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Love them or hate them “seminal album tours” have become a feature of the gig landscape over the last few years. In a way it is no surprise that one of the most enduring and prolific rock bands, Rush, have caught the nostalgia bug with their Time Machine Tour, which started in North and South America in 2010 showcasing their 1980 album Moving Pictures. |
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We arrived to LG arena in Coventry on the November 9th 2010 and were welcomed by a massive amount of cars all joining a queue of a good manner and one by one we were all hushed into a car park that seemed miles away from the arena. |
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I literally bought a ticket to Guns ‘n’ Roses last week, thinking this may be the last opportunity to see them live. This is certainly the case as I’d not wish to go through the ‘experience’ again. |
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It was 1969. Eric Clapton had just crawled from the wreckage of Cream. Steve Winwood was on hiatus from Traffic. They got together in Clapton's house to jam (bands did a lot of that in 1969). In an almost unseemly rush for this laid back duo, they recruited Ginger Baker and Rick Grech to form Blind Faith, did a huge free concert in Hyde Park, a short tour of Scandanavia, a bigger tour of the USA, and released their only album, which contained 5 songs and a 15 minute jam. |
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There's a definite air of expectation in the air throughout the LG Arena tonight as one of the world's most legendary bands returns to Birmingham as part of their Tour Of The Universe. Almost 14,000 people are here to see the mighty Depeche Mode and, if past performances are anything to go by, we're in for a special night. |
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Placebo have been a band I’ve been into since ‘Nancy Boy’ was first released, but somehow a band I’ve never seen live. I must admit when I bought my ticket back in the summer I was puzzled why they were at the LG Arena, but it was screened off and made really quite cosy. |
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The Jonas Brothers.. Stars of two Disney TV shows (JONAS and Jonas Brothers :Living The Dream), two number one albums, two covers of Rolling Stone magazine and, as well as all of that, The Jonas Brothers have stared in hit movie Camp Rock (with Camp Rock2 in the pipe line). All of which we were reminded of by band during the almost sold out show at the LG Arena. |
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Let me just start by saying that if you ever get the chance to see Counting Crows live, no matter what the cost, do it. Anybody reading this hoping to see me write that it was ‘more like counting sheep’ will be disappointed. |
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You can tell tonight's gig is something special by the atmosphere outside the venue and the vast amounts of cash that tickets are being traded for. It has been nine years since AC/DC last played Birmingham on their Stiff Upper Lip tour and there are far more fans than there are tickets for the event... |
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I signed up to review Lionel Richie because a friend of mine had seen him live and told me he actually danced on the ceiling, which was a feat I had to see for myself. Arriving at the LG Arena, I feel slightly out of place but with fabulous tickets; beer in hand, I sense this could be a fun night. Luckily, there is no support for tonight's show as I probably would have missed it, because it has taken forever to get from the car park to the arena let alone purchase a drink. |
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As Mick strode onto stage, resplendent in his immaculately tailored light suit, it was easy to forget that we were witnessing the end of an era - he looked every bit the youthful crowd-pleaser from earlier days. The crowd showed modest support for Valeriya, who put a seamless - if, perhaps, at times rather uninspired and lacklustre - performance, but it was obvious who 12,000 strong had showed up to see. The roar was deafening before he'd even sung a note - but when the band opened with It's Only Love it felt like the roof might come off.. |
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When bands have been around as long as Status Quo have, they can become an easy target for mockery – they only play three chords for God’s sake! – but the fact that they have been playing for as long as they have should also command respect. 10 years together would be impressive, but a tour to celebrate your 40th anniversary is one hell of an achievement... |
