So, where were we...
It has been over a year since I’ve written one of these. I wrote my 2020 year in live music in April, not being sure if live music would return or not for the rest of the year. There were socially distant gigs (I went to a test event of one), but live music was, for the most part, on pause in the UK from March 2020 until July 2021 (With socially distant gigs returning in some places in June 2021). Throughout the course of the year, I’ve written about the first three gigs I went to (2 socially distant, and one full capacity), as well as Victorious and Bad Pond Festivals. Because of this, I am going to revert to the 2019 format, which is a list of favourite festival sets, and then move onto my favourite gigs of the year.
As a small note, after many years of saying I’m going to write more and then inevitably not, I have abandoned the mikeyt.me domain, in favour of just sticking with an amended .blogspot one. Given how infrequently I write, I couldn’t justify spending £16 on renewing the domain and kicking this can down the road for another year. The blog itself will still be called mikeyt.me...because I am nothing if not uninventive. Anyway, admin over!
Festivals
Honourable Mentions - Feeder, Peter Hook & The Light, Terrorvision, Melanie C (Victorious Festival), False Advertising, FES, Projector, Intechnicolour, Phoxjaw (Bad Pond Festival)
10. Miles Kane, Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: Miles Kane is the first of a few acts I saw for the rest of the day that I didn’t know much about. I thought the set was really good. As an indicator of how little I know, only when writing this did I look up the set list for a bit of a memory jog and saw that Miles and band played two of The Last Shadow Puppets songs (and that Miles is in that band with Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys, among others). There were some very loud singalongs to some of these songs, particularly the last two of Come Closer and Don’t Forget Who You Are.
New Words: Not really much to add about this. I’ve not gone back to listen to Miles Kane, but as I write these words (in September 2021), his band have just announced a UK tour and a date on this tour is a Friday night in Southampton. Not knowing much about Miles Kane (same as before I saw him, really), I was surprised to see this is taking place in the Engine Rooms in Southampton. Anyway, this tour being announced made me go back and listen and…LISTEN TO MILES KANE
9. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: I was really surprised, pleased but surprised, to see Pigs x7 booked for the Common stage. Victorious isn’t exactly known for heavy music - there was a side stage a few years ago with a few heavy bands on, and I assumed when Pigs x7 had been announced, there would be another one, but not to be. When it was revealed they’d be on the Common stage, I thought the reaction to them might not be positive but I am pleased to report I was very wrong. There were a few people around me who walked off, but almost everyone else seemed to enjoy it to varying degrees. I did not anticipate seeing a circle pit at Victorious, that’s for sure. For me, I thought it was great.
New Words: Again not much more to add really. I wonder if Victorious will experiment more with their line up? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Pigs x7 toured the UK in November, and I decided to go to a gig in Portsmouth on that night, rather than travel to Southampton. The gig in Portsmouth got postponed due to positive Covid tests and Pigs x7 sold out so I couldn't get a last minute ticket. Unfortunate for me.
8. Supergrass, Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: Much like Miles Kane, I didn’t know much at all about Supergrass really (I knew Alright and Caught By The Fuzz going in). Despite that, I really enjoyed this set. Of course, the songs I knew were the highlights for me (and the singalong for Alright was huge), but it was all really good.
New Words: I mentioned when discussing the festival in a work meeting that I only knew the two songs I mentioned, and everyone who knew them made it clear how wrong I was. I saw they announced a London show for December at Brixton Academy with Ash supporting, which sounds like a fun night but I wasn't able to make that one.
7. Alpha Male Tea Party, Bad Pond Festival 2021
Original Words: The final of the instrumental bands that I saw, and they were probably my favourite of the three. They were superb.
New Words: They certainly were the best instrumental band that day, and one of my favourites of the whole day. Not my favourite though, as this list will make clear!
6. Manic Street Preachers, Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: Manics late addition to the bill to replace Richard Ashcroft was, in my view, an upgrade. I very much liked their set. It was peppered with songs I love, which obviously is a good thing. They did an Echo & the Bunnymen cover (Bring On The Dancing Horses) - I’ve never really listened to them but the Manics cover of the song was good. The real surprise on the covers front was a cover of Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses, and a very nice surprise it was as well. The set closed with A Design For Life, a belter of a song to sign off an excellent set.
New Words: It wasn’t my favourite Manics live set, but I would say I preferred it to the last time I saw them at Victorious, though I concede recency bias may be a factor at play here. I still find it strange that they headlined a stage at a Portsmouth festival less than 3 months before a Portsmouth headline show, but looking quickly at Ticketmaster, pretty much all the seating has sold out - so what do I know?!
5. Beans On Toast, Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: Maybe it was an error to leave Royal Blood early, but it definitely wasn’t an error choosing to see Beans on Toast. This was a great set full of singalongs and positivity. It was just an excellent way to close out the festival. Towards the end of the set, Beans went out into the crowd to sing two of the last songs which was fun.
New Words: This was the 3rd of 4 times seeing Beans On Toast in 2021 (!) and they were all great. This one was the most enjoyable until the headline show.
4. Svalbard, Bad Pond Festival 2021
Original Words: The penultimate band of the day for me and one of the best for sure - their set was superb. I am very much looking forward to their headline run in November now - their latest album When I Die, Will I Get Better? was one of my favourite albums from last year, so it was great seeing some of it live.
New Words: On reflection, they were probably my second favourite band of the day (but really, it is a cigarette paper between them and Conjurer). They really were outstanding. Their November headline show…
3. Frank Turner (Duo Show), Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: I don’t think anyone that knows me will be shocked to learn that I loved this set. The 45 minutes just flew by, with the set containing a good mix of his back catalogue. The set closed with I Still Believe, which inspired probably one of the biggest singalongs of the set (though there were quite a few) and featured a brief cameo from Jess Guise on harmonica. Just like Craig David earlier in the day, this set will be another one of the highlights of the festival for me. This set was also neat for me as I’ve seen Frank live with The Sleeping Souls and on his own, but this was the first time in person watching a duo show (I saw a live stream duo show during one of the lockdowns).
New Words: The duo show format is really good. Frank is one of my favourite musicians to listen to, and to see live, so his addition to the bill at Victorious was a real plus for me. My second favourite set of the festival, only topped by one other act at the festival - of which more will be said later.
2. Conjurer, Bad Pond Festival 2021
Original Words: I knew Conjurer were good live, having seen them play the 4th stage at Download Festival in 2019, but this seemed so much better (once the initial technical issues were overcome). The new song they opened with sounded immense, so I am looking forward to hearing a new album/EP when it comes.
New Words: I mean, Conjurer live are just relentlessly heavy. I really enjoyed seeing them indoors for the first time and very much forward to when that can happen again.
1. Craig David Presents TS5, Victorious Festival 2021
Original Words: The reason I was there some hours early. No idea what the TS5 bit was going to be, but it turned out to be Craig David being his own DJ while remixing songs and singing (not sure if that is what he always did back in the day, and this was just a rebrand). Anyway, his set was quality. Hearing his songs from Born To Do It was ace (also, in typing this and googling the album title to make sure I got it right, I saw it was released 21 years ago and now I am sad). Craig David is perfect for a festival when the sun is out (festival depending, obviously - I reckon it would be a laugh seeing him in the middle of the day at Wacken but probably wouldn’t go down well). He closed his set with 7 Days, which was just a great way to close a great set. One of the highlights of the festival for sure.
New Words: When trying to work out the placements for this list, the act I thought of the most for the top spot was Craig David. His set really was brilliant - perfect for that sort of setting. The setlist.fm posting of his set still misses out when he did Walking Away remixed over the beat for Dr Dre - The Next Episode, which was a moment I really liked. I’m not sure I’d go see a headline show of TS5, but it was a spectacular special guest slot, and my favourite festival set of 2021.
Gigs:
And so, onto gigs. I am pleased to report that I didn’t go to a gig that I didn’t enjoy. However, these lists are about the ones I enjoyed the most, so with that in mind, here is the list. I will, as with previous year blogs (aside from the 2020 one, for probably obvious reasons), start with the honourable mentions. Because it has been so long without gigs, and everything was at least varying degrees of good…everything that isn’t in the top 10 is an honourable mention. Some words for each have been added.
Honourable Mentions:
Beans on Toast - Clapham Grand, London. Saturday 12th June (Socially Distant Matinee show):
Original Words: “On to the gig itself, it was opened by a solo act called Tensheds. I enjoyed his set - more than once it made me think of a stripped back Bruce Springsteen at a piano/keyboard, which in my mind is a compliment. I’ve since gone back and listened to his music on Spotify and enjoyed it, so I’m sure I will listen again. Beans On Toast was the main event and it was just ace. He played a number of his songs that I love, which certainly helped matters. There was a really cool moment where he played a song from one of this new albums that he wrote about a former teacher (positive song!) and the teacher was in the audience. There was also a nice moment where his young daughter came on stage to dance to one of his songs (about her).”
New Words: Nothing much more to add really. This was the first of 4 times I saw Beans on Toast in 2021, and it was ace.
Fleetingwood Mac - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. Saturday 17th July (Socially Distant Matinee show):
Original Words: “Fleetingwood Mac themselves were excellent. I had only heard good things about them, so went in with high expectations and they were comfortably met and then some. They are an excellent tribute band, and I will definitely see them again (all being well, December!)”
New Words: I didn’t pull my finger out and get a ticket for the evening show in the end. Next time!
Massive Wagons - Engine Rooms, Southampton. Wednesday 15th September:
The main sell for me was to see Chris Catalyst And His Group, who were ace. That said, Massive Wagons were ace live and this was no exception. Had to skip out slightly early to get a train, but what I saw was great.
Ash - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. Thursday 16th September:
Couple of decent support bands got the night off to a good start. Ash were great live the two previous times I saw them, and this gig was no exception to that. A lovely way to spend a Thursday.
Sports Team - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. Friday 24th September:
This was a fun gig. It was a warm up show for a bigger tour, but the band didn’t appear to have a ring-rust at all.
The Subways - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. Saturday 2nd October:
First Subways headline show and it was great. I loved that they played Rock and Roll Queen twice, because that song is an absolute bop (might be too old to say that, jury is still out on that). If this was a top 11…this would have made the main list.
Svalbard - The Dome, London. Saturday 27th November:
The doors were advertised to open at 6 for this. I got there at 6.35 because I accidentally left my earplugs back at the hotel. Doors didn’t end up opening until 7.20…that was cold. Anyway, I really liked this. My one complaint is that the headline set was 45 minutes long, which was ace but I had hoped it would be a bit longer given I saw a very similar set at Bad Pond Festival
Beans on Toast - The Boileroom, Guildford. Saturday 4th December:
This gig was really good fun. Kitty Liv was great in support, and Beans on Toast was excellent. Slipped out slightly early to get a train, but I’ll get to see this tour again in February when it comes to my town, so that’ll be nice. I’ll write about it again in a year’s time. Maybe.
Orange Goblin - The Joiners, Southampton. Friday 10th December:
The final gig of the year (last night as I write this). The journey to get there was a faff, but I got in for most of Urne, which was ace. King Creature were okay and Orange Goblin were great. Lovely way to finish the year of gigs.
So without further ado…
Top 10
10. Bob Vylan - The Joiners, Southampton. Wednesday 28th July.
This was the second “Revive Live” gig that I went to this year. Bob Vylan’s album “We Live Here” is, in my view, excellent - so I was excited for this one. The support band was Witch Fever, who I enjoyed (side bar, the singer called out a crowd member for being sexist/misogynist, which got a deservedly big cheer). Before the gig, I had only listened to the album but not watched any live videos, so didn’t know how many members would be on stage. Turns out Bob Vylan is two members who live are supported by tracks. I haven’t experienced this before in a live setting (well, not so obviously anyway) but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the gig at all. Selfishly, my favourite song of Bob Vylan’s (CSGB) was played, which of course made me happy. This tour was also the live debut (I think anyway) of Pretty Songs, which is another ace song. I am very much looking forward to new music. There is another Bob Vylan show at the Joiners next year - I haven’t yet booked a ticket but I am very tempted to do so. I hope next year's show is a bit longer though - this headline set was the shortest of the year clocking in at 40 minutes.
9. Bury Tomorrow - The Joiners, Southampton. Friday 5th November
This one I am genuinely surprised it actually ended up going ahead. Postponed 2 or 3 times due to the global plague, I very much expected this one to just be quietly shelved, given it was originally booked as an album launch show for an album that was released in 2020 (and a very good album it was as well). Anyway, the show went ahead and it was really good. The setlist was heavy on the last two albums (making up 8 of the 11 songs played). Despite very much liking both of these albums, the highlight of the gig for me was Man On Fire and Lionheart being played back to back. It was a short gig but it was a real treat to see a band of their size playing a room that small.
8. Bleed From Within - The Dome, London. Friday 26th November
This was a late call to actually get a ticket for this gig, as I had one either side of it (more about one of them later) and figured it would be cool to do 3 in 3 days in London. I am very glad I did though as Bleed From Within were superb. I was aware they were a good live band, having seen them twice before in support slots, but had never seen them headline. The opening band, Kill The Lights, were decent and the main support Ingested were a lot of fun. Bleed From Within though, their set just felt massive. They had a full stage video backdrop, which was really cool. Their 2020 album was ace and made up most of this set, which wasn’t much of a surprise. I’m not sure what will be next for them - but based on shows like this one, they will surely continue to get bigger and play bigger rooms.
7. The Wildhearts - Engine Rooms, Southampton. Saturday 25th September
The Wildhearts are one of my favourite bands. I’ve said before (possibly somewhere on this very page) that I was very late to the party when it comes to The Wildhearts (discovering them in 2008). I saw them on their headline tours in 2019 and this one was almost 2 years later after the release of 21st Century Love Songs (another great album by a great band, but I am biased). This show had a very good main support act in Those Damn Crows, and The Wildhearts themselves were on top form. It seemed not that long ago that the band might split up (again), which would be a shame but the latest album and this tour would have been a very good way to sign off - I’d be happier if they didn’t split though!
6. Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls (Lost Evenings IV Night 2) - The Roundhouse, London. Friday 17th September.
This was night 2 of the Lost Evenings festival, and the theme of the main set was the first three albums + new songs. The main stage (the only stage I went to, due to laziness more than anything else) was Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Jamie Lenman and Pet Needs, which on paper sounded like a lovely way to spend a Friday night. In practice it was a more than lovely way to spend a Friday. Pet Needs had their latest album produced by Frank Turner which is very good - their live set was very energetic and fun as well. Jamie Lenman was ace and this set sold me a ticket for his headline show (which was due to be November 29th, but had to be rescheduled due to positive Covid-19 cases in this touring party). Frank and the Souls set was excellent. I love the old songs and we even got treated to a couple from the first EP, so that was all gravy with me. Essentially, Frank Turner is one of my favourite live acts no matter the format, so this was always going to feature on this list. It is as low as it is because of train issues meaning I had to leave earlier than I’d have liked, but I got to hear the three new songs, so that’s a plus.
5. While She Sleeps - CHALK, Brighton. Sunday 19th September
The travel for this one was a pain in the sack, but thankfully I set off early enough so that I was in Brighton with plenty of time to spare. This was my first visit to CHALK, though I had been to the old venue The Haunt once before - CHALK is a much bigger venue than The Haunt, but is a bit of an odd shape really (feels to me as though the stage is in the wrong place). Enough about the venue and the travel though, this was While She Sleeps doing an intimate venue UK tour (on their most recent tour, they sold out Brixton Academy). Not only was it While She Sleeps in a small room - they bought Loathe along with them and that, quite frankly, is lovely. Loathe are a superb band who had an incredible set supporting WSS. Sleeps themselves were on fire and had an incredible headline set.
4. IDLES - Guildhall, Portsmouth. Sunday 12th September
The second album launch show of the list and this one was to launch Ultra Mono, which came out in 2020. It was rescheduled to September 2021 (I have a feeling it was meant to take place in April 2021, which was still a little while after the album came out). Despite it being initially announced to support Ulta Mono, the show’s setlist was almost evenly divided between Ultra Mono, Joy As An Act Of Resistance and Brutalism (Ultra Mono having one more song than the other two albums as part of a 16 song set). Idles were excellent on this night. Would have been number 1 if they had played “I’m Scum”, maybe.
3. Palm Reader - The Garage, London. Thursday 25th November
Onto the gig itself, Phoxjaw opened and they are another band who are excellent live (I’ve just seen they are supporting Microwave next year which…that is very nice). The middle band was a change of pace in the form of Orchards, but as far as I was concerned a very welcome change of pace as I enjoyed their set. Palm Reader though were on another level. Sleepless live is incredible (not sure if it was being recorded for a live version, but hopefully it was), and it was ace to hear a bit of older material including a few from Braille. Lovely.
2. Grand Aid 3 (Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls/Beans on Toast) - Clapham Grand, London. Monday 19th July (‘Freedom Day’)
I was convinced…convinced this would be number 1. This was my first gig back at full capacity with no social distancing after the long shutdown. I wrote more about this gig (and two socially distanced ones) here - so I’m not sure there is a lot else I can add other than to say everyone who played was great, and the singalongs filled my heart with joy. Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls headlined the night and they played a best of set which felt very special. It was genuinely life-affirming, and I am glad I went along.
1. Biffy Clyro - O2 Guildhall, Southampton. Wednesday 3rd November
A Download Festival headliner playing a room that holds 1,750ish? That sounds like a fun time. First things first, Bob Vylan was the support act and just like the headline show, they were ace. There were more people around who didn’t really know what was going on but it was nice to see people being won over as the set went on. The album Biffy Clyro released in 2020 completely reappraised my relationship with the band and their more recent output, so when the chance to grab a ticket for this gig came up, I snatched it up. The first night of the rescheduled Fingers Crossed tour, Biffy played their 2021 B-Sides+ album in full and…well I’m guessing it didn’t work out as planned as for the rest of the tour, they changed to a heavy mix of the 2020 and 2021 albums, with a 3rd of the setlist made up of songs from the previous 4 albums. The setlist for me was great and the performance was outstanding. The gig was nearly 2 hours long as well, which didn't drag at all. . I’ve only seen Biffy live in full once before (I caught the end of their set at Download in 2012) so I didn’t really know what to expect, but they were just so so good. I was worried about how it would sound in Southampton Guildhall (which has previous for not the best sound) but there were no issues to be worried about. This was an incredible gig, and I left it with such a big smile on my face.
And that is that for 2021, unless Jamie Lenman rearranges for between now and December 22nd, though I am gambling on this not happening. I wrote a lot of words here, and copied a fair few I had written previously, but it was all worth it because having live music back is the best. Hopefully the emergence of Omicron and future Covid-19 variants won’t derail it again. As for 2022, I’ve had Dropkick Murphys, Architects and Faith No More drop off the schedule (the first two due to reschedules, the latter due I think due to a band member’s mental health being the priority - get well soon Mike!). All being well and as things stand, Idles and two lots of Every Time I Die with The Bronx is how my 2022 in live music will kick off. Other highlights will be Frank Turner, Gojira, Evanescence and Within Temptation (finally!), Volbeat in a small room, Hella Mega Tour (finally!), Behemoth/Arch Enemy and Carcass (finally!) and I’ve finally taken the plunge and am going to my first Damnation festival. I’m sure more will be added as time moves on as there are several gigs I have my eye on. 2021 has been a weird and frustrating year at times. Hopefully 2022 will be a better one for us all.
No comments:
Post a Comment