Life in the Bus Lane » Gigs

Levellers – O2 Academy, Leicester

rich — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:10:15 +0000

Traffic problems on the way up, and an unannounced change to an 6pm start meant that we arrived too late to see Back To The Planet, which I’m not happy about.

Despite that letdown, Dreadzone were good, and the Levellers were on good form, although they did manage to mess up The Riverflow by forgetting the lyrics.

An annoyingly early finish of 22:15 meant we were home early, still bitter about missing Back To The Planet.

Bellowhead – Cheese and Grain, Frome

rich — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:55:19 +0000

My last trip to the Cheese and Grain a couple of years ago was co-incidentally also the last time I saw Bellowhead.

Support tonight came from Ahab who were good, but sounded a bit too “busy” for my liking. Too many singers all singing at the same time. Bellowhead were superb as always, and actually manage to sound decent at the Cheese and Grain which is usually sounds a bit muddy. They played for getting on for two hours finishing off with two encores.

Setlist:
Yarmouth Town
Whisky is the Life of Man
Cold Blows the Wind
Cross-Eyed and Chinless
Broomfield Hill
10000 miles away
Trip to Bucharest / The Flight of the Folk Mutants Parts, 1 & 2
Hand Weaver and the Factory Maid
Haul Away
Fire Marengo
Captain Wedderburn
Betsy Baker
Hudson’s Hornpipe / Parson’s Farewell
Little Sally Racket
Rochdale Coconut Dance
Sloe Gin
New York Girls

London Town

Frog’s Legs and Dragon’s Teeth

Bad Shepherds – The Fleece, Bristol

rich — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:31:46 +0000

Al and I started early with a train over to Bristol before a wander round the shops, mainly so we could visit Fopp, something Bath is sadly lacking these days. A swift pint was quaffed before meeting Rachael at her office.

We wandered down to GBK for food, drove across town to the Fleece, then as we were early headed off in the search of another pint before relocating to the Fleece once the doors opened. I’d not been to the Fleece for getting on for 20 years, in which time it hasn’t changed a bit, they’ve not even redecorated.

The support came from Samantha Crain, her music was good, but I’m not sure I’d want to listen to too much of it in one go.

After what seemed like an endless wait, the Bad Shepherds finally took to the stage and launched straight into the first of a few new songs. They were superb as always, playing a good long set before finishing. As there wasn’t a curtain to disappear behind, Ade and Troy just stood at the back of the stage with towels over their heads whilst we called for the obligatory encore.

A fantastic night, only slightly marred by a couple of drunken idiots who decided what we really needed was a mosh pit. It didn’t work out well.

Setlist:
Our House
Anarchy in the UK
Making Plans for Nigel
Down in the Tube Station at Midnight
The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
God Save the Queen
Up the Junction
Ace of spades
The Model
Whole Wide World
Ramones Medley – Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue / Gimmie Gimme Shock Treatment / Blitzkrieg Bop
What a Waste
London Calling
No More Heroes
Rise
Once in a lifetime

Yan Tyan Tethera Methera
White Riot

Pop Will Eat Itself – Trinity Centre, Bristol

rich — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:41:01 +0000

I was somewhat undecided as to whether to come to this gig or not. Having seen PWEI back in their heyday of the late 80s early 90s, I wasn’t sure what the new line-up would be like with only Graham Crabb surviving from the original band. However Mary Byker is a decent replacement for Clint Mansell, and the other new members seem to fit in well.

The setlist tonight was heavily weighted towards the new album and the later releases of the original band, but we did get Wise Up Sucker, Preaching to the Perverted, and There is No Love Between Us Anymore to keep the back catalogue in our minds, before they finished off with the Prodigy collaboration, Their Law.

A thoroughly good evening, and the new line-up did the name of Pop Will Eat Itself proud.

Bath Blues Brothers

rich — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:14:14 +0000

Bath Blues Brothers
More Photos: Bath Blues Brothers, Bath Jazz and Blues Festival, October 2011

New Model Army – Roadmender, Northampton

rich — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:07:05 +0000

It’s that time of year again, New Model Army are on tour. A fantastic night, but bloody hot. By the end of the evening sweat was dripping from the ceiling which wasn’t particularly pleasant.

Island
No Greater Love
Christian Militia
Rumour & Rapture
See You in Hell
Today Is a Good Day
Disappeared
The Attack
States Radio
Autumn
Orange Tree Roads
Rivers
Knife
Purity
Ballad of Bodmin Pill
Whirlwind

Long Goodbye
High
White Coats

No Rest

Spiers and Boden – Colston Hall, Bristol

rich — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:31:39 +0000

We weren’t in the main hall tonight, that would have been a bit silly for the 150 or so attendees. We were in “Hall 2″ or “the bar” as it used to be known. No support tonight, just two sets from Jon and John featuring a few new songs, a couple of solos, and a few tracks I’d not seen them perform live before. A very enjoyable evening.

Justin Sullivan – The Thunderbolt, Bristol

rich — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Ostensibly an evening to promote the new book from Joolz, the problem was she couldn’t really talk about it without giving the plot away. So we had to make do with a local poet who’s name escapes me, some readings by Steve Pottinger, then music from Mik and Matt from New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack before the interval.

After a quick trip to the bar Joolz entertained us with readings and banter before handing over to the “special guest”, Justin Sullivan, who performed the following:

Another Imperial Day
Leeds Road 3AM
Apocalypse Dreams
Marrakesh
Changing of the Light
Tales of the Road

before finishing off playing backing music for a final reading by Joolz.

A very good night, albeit fairly sparsely attended.

Billy Bragg – Bath Pavilion

rich — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:30:23 +0000

Despite my fairly limited exposure to the music of Billy Bragg, it turned out to be a superb evening. A good mix of songs that I knew and songs that I didn’t, plenty of banter, and a few good sing-along … Continue reading →

Justin Sullivan and Dean White – The Thunderbolt, Bristol

rich — Wed, 11 May 2011 22:59:22 +0000

The support band tonight were 50% of Eureka Machines, a fairly enjoyable way to start the evening. Somewhat later than usual, Justin and Dean took the stage and played through until midnight, way past my usual bedtime.

Setlist

Someone Like Jesus
One Bullet
LS43
North Star
Aimless Desire
Another Imperial Day
La Push
States Radio
Dawn
Stoned, Fired, and Full of Grace
Marry the Sea
Ocean Rising
Sun on Water
Wipe Out
Notice Me
You Weren’t There
Snelsmore Wood

Sky in Your Eyes
Bad Old World
Lights Go Out
Ballad of Bodmin Pill