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It's not Tiffany's

The first time I saw U2 live was Tiffany's in the Merrion Centre in Leeds in 1981. Those of you of a certain age will recall the delights of the iffiest club in Leeds and it's fur coat and no knickers sister club, Bali Hai. Bands regularly played there as venues were pretty scarce.

It blew me away. As a young art college student at Jacob Kramer Art College, I'd not seen anything like it. They possessed the energy of recently deceased punk and the passion and belief of the post punk movement.

That was a long time ago and it's fair to say I've followed their development closely with something that's veered from a detached, critical eye to complete fan obsession. As I grew up so did the band. As I became more irresponsible, so did they. And when they were pompous and full of pretense, I had a go at that too.

I think they are one of the true 'Marmite' bands - you either love them or hate them. And with their lead singer further polarising opinion around the world, most people know where they stand on the love/hate U2 question.

Well, I saw the 360 tour live at Wembley on Saturday night and 88,000 left the stadium very happy indeed, safe in the knowledge that the biggest and best rock band in the world haven't lost their touch. The staging was truly incredible and in danger of overshadowing the band, but the heart and soul I saw in Tiffany's in Leeds in 1981 has been the one of the constants in a band never afraid to look radical change in the eye.

A lesson to all creative people: never be afraid of change - it you fail, move on and change again. Embrace it and in the end you'll ultimately succeed.

The Library, Morecambe

As part of an enlightened spot of gig planning, I saw British Sea Power play in the library in Morecambe on Friday night. 

This outrageous bit of promotion saw one of our most innovative and forward thinking bands play in a truly exceptional venue - an octagonal 70s library in one of the country's best loved seaside towns. Whilst the support played and the roadies tuned up the instruments, the tiny audience perused the thriller section and made the most of the well stocked graphic novel aisle. 

The band opened amidst the rock and pop section and ended the evening  with members of the audience wrapped in audience survey maps from around the country. As ever, the band played with real gusto and despite the fact there was no bar in sight - this was a library after all - it was a truly memorable evening.

Footnote: Morecambe has a brilliant memorial to Eric Morecambe (now you know) and a fabulously restored art deco hotel (The Midland) that has views to die for. Watch out for more library gigs - they plan some more - it's well worth the trip.

Scott Matthews

Spent a rather overheated evening last night at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. A few of us had a trip out to see our favourite singer / songwriter / troubadour, Scott Matthews. 

After spending the entire day relaxing in the sun, crowding into a small, dark club seemed complete madness but I have to say it was completely worth it. His new album, Elsewhere is out now and well worth a pop - although I would recommend his first album, Passing Stranger, too which is a work of genius.

Here's the obligatory camera phone pic, apologies for the quality!

 

En Hommage a Courtney Pine

After what seemed like marathon of events and meetings in London last week, I stayed down there for the weekend and could finally relax on Saturday night at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club on Frith Street.

For anybody who hasn't been there it's a really intimate small jazz venue, with worldwide status. Waitresses and waiters squeeze in between little tables with lamps to serve the eager punters red wine and fillet steak. Whilst the action from major stars from the Jazz world takes place on the small stage at the front. 

It was a pretty special occasion with Arnie Somogyi's Ambulance kicking off the night with an aggressive mix of improvisation and smooth modern rifts. Then followed by the main event - Courtney Pine playing his new album 'Transition in Tradition: En Hommage a Sidney Bechet'

There's too much to say about him on this blog, but it was outstanding! The man played for 4 solid hours without a break. Which when your busting a gut blowing into everything from a sax to a flute to a clarinet and making sounds your crowd think are impossible, is no easy task. I took my Dad who hadn't been to Ronnie Scotts since 1961, to see another excellent saxophonist Tubby Hayes. After the show Courtney took the time to talk to him about times gone by, which made his night. 

Buy the CD and play your own tribute to this fine musician.

A local poet with the face of Mr. Bean.

Watched a great programme last night about Jake Thackray. He always used to be on late night programmes in the 60s and 70s singing weird satirical songs. I never could quite work out what he was all about but when the programme revealed his interest in George Brassins and Jacques Brel it all made sense. A Leeds guy heavily influenced by French Troubadours, an odd combination that made him seem like he was from another time and another planet. What a writer though. But we do good poets round these parts – Ted Hughes, Tony Harrison, Simon Armitage.

He’s often accused of being an bit of a misogynist. See what you think:

I love a good bum on a woman, it makes my day.

To me it is palpable proof of God's existence, a posteriori.

Also I love breasts and arms and ankles, elbows, knees;

It's the tongue, the tongue, the tongue on a woman that spoils the job for me.

Please understand I respect and admire the frailer sex

And I honour them every bit as much as the next misogynist.

But give some women the ghost of a chance to talk and thereupon

They go on again, on again, on again, on again, on again, on again, on.

 

More curliness

Looks like it was gig night for the Thompson team. Beth Rowley was playing the City Varieties in Leeds and Goldfrapp were on at the Academy -  quite a coincidence that two fabulous female vocalists with blonde curly hair were in Leeds on a Monday night in November.

Although the previous post makes a good case for Alison Goldfrapp being the best female vocalist ever, I'd like to put a bid in for Beth Rowley. Her incredible blues and gospel soaked voice was mightily impressive and she rocked the old Varieties theatre (surely the coolest small venue in Leeds). As they say in the trade she really does have an impressive set of pipes on her.

Ursine Ultra

The return of the bear.

Those regular readers of this blog will already be more than familiar with my fixation - some may say obsession, but I like to think that a little strong but you will ultimately be the judge - on the idiosyncratic character and stirring music of British Sea Power.

Currently touring the UK, I caught up with them at Leeds Met on Monday evening which was, as it turned out, a perfectly proportioned venue for a band of this stature. Surely the most eclectic crowd for a rock band saw a priceless performance perfectly judged and delivered with maximum eccentricity and energy.

This tour saw the return of the magnificent bear and he joined the band onstage for the encore taking a few bows and punches along with the adulation of the crowd. Easy.

Mercury Music Prize

On the eve of the announcement of this year's winner for the much-coveted Mercury Music Prize, I'll be rooting for British Sea Power's 'Do you like Rock Music?'.

An album of rare beauty and magnificence covering a diverse range of topics from bird flu, infamous wrestler Big Daddy and the great Canvey Island floods of 1952.

Although they are outsiders to bag the prize (surely Elbow or Radiohead will prevail), hope springs eternal that the unpredictable Mercury judges might pull something unexpected out of the bag.

Do you like rock music?

Thompson head to Leeds Festival

Well, its another festival weekend and this time its Leeds/Reading Festival. Phil, Josh & myself and our friends and family will be pitching our tents tonight in preparation for a weekend of slumming it. Wellies, beer and munchies are all packed and we're all just hoping for some good weather. We'll report back next week on how it went.

A return to the Classics

Not sure what's happening in studio today but we seem to be listening to Classic FM. This makes a distinct change from the usual genres of choice, ranging from rap to indie but never before incorporating Mozart (that's him in the picture for all you non culture vultures)