Gig Buddy

If I wasn't so busy today, I'd be interested in Elvis Costello. He's excellent.

Ah, that's a shame, petallus. Maybe another time. Good to know there is another EC afficionado out there

I'd like to see Kasabian again . And the Stone Roses have re formed .

His dad, Ross Macmanus, was a fine singer...

Ooh. This is great. I feel another gig coming on!! Tegan, I'd go with you to either of those if you want to investigate whether/if/when they are playing. I'm London-based. Also, I think there are still tickets going for Bon Jovi Hyde Park - I don't think it's called Hard Rock Calling anymore, something else - so if anyone up for that I will check out ticket availability... And just by the way, I saw the Rolling Stones at the O2 in November - sublime, truly brilliant.
You're so right, feetlebaum. I do love good music/musicians in (almost) all genres.

If I had seen the Rolling Stones as you did, I would have thought that I had died and gone to heaven! I live in London but because of a recent total knee replacement I am not fit to go anywhere at present.

Charleygirl it was exactly like that. You make sure you rest up with those knees and make a full recovery so that it's not too long before you're doing the knees up again!

I'm just off now to the Elvis Costello gig. Should anyone stumble upon this and can make the gig (Albert Hall 7.30), send me an email: [email protected] and you can have the spare ticket.

Can't wait - whehey!

Did anyone see Johnny Marr on Later with Jools last night? Was just dozing off when I heard this amazing music, at the same time thinking to myself 'what does this remind me of'? [went through every band going till I realised it was The Smiths]. His first album for thirty years, and he's got a very cool looking set of guys with him .

Yes, I always watch Jools. Johnny Marr was fantastic, especially the number he closed the show with. He's on again this Friday. And Bonnie Raitt, too! Great progamme!

DottyB I wish I lived near you. The Stones and The Killers - you lucky thing!

Yes; it was the last song that woke me up [they always seem to save the best sonf till last; it was Beady Eye last week]. The guitarist to his right was well fit .

What a lovely idea Dotty putting that on here. I do hope you find someone to enjoy these shows with. I don't live near London and tend to mostly go out with DH but I do wish you luck and lots of fun.

Just to report that the Elvis Costello concert was excellent; very simple stage set and just him, his band and the music! had a great set not too far from the front, so actually it did feel like quite an intimate set (until you looked back at the packed venue!). He had a big wheel in the corner of the stage divided up into segments, each with the title of one of his songs on it and, at various points, members of the audience were invited to come spin the wheel and he would sing whatever song the wheel stopped at. He did 3/4 numbers accompanied by just the piano - his voice and just the quality of the playing was wonderful. I left just before the end to get across London and catch my train. That's the bit I don't like is coming home late at night on my own.
Thanks for your comments everyone - I'll keep plugging away to find gig buddies, tho' I won't stop going even if I have to go on my own. There were lots of people on their own last night. The guy to my left (non-communicative, sat with his back to the rest of the row!) and a delightful young girl from Argentina with whom I struck up conversation. But much nicer to share with someone. If anyone has any ideas where else I might try and find like-minded people, love to hear your suggestions.
In the meantime you'll see my posts every now and again with invitations to various gigs and, if you fancy, would love to have your company .

Dotty great to hear about the concert. He's a very talented man. Do ep coming back to tell us more.

How long ago did you start going to rock concerts and the like? I was 14 in the mid-60 when I started going to concerts, so went to see Otis Reading, The Stones, Ike and Tina Turner, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Willamson and so many more in the space of just a few months. Fabulous memories!

I would have been about the same age, whenim64, I went to see the Four Seasons with my friend and a couple of boys we fancied. After I moved to Manchester to go to college, my friend and i went to all sorts and all of the top and up-and-coming groups came to do gigs at the college and uni - the Who, the Moody Blues, Chuck Berry, the Hollies, the Walker Bothers (swoon for Scott Walker) and, yes, Jimi Hendrix!! - I actually stood next to Eric Clapton who was at the time in Cream. They were doing a set at a Manchester Uni Fresher Ball and there were only a handful of people actually taking any notice of them!! I always thought of that when, many years later I was paying out an arm and a leg to go and see him at the Albert Hall!! And many, many more along the way.
One of the most memorable concerts (apart from Stones last year) I've ever been to was to see Eric Clapton a few years ago. I just happened to stumble on to the fact that he was playing at a 'corporate' event at Brands Hatch which is just down the road from me. And the tickets were 'only' £50. My cousin and her fella, also fans, came with me to that. The occasion was some anniversary to do with F1 and Ferrari. They had the very first Ferrari F1 car there, various races etc, all topped off with this concert for the corporate sponsors and their guests.
Well, there were probably no more than about 400 people at this outdoor gig at the back of the stands. We were standing just behind the sponsory guests, and were treated to Jules Holland and his band, Patti Smith singing and then on came Joe Cocker - honestly, it was amazing as didn't know they were playing and then, of course, Eric. The whole thing was a bit surreal - summer's evening, a few drinks...did we really just see all those people??
i just love the atmosphere of live concerts which is why I keep going. When I went to the Killers for the first time, I did worry that I might be the oldest one there, but was heartened to see many older rockers. The thing is, if you like that music, you're not suddenly going to stop liking it are you?
I go to many concerts of all types - lots of classical concerts too. But none of my friends will come to rock gigs any more and my DDs and nieces have come with me many times even though they may not really have liked the artist, so that's why I'm trying to find 'new blood' .
Oops, got a bit carried away there, whenim64! Great memories indeed . As I said before, when you're better, come with me to one .

Apologies whenim64 referred to your 'getting better', but it's charleygirl who is recuperating from knee surgery. So sorry

Fantastic memories, Dotty. I've seen Eric Clapton in B B King's club on Beale Street in Memphis! They played together - I was beside myself! It was on a tour of the southern states, visiting Nashville, Graceland, Memphis, Sun Studios, New Orleans and lots more. So much history of the 50s and 60s.

Yes, I've also seen the Hollies and so many other 60s groups who sprang up in Manchester. Fabulous times.

You must tell me more.......

Fantastic memories. I have posted on here before about my 60s memories. I saw the Beatles 5 times when they came to Birmingham. Got let into one show by a kind roadie, tried to hide in a broom cupbard to jump out on them when they came off stage, only to find that there were already girls in there. George Harrison chatting to us through a window. Winning a competition to sit on stage with them when they recorded Thank Your Lucky Stars. Chasing Paul (he was in a coach) around Birmingham Town Hall with a horde of other mad fans. I have loads of Beatles memories. I also saw the Stones in small venues in the 60s, also The Kinks and many many more. Happy days.

Hi Dotty. I go to many a gig with friends, you're welcome to join us or we can join you! This week we did Babs at the O2...amazing and Billy Bragg at Union chapel in Highbury... We often work evenings coz we work in events,theatre and media.But we are a very sociable bunch on the whole and we do get the freebie tiks to the festivals,sometimes.

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I'm loving all these gig stories - Clapton & King, eh? What a divine combination whenim64. I have many stories to tell, as it's clear a few of you do too. All the better told over a -glass- -bottle- a couple of bottles of wine. Where are you based?
KathyK your Beatles reminiscences really made me chuckle - how mad and what fun, which is just what the 60s were like, weren't they. I can't believe I never actually went to a Beatles concert, but my French penpal and I did see them in North Wales - we (15ish) walking, them in car - and they slowed down, leaned out and waved to us. We nearly fainted!
Laidback Oooh, yes please. Would love to join you occasionally. When you're planning something, do please let me know. And at the risk of repeating myself (sorry), I have a ticket going spare for The Killers, Sat 22 June, Wembley Stadium if you or one of your circle might be interested??
Tegan where are you based? I have a spare bed, you're very welcome to come gigging anytime

I'm in the Midlands Dotty; must admit that my main love is folk music. We're going to Southwell tomorrow but, alas, not staying for the folk festival, just watching the Morris Dancing through the streets. Show of Hands are playing tomorrow and The Oysterband are on tonight. I would have liked to see the Oysterband again. I'm not sure where and when Neil Young is playing this summer. One of the best gigs I've ever been to was Arcade Fire, but they seem to have slipped off the radar recently. If we do see band it's usually in Nottingham. And Kaiser Chiefs never do a bad show.

I| love Morris Dancing.

The Witchmen are going to be there tomorrow!!