Welcome to The Year of Yes...

So, I ramble on a lot about the 'Year of Yes', but I suppose I should really explain what this actually means. And before anyone asks, no it's nothing to do with the band 'Yes'. Wakeman was in my last post and I think that's about all of him I can handle...

I made a decision at the start of this year to go to more gigs. As a lifelong music fan and a bit of a know it all, I thought how can I actually talk about it when I don't get involved? So I made myself a promise and tried to be a bit like Danny Wallace to say yes more when people asked me if I wanted to go to a concert. It began with my friends at work asking if I wanted to go and see Frank Turner.

I have written about this briefly before, but as a bit of a recap, I didn't really know who Frank was. I'd heard the name and was under the impression that he was a bit like Billy Bragg, some sort of generation poet. My friends said that he was good and the tickets weren't too bad so I thought 'why not?' and agreed to go with them. It turned out to be a really good night, I discovered 3 new artists that night as the 2 support acts were also great and I now am slightly in love with Frank and all his tattoos! And it proved the point that if I hadn't have said yes, I would never have gone and discovered someone new to listen to. In fact Frank is now on regular repeat on my precious iPod (it never leaves my side, seriously) and we've looked at going to see him again later this year when he tours again.

iPod. I love it more than anything. Touch it and I will destroy you.

So what else did I say yes to then? Well, whilst checking out the upcoming gigs on an email mailing list, I noticed that the band Therapy? were due to come to Nottingham in April. I was vaguely familiar with their music and liked some of their songs, but more so I knew they were my sister-in-law's favourite band. Looking at where they were playing though it was only a few locations in the UK and nowhere near to her so I told her about it and said that I'd go with her if she wanted. She said yes pretty much straight away so I booked the tickets and prepared for a night of loud and heavy music. April rolled around and we went off the to famous 'Rock City' in the heart of Nottingham and joined the crowd for a night of having our ear drums burst. The support act were called 'Lonely The Brave' and were pretty good. In fact they are now getting a lot more popular so one day I'll be able to say "I saw them support Therapy? when no-one knew who they were" and feel a bit smug! Anyway, Therapy? were great, playing the whole of their seminal album 'Troublegum' which is now 20 years old (hence the tour) and other tracks that the audience loved. The thing I loved about them was how humble they were with the crowd. I think Andy Cairns thanked people for coming out about 5 times and expressed how grateful the band were for the fans support and dedication. It was a lovely thing to hear and see. My one downside of this concert was the fact that my ears did not stop ringing for 2 days afterwards. Seriously, it was bad. I've never experienced that before and it was very concerning at one point. Either the band were far too loud or the PA system sucked, but it was such a relief when the car alarm in my head finally ceased!!

Or your PA system sucks

I also went to see a couple of musicals at the theatre aswell which I guess counts as listening to music. I went to see Thriller Live and Rock of Ages which were both pretty fab. As much as I like Michael Jackson I don't actually own any of his albums and I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to him. Don't get me wrong, I like his songs when they are on, but I wouldn't seek them out if that makes sense. I have the same relationship with Madonna - good artist, wouldn't buy the music though. The Thriller live show was not exactly what I was expecting, but I still enjoyed it. One of the singers was particularly good and the female lead was from the 90's band Cleopatra (for those of you who remember 'Coming 'Atcha' being inflicted on us!). Now, the Rock of Ages show was amazing. Very funny, very near the mark, but great songs and the whole place was jumping. In fact, I was in the upstairs of the theatre and the floor was bouncing so hard at the end I thought I was going to end up in the stalls! Well worth seeing if the tour comes near to you.

Roll onto May and my all time hero Neil Finn was bringing his 'Dizzy Heights' tour to the UK. As soon as I found out I checked the dates and was annoyed to find he was coming here on a Monday night which for a concert was not great being at the start of the working week so I was fed up. It was only when I looked at the date again that I realised it was a bank holiday which meant no work that day! Huzzah, I could go! Tickets were booked straight away and I was very excited as I hadn't seen Neil live for a few years. The concert was great, Neil played for over 2 and a half hours and there was a section he did on his own with no backing support which was breathtaking. Not many artists can hold a large stage alone and completely own it, but he did this totally. Impressed was not the word. Even the stage backdrop was amazing as you can see in the picture below. It lit up and changed throughout the show.

Now, I have talked before about how much I love Fall Out Boy, but have never seen them live. When they toured the UK earlier this year I didn't go as they weren't playing anywhere near to where I live. Get off your arse and go and see them I was told, but I didn't so I can't really complain about it now can I. Anyway, when I found out they were playing the Download festival which is very close to where I live it seemed like the ideal way to see them play live. Looking at the line up there were lots of other great bands on too so it would be a great day out. My friend from work agreed to come too as Linkin Park were headlining on the same day so I booked day tickets as soon as they came on sale and excitedly waited for the day to come around. Festivals are known for being muddy and wet so wellies were purchased just in case and our pack'a'macs were put in our bags. On the day we arrived at lunchtime and enjoyed wandering around seeing the stalls and enjoying the atmosphere. I had to buy a hat because the sun was beating down and it was actually a very hot day. We spent most of the day sitting on a picnic blanket viewing the stage from a way back where we could see everything that was going on. Some of the bands were a bit questionable and I was surprised by the attitude of some of them and how they addressed the crowd. One up and coming band who I won't name (they are often on the cover of Kerrang etc) came onto the stage and basically everything the lead singer said was a swear word. He didn't seem grateful to be performing and ranted on a lot which put me and my friend right off. I even think they left the stage at the end of their set without saying thanks! Not good. My boys came on and were excellent as always. I really enjoyed seeing them although because I was watching it on the screens at the side of the stage it felt a bit surreal. I couldn't do the barrier thing though as I have a bladder the size of a pea so it just wouldn't have worked! Linkin Park closed the day and played the whole of their album 'Hybrid Theory' which was great. We really enjoyed it, but as the sun went down it started to get very cold and we were glad we were going back to the warmth of our houses rather than sleeping on site in a tent.

I still have a few more concerts coming up and in fact the 'Year of Yes' has rolled over into 2015. I'm looking forward to seeing Mark Morriss in October, Beans on Toast in November and the Black Keys next February. I'm particularity looking forward to seeing Mark as he features rather heavily on my current playlist and is pretty amazing. Someone asked me the other day if he was worth a listen to and I replied with "well, his songs are intelligently written with meaningful lyrics and great guitar" or something very similar to that. So yes, worth checking out. Beans on Toast supported Frank Turner so the power of the support act reigns! The Black Keys probably don't need any introductions, so I'll stick a video in below for them so you can sing along.

There's always an element of consideration when I look at an upcoming gig, but as long as the time and day are suitable, the artist is someone I like or want to know more about, then I think why not? Unless you go and see what artists are like live then you don't get the whole experience. I always remember an old friend of mine saying "yes, they sound good on the CD, but they aren't that great live". These are the things you need to find out. And you can only do that by saying yes....

Gig it to me baby....

Bearing in mind music is my hobby and passion, I should really engage with all aspects of the musical experience.  I listen to as much as I can, wear the t-shirts and go to gigs if possible.  I must admit though, I have let the side down this week as I am not going to see FOB when they tour the UK much to my disappointment.  I should really pull my finger out and do it, but sometimes it's just not that easy.

I have been to a lot of concerts over the years, festivals, intimate gigs and all sorts. They are pretty much a crucial part of the fan experience as you are getting something as a one off (unless its recorded of course). It's just you, the band and the other people attending who have participated in this moment.  The banter, the shout outs, the comedy moments that "you had to be there" to appreciate.

I enjoy live music very much and have been lucky enough to see most of my favorite bands and singers in concert.  I've also seen a few that I've never heard of, but enjoyed none the less.  Let's go back in time to my first concert when I was about 11 years old...

The year was 1988 (I think!) and I would have been 11 years old.  My musical hero was Rick Astley and I begged my mum to go and see him live when he played at Wembley Arena.  I can't remember all the details, but we got tickets and I was really excited as it was my first ever concert.  When the day came my dad drove me and my mum to Wembley and we went inside.  We had seats about 6 rows from the front.  As this was over 20 years ago now I can't recall all the details, but I do remember my mum getting quite irate at the girls sitting behind us as they all had whistles round their necks which they proceed to blow throughout the concert!  I have no other recollections of the event, but it would be the first of many outings for me to see live music.

Growing up and living in London was great for music as all the big artists would play somewhere in the capital.  I can't say the same now though as I no longer live in London and this has become is a pet peeve of mine.  Anyway, I went to loads of London venues over the years including Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith Apollo, Wembley Arena and the Royal Festival Hall.  A lot of the musicians I saw were at the Shepherds Bush Empire which was a great venue. No idea what it's like now though.

One of my old friends had never been to a concert before so I took her with me for her first experience of live music.  It was an amazing double headline at Shepherds Bush of Ben Folds and the Divine Comedy.  It was the perfect gig for her as her first time.  Both acts were excellent and when they did a cover together of 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' with Ben playing guitar and Neil playing piano it was breathtaking. All in all a success!

Over the years I have seen my favourite band, Crowded House, somewhere in the region of 6 times.  Plus solo gigs for Neil Finn and an amazing intimate concert of the Finn Brothers at Union Chapel which is possibly one of the best venues I've ever been to.  The acoustics in the building were amazing. Go and see someone, anyone, there if you can.

I now live in Nottingham and there are some pretty good venues here too.  We have the famous Rock City which has to be seen to be believed!  Sticking to the floor is part of the charm!  We also have the Capital Arena which was the scene of the last gig I went to a few weeks ago.

Stick to the floor for free!

My friend at work was going to see Frank Turner at the arena with her daughter, but said daughter now wanted to bring her boyfriend instead!  Me and another friend said we'd get some tickets too and we could make a night of it.  Of course, being of the slightly older persuasion, we went for seats rather than being thrown around in the mosh pit in front of the stage.  And a good job that was too!!  Now, I didn't know any of Frank's work and had only listened to a few songs on YouTube.  "He reminds me of Billy Bragg" I said and I was kind of correct.  This was a first for me, attending a concert without having any idea of the songs, the type of music or what to expect.  I usually like to do my homework, but on this occasion I was going in blind. 

There were 2 support acts to enjoy first who again I knew nothing about either.  Beans on Toast was the first, and was absolutely brilliant.  Check him out online, he is awesome and a new poet for the generation. Next were Flogging Molly who are an Irish band that certainly got the crowd completely riled up!  There was much dancing in the mosh pit, some of which was extremely energetic and I was very glad to be sitting up in the crowd watching it from above. It was certainly a sight to behold.

And then to the main event - Frank.  Well, what can I say?  He was amazing.  The crowd loved it and I went away as a brand new fan.  It was one of the moments when I was so happy that I took the chance and went otherwise I would have missed a brilliant night. I'm now a Frank convert and follow him on Twitter whilst listening to his CD (well, not quite, but you get the idea) and love his music.  Sometimes taking a chance can bring you a lot of happiness along with something new and great to try out.  This is what music is all about.

Yes, I was there. Where were you??

So, where am I off to next?  Well, 2014 has been christened as the 'Year of Yes' to going to gigs and I have many more to go to this year.  Next I will be seeing Therapy? at Rock City in a few weeks time.  I was not exactly a fan, I like a few songs, but I am going for my sister in law as they are her favourite band.  In the vein of saying 'yes' to new experiences I decided to go along with her and find out why she loves them so much.  I have no idea what to expect, they are nothing if not loud, so I'm kind of a bit nervous about this one. Fingers crossed it turns out to be another excellent night.

What else?  Also coming up this year is my hero Neil Finn in a few months which I am really looking forward to.  I haven't seen him for a few years and he was tweeting recently about doing a 3 hour show if the audience had the stamina!  Should be a great one.

I am also waiting with baited breath for festival tickets to go on sale.  As I said earlier, I am being a bad fan and not going to see Fall Out Boy in concert this week when they play the UK.  But, I am going to make up for it by heading to the Download festival for the day this year to see them play.  They are on the bill along with Linkin Park and it should be a fabulous day.  Just waiting for those tickets to go on sale....

The panic in getting the actual tickets is a big part of gigging aswell.  Waiting for them to go on sale and praying that you get good seats.  Then there's queuing up to get to the front when you are standing.  My Frank Turner pals daughter is a veteran at this.  She queues all day and then rushes to the front to get a good view.  I can see the logic in that, but my lovely Twitter pals have gone one step further and are actually camped outside the venue overnight to ensure they get to the front for FOB.  What crazy and beautiful people they are!  I couldn't do it myself, I mean where would I plug in my laptop??!  I'm kidding of course.

Don't forget to fight over the set list if you can.  I got one once after I saw the High Llamas at the Garage in London, but I gave it to my mate Kev as he liked them more than I did. Small price to pay, but whip it off the stage afterwards if you can as they can be like gold dust.

Grrr! Give me that setlist you git!

There are a few reasons why I'm not going to see FOB live this week.  I am somewhat lame in my moaning as really I only have myself to blame for this one.  They are not playing near to me for a start.  My nearest venue would be Birmingham, which can be done, but I don't drive so it would mean public transport. Again, do-able, but it's on a Sunday night and I have work the next day.  I could take the day off of course and really I am just making excuses for the fact that no-one wanted to come with me.  I should have been brave and gone alone, but really that's just not me.  I like to be part of the group and share it with someone else and doing it alone means I have no-one to experience it with.  I think if they would have played in my home town I would have gone regardless, but not in a city I don't know.  I also think I have at the back of my mind that I have been spoilt by attending an acoustic set they did last year which was amazing, so how can anything ever live up to that?  I should have gone and I shouldn't moan about it, but I am no doubt missing out on a experience that will be amazing. Hopefully there will be a next time.

So, what have we learnt about gigs?  They are unique experiences and hugely rewarding. You get to see your idols perform live, buy some really cool merch, meet like minded fans and have a bit of a dance.  Oh, and pay over the odds for a bottle of pop with no lid on it.  Just saying...