses @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
17^th November – Opeth @ Pyramids, Portsmouth
17^th December – Ginger’s Birthday Show @ ???, London

All sounds like quite a lot of fun to me. 

 As a side note, I started going to gigs in 2006 regularly (late starter I know). This year I was sure I was going to cut down on gigs. 

2006 - 5 + 1 Festival (Download)

2007 - 18 + 1 Festival (Download)

2008 - 16 + 4 Festivals (Rock Am Ring, Hard Rock Calling, Wacken, Reading)

2009 - 21 + 1 Festival (Sonisphere)

2010 - 13 + 1 Festival (Sonisphere)

2011 - 17 + 4 Festivals (Download, Sonisphere, Wacken, Reading)

2012 - 20 + 1 Festival (Download). 

Well, whoops!