Holiday!
Added 2016-05-01 22:14:58 +0000 UTCNot a huge post this week as I've just finished an actual holiday! A week off and everything! I've been flinging myself around the UK seeing shows that I've had planned for over a year and a half in some cases.
I'm not big on sandy beaches or skiing (and the IRL channel proves both of those...) but I do like going to see proper music shows and meeting up with family, friends etc in the gaps. It makes for a nice cheap holiday and you don't have to get shots before you go*.
First up was ELO at the 02 (Picture added in the attachments). (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IlfCsj7gWQ if you've never heard them.) Jeff Lynne is a literal Rock God at this point. He's 68 and his voice hasn't missed a day. Behind him was a huge collection of LSD designed screen savers that animated along with each song. A superb show that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Next up was Roger Hodgson at the Royal Albert Hall (Pictured). (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZUE4_PtOk0 for those who've never heard of Supertramp) First off, the Royal Albert Hall is a beautiful venue. The sheer verticallity of it is quite strange. This isn't a bowl-like area, it's a Colosseum.
So DadCubed and I had wandered into old London town to hear Roger perform (as, apparently, had Jeremy Clarkson) and were expecting a pretty good show from the man who introduced both of us to music. What we got was quite possibly the greatest gig of all time. When Roger speaks the hall fades away and he's simply having a talk with you. He has WMD levels of charm. If he wanted to be president he'd just have to ask and, quite frankly, we'd let him have it. After he's sorted out the middle east by lunch we'd wonder why we never did this earlier.
But it's when he sings (and god damn did he sing, the show ran for over 2 and a half hours. Not bad for a 66 year old) that you realise why Supertramp have sold over 60 Million Albums. I've luckily heard many people in my life that I would call incredibly good singers. Roger is the only I'd call a Master. Every single note is loaded with power and emotion. Nothing missed the mark. He got 4 standing ovations. He might be touring again next year.
I'll be there.
- Dan
*If you're off to see a Britney Spears gig... get the shots.
Comments
There actually is a place here in town that has up-and-coming bands doing their gigs. I don't get to hear them often, but every 18 months or so I'll go with some friends to see one. I just don't get to go that often.
Jacob Springwood
2016-05-03 03:53:51 +0000 UTCI would bet there were a lot of big names in the audience.
Patrick Biggs
2016-05-03 00:03:59 +0000 UTCSee if any places have discounted student tickets, or go for some more local bands. You may not see major international stars, but there are lots of great smaller bands. And a group can all carpool - it's more fun that way anyway. Thats how I went to my first live music concerts, for about $5 per ticket.
Chris
2016-05-02 03:50:38 +0000 UTCI don't get to see live concerts very often, being a college student w/ no money and no car, but I'm glad you got to go out and have a fun time!
Jacob Springwood
2016-05-02 01:27:53 +0000 UTCNot for long if 2016 has anything to say about it
Darythe Hill
2016-05-02 01:14:47 +0000 UTCSounds awesome, saw both groups decades ago but not recently
John Patz
2016-05-01 22:42:06 +0000 UTCBack in the day when music actual had meaning, now all we have is auto-tuned frauds, money hogging whores and FRICKING DUBSTEP! It's good to know the oldies are still out there alive and kicking.
Stan Collins
2016-05-01 22:29:15 +0000 UTCNot my kind of music but it's cool nonetheless that these old folks still play.
Simon Paffett
2016-05-01 22:24:25 +0000 UTCGlad you could get some R&R, Dan =D
AvidAardvark
2016-05-01 22:22:42 +0000 UTCThe bloke in the header picture looks like James May. Am I the only one that thinks this?
Aidan Rayner
2016-05-01 22:20:35 +0000 UTCIs it bad that I hadn't heard of anyone he was talking about?
Your kids don’t like falafel
2016-05-01 22:19:56 +0000 UTCI get the Britney Spears thing! Woo! Sneezing!
Rachel Wolfe
2016-05-01 22:18:03 +0000 UTC
