Tag: Happy Mondays

402. James: First Direct Arena, Leeds [25.11.21]

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Artist: James

Support: Happy Mondays

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 25.11.21

Strange yet familar bedfellows. James and Happy Mondays both started their recording careers on Factory Records and became stalwart members of the ‘Madchester’ movement. Almost 40 years later, both bands are still going strong and filling arenas.

Happy Mondays are on form with their three-strong front team, Shaun, Bez & Rowetta batting banter back and forth. It’s a ‘best of’ support slot and the perfect way to warm-up the arena. Although they do seem to be in it for the money as Shaun continually asks the band how long they’ve been on stage and how many songs they’ve got left to play.

Happy Mondays Setlist: Kinky Afro / God’s Cop / Loose Fit / Bob’s Yer Uncle / Dennis and Lois / 24 Hour Party People / Hallelujah / He’s Gonna Step on You Again / Wrote for Luck

James Setlist: Zero / Isabella / She’s a Star / Born of Frustration / Five-O / All the Colours of You / Gold Mother / Curse Curse / Come Home / Miss America / Attention / Hymn from a Village / Beautiful Beaches / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Sound // Wherever It Takes Us / Sit Down / Laid

372. An Evening with Shaun Ryder: Trouble at Mill, Farsley [7.2.20]

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Artist: Shaun Ryder

Interviewer: Gavin Puszczalowskyi

Venue: Trouble at Mill, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Leeds

Date: 7.2.20

Never mind Manchester; Farsley became the scene for 72 hour party people as Shaun Ryder took up a three night residency at Sunny Bank Mills.

Uncertain of his stamina, we opted for the first night (let’s face it, Happy Mondays were never the most reliable band back in the day). Ryder provided an evening of surprisingly detailed and sometimes scathing memoirs with witty takes on his hedonistic history. Apparently each of the three evenings covered different topics with equal wit and wisdom.

A favourite quote came from his view of real life events and their portrayal in the ‘24 Hour Party People’ biopic; refering to the film as ‘Carry On Haçienda’.

There was strictly no ‘meet & greet’ but I managed to leave my ‘Bummed’ LP to be signed and returned before Ryder rode out of town.

117. Oasis: Wembley Stadium, London [21.7.00]

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117a_Oasis [210700]

Artist: Oasis

Support: Doves / Happy Mondays

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

Date: 21.7.00

This was the one and only gig that I attended at the old Wembley Stadium, not long before it was demolished. The day included a surprise appearance from Happy Mondays and a stunning sunset set from Doves.

As Oasis took to the stage, Liam swaggered out and greeted the crowd with his usual level of charm: “Shithole! About time they knocked the shit down!”. To be fair, he had a point. The stadium was on its last legs, and other than the iconic twin towers, there was nothing of the historical venue to admire.

The concert was recorded and issued as the ‘Familiar to Millions’ album and DVD.

117b_Oasis [Familiar to Millions]

 

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044. Happy Mondays: Elland Road Stadium, Leeds [1.6.91]

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044_Happy Mondays [010691]

Artist: Happy Mondays

Support: The Farm / The La’s / Northside / Stereo MCs / The High / Mike Pickering [DJ Set] / Paul Oakenfold [DJ Set] / Jam MC’s [DJ Set]

Venue: Elland Road Stadium, Leeds

Date: 1.6.91

A full on baggy invasion of the Yorkshire heartland, as Happy Mondays and friends hosted their ‘Match of the Day’ at the home of Leeds United. The gig was temporarily halted, as some nutter climbed to the top of the floodlights for a better view and a bit of a dance. The crowd obligingly chanted “jump”, and the show went on.