291. Let’s Rock Leeds: Temple Newsam, Leeds [16.6.18]

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291a_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]Artists: Adam Ant / The Boomtown Rats / ABC / Marc Almond / Nik Kershaw / The Real Thing / Aswad / Black Lace / Kim Appleby / Heather Small / Hazel Dean / Peter Coyle (Lotus Eaters) / Anabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow) / Brother Beyond / Fuzzbox / Toyah / The Christians / Captain Sensible

Venue: Temple Newsam, Leeds

Date: 16.6.18

291b_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]

I grew up in East Leeds during the 1970s and ’80s. It therefore seemed appropriate to return to Temple Newsam (a regular haunt during past school summer holidays) to see the musicians who influenced my music tastes.

Having previously seen Adam Ant perform Dirk Wears White Sox and Blueblack Hussar gigs, it was good to see him do a hits set in the headline slot.

Another highlight was seeing over-protective parents ushering their offspring from the event as The Boomtown Rats took to the stage with Bob Geldolf dropping a barrage of f-bombs. The social media backlash was laughable – what the f*ck did people honestly expect.

291c_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]

291d_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]

290. The Wedding Present: The Chapel, Leeds [9.6.18]

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290a_The Wedding Present [090618]

Artist: The Wedding Present

Support: Napoleon IIIrd

Venue: The Chapel, Leeds

Date: 9.6.18

‘Tommy’ 30th Anniversary Tour: The line-up of The Wedding Present may have gone through many changes over the past three decades but their music has stood the test of time.

An intimate ‘home-town’ gig and set of Wedding Present favourites, interspersed with David Gedge’s familiar witty banter. Big sound, small venue, ringing ears!

Setlist: Corduroy / Two Bridges / Gazebo / Brassneck / Go Out and Get ‘em Boy / (The Moment Before) Everything’s Spoiled Again / Once More / Ringway to Seatac / At the Edge of the Sea / Boo Boo / The Queen of Outer Space / What Becomes of the Broken Hearted / Living and Learning / This Boy Can Wait / Felicity / You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends / I’m Not Always So Stupid / Kennedy / Never Said / Every Mother’s Son / My Favourite Dress / Take Me!

290b_The Wedding Present [090618]

288. Rubble at Mill, Farsley [27.5.18]

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288a_rubble at mill [270518]Artist: Aziz Ibrahim & Dal Singh Rattan (Aziz & Dal)

Support: Bloxed Beats / Toria Garbutt, Louise Fazackerley & Kirsty Taylor (Nymphs & Thugs) / Testament

Venue: Trouble at Mill, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley

Date: 27.5.18

As always, an impressive array of talent formed the line-up for the last ever ‘Trouble at Mill’ before the venue was to be demolished – therefore ‘Rubble at Mill’ on this occasion.

Music, spoken word poetry and beatboxing, accompanied by fine food and drink. Such nights will be missed but the spirit lives on in a new home; The Constitutional, Farsley.

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288e_aziz & dal [270518]

 

282. Roni Size: Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds [24.2.18]

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282a_Roni Size [250218]

Artist: Roni Size

Venue: Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds

Date: 25.2.18

282d_Roni Size [250218]

282e_Roni Size [250218]

282f_Roni Size [250218]

The 20th Anniversary of Roni Size / Reprazent’s ‘New Forms’. A pioneering album that brought drum & bass to the mainstream. Performed live at this gig by a solo Roni Size, the timeless tracks sounded as fresh and edgy as ever. New Forms, old classics, timeless.

282g_Roni Size [250218]

Setlist: Morse Code / Railing / Brown Paper Bag / New Forms / Let’s Get It On / Trust Me / Electricks / Heroes / Down / Western / Watching Windows / Digital / Hold the Front Page / Hi-Potent / Share the Fall / Unknown (New) / Dirty Beats / Unfinished Sympathy // Unknown

 

 

 

265. Gary Numan: Liverpool Exhibition Centre [27.7.17]

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265a_Gary Numan [270717]Artist: Gary Numan

Support: Gang of Four

Venue: Liverpool Exhibition Centre

Date: 27.7.17

265c_Gary Newman [270717]

Originally billed with double headline acts of Gary Numan and John Foxx & The Maths performing as Pioneers of British Electronic Music. Unfortunately John Foxx had to cancel his appearance resulting in Gang of Four guesting as the support band.

265d_Gary Newman [270717]265b_Gary Numan [270717]

A bizarre venue layout; all on one level with the standing fans situated behind the seated audience. However, Gary Numan (and band) filled the arena with a blend of electronic classics and new material from his forthcoming ‘Savage’ album, some of which was performed live for the first time at this gig. A preview of heavier post-apocalyptic things to come . . .

Setlist: Everything Comes Down to This / Films / Bed of Thorns / Metal / Pressure / Ghost Nation / Jagged / M.E. / We’re the Unforgiven / Mercy / A Prayer for the Unborn / Here in the Black / My Name is Ruin (with Persia) / Cars / When the World Comes Apart / Love Hurt Bleed // Down in the Park / Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

265e_Gary Newman [270717]

263. The Stone Roses: First Direct Arena, Leeds [20.6.17]

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263a_The Stone Roses [200617]Artist: The Stone Roses

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 20.6.17

Let’s gloss over the extortionate ticket prices which didn’t appear to fund an illusive third album, or the abundance of middle-aged men in bucket hats (it never was a good look).

Having compromised on cheap seats in ‘the gods’ (where angels play), we soaked up the incredible atmosphere as The Stone Roses played the best of both their albums to an ever loving and loyal crowd.

Adored indeed.

263b_The Stone Roses [200617]

263c_The Stone Roses [200617]

Setlist: I Wanna Be Adored / Elephant Stone / Sally Cinnamon / Mersey Paradise / (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister / Where Angels Play / Shoot You Down / Waterfall / Don’t Stop / Begging You / Elizabeth My Dear / Fools Gold / All for One / Love Spreads / Made of Stone / She Bangs the Drums / Breaking into Heaven / This Is the One / I Am the Resurrection.

A few days later the band announced that they would no longer play live: “Don’t be sad it’s over, be happy that it happened.” Ian Brown

263d_The Stone Roses [200617]

263e_The Stone Roses [200617] 2

 

257. Saint Etienne: The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge [26.5.17]

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257a_Saint Etienne [260517]

Artist: Saint Etienne

Support: Dean McPhee

Venue: The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge

Date: 26.5.17

Prior to this gig, the only other time I had seen Saint Etienne live was 27 years earlier at The Duchess, Leeds. An even more intimate show at The Trades Club showed how timelessly classy their output has been over the years, as they performed a perfect blend of new material and indie-club classics.

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Setlist: Nothing Can Stop Us / Magpie Eyes / You’re in a Bad Way / Whyteleafe / When I Was Seventeen / Take It All In / Who Do You Think You Are / Dive / Like a Motorway / Split Screen / Heather / Only Love Can Break Your Heart / Tonight / Kiss and Make Up / Sylvie // Train Drivers in Eyeliner / I’ve Got Your Music / He’s on the Phone.

257c_Saint Etienne [260517]

256. The Cribs: First Direct Arena, Leeds [20.5.17]

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256a_The Cribs [200517]Artist: The Cribs

Support: Slaves / Pulled Apart by Horses

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 20.5.17

Appropriately raucous support slots from Pulled Apart by Horses and Slaves.

Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Forever – 10 Year Anniversary Tour: Awful sound for the first half of The Cribs’ set, which is a rare occurrence at Leeds Arena. Less is more in the case of volume vs clarity. However, they seemed to sort it out and make amends for the latter part of the show.

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Big is not always best – as The Cribs would prove by returning to their roots for their next Leeds shows . . .

253. Richard Ashcroft: First Direct Arena, Leeds [22.4.17]

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253a_Richard Ashcroft [220417]Artist: Richard Ashcroft

Support: Black Grape

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 22.4.17

A reminder of how Richard Ashcroft and (The) Verve transcended their ‘90s Britpop peers – with a setlist ranging from ‘Urban Hymns’ to his latest album. Whilst Blur and Oasis bickered, and the Gallaghers’ sibling rivalry tore them apart, Ashcroft has always let his songs do the talking.

Setlist: Out of My Body / Sonnet / This is How it Feels / Space and Time / A Song for the Lovers / They Don’t Own Me / Ain’t the Future So Bright / Music is Power / Velvet Morning / Break the Night with Colour / Lucky Man // C’mon People (We’re Making it Now) / History / The Drugs Don’t Work / Hold On / Bitter Sweet Symphony

253b_Richard Ashcroft [220417]

253c_Richard Ashcroft [220417]

252. Haçienda Classical: First Direct Arena, Leeds [14.4.17]

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252a_Haçienda Classiçal [140417]Artists: Graeme Park / Mike Pickering / Peter Hook / Rowetta / Manchester Camerata Orchestra / Bez / MC Tunes

Support: Peter Hook [DJ Set]

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 14.4.17

Manchester’s legendary Haçienda crossed the Pennines for an evening of old school club classics in classical style. Timeless tunes from a misspent youth, adapted for an adult audience. ‘Strings of life’ indeed.

252b_Haçienda Classiçal [140417]252c_Haçienda Classiçal [140417]

252d_Haçienda Classiçal [140417]

249. Peter Hook & The Light: O2 Academy, Leeds [18.3.17]

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249a_Peter Hook [180317]Artist: Peter Hook & The Light

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 18.3.17

Substance [Live]: Continuing his quest to eventually play every Joy Division and New Order song live, ‘Hooky’ (& co.) played an epic gig featuring the ‘Substance’ (best of) albums of his former bands.

The fact that the band played the Joy Division set after the New Order tracks implies that Hook’s true loyalty lies with his earlier work – but what a choice to have. A substantial back catalogue indeed.

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Joy Division_New Order [Substance]

249d_Peter Hook [180317]

248. Pet Shop Boys: First Direct Arena, Leeds [18.2.17]

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248a_Pet Shop Boys [180217]Artist: Pet Shop Boys

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 18.2.17

Incredibly, during a career spanning 31 years of pop perfection, Pet Shop Boys had never played live in Leeds – until now.

It was worth the wait, to see and hear decades of electronic anthems performed in spectacular style. Remixed and revamped for the modern day, with sensational lights and lasers.

Setlist: Inner Sanctum / Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) / The Pop Kids / In the Night / Burn / Love is a Bourgeois Construct / New York City Boy / Se A Vida É (That’s the Way Life is) / Love Comes Quickly / Love etc. / The Dictator Decides / Inside a Dream / West End Girls / Winner / Home and Dry / The Enigma / Vocal / The Sodom and Gomorrah Show / It’s a Sin / Left to My Own Devices / Go West // Domino Dancing / Always On My Mind / The Pop Kids (Reprise).

248b_Pet Shop Boys [180217]248c_Pet Shop Boys [180217]

248d_Pet Shop Boys [180217]

243. The Ordinary Boys: Lending Room, Leeds [25.9.16]

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243a_The Ordinary Boys [250916]Artist: The Ordinary Boys

Support: Benson

Venue: Lending Room (The Library), Leeds

Date: 25.9.16

It would be fair to say that lead singer (Preston) well and truly had his 15 minutes of fame during his Britpop and Big Brother days.

Recently reunited, The Ordinary Boys took to the stage at the Lending Room, before a crowd of merely 100 people, many of who were there for local support band Benson. However, the intimate venue and no frills performance took ‘the boys’ back to basics, with the focus on live music, rather than the trappings of fame and fortune.

Less is more. Ordinary is fine.

243b_The Ordinary Boys [250916]

243d_The Ordinary Boys [250916]

Setlist:

243e_The Ordinary Boys [250916]