Great Gigs

Subject: Great Gigs
From: smuggler
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 06:45 PM

What was the gig that changed things for you or was just a good memory, either as a performer or audience. In the last few years I remember a Saw Doctors gig for over two hours solid. The energy lasted for days. You hardly had time to breath before the next one hit you. As a performer I remember a gig in Holland in a 700 seat theatre wher the whole audience got on their feet and sang back to us in Dutch 'Red Rose Cafe'. My spine is still tingling!!

Any memories?

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 07:48 PM

After a reasonable success as a club singer, getting a six month contract for an English Pub/restaurant in Bermuda !!! Goodbye day Job !!

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 10:32 PM

NL is responsive....particulary near the universities. Is it the Heinekein....or annual smoke-out....the ex-pats....I don't know....but they ARE uninhibited.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 04:12 PM

Planxty, Vicar Street, Dublin, 31st January 2004. The best gig ever.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 04:18 PM

Stephane Grapelli, Massey Hall, Toronto, I think it was 1977. The most musical experience I've ever been awestruck by.

I saw The Chieftains there the very next night (or maybe it was 2 nights later), and with all due respect, there was no comparison. They were only excellent. Seemed stilted in comparison to Grapelli's swingin band.

Hot hot hot!

W-O

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 12:35 PM

A couple stand out - Paul Buckley at The Junction, Otley, West Yorks being joined by a jazz guitarist for the second set (I never got his name) to produce an "off the cuff" performance of jazz/blues which blew us all away. Totally unexpected and even more glorious than it could have been as a result.

But my strongest gig memory is seeing "my" Julie walk onto the main stage at Gainsborough Folk Festival, having been called in at the last minute to replace an ill Emily Druce.

I thought to myself, this could be tricky, a solo artist other than the one the audience were expecting sandwiched between a "hot" group of youngsters (Kerfuffle) and an established big name in the folk scene (Coope, Boyes and Simpson) ... to say she rose to the occasion would be an understatement.

I've never been more proud ...

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 09:06 PM

Two things spring to mind. Going to see Mary Chapin Carpenter and a stunning version of 'Rythym of the Blues' stirred me to start writing again.
On a lesser level. A gig, with my sister, when we replaced a very popular local act who had cancelled at the last moment and we went down a storm...Still glow when I think about that one.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: el ted
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 05:36 AM

Alex Harvey Band
ABC cinema
Hull
1975
          Very theatrical. Alex walked silently onto the stage wearing a smoking jacket and holding a rose. He then ate the rose as the band kicked in at ten million watts. And yes I did have long hair and flares.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: GUEST,Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 07:19 AM

Harry Chapin at Convocation Hall in Toronto, Ontario. Fourth Show in 2 nights and his voice was gone, practically croaking his lyrics. Still gave 110%, made the hall seem like you were sitting around in his living room.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Dave of Mawkin
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 07:55 AM

To watch it was seeing this guitarist in 'The Hot House' chelmsford called Guthrie Govan, his mind blowingly good.

And formyself it was playing at Towersey Folk Festival last year on the mainstage, the gig started off with about 12 people there and then we while we were playing it just filled, a great crowd, and bit of a shock as we just woke up about an hour before! It was amazing.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 08:00 AM

Hey Dave, are you sure you woke up ;-)

Seriously though it's always a tough spot being first on the early concerts as people are still drifting into wakefulness but you rose to it.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Dave of Mawkin
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 08:05 AM

Hi Kevin!

Didnt realise you talked on this! It was tough, and being students it was a surprise we remembered to get dressed, we still wonder whether we slept walked/talked/played the whole show!, im glad you liked it, the Witches stole the show though.

So, Spurs aren't doing very well these days are they?

Though, I can talk, poor old West Ham.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: VIN
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 08:30 AM

I've been to some memorable gigs over the years in folk clubs and concert halls e.g first ever really mimorable one was Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Nice - all on one gig (Palace, manchester '68), first Fairport gig (with the swarb) at the Free Trade Hall (i think)- can't remember the date but the one that probably stays in my mind and probably gave me a real live introduction and lasting love of folk music was............The Spinners at the Free Trade Hall in the late sixties! Yep that's right. They've come in for some stick (very unjustifiable in my opinion) by a few 'purists?' on the scene over the years. I still maintain, however, that they were the only acoustic folk 'act' at the time that could literally turn a 2000+ capacity auditorium (and it was a vitual sell-out that night) into a folk club atmosphere! Nobody, including me, seemed at all nervous about joining in on the choruses and songs. You almost felt a part of the act, such was these four guy's genuine love of the music, affinity with their audience and, of course, lively professionalism.

So thanks for that Tony, Mick, Hughie and Cliff!!

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Dave of Mawkin
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 10:40 AM

I recently had one of my worst gigs, when my band had been booked for a ceilidh somewhere in Saxmundham, we got there, set up,and when it came to the soundcheck i realised I had brought the wrong guitar! So i gaffa taped a SM58 to the guitar and battled through it!

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 04:17 PM

Best gig had to be seeing Walter Pardon in a pub in North Walsham, closely followed by the Young Tradition farewell concert.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: smuggler
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 03:59 PM

Seems to have widened a bit from Great Gigs to any memorable gigs. Has anyone seen a band they really took to and then next time they see them its a disaster?

Steeleye Span at Cromer Folk Festivalwere a prime example. The audience were walking out not too long after the beginning of their set. This follows on from so many great sessions by them seen all over the place in festivals and acoustic warm-ups. It was a very strange night when my memories of them were so positive.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 05:51 PM

I will let you know after tommorrow Wednesday 31 March harriWatts band first gig with their new third member.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Mooh
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 11:50 PM

Several, but these few stand out...

Roy Buchanan in Ottawa Ontario, March 1974, on a bill with Soft machine and the James Gang. Had actually gone to see the James Gang but they were forgetable next to Buchanan. I've been a Roy, and a Telecaster, fan ever since.

Oscar Peterson in Stratford Ontario, circa 1984, solo piano, no amplification. He's a genius.

Bruce Cockburn in Stratford, mid '80s, full band, very cool percussion, and defiant attitude. I wasn't really a fan until then...great songwriting, tight band. Have seen him since at labour rallies where he spoke his opinion fearlessly.

Tony McManus in Goderich Ontario, September 2001, solo acoustic guitar combining blazing chops with otherworldly sensitivity to the music. Several later concerts haven't changed my mind, he's fantastic.

Other notables: the Wrigley Sisters, Lunasa, Simon Mayor, Pink Floyd.

I've been a part of a few performances which are memorable for me. The first time a festival audience recognized a song of mine and some knew the words well enough to sing along was pretty cool, especially since that band doesn't do originals any more. Before my voice changed I was terrified to sing solo in church, but I was secretly thrilled to pull it off when I did. (Too bad my adult voice isn't as pleasing as my choirboy voice.) My fiddle and guitar duo has played some pretty killer little shows and just laughed them off because we haven't time to "go pro" (whatever that's supposed to mean), we're just having fun.

I DO regret not documenting every gig, it would make interesting reading 30+ years later.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Rasener
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 01:22 AM

Queen at the AHOY in Rotterdam.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 07:41 AM

I am reminded of the meaning of the word "Gig" as seen in This thread gives a hole new meaning to the thread title. Especially as responses so far seem to be concentrating on "gigs I've seen"

CHEERS

Nigel

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Ross
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 09:10 AM

Bay City Rollers at Pontins holiday camp in Scunthorpe

original line up - of course

the staff had painted little stars on the ceiling - heaven

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 09:13 AM

I second Skip: Planxty.

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: GUEST,Sledge
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 09:27 AM

I saw Martyn Joseph last year, it was amazing, afterwards I felt like I had been slapped, hard, in a nice way if that makes sense.

Sledge

Subject: RE: Great Gigs
From: LittleJack
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 09:51 AM

Seeing the Junction Pub mentioned up above reminds me of the first time I saw The Duncan McFarlane Band two years back. In credible!
Then they topped that with last years Holmfirth festival appearance supporting Chumbawamba - helluva night!
Who'd have thought they'd beat that?
Well! last weeks CD launch at Korks (only two doors up from the Junction!) was nothing short of magnificent!
And Maggie Boyle joined in for the entire second set (on flute mostly)
What a sound!
Roll on Holmfirth, Saddleworth and Otley Fests this year!
(Walton-on-the-Naze will be too far for me!)
Any other catters off to see 'em?