What: The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
Where: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon
When: July 17, 2014
The programme, which you can purchase for £4 at the theatre door, makes much of the fact that this is one of the very few times that the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has staged “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” in recent years.
What: The Children of the Light Trio – Danilo Perez, Brian Blade, John Patitucci,
Where: Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Frith Street, Soho, London
When: July 14, 2014
Writing reviews of jazz concerts can be a difficult ask – especially when the artists communicate little with their audience. Here I am in Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London and I’m scribbling notes – mental and written – but those pesky musicians won’t give me song titles to hang my thoughts on. What can I say? Tonight was a night of beautiful music. Here are some random thoughts I came away with but they won’t make the most coherent review.
What: Jersey Boys
When: 20th June 2014
Where: Cineworld, Hammersmith, London
I’ve been a big fan of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons since the 1970s. I live in London. The musical of “Jersey Boys” opened in the West End of London in 2008. It has never occurred to me to go and see the musical. But here I was on the opening day of the “Jersey Boys” film release with my large bag of popcorn (and I mean large!) waiting for the film to start. Life is full of curious choices.
There seemed no real possibility that the Yankees’ season could become more complicated by injury than it already had been. But somehow they managed it……
The Yankees, struggling to stay in contention to the extent that it is now as easy for them to win their division as it is for them to capture a wild card booth, are not making the task easy for themselves. And their injury situation is becoming more and more complex. Let’s see what happened amongst the pitchers in June.
The Yankees endured a miserable month in June with a win/loss line of 12-15 and so many batters were below or just above the Mendoza line that it was sometimes difficult to know where their next win was coming from. Even then though they sometimes hit a hot streak and managed to keep in contention. In a close American League East, it is difficult to know what might happen, particularly if they can come up with a couple of key trades prior to the deadline.
Who: Eagles
Where: o2 Arena, Greenwich, London
When: 16-21 June 2014
Something had made Don Henley slightly annoyed. “We don’t do this because we’re bored”, he informed the audience at the o2 arena in Greenwich.
In an interview two weeks before, Robert Plant had been informing the press why he wouldn’t join a Led Zeppelin reunion that Jimmy Page had suggested. Some old bands go back out on tour because they’re bored, he suggested, and he wanted no part of that. And then he went on to specifically mention the Eagles and Don Henley had obviously heard the reports.
The Yankees have made quite a few moves during June and as the end of the month approaches I’ll try to summarise them here.
Who: Panic Room
When: 14th June 2014
Where: The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette Street, London
It’s been four years since I was asked to review Panic Room live and during that time they’ve gone through a few changes. Bassist, Alun Vaughan was replaced by Yatim Halimi just after that last review and then last year, Paul Davies left to be eventually replaced by Adam O’ Sullivan.
What: Cordner and Rudolph supported by Perkelt
Where: Ravenscourt Arts, Hammersmith, London
When: June 11, 2014
This show promised to be an unusual and cosmopolitan evening of folk music and it didn’t disappoint. The main act came from Northern Ireland and France, the support from the Czech Republic and in the show there was something for everyone.
twilightdawning 