rate the last gig you went to

Sloan playing their Navy Blues album plus other 'fan faves' in a theatre in Brampton last week. I've seen them a dozen times but never in a theatre before, where everyone sat down, which led to a very low-energy first set when they played the album front to back. Still nice to see, but i'd prefer a club. The 2nd set was a bit better after everyone (finally) stood up, but still...good, not great. 7/10

The Chieftains (and friends) last night at the National Arts Centre. A friend offered me a free ticket, so I couldn't really turn it down. He (and I) were probably the youngest people in the hall by at least 25 years. Nice to see them, and the band and dancers were all brilliant, but man was I ever tired. probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have. Still good though. 6/10

I was the same with the album. Didn't really get what the fuss was about.

The phone thing seems to be more prolific at RnB and Hip Hop gigs. First time i saw a proper sea of phones throughout a a whole gig was Frank Ocean at Brixton academy a couple of years ago. That was a weird gig full stop.

Saw Richard Dawson with Krburger on Thursday at Rough Trade East. Was hoping he'd have a full band with him but he just went at it with his electric. Such a wonderful playing style & damn, he hit everyone of those high notes. Did about six tunes from the new record, an acapella number, a cover of eternal flame & finished things off with a couple from Peasant. Performed for over 70 minutes which is pretty much double the length you usually get with these free-instores. So good, upset I never got a ticket for the Moth Club but I'll settle for the Barbican next year.

Then last night I saw the Thurston Moore Group @ the ULU. I knew he'd just released Spirit Counsel but still wasn't entirely sure what kinda set he/they'd be playing. They came on stage, Thurston grabbed a mic to thank the crowd for coming, spoke about playing at the ULU in 1982 (fuck I always forget just how old he is), introduced the band (Debbie Googe on six string bass  ) & then they slowly started playing the opening track from Spirit Counsel "Alice Moki Jayne". Over an hour later my mind was blown, it was unbelievable. Thurston performed half-facing the band giving the nod each time there was a change due, nothing felt improvised instead coming across as a well rehearsed composition. Band left the stage then came back a few minutes later to perform the half hour of 8 Spring Street from the new record. I've seen Thurston a few times, once with Sonic Youth but this was head & shoulders above anything I'd seen previously. Quite enjoyed the new record, but I'm not sure I'll be in a rush to listen to a 2 and a half hour instrumental record again anytime soon, but seeing it performed live was sensational.

Venue was perhaps a little ambitious in size for this kinda thing (was only half sold out) though the sound was spot on & the venue has a high stage (not that it matters with Thurston being 12 feet tall). Though a new company has taken over putting gigs on there and is now charging £6 for a pint wtf.

Glad Thurston was so good. I had the same thing with his age the other day. 63 ain't he? Kim Gordon is even older but both look younger and are still releasing such forward thinking music.

I'm the same on his new album, I really liked it but at the same time it's just too much of a slog to revisit often. If everything had 20% shaved off it would be much more palatable.

61, Kim's 66. I'm not sure I agree about shaving time off, I think it'd better if we treated each track as its own record. I'd happily sit through any of those 3 tracks again, but doing it as a whole piece is a little tiresome.

no wonder he dumped her for a younger model. fair play to the lad.

Thurston Moore, a right geez

saw the Sun Ra Arkestra at the Jazz cafe last night & they were bloomin sensational. Such a joy to watch them in action, amusing to watch the senior members give the look of disapproval when they're not happy with someone and equally as thrilling to watch musicians that have played together for decades to be so thrilled to be still doing it. There was a beautiful moment when Danny Ray Thompson wasn't playing and he just looked over at Marshall Allen & had the most proud smile I've ever seen. Was a scary moment where after half the band had gone into the crowd to play, they got back on stage & Danny Ray Thompson tripped over some equipment onto the floor, he had to be helped back up but then just laughed it off & continued to play faultlessly. The Jazz Cafe is such a great venue, I really should make the effort to see more shows there. If anyone hasn't experienced them live make sure you do so, and do so the next opportunity you get. This & Thurston Moore on Saturday have been two of the best gigs I've seen all year, mindblowing stuff.

Yeah so glad I got to see them in Norwich a few years ago. The energy and joy the bring to a room is incredible. Will be a sad day when Marshall goes.

oh man, that's beautiful. Isa and I have been wanting to see them for ages now but it's never landed on a good date. Will put everything else out the window next time they play.

hell yeah, I'll let you know if I hear anything. They seem to be on a neverending tour around the world so I'm sure they'll be back next year

Saw Dry Cleaning at the Lexinton last neet, the new EP is sweet! I don't think I'll tire of seeing them live. I love that band.

Saw Chastity Belt at Islington Assembly Hall tonight, bloody hell they were dull. Quite like them on record, they set a nice mood but it just felt so tedious plus the guitars were so low in the mix. me and kev left probably half way through their set which I never do. Support band GANG were one of the worst things I've ever seen, like some sort of prog/metal thing, fuck knows what it was, 2 of them had mullets and the bass player wore shorts & was posing like he was in papa roach. Sounded like Genesis, Dream Theatre and the Darkness rolled into one. Some of their lyrics were so abysmal I almost ended up being entertained by them.

Seen the Arkestra a couple of times at Cafe Oto. A friend of mine sorts them out with weed when they come to town (i've probably told this more than once on here), and watching them play after they come back from their midset 'refreshment' break is quite different from the first half

Oh look it’s the titchy Arkestra weed story again!

Went Shacklewell Arms friday for a free gig. Chappaqua Wrestling were alright, sounded like a 90s janglepop band, Nothing special but enjoyed their set. WOOM were a 4 piece female vocal harmony group, quite enjoyed this, did covers of Bjork & Frank Ocean. "Black Mini" headlined, which was basically a secret Black Midi show as a 3-piece (minus the guiartist). I was expecting something different as they only had half hour so thought they'd do an improv jam or something. Instead they performed a 4 song covers set...

01: Jimmi Hendrix - Hey Joe
02: Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Give It Away
03: Limp Bizket - Break Stuff
04: Rage Against The Machine - Killing in the name

It was fucking mental & stupid fun

Went to Tunbridge Wells to see SQUID last neet. Pozi supported, top band I like them a lot. They're supporting on the Dry Cleaning tour next year so I should see them a few times. Squid were great, last time I saw them I had a bit of fatigue with their set, but they've added a couple of new songs which are perhaps better than anything they've done yet, more of a 70s German groove to them. Good stuff plus the gig ended nice and early.

Little Simz @ Earth. It was decent, basically anything from her new record was pretty much spot on, but she performed a lot of older material that mostly sounded a bit rubbish (never heard her previous records) & you could feel the atmosphere drain out of the room whenever she wasn't playing the new LP. I'd imagine this set would have gone down a storm on the festival circuit, on a Tuesday night with so many of her songs having essentially a sample playing for a chorus, didn't quite do it for me. Still, some great moments & her album is banging.

been in bed with man flu all day so started and finished kim gordon's book today. really enjoyed it but it did ruin my love of thurston a little bit hearing about how their relationship ended. shame that unsent pic in his drafts never leaked onto the internet. would love to see thurston's old man willy.

JP, I've broke out in a horrible cold today, you spreading cyber-flu? Don't go ruining Tuckers travels.

I bet Thurston's cock is very long, yet lacks girth.