Crosby Stills and Nash - Manchester 21st September 2015

Venue - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Gig Buddies - Stephen and Phil
Gig Booty - None, I'm still skint from my last gig!


I don't think I've been let down by a CSN live show since the first time I saw them in 1992. Last night was no exception (once the sound settled down after the first song sounding like we were in an empty warehouse). First thought as they walked on stage was how great Croz is currently looking. This makes me happy as he makes such lovely music and I want him to carry on for a good while yet.

I went to this gig, tired and achy and wondering if I'd make it the end but I needn't have worried, these guys have the power to lift me right up and by the end of the gig I was buzzing from the show.

So many great moments, but I've picked out a few highlights -

 - I love Southern Cross so getting to hear it live is always a bonus.

 - Graham dedicated Our House to the youngest member of the audience, who was seven.

 - There was a good helping of newer stuff from everyone. I particularly enjoyed the Stephen Stills offering Virtual World.

 - Almost Cut My Hair was epic, as usual.

 - The nod to George Harrison in Suite: Judy Blue Eyes at the end. (Stills plays a bit of With In You With Out You)

Some of the audience took a while to warm up, but others were very enthusiastic. I think the two girls dancing on the front row were sat near me last time I saw them at the Manchester Arena.

I'll leave you with some pictures.

Edit this setlist | More Crosby, Stills & Nash setlists

King Crimson - Salford 11th September

Venue - The Lowry, Salford
Gig Buddies - None.
Gig Booty - Two shirts, a tour book (with two CDs) and a badge set.


I still feel like I'm struggling to find the right words to describe the experience but here goes -


I'll be honest, it had never crossed my mind that I'd have a chance to seen Crimson - I'm reconciled with the fact that a lot of the people I like are either retired or no longer with us - so when it was announced that a new incarnation of the band was to play my home city how could I not leap at the chance? (And my actual home city, not Manchester for a change!)

The Lowry is very plush and purple inside and, at least from the perspective of being seated downstairs, it feels very intimate. I was at the side of the auditorium, a handful of rows from the back and it was still a good view. At this point I am compelled to point out how fab the audience was around me. The gentleman who ended up sat in front of me was pretty tall and he actually took the time to ask if he was obscuring my view too much and tried to sit as low as he comfortably could. I can't recall that ever happening at a gig before, at least not with someone I didn't know. (Tall friends at standing gigs usually let me stand in front of them)

Back to the gig - the stage set up was a tad different to most gigs. The three drummers were lined up on the front of the stage and rest of the ensemble was on a riser along the back, including Robert Fripp who spent the whole gig perched on a little chair appearing almost oblivious to the fact there was an audience most of the time.

At a lot of gigs, three drummers would have been overwhelming, especially in a small venue like this, but the sound was stunning in both the emotional and technical sense. The interplay of the percussion was fascinating to watch.

The audience around me took it all in with not much more than an intake of breath at the recognition of a favourite track or an excited hiss of quick whispers during the applause. Mesmerising is the word I keep coming back to about the experience. The was no idle chatter from the stage, no faux banter, just the music.

A friendly announcement at the beginning politely requested that technology be put away for the duration, and largely it was. There was a small flurry of attempts to grab a quick snap on mobiles while the band took their applause at the end of the night but other than that the wishes of the band were mostly respected.

A more than satisfactory setlist, a truly astonishing performance and a very appreciative audience made the whole thing my favourite gig of the year so far.

Edit this setlist | More King Crimson setlists

RIP Chris Squire

Elvis Costello - Liverpool 15th June 2015

Venue - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Gig Buddies - Stephen and Ellie
Gig Booty - none, though I was tempted by guitar picks.








The ticket said no support, but there was indeed a support band in the form of Larkin Poe. I didn't see their support slot as I was waiting with Ellie's ticket to get in. However, they did come back on stage later to join Elvis for a few songs.

I love seeing Costello. I've never been disappointed by a gig. A quick count up reckons that I've seen him around eight times now, possibly nine.

Armed with a series of guitars, a piano, a fantastically dressed stage set, and an occasionally used loop pedal we were treated to a career-spanning set list. I'm sure I've expounded on the subject before so here's some photos and the set lists (both the one from the tech desk showing the song choices available and one from setlist.fm showing which ones were performed.)

Now I come to think about it She features in the set list somewhere, I just can't remember where (possibly after Meanest Gal) 

Full set of unedited photos on flickr here.

International Pop Overthrow Liverpool - some links and stuff.

Here's a bunch of links and stuff for the artists I have covered in my IPO Liverpool blogs this year.

Fun of The Pier on Facebook
One Two DIE Four on Facebook also  on Soundcloud and on YouTube
Honeybug on Facebook also on Soundcloud
The Dreamboats website also on Facebook  and on Soundcloud 
Kontiki Suite website also on Facebook
Blake Jones and The Trike Shop website
Las Annettes on Facebook 
The Suns on Facebook
Dave Rave on Facebook also on Bandcamp 

Other links -
International Pop Overthrow website also on Facebook
Minty and The Beeb Go Gigging
My IPO Liverpool photos

Videos: Dave Rave and Hailee Rose at International Pop Overthrow

From Tuesday 19th May at the Cavern Pub.


Beach House


Let's Shake and Come Together

Tuesday at International Pop Overthrow Liverpool 2015

In case you are wondering where Monday is, I didn't go to anything that day. 

Tuesday is the last hurrah of IPO Liverpool and the end of the festival as usual heralds the arrival of Mr Dave Rave. There's no time to miss those who have left at the weekend when the Raver train pulls into town. Anyway, more about him later.



First stop of the evening was the Cavern Back to see Dave Lloyd (of The Suns) and Lauren Daly. The set was mostly 70s easy listening covers with a couple of Suns tracks thrown in too. Crisp, clean guitar sounds and a laid back atmosphere, what more could you want from a Tuesday evening?






At the end of the Lloyd and Daly set it was a short dash across to the Cavern Pub where Dave Rave and co had gone on early. This year Dave was joined by a young singer named Hailee Rose, who has a fabulous voice, showcased in the final song which was a cover of Come Together by The Beatles. (There's video to come, stay tuned)


And then, alas, it was the end of my IPO shenanigans for this year.

Still to come

- a list of proper links and stuff for my favourite artists at the 2015 event. 

- the couple of videos (once I get them all uploaded) 

- and maybe something else.