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Birmingham Symphony Hall was the venue for tonight's performance of Netwon Faulkner. Warming up the ever Increasing crowd was Charlotte O'Connor from Blackburn and whilst I enjoyed her set I couldn't help thinking that she had studied at the Diana Vickers school of performing arts. |
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Salutations such as, ‘John Betjeman with a guitar...intense virtuosity,’ are not to be dismissed lightly and so first things first I put it to the sound engineer that a set list would come in handy. ‘Too right!’ He replies, sanguinely, ‘Have you got one?’ So, songs referenced are sometimes by context more than title. Welcome to a Nick Harper gig. |
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There is no doubt about it, I am very excited to be at the Wulfrun Hall tonight for what promises to be an evening of electronic euphoria with Gary Numan celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of ‘The Pleasure Principle’ album. However, before I can experience the glittering golden array of Gary’s back catalogue I must first endure the delights of Dirty Harry |
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I missed the support, being on a mission to buy some chewing gum to freshen my breath... Although the new Academy has been introduced before on this site, this was my first visit and I would just like to say that it's definitely an improvement both as regards sound, and in the view you can get from all angles, not being crammed under the balcony or squashed into the pitifully small dance floor area of the old Academy. |
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Due to such a palaver about getting a wristband and prepaid tickets at the MEN, I missed tonight’s performance by Mew. However, there was no way that I was going to miss Jane’s Addiction, particularly as Eric Avery is back, completing the original line-up not seen on these shores since 1991... |
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I have been watching The Ned’s since 1987, and seeing this gig billed as ‘Re-Union’ a little spark inside me started. Would the original line-up, featuring Tracey on backing vocals, grace the stage once more, treating us to ‘Out ov my tree’, ‘Plug me in’, ‘That’s Nice’, and ‘Turnaround’. Alas no. It’s the original line-up but Tracey is nowhere to be seen. |
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I like gigs at the Glee Club. It always seems to be an eclectic crowd in there, all of whom are particularly cordial, I’m sure radio 2 would be the preferred stereophonic station if polled and words like ‘twee’ and ‘quaint’ slip seamlessly into conversation. You get the picture. Delightful. And thus it was – amongst a lampshade festooned stage – net curtains and all – that the theatrical A Camp took to the stage. |
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Before I start, it must be noted that the sound for all the bands tonight was appalling. If I was reviewing the PA guys they would've got 1/10 |
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Tonight has started bad. The car park is full, due to some guy I’ve never heard of playing the main Civic Hall. Then the queue at the box office is massive, also due to that same guy, so I completely miss the support act. To be honest, I don’t even know who they were or even if there was one! |
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The headline act are the Supersuckers, the self-proclaimed “Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band in the World”, who have been making music for the past twenty one years, and, therefore, have a vast back catalogue. The set list consists of twenty six songs with additional question marks, suggesting that there is room for expansion. Supersuckers commence with That is Rock'n'Roll and the first thing that registers is the volume; they are bloody loud... |
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Opening tonight’s show are all girl 4 piece Fe-nix . For those of you who have never heard of Fe-nix they are Jade, Tanya, Ayshan and local girl Priceless from Wolverhampton. The moment they take there positions on the stage male eyes stare, because all four members have model good looks that could happily grace the covers of any glamour magazines .Got My Swagger opens the first of the girls 3 songs as they dance and pout in synch to the beat. You Take My breath Away and debut single Lady Baby are well received by this capacity crowd. |
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It seemed somewhat fitting that just a week prior to the latest open day for the Home of Metal project - set up to celebrate the heritage of Birmingham's heavy metal pioneers - that Napalm Death set up shop at Birmingham's impressive new venue - The Asylum in Hockley - for a one-off and long-awaited hometown show... |
