What could be better than New York in the Fall? Well, some things… Special reasons for being there. As it worked out, the Yankees went down in the first round of the playoffs and that meant no more live baseball for me for this year. Someone tried to persuade that a trip to Citi Field would be worthwhile but we all have our loyalties and so I passed on the Mets. Something else to do. And with me that usually means if not baseball then music.
Who: Steve Hackett
What: From Acolyte to Wolflight with a sprinkling of Genesis
Where: Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
When: October 7th 2015
Last year, I was asked to review Steve Hackett’s “Genesis Revisited” project when it visited Hammersmith. I have to say that I was, initially, not that enthusiastic at the prospect. Hackett had been off my listening radar for quite a long time and I’m not a huge one for nostalgia and sentimentality. However, I had caught up with the former Genesis guitarist via his “Beyond the Shrouded Horizon” a little time before, which I had enjoyed and listening to “Genesis Revisited II” suggested he was been faithful to earlier versions of those songs so I accepted the commission and went along to spend an evening revisiting some past pleasures. After all, it couldn’t hurt, could it?
Well, I was suitably impressed and produced a quite exuberant review which also reflect on my personal journey with Genesis’ music which can be found here: https://twilightdawning.com/2014/11/04/time-lapse-in-hammersmith/
After the new tour was announced I was asked to once again go see the show when it came to my neighbourhood (this time to the slightly smaller Shepherd’s Bush Empire). I thought it would be an interesting contrast. The emphasis this time would be on Hackett’s solo career – both recent and early (he has a boxset of his early solo albums about to drop into the marketplace) and it would be interesting to see if he could cut it without relying too much on the songs of that old band he used to be in.
Who: Daughters of Davis
Where: Ravenscourt Arts, Ravenscourt Road, Hammersmith, London
When: October 3rd, 2015.
The season at Ravenscourt Arts ended at the beginning of the summer with an outstanding concert of acoustic music from Judie Tzuke which played to a sold-out venue. The show tonight had one of those things in common. This was truly a night of great acoustic music even if there were a number of vacant seats around. No accounting for that – last time Daughters of Davis played here, they played to a very healthy audience indeed so let’s concentrate on the music.
Who: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
Where: Bournemouth International Centre (BIC)
When: July 3rd 2015
About 3 years ago, I was at the Royal Albert Hall reviewing the Frankie Valli and Four Seasons concert (https://twilightdawning.com/2012/06/27/seasonal-returns/).
It was a fine show but it had the air of being nothing more than nostalgia puffed up by the success of the “Jersey Boys” musical.
The next time Valli was in town my health was poor and I was prevented from attending.
In 2015, I was elsewhere when the band played their London show but I was commissioned to cover their show in Bournemouth. How would it be?
Who: 10CC
What: Sheet Music and Greatest Hits Live
Where: Royal Albert Hall, London
When: 28th May 2015
When I was a boy, 10CC were often referred to, in the UK music press, as the British Steely Dan. I’ve never really understood that myself but given that I’ve recently been writing promotional material for some of the Steely Dan dates on their forthcoming U.S. tour, it seemed really appropriate that I should be sat in the second row of 10CC’s Royal Albert Hall gig writing a review of their show.
Who: Gary Numan
What: Convergence 2015
Where: Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London
When: 20th March 2015
In 1981, after an exhausting two years, two number one singles and three number one albums, Gary Numan retired from touring with a lavish set of final shows at Wembley Arena in London. On Friday night, at Convergence in the Royal Festival Hall, London, for Numan it is now thirty-four years since he returned from retiring from live shows and he has a one-off special concert to mark his influence as a pioneer of electronica. The poster outside the venue doors described him as having “a ever-growing fanbase”. Apparently despite this, his records no longer trouble the top of the charts. Numan’s career has been a regular conundrum and a game of snakes-and-ladders and tonight was just the latest twist.
tem•pes•tu•ous
temˈpesCHo͞oəs/
adjective
adjective: tempestuous
1. characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.
“he had a reckless and tempestuous streak”
I’ve long been fascinated by Bob Dylan’s music and lyricism. I culled some quotes from his recent songs and interviews.
When: March 16th 2014
Where: The Suffolk Punch, Fulham Palace Road, London
The last time I caught up with Perkelt, they were a six-piece band, all from the Czech Republic and dressed in Mediaeval outfits. Now they are a three-piece and their appearance is Gothic but more in the Camden town sense than in any attempted historical reproduction.
More Eagles news…….
Interviewer: You really give a heroic performance of “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”. The way you do it reminds me a little of an Irish rebel song. There’s something almost defiant in the way you sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer.
Bob Dylan: Well, I am a true believer.
twilightdawning 