OT - Music. Gigs. Sounds bought.

[MadAmster]

I never 'got' U2

Anyway, last night a totally different night, sampling the joys of a rock'n'roll ('proper' rock'n'roll, not this wimpy heavy metal stuff, I'm told) with the first 'alldayer' of the year. Billed as the 'Piss Up Of The Year', LOTS of Newcastle Brown (the chosen tipple of the devotees) was drunk, and the music was great, accepting the limitations of the genre. Of all the bands on the bill, there's a slim chance you'd know one, The Jets, who were a chart act in the 80's ('Love Makes he World Go Round' etc) and actually played a storming gig at the much missed Wherehouse back in the day. Not especially a fan of the music (I was there in a professional capacity), what struck me was the audience - I've been attending this event for 15 years, and those assembled have dwindled by maybe 10% per year to I'd say 400 souls now, and there's no evidence I can see that any 'new blood' is attending. The genre is slowly dying, and I hope that the critical mass of my own musical joint love, 'classic rock' doesn't go the same way

Re dwindling numbers. Similar thing at Northern Soul gigs. Not entirely sure if the total numbers are dwindling at gigs or if, as there are most weekends, there are more venues laying NS than there were back in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

New blood? There is some but not a lot. One exception is the rising scene in and around Bristol, started up by Levanna Mclean. She got into it via her Mum and now has her Mum's collection and has added more to it. She DJs and is a very good dancer and rose to prominence dancing to NS songs in various outdoor settings. Many still available on YouTube if there's anybody interested at watching an, IMO, attractive young blond dancing.

I'm no spring chicken at 70 and reach level 71 of the game of life, 4 weeks from today. Gigs are drying up and inside the next year, maybe 2, I'll be selling up the collection, decks, mixers, speakers.... and using the proceeds to get myself a 1954 MG TD. Basically because I can get way more for my gear than the family could once I've popped my clogs and they could very easily sell the car for what it's worth.

[Ramshank72]

so unmusical he even clapped out of tune

And he was a Forest fan

Lol!!!
Not a fan myself, heard similar stories about U2 live performances, usually along the lines of them preaching more than playing.
Mrs Shank is going down to see the Michael Jackson musical Saturday, I'm glad to be missing that one.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Hope she's not taking the grandkids! Or any monkeys that you might have for that matter. My idea of a few hours living hell.

[MadAmster]

Jan 6th, 2025. Bad Manners at P60 in Amstelveen. Me n 'er indoors went along. Bass guitarist, guitarist, sax, trombone, trumpet, keyboards, drums and... of course, the irrepressible Buster Bloodvessel.

The musicians were all competent or better and well worth a listen. Buster? Well he was Buster. Pretty static these days, witness the brace on his right knee, but still with a presence. Pleased to impart the news that his voice has not matured with age

However, what an entertainer! A thoroughly enjoyable evening of nostalgia. I also witnessed the oldest mosh pit I've ever seen. Average age well above 50. All went well apart from one poor soul who had to seek medical assistance. He was a fairly tall bloke, caught full in the face by a head attached to a body moving in an upwards direction. Bloody nose and lip for his troubles. He came back about 10 minutes later so it wasn't a serious injury.

Glad I went as it reminded me that we shouldn't always take music as seriously as we do. Last night may not have been, in a musical sense, the greatest concert ever but, damn, it was one hell of a party atmosphere and, it appears, they're back at the end of the year. I intend to be at that party.

[ramAnag]

Has he changed shape? Last I heard he was about 30 stones!

[MadAmster]

Has he changed shape? Last I heard he was about 30 stones!

He was ill a while ago and lost a lot of weight but he proudly announced last night that he was back to his old self, referring to himself as a "fat basterd".

Misspelling is on purpose...

[MadAmster]

Recent buys...

Dramatics = All because of you for ?80, sold it for ?180 and Donald Fart thinks he knows a good deal (already had a copy and knew there was money to be made)

Jimmey (Soul) Clarke = (Come on and be my) Sweet Darlin' (promo copy) cost ?70, could sell it for twice that.

Also got some concert tickets from er indoors for my birthday. April 10th we're off to see The Selecter in de Melkweg in Amsterdam. Last saw them, also in Melkweg, in 2017 together with the Beat. Cracking night that was.

[ramAnag]

Sad to learn of the death of Roberta Flack yesterday. Didn’t appreciate her fully as a kid because I was into things other than soul, but she’s become a ‘go to’ on my Spotify playlists. Loss of a legend, gone but never forgotten.

[MadAmster]

Sad to learn of the death of Roberta Flack yesterday. Didn’t appreciate her fully as a kid because I was into things other than soul, but she’s become a ‘go to’ on my Spotify playlists. Loss of a legend, gone but never forgotten.

Add in Tommy Hunt (Five Echoes and then Flamingos before going solo), Chris Jasper (Isley Bros and Isley, Jasper, Isley) and Jerry Butler (The Impressions and then solo) and it's been a sad, sad fortnight for soulies.

Saw yesterday John Fogerty is doing a gig at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam in June. Would have liked to have gone but at 130 Euro a throw, no thanks. I'll play a couple of his old CCR tracks on vinyl instead.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Don't forget Rick Buckler, drummer with the Jam from your list of recent departures