APFS - The Anvil Basingstoke

 

It was good to see this great band in a smaller venue. It was a complete sell-out and deservedly so. The personnel may be constantly evolving, but the quality of musicianship and visuals are always top notch.

 

They played a wide range of stuff with an emphasis on songs from the newer albums.

 

Once or twice they went a bit too far in delivering their own interpretations for my liking. I still prefer performances that are closer to the original.

 

They managed to fit in a 30' inflatable 'teacher' (The Wall) and then this huge inflatable Kangaroo of course. A great rocking experience. I'm looking forward to Roger Waters performing The Wall at the O2 in May!

The Lightning Seeds - Basingstoke

Caught the Lightning Seeds at The Anvil in Basingstoke at the end of their UK tour - good gig. The music was very good with interesting interpretations and variations on the recorded form. Ian Broudie is so laid back and/or painfully shy that he never quite manages to whip even a willing crowd into a frenzy of adulation and 'lostness' within the music. He did manage to get us on our feet bopping along and the final finale song - Three Lions - got a very enthusiastic response in this World Cup year (dream on England!).

It was odd in that the band were not introduced. They provided a very tight and rhythmically pounding foundation for Broudie's guitar picking and syrupy vocal style. The girl playing keyboards - and much more besides - was amazing and has a great voice. Who was she, where else does she play?

There was a good-sized crowd there who were appreciative of what was performed. Looking forward to getting the new album.

Roger Waters 2010 The Wall Tour

Apparently, the tour dates for his tour will be announced tomorrow at 2 pm EST on his new website.

There will no doubt to a huge demand for these and they will be costly I'm sure.

I remember buying The Wall 30 years ago and being underwhelmed. As each year has passed, the profound nature of Water's lyrics and the transcendent quality of the music has grown and now it occupies a place very much at the centre of Pink Floyd's canon of creativity.

Chris Rea at the The New Theatre Oxford

Firstly an admission that this is a pic I borrowed from a web search.

Secondly, let me begin by mentioning the support act Paul Casey from Derry in Northern Ireland. A singer songwriter of some ability. I particularly enjoyed the way in which he was able to coax a range of sound that was akin to an orchestra in its breadth, from his acoustic steel-stringed guitar. It was only a 25 minute set, but it was a strong performance and he deserves to do well. His self-deprecating patter between songs was an act of entertainment in its own right.

Paul Casey performing in Derry (with another borrowed pic!)

Now, back to the main act.

This is the first time I had seen Chris Rea live. I have owned a couple of his albums for a number of years. I am a natural fan of blues of rock so I guess it's easy to see that I would like this stuff. He didn't disappoint. What was refreshing was that he was accompanied by an additional five musicians that meant the sound-scape was rich and vibrant, full of detail and power - which was restrained more than uncontrolled. With two additional guitars, it was a full-on sound. what is more is the bass was allowed to be way forward in the mix which gave the whole thing  a driving urgency that demanded emotional engagement.

It is a matter of taste whether you prefer the slide guitar that Rea has become an acknowledged master of, or something more 'pure' like David Gilmour's Pink Floyd style (yes I know he plays slide very well too!). What is beyond doubt is Rea's vocal style which is forceful and gravelly.

The set was 1 hour 40 minutes to the second, including encore - extremely energising and enjoyable. A new studio album is due out in June once he has completed this marathon tour. Check it out.

Mairearad Green - Passing Places

If you want to listen to something different, try this album from Mairearad Green from Wester Ross in Scotland. I was watching BBC Alba - as you do - one evening and they were showing Celtic Connections which was a festival of contemporary Scottish folk music. It was amazing.

As it says on her site, "Written for Celtic Connections 2009, takes the form of a musical and filmic journey through the spectacular scenery and cultural riches of the Coigach peninsula, in Mairearad’s native Wester Ross."

Her composition and accordion playing style is very lyrical and the songs move along with a fair lilt. Every now and again the music lapses into a highland jazz-lounge fusion which is a bit awkward at first but after a few listens begins to settle down!

I would recommend this - well worth a listen.