Father John Misty – Leeds Academy, 11th May 2016

Anyone who went along to see Father John Misty expecting to see a continuation of his work with Fleet Foxes would have been largely disappointed. The two albums released under this name by Josh Tillman, Fear Fun and I Love You, Honeybear,  have their acoustic/folk moments but the songs played live with a six piece band become full on rockers. The songs gain quite a bit from the change but I find Tilman’s performance, described by The Guardian as “Jim Morrison’s head on Jarvis Cockers’s body”, disconcerting. It’s as though he wants to be a rock god but hasn’t quite worked out how yet. It’ll be worth seeing what progress he’s made next time he tours.

Equally interesting were the support, Texan band Khruangbin, who play largely instrumentals, only the final song has vocals. The sound is a strange mix of psychedelia and funk. I’m really looking forward to seeing them again so I can decide if I like them or not!

Father John Misty Set List: Everyman Needs A Companion; Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings; When You’re Smiling And Astride Me; Only Son of the Ladiesman; Tee Pees 1-12; Nothing Good Ever Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow; Funtimes In Babylon; Nancy From Now On; Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins); I’m Writing A Novel; Now I’m Learning To Love The War; Bored In The USA; Holy Shit; True Affection; This is Sally Hatchet; I Love You, Honeybear.
Encore: I Went To The Store One Day; Closer; The Ideal Husband

October 2013

12 October – The first show in a busy month sees me making a trip over the Pennines with Stephen and the GLW to see Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Phones4U Arena in Manchester. I’ve loved CSN since I went on a caravan holiday to Withernsea in 1970 with a portable cassette player and two tapes, Crosby Stills and Nash’s first album and the Glenn Miller Story soundtrack. Not so keen on Glenn Miller though. They’re now all in their 70s but are still excellent, using their younger band members to cover the cracks when necessary, which isn’t often. Stephen Stills is still a great guitarist and why he never gets a mention when lists are made is a puzzle to me. Almost uniquely for a band of this vintage they’re still writing and performing new songs. I could have done without the ‘choir’ sitting behind us though. Set list Set 1: Carry On/Questions; Military Madness; Long Time Gone; Southern Cross; Lay Me Down; Bluebird; Cathedral; Radio; Don’t Want Lies; Golden Days; Déjà Vu; Love the One You’re With Set 2: Helplessly Hoping; Just a Song Before I Go; Guinevere; Treetop Flyer; What Are Their Names; Burning for the Buddha; Triad; Our House; Almost Cut My Hair; Teach Your Children; Wooden Ships.
Encore: For What It’s Worth

13 October – The next night it’s down to the Poly to see Johnny Marr. Johnny is another great guitar player, although he does get mentioned in the lists. it’s an entertaining show but the criticisms I make are firstly that his voice isn’t strong enough to be the lead vocalist and secondly the new material is no better than workmanlike, something highlighted every time he does a Smiths number or the two other covers he played. Hopefully as time progresses these things will improve. Set List: Upstarts; Panic; The Right Thing Right; Sun & Moon; The Crack Up; Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before; New Town Velocity; The Messenger; Lockdown; Say Demesne;  Generate! Generate!; Bigmouth Strikes Again; Word Starts Attack; I Want the Heartbeat; How Soon Is Now?
Encore: Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want; The It-Switch; I Fought the Law; Getting Away with It; There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

16 October – A trip to the Brudenell Social Club and another night of seeking to re-live my youth with Stephen! This time it’s to see Spear Of Destiny on their 30th Anniversary Tour, supported by Leeds’ very own Expelaires and Barnsley’s The Danse Society.  The Expelaires open proceedings with a good set despite the absence of guitarist Dave Wolfenden due to illness. Their joined on the last song by SOD bassist, and original Expelaires keyboard player, Craig Adams. The Danse Society are not my cup of tea, sub standard Siouxsie and the The Banshees. For me Spear Of Destiny are entertaining without setting the place on fire, although most of the audience go nuts!

19 October – Another chance for me to see Smoke Faires, this time at a venue that’s new to me, Leeds College of Music. They’ve just released Ghosts a two CD set of their early recording, both released and unreleased. Tonight they’re augmented by Rasputina, who also act as support, two cellists and a percussionist, as strange a line up as I’ve seen and best described as intriguing. The Smoke Fairies are as great as always and thoroughly recommended.

22 October – This is the gig highlight of the year for me. The first UK shows in 30 years by Graham Parker and the Rumour. Stephen and I arrived early so that I could see the support, The Silver Seas, who I’d heard on Spotify. On the night it’s just Daniel Tashian, their singer and guitarist, and while he’s entertaining it’s no more than that. Graham Parker and The Rumour, on the other hand, are outstanding. Everything I’d hoped for and more. They played as though they’d never been apart with a mix of classic songs and cuts from their new album, Three Chords Good. I even though the Academy wasn’t that bad a venue. The really good news is they’re playing some more dates next year! Set List: Fool’s Gold; White Honey; Howlin’ Wind; Thunder & Rain; Snake Oil; Lady Doctor; Old Soul; Black Honey; 3 Chords Good; A Lie Gets Halfway…; Long Emotional Ride; Hotel Chambermaid; Soul On Ice; Discovering Japan; Don’t Get Excited; Watch The Moon; Protection; Stupefaction; Local Girls.
Encore: Passion Is No Ordinary Word; Don’t Ask Me Questions.
Encore (2): Soul Shoes.

May 2013

After a quiet April May has been almost hectic!

3 May – Seeing The Strypes at The Cockpit reminded me of seeing Dr Feelgood for the first time in 1975 at St George’s Hall in Bradford. The live music scene then was a desert of prog rock bands and over sensitive singer/songwriters so the Feelgoods were a welcome shock to the system. I remember thinking that watching them must have been like seeing the Stones give a good shoeing to the Dickie Valentines and Donald Peers of the world in 1963.

But of course we’ve moved on since 1975 and The Strypes bring us up to 1966 and The Yardbirds! They play, in fine style, some R’nB’ standards – I’m A Hog For You Baby; Stormy Monday; You Can’t Judge A Book and I’m A Man – mixed with a smattering of originals such as current single Blue Collar Jane and have the sold out crowd eating out of their hands. And any band that closes with Nick Lowe’s Heart Of The City has to have something going for them.

This very young four piece, from Cavan in Eire, may not be the future of Rock’n’Roll but they may well be its past!

8 May – If there is a better Country singer than Emmylou Harris please point me in her direction. She’s worked with Rodney Crowell, a fine singer and songwriter, on and off since he first joined her Hot Band in 1975 and finally they’ve recorded an album together under their own names, Old Yellow Moon and now they’re touring to support it. It’s a fine collection of songs and they play most of it as well as songs from across their careers, including one of my favourite songs of all time, Till I Gain Control Again. Emmylou continues to pay tribute to her mentor, Gram Parsons, by singing songs written by or associated with him.

Because of its acoustics the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester is a great venue for this type of show. Every instrument counts and you can hear them.

Here’s a Spotify playlist of Emmylou singing songs written by Rodney, and yes it includes  Till I Gain Control Again.

9 May –When my friend Stephen suggested going to see OMD at the O2 Academy I must confess I had my doubts. I first saw them at the first Futurama Festival in 1979, when they were still a duo using a tape machine to provide percussion, and then a couple of times after that, lastly at the converted tram shed that was Leeds Queens Hall on an extremely snowy night in 1981 on the Architecture & Morality tour. The reason for my reluctance was that I didn’t want to be disappointed. Thankfully I decided to go and I wasn’t disappointed. Andy McCluskey is probably singing better than ever and with songs as good as Tesla Girls; Souvenir; Joan of Arc; Maid of Orleans; Talking Loud and Clear; Enola Gay and Electricity they can’t go far wrong.

I was still disappointed they didn’t play Red Frame/White Light though.

Support is from John Foxx and The Maths, who play a decent set.

11 May – John Grant made my favourite album of 2010, Queen Of Denmark. He’s now released its follow up Pale Green Ghosts, which is good but not equal to its predecessor, live though the songs sound much better and don’t suffer in comparison. Ably backed by a five piece band he plays his brutally personal songs to an appreciative audience. In contrast to the songs his between song chat is amusing and he told a very funny story, possibly apocryphal, about Ernest Borgnine in introducing the song of the same name. It’s a cliché but he really can sing anything and make it sound great.

17 May – The Mavericks are particular favourites of the GLW so it’s back to the Bridgewater Hall. I think they’re an underrated band, not given credit for their fusing of Country and Latin styles due to the fact they’ve had hit singles. The audience don’t care about that though. A band with this much musical talent and the voice of Raul Malo are not going to go far wrong. Hard to pick standouts from the set but there is a great cover of Springsteen’s All That Heaven Will Allow.

21 May – My concern about going to see Georgie Fame at The Brudenell Social Club was that it would be too ‘jazzy’. Stephen’s persuasive power convinced me to go with him and I’m glad I did! He plays as a trio, with Georgie on Hammond Organ and his sons James and Tristan on guitar and drums, and treats us to a set of songs and some amusing anecdotes about his career and people he has worked with and met, my favourite concerns Hoagy Carmichael. The opener is Green Onions, the song that inspired Fame to buy a Hammond. He plays some of his hits: Get Away, Yeh Yeh and The Ballad of Bonnie And Clyde as well as some soul and blues standards. There’s a Rugby League mention too as Georgie makes two references to former Leeds centre Syd Hynes, famously sent off at Wembley in 1971 against Fame’s home town team, Leigh.

23 May – The Handsome Family are always a delight to see, especially in an intimate venue like the Brudenell. They have a new CD, Wilderness, out and play most of the tracks from it mixed in with some of their ‘ought to be’ classics such as The Bottomless Hole. A treat at their shows is the between song chat and tonight they’re as funny as ever. Always highly recommended.

March 2013

15 March – An excellent night at The Brudenell.

The opening act is Louise Distras, a young woman with a guitar. Too ‘shouty’ for my taste.

The Adverts were one of my favourite ‘Punk’ bands; apparently shambolic but underpinned by great tunes and intelligent lyrics. Unfortunately my chance to see them in 1977 came and went while I was in hospital having my appendix removed. Now, finally, I get to see their mainstay, TV Smith. It’s surprising what one man and a guitar can do with these songs. He plays six Adverts’ songs and 12 others from across the rich tapestry of his solo career. I’m far from disappointed, although I have one quibble – why no songs from Tales Of The Great Explorer?

I saw The Ruts a couple of times before the too early death of vocalist Malcolm Owen, in 1980, and very good they were too. Ruts DC was formed by the surviving members and split up in 1983. In 2007 they reformed to play a benefit for guitarist Paul Fox, who died later that year. I doubt I would have ventured out to see them if TV Smith hadn’t been supporting them. That would have been a mistake! Dave Ruffy (drums) and Segs (bass) are as fine a rhythm section as any produced in the UK and with Leigh Heggarty on guitars, Seamus Beaghan on Hammond organ and Molara on additional vocals and percussion they evidence that again tonight. They play some great reggae tunes and then a procession of Ruts’ classics including In A Rut, Babylon’s Burning, Shine On (West One) and Staring At The Rude Boys.

Next time they play Leeds it won’t matter who the support is!

TV Smith set list: Only One Flavour; What If?; No Time To Be 21; Replay; Coming in to Land; Lion And The Lamb; Expensive Being Poor; Immortal Rich; Great British Mistake; Generation Y; You Saved My Life Then Ruined It; Dangerous Playground; New Church; Long Gone; In The Arms Of My Enemy; Gary Gilmore’s Eyes; Bored Teenagers; One Chord Wonders.

22 March – The nostalgia theme of 2013 continues and tonight it’s Lene Lovich, who I first saw at Leeds University on the Be Stiff tour in 1978 and last saw at Bradford University in 1979, at The Brudenell. There’s no new material tonight but given the quality of the songs that’s not a problem, she plays all the hits and all the songs that should have been hits. The highlight is a wonderful version of I Think We’re Alone Now, her Japanese language version of which I’m sure I still have in my loft. Lene is 63 now but you wouldn’t think so given the energy of her performance. Hopefully she’ll record some new material and not leave it quite so long before she tours again.

23 March – As Brian and Laura’s Christmas present I’m letting them accompany me to the O2 Academy to see Gaslight Anthem at the O2 Academy.

Gaslight Anthem are a band you need to see play live to appreciate how good they are, fine though their recordings are, and I’m hoping there’ll be a live album soon. Highlights tonight include Brian Fallon’s between song chat and an excellent version of Dylan’s Changing of the Guard.

The Academy audience are as poor as ever but next time I wouldn’t be surprised to see them playing the Arena.

Set list: High Lonesome; Casanova, Baby!: The ’59 Sound; Even Cowgirls Get the Blues; The Spirit of Jazz; Orphans; Old Haunts; The Queen of Lower Chelsea; 45; Handwritten; Here Comes My Man; Too Much Blood; Changing of the Guards; 1930; The Navesink Banks; I’da Called You Woody, Joe; Great Expectations; Keepsake 

Encore: She Loves You; Howl; Say I Won’t (Recognize);  Meet Me by the River’s Edge; Mulholland Drive; Here’s Looking at You, Kid; The Backseat 

31 March – It’s a first trip to Nation of Shopkeepers to see The Rockingbirds, another band that has reunited, this time after a 13 year break. They have a new CD available, The Return of The Rockingbirds, and very good it is too.

They play a number of songs from it alongside their earlier material. Sadly they didn’t play their tribute to Jonathan Richman, Jonathan Jonathan, but apparently you can’t have everything!

Clearly influenced by Gram Parsons they are, without a doubt, England’s leading Country Rock band and you should go see them if you get the chance.

December 2012

December 1 – I’ve written before that home town shows are usually great and Elbow at the MEN Arena was no exception. This was their penultimate date before taking a year off to record a new album and they have developed in to a fine live band, exceptional musicians and probably the best front man in the country in Guy Garvey. They played almost everything you’d expect, with just one new song. I’m already looking forward to the new album and a chance to hear them play it live.

Set List: High Ideals; The Bones of You; Grace Under Pressure; Mirrorball; Charge; Leaders of the Free World; Grounds for Divorce; The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver; The Night Will Always Win; Weather to Fly; Fugitive Motel; Puncture Repair; Lippy Kids; The Birds; Open Arms
Encore: Starlings; Station Approach; One Day Like This

December 4 – For the first time ever I was considering not going to see Squeeze when they’re playing in West Yorkshire. This was due to the price of the tickets which, even for a band I love, seemed to be a tad high and that they were playing the Leeds O2 Academy. Fortunately my friend Stephen asks me if I’m going so I say “Yes”! He gets seats in the balcony and we arrive early to see the support act.

This is Paul Heaton who plays a storming set, which includes a couple of gems each from his Housemartins and Beautiful South past as well as songs from his (excellent) solo albums before finishing with a stunning version of Caravan Of Love.

To be fair to Squeeze they make a habit of picking excellent supports and then go on to show why they’re headlining. They play a mix of familiar favourites, obscure songs and four ‘new ones’. The new songs are the first new Squeeze material for 14 years!

After the show I bought a recording of the show on CD, with a bonus CD consisting of studio recordings of the new songs. Next time they tour I won’t be thinking of not going.

Now Playing – This mon

th I

‘ve been listening to a lot of Graham Parker & The Rumour. This was triggered by getting their new album, their first in 31 years, Three Chord

s Good

. It’s a lot less frenetic than their previous stuff but no worse for that. It directed me back to their earlier albums, particularly

Heat Tre

atment and Squeezing Out Sparks, and some BBC In Concert recordings.  I was transported back to the many times I saw them in the mid to late 70’s, mostly at the St Georges Hall in Bradford. They were always great and it’s still a mystery to me how they couldn’t translate live popularity in to record sales, although they were not the only group that suffered from that problem.

GP & The Rumour played some American dates to support their album so I’m desperately hoping they play some in England, and in travelling distance for me, in 2013. I’m going to see The Expelaires, also reuniting after about 30 years, in January and have tickets to see Gaslight Anthem. No doubt there’ll be other people I want to see but one group that I’m particularly interested in seeing is The Strypes, a young Irish band that are getting a lot of press. you can see them here.

March 2012

6 March – I’m not familiar with Laura Marling, despite her being very popular with the media, but my friend has a spare ticket so I agree to go along and see her at the Leeds O2 Academy.
The audience clearly love her but, while she’s not unpleasant, I find her unremarkable. To my ears she sounds too much like other female singers, particular Joni Mitchell, and I feel she needs to forge a more distinctive style.
One  thing she does do with which I agree whole heartedly, she refuses to play an encore. She says they are an affectation and she’s right.

18 March – As our belated Christmas present from Laura and Brian the GLW and I join them to see The Civil Wars at Leeds Metropolitan University. The show has been moved from the original venue The Wardrobe due to ticket demand and with good reason. The place is packed!
Their sound is just their gorgeous harmonies,underpinned by John Paul White’s guitar. They are fine songwriters and perform most of their debut album Barton Hollow. In addition they perform excellent covers of Portishead’s Sour Times, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, slowed down to a soulful shuffle, and Leonards Cohen’s Dance Me to The End Of Love.
There are echoes of other Americana artists, particularly Chatham County Line, but unlike Laura Marling they bring something of themselves.

December 2011

1 December – Just one show this month, Fleet Foxes at the O2 Academy, Leeds.

The last time I saw them here in June 2009 the experience was, at best, poor. The band played well enough but the audience were awful, noisy and seemingly not wanting to listen. As a result I couldn’t persuade the GLW, who is an enormous Fleet Foxes fan, to accompany me this time.  Of course I constantly expect hope to triumph over experience. I’m not disappointed. I think I’ve learned a key lesson in going to the Leeds Academy – stand well clear of the bars.

Tonight the band is excellent, performing a well-judged mix of songs from their début album and the (relatively) new Helplessness Blues, with 11 of its 12 tracks getting an airing. There are also 2 songs from the Giant Sun EP. Robin Pecknold performs the first two songs of the encore solo and this may well be a sign of what’s coming next.

They do need to see a stylist about that facial hair though.

Setlist: The Plains / Bitter Dancer; Mykonos; English House; Battery Kinzie; Bedouin Dress; Sim Sala Bim; Your Protector; White Winter Hymnal; Ragged Wood; Montezuma; He Doesn’t Know Why; Lorelai; The Shrine / An Argument; Blue Spotted Tail; Grown Ocean

Encore: Someone You’d Admire; Tiger Mountain Peasant Song; Sun It Rises; Blue Ridge Mountains; Helplessness Blues

April 2011

7 April – I can’t begin to explain how much I loved The Clash. When their first album came out I was working for the DHSS and every day I came home and put it on as loudly as I could get away with. They were great live too so I was mortified when Mick Jones left. He went on to form Big Audio Dynamite and, while not The Clash, they were pretty good, creating a then new fusion of rock, pop, reggae and rap. The original BAD line up split up in 1990. When I saw that they were getting back together, with the original line up and were playing Leeds O2 Academy I didn’t need to think twice about getting a ticket.

The set list is drawn from the four albums this line up recorded, with the exception of Rush which appeared in the encore. The audience go nuts, Mick Jones, as cool as ever, is still my guitar hero.

Set List: Medicine Show; Beyond The Pale; A Party; V Thirteen; BAD; Just Play Music; C’Mon Every Beatbox; Sightsee M.C!; The Battle of All Saints Road; Rewind

Encore: The Bottom Line; E=MC2; Rush

20 April – The GLW is a big fan of Simone Felice so needs no persuading to join me on a trip to The Brudenell Social Club to see him. I can’t remember the full set list but I recall he played Shine On;  Summer Morning Rain; The Morning I Get To Hell; Union Street; If You Ever Get Famous and One More American Song. All evidence of his classic songwriting skills.

Tonight’s Neil Young cover is Long May You Run.

As ever a rewarding evening out.

27 April – I’ve never heard Doug Paisley but The Hee Haw Sessions tell me they’re promoting him so I pop along to MySpace to have a listen.

Liking what I hear I decide to go along to Upstairs@Santiago to see him. Good decision. I find that,with one or two exceptions, someone singing and playing an acoustic guitar can only hold my attention for 20 – 30 minutes. The Toronto based singer/songwriter becomes one of the exceptions. My favourite songs tonight are What About Us, from his CD Doug Paisley, and a superb version of the Merle Travis song Dark As  A Dungeon.

Both his albums, Doug Paisley and Constant Companion, are highly recommended.

January 2011

27 January, Smoke Fairies at The Brudenell Social Club.  This is my first show of the year and, as seems to becoming a tradition at these, I’m joined by my GLW.

I first saw the band in York in October 2009, supporting Richard Hawley in York. I said then: “I’m looking forward to seeing them again”. Well since then they’ve  played the 2010 SXSW and plenty of other live shows. It’s obvious that this has really improved them as a live band. Their music continues to be an interesting mix of folk/blues and bluegrass. You can see a couple of rather darkly lit videos here, filmed by the pillock who was blocking my view! I heartily recommend their  excellent CD, Through Low Light And Trees. Once again I’m looking forward to seeing them again, but much sooner this time, I hope.

30 January, Band Of Horses at Leeds O2 Academy. I didn’t know anything by BOH until my mate Julien burnt  me a copy of Infinite Arms. I liked it so much I bought it myself! Tonight I’m accompanying Julien to see them and they are fantastic! Excellent musicians, spot on harmonies and between song banter that is both funny and modest. They play 21 tracks and not a duffer amongst them. The song that raises the roof from a sell out crowd is Factory. Go see them if you get the chance.

Set List: Part One; Ode to LRC; Bats; Factory;Compliments; Marry Song; Cigarettes, Wedding Bands; Window Blues; Laredo; NW Apt.; Is There A Ghost?; The Great Salt Lake; Dujour Of The Day;  Older; The General Specific; Weed Party; Islands on the Coast; Monsters; Evening Kitchen; No One’s Gonna Love You; The Funeral.

November 2010

11 November – Raul Malo at The Arts Theatre, Nottingham. Although probably best known as the front man of The Mavericks there has always been more than just country music to Raul as he’s sought to blend it with latin, jazz and rock’n’roll. Tonight he’s performing with the excellent accordionist Michael Guerra. Highlights include Lucky One, Crying Time, Something Stupid and particularly Hot Burrito #1. A lighter note was his introduction to Roy Orbison’s Crying, which featured an Orbison style version of Puff The Magic Dragon.

17 November – Gaslight Anthem at The Leeds O2 Academy. It’s a Wednesday so the show starts promptly as they have to get us all out to start the club night that follows. I miss the support but that’s not unusual these days. A Bruce Springsteen connection and a recommendation from my nephew-in-law (is there such a thing?), Brian first drew my attention to the Gaslight Anthem but having caught it it’s their music that retains it. Their latest CD, American Slang, is a fine recording and is well featured with 8 of its 10 tracks being played tonight. What I particularly like about them, and haven’t seen for a while, is the way they grab the audience and just refuse to let go.  For me the standouts, from a 27 song setlist, were Old White Lincoln, Meet Me By The River’s Edge, Great Expectations, The ’59 Sound, new song Goodnight Irene and American Slang. These boys rock in a way few bands do these days. A great night out with Brian, I’m looking forward to seeing them again.

26 November – The Lightning Seeds/Squeeze at Leeds O2 Academy. I’ve said it before, and no doubt will again, but the Leeds Academy is probably my least favourite venue in the country. In addition to the usual non-stop talkers tonight I’m treated to the sight of two jokers relieving themselves in to plastic beer glasses and then just put them on the floor!

The Lightning Seeds are a perfect support band for Squeeze – classic pop songs, such as Life Of Riley and Lucky You get the audience in just the right mood for the headliners.

I’ve seen Squeeze more times than I care to remember and every time they deliver a great show. Their latest CD, Spot The Difference, is a collection of note for note re-recordings of their best known songs, apparently done for copyright reasons. Tonight, as ever, they play those classics but throw in some unexpected gems from their back catalogue. Highlights for me included: having Steve Nieve back on keyboards, starting with Black Coffee In Bed instead of leaving it for the encore, Tempted, Hourglass, Goodbye Girl, Model, Slap And Tickle, It’s So Dirty and Slaughtered, Gutted & Heartbroken.

By the way, if you’re a Squeeze fan it’s worth seeking out a copy of Spot The Difference as the European edition includes a bonus disc recorded live at The Fillmore on their 2010 American tour.

Some more comedy this month too. Chris Addison at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Dara O’Briain at Leeds Grand Theatre are both very funny, showing why they are so well regarded. Highly recommended.