In line with the annual, "Gigs for…" threads, where people post reviews and have general discussion about shows they see throughout the year, I'm starting this off, as we don't have one yet.
You're some man, Gloomtastic! Every night a gig night!
Thanks for the reminder about Let's Get Serious last night @Dreamweapon, I'd seen it on The Grand Social's listings and then forgotten to do anything about getting a ticket.
It was a good night of music with Molly Vulpyne Band and Arcadian Shadows the best of the Irish and the international acts above them.
There's been a fair bit of inflation on the price of a pint of Guinness since I was last there. 80 cent since late April. At 7.50 a pint it almost makes last weekend's prices look affordable.
If the London Weekender isn't too close to lost evenings or sing us home I'll try to get over for it.
Big Country , Whelan's 29th August .
Not exactly a Tribute Band as still have founding member lead guitarist Bruce Watson but sans poor Stuart Adamson RIP , and of course a new young drummer Reece Dobbin , and second guitarist , Jamie Watson the son of original , who still plays . Chris Stone on bass . The lead singer Tommie Paxton joined a year ago when the replacement singer left . Tommie had been singing with Restless Natives who were in fact the Big Country tribute band .
Bruce is now the only member of the original and has been playing with the band since Adamson died .
Thought they were brilliant, really tight and a great show . Jangly rigging guitars by the two Watsons and Chris Stone on bass with Tommie's vocals were excellent throughout . The young drummer Dobbin from Dunfermline , was as good as any heard before especially as the drums are a major part of their sound . Speaking of sound , it was was vastly better than their last outing in Opium where the long hall and low roof swallowed half of it.
I really liked the support too, the Pistol Daisys from Glasgow .
They joined Big Country to provide harmony and second drums on one of the songs and it was excellent .
Sorry for all the superlatives , but we really enjoyed this gig and for a very reasonable price . € 38 !
Sounds like a good night, Goldengirl but 38 quid a pricy night out for Whelan's.
Worth every penny which as you know I am watching 😜
A great evening of music at National Concert Hall yesterday with the always reliable Rhiannon Giddens, accompanied by long time collaborator Francesco Turrisi and Senegalese kora player and singer Seckou Keita.
The set was different than what she usually plays, as it was focused on songs that Keita's kora could blend in seamlessly. It helps that Turrisi can play so many instruments (last night he played piano, accordion, cello banjo and various percussion instruments) so she could focus on her banjo and Keita on the kora (an instrument with a sound similar to a harp). The approach felt in sync with the music Giddens makes with Silkroad Ensemble in US.
The set included some traditional American roots/bluegrass tunes, a couple of songs from Keita's discography, a traditional Italian song and, for the encore, a Paul Simon song and The Cliffs of Moher with Giddens on the violin and the other 2 on percussion. With some stories in between, the concert lasted an hour and fifty minutes.
Really enjoyable, and will try to catch her live again in the future.
A lovely gig and some timely sentiments expressed too.
Agriculture in The Workmans rocked! Audience loved them and they got it. They’ll be back for sure……..
37d03d mixtape with Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra was absolutely amazing last night.
2 hrs of sensationsl music with most arrangements by Bryce Dressner.. performances by Angie McMahon, SOAK, the Staves, Ben Howard , David Kitt and more.
Leif Vollebekk was sensational....
Torche in the Button Factory were pretty good tonight. I guess they're Stoner rock but there's plenty of melody in there also, occasionally too much but overall they were enjoyable, especially when they slowed things down. Bonus points for the singer looking like a cross between Jack Black and one of my mates! Helms Alee were decent support. A guitar/bass/drums trio of two women and one dude all of whom were on vocals. First time here and they gave us a 50 minute set of kinda proggy sludge/stoner/grunge.
I had intended to attend Rún upstairs but my friend reckoned that as they're Irish it was likely there'd be other opportunities to see them whereas Torche and Helms Alee may never be here again. Made sense.
Not a "gig" I guess but John Lydon "I Could be Wrong, I could be right" in the Complex.
A mix of brutal honesty, more than a hint of old man pub bore with a touch of sanctimony, admirable perseverance in the face of loss, a few laughs and him calling people cúnts and kicking people out for continuous heckling.
The Underground Youth were enjoyable enough in the Grand Social. Last time i saw them (2018) i couldn't take them seriously as they were so derivative. Not much has changed on that score but it didn't bother me so much tonight. You'll get some postpunk/shoegaze/Cramps/BJM/JAMC/Cure in varying measures. They lost me when it got too 80s Goth vibes but won me over again with the last few tunes. Support from Sun Mahshene and Blue Slate. Both were grand but the former would be better if they ditched their stadium rock tendencies while the latter, a young Kildare band, are worth keeping an eye on as they hone their shoegaze/postpunk thing.
The HS just announced the London weekender 2026, March 6th to 8th. Tickets via SEE tickets.
The Beths at the button factory last night were fantastic, new album is there strongest work to date and i see vicar st. for them next time around, support Dateline were also very good
Michael Rother in the Button Factory was absolute quality from start to finish. 85 minutes of motorik bliss. Got home and was told i looked spaced out. I imbibed no more than some fruit Mentos this evening. Reckon i will have a sore neck and shoulders in the morning from the vigorous head nodding. Early finish too, done by 9.45!
Tomorrow is the double header of LA Witch and The Buttertones in the Workmans.
First time seeing him, great gig. Id still be there head nodding if he was still playing.
Head nodding triple bill at The Sound House last night. Openers were Carnyx. Their drummer stood out as pretty special, still trying to figure out how he managed that bass drum beat for so long. Then we had Belfast Doom/Stoner rockers Gravity Well. They were my highlight of the night. Some great tunes. Headliners, Orbiter from Helsinki, were grand.
Back there again tonight for Stratford Rise amongst others. Bring it on!
+1 for Herr Rother
Motorik heaven, tunes sounding very fresh
Be great to catch a ser like that at a festival
Hoping to go to LA Witch myself. Was meant to be going with a mate who just cancelled - COVID. Not been in the workmans in years - does a bloke in his 40s look a bit odd amongst the young there ? Would hate to miss this double header
Not sure what sort of a crowd LA Witch will bring but I'm in the Workman's a fair bit and it's a regular hang out for aged Musos. Besides, Dutchy, that would be a terrible reason to miss a gig you want to see.
You have twisted my rubber arm. Thank you, sir. I'm en route
Hello fellow kids !
You’ll be grand, enjoy! (I’m going to be 60 next month and in the Workman’s a lot!) 😉
Thanks and sure 60 is the new 30. Pre gaming it in RIOT bar. Could get used to these solo gigs - no pressure.
All my family are now into solo gigs. Once you get past your first one and realise people are too wrapped up in themselves to worry about you, you’ll be fine.
Blue Slate just announced they have broken up.
World Leader Pretend was a single surely - I remember it being their kind of breakthrough song from the Green album. First of their songs to get radio play in Ireland, in my memory anyway. Though I was young enough. Would be at the top of my list of 'gig regrets' that I didnt see early REM, pre the Out of Time album.
EDIT _ posted before I realised your post was four months old.
No worries Tombo
Surprisingly it wasn't an official single. Orange Crush, Stand, Get Up and Pop Song 89 (and possibly Turn You Inside Out, not sure) were selected at the time. But the Green album has amazing depth, and it was in the back of the success of the Document album and The One I Love, so there was a lot of radio airplay in general.
In tonights double-header in the Workmans both acts had about an hour each. Much to my disappointment however, L.A. Witch took the stage first. A bit garage and girl group but also a not-quite-goth element too. Loved the bass throughout. Their first time here and they seemed to enjoy themselves. Now, due to never hearing a note of The Buttertones before tonight i was surprised they were headlining. Wasn't too keen on them tbh. It was like Franz Ferdinand playing 50s Horror themed surf-rock. With added saxophone. Not terrible or anything but i would have no interest in seeing them again.
Yeah - I think World Leader Pretend got a lot of radio play, might have been on the Fannings Fab 50, I think he played it a lot.
