rate the last gig you went to

I'm guessing they don't make it to Canada that often (despite Norman living there) so I would give it a go. They will still sound like a great power-pop band regardless. But yeah, Gerry's distinctive voice will be a huge loss.

I discovered The Homosexuals at the Shacklewell Arms a few years ago. I loved the gig ! There's a compilation:
thehomosexuals.bandcamp.com/album/astral-glamour

I discovered The Homosexuals at the Shacklewell Arms a few years ago. I loved the gig ! There's a compilation:
thehomosexuals.bandcamp.com/album/astral-glamour

I also saw the Fannies this week, but they played Bandwagonesque and Thirteen. Brendan O'Hare rejoined them on drums for the show (Paul Quinn and Francis Macdonald also played the period-correct parts of their residency) and his chat was even worse than Norman Blake's. Every other time I've seen them it's been a greatest hits set, so it was good to hear a few rarer numbers in the set. It's easy to forget to what extent they were really a singles band, though. 7/10.

Doing it for the people...I caught Gordon Lightfoot on sunday, a day after he turned 80. He's a Canadian icon, and hasn't been in the best of health of late, so I try and catch him whenever I can. He was pretty good this time, seemed in a good mood and voice, which is about all you can ask at this point. He told a fun story about almost meeting elvis in the early 70s, since elvis wanted to meet the guy who wrote 'early morning rain', but the real highlight was buying a ticket in the balcony for half price and then sneaking into the orchestra section for the 2nd half of the show (paid $50 and got $150 of value.) 6/10

I like doing that, Me & Rodders managed to move ourselves to better seats for David Byrne.

Ticketmaster's habit of showing which seats are still unsold on the map 30 seconds before the show starts makes it a whole lot easier, too.

Sneaky, had never thought of that before.

Great tip, SRK. Also nice to see you lowering the age range of performers at your latest gig.

Saw Public Service Broadcasting by the sea on a beautiful sunny day, they sounded quite good and more electronic and Kraftwerk-ish than I thought they would. It was nice.

I saw Young Fathers play the Glasgow Academy on Friday. I've probably seen them something like 12 times and this was their biggest headline show to date. It was sold out, and a large section of the crowd didn't seem to know them at all (aside from the track used in Trainspotting 2). The few tunes they played off their debut didn't get much of a reaction at all compared to their most recent stuff. Their latest single, Border Girl, is an absolute banger (it's a slightly different mix to the one on Cocoa Sugar) and may be my favourite of the year behind After the Storm by the lovely Kali.

I genuinely recon they are the best live act in the world at the moment, their stage presence and energy beats anyone else I can think of. They should be bigger than they are, they should be getting interviewed on Graham Norton and being plugged endlessly on Radio 1. They are proper stars... but they still lack a crossover hit. I find it baffling Stormzy (to give one example) has got so big when his recorded output is patchy at best. Young Fathers 4 president. 9.

For me that Trainspotting song is their hit or should be

David Byrne @ the 02. Had finally gotten into Talking Heads in a big way this year so it was great to hear so many of those songs performed live plus the theatrical set-up with the band was very unique and suited an arena setting perfectly. Great fun, plus shamefully I had no idea David Byrne sang on Wicked & I'm Lazy I mean, it's so fucking clearly his vocals, I just never put two and two together. Benjamin Clementine supported, was OK.

Parquet Courts @ The roundhouse. I found this frustrating & lacking the energy of previous times I've seen them. I didn't think the bigger venue suited them at all. I guess it was good, but I couldn't help but feel really disappointed. I enjoyed this nowhere near as much as their gig at the forum a few years ago. I'd rather they just played blistering 2-3 minute indie-rock/post-punk style numbers rather than mixing it up, at least live anyway.

Electric Soft Parade @ The Lexington
Not seem them for years & I'd forgotten how much I love them until revisiting their back catalogue this year. 15 years after it was released I've finally realised what a great record The American Adventure is. Anyway a nice career spanning set, they was only opening for Ultra Sound but did well over an hour. Ultra Sound I lasted a couple of songs, a bit crap.

GURR @ The Garage
Considering their gigs are usually at places like the Moth Club and they had nothing new to promote I did think playing the garage was a bit of a stretch. It was maybe a 3rd full if that. Anyway they played like it was a full house, they were having the time of their lives. Really infectious thoughout plus they came out to COLUMBIA and broke into Hollaback Girl early in the set. Also they brought out Eddie Argos to perform two Christmas songs they'd written together.

Holly Golightly @ The Lexington
Hadn't seen her for a good 10 years.She was over as part of Damaged Goods 25 year birthday party which has gone on for months now Really enjoyed her set, played for probably near 90 minutes which I wasn't expecting. Perhaps could've performed less slower numbers but the set got stronger as it went on. She had Bruce Band of thee Headcoats on drums. The Senior Service supported, a meadway instrumental band made up of various people who have played with Billy Childish over the years, decent though got a bit samey after half a dozen songs.

& my last gig of the year was Josh T. Pearson @ St Johns church in Bethnal Green.
I have wondered in the past if people have turned up to St John's in Hackney only to find out they are at the wrong Church... well Josh T. Pearson did just that Former Yuck singer Daniel Blumberg supported, I really love his solo record, unfortunately it didn't translate well live. He was taking himself far too seriously to the point where it became hilarious when he started having technical problems. Didn't stop to introduce any songs or even acknowledge the crowd, basically just looked like a miserable cunt throughout. Also he tried to re-create the sparse arrangements of the record without a band and it kinda failed.

Josh came out with his beautiful blond mullet & said "Thanks to daniel for supporting... boy, I thought I had problems" then proceeded to do his usual set of mostly self deprecating humour & bad anal sex jokes with the occasional heartbreaking song thrown in. He performed nothing from his new record Basically did the highlights from the debut & a couple of songs he's been performing for years yet still not released. Did the entire gig on an electric guitar so it was a tad different to his usual shows. He's one of those performers that I'll never tire of seeing.

Parquet Courts can be really hit or miss live, eh? Sometimes the energy is really lacking, but then other times they smash it out the park.

Well Rod enjoyed it & Kev thought it was much better than the forum gig from a few years ago so perhaps it just didn't work for myself. For me it just felt underwhelming compared to the previous 2 times I'd seen them.

daddy issues and paws on a co-headline tour at norwich waterfront on monday night.

went mostly for paws who i'm a big fan of but i quite like the daddy issues album too. paws were great as always, i forget how good their drummer is live. daddy issues have that 90s grunge influenced sound that i love in bands like bully but the tunes aren't quite as good as them. 8 for paws 7 for daddy issues.

TBH i've not seen a bad Parquet Courts gig.

Their recent one in Manchester at the Ritz was a real 9/10. Huge sound, biggest venue i've ever seen and a rabid sold out crowd absolutely loving it. Incredible teems