The Mountain Goats @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire - November 15, 2019

My first time seeing the Mountain Goats. I grabbed tickets as soon as they were available as I've been wanting to see them for a couple of years now. I'd heard the name for yonks, and assumed they were some folksy hipster shit (given the animal name), but then I learned about Laura Jane Grace's obsession with them, and finally gave them a listen. And of course: "wow!"

For some reason this date had a bunch of great concerts in London. It really hurt to turn them down, particularly the Sleaford Mods/Viagra Boys/Stewart Lee show (!!!), but I could not pass up seeing John Darnielle et al live after falling in love with his astounding lyrics and songwriting.

I went with Steve, who has come to like some Mountain Goat songs from the amount I play certain songs at home on drinking/hanging out/cooking nights. Since I knew it would be a tame, mostly quiet night, I didn't feel I could ask him to go too early, as we were standing and the openers were very chill as well (I had a quick listen). It's a good thing too. The first 3/4 of the show was very mellow. I'd never before heard drinks being ordered and made during a headliner's set.

It was great to listen to so many new songs I wasn't much, or at all, familiar with, as Darnielle is a winning performer. He had a story for most of the songs as he introduced them, and it was clear that this was natural one-off banter, not word-for-word rehashed stories. He told a funny anecdote about a friend seeing Leonard Cohen and loving his stories so much that she went back a 2nd night, and heard the exact same stories again. Not surprising, but it's clear that being authentic is deeply important to Darnielle.

As I listen to the Mountain Goats mostly on spotify and just let them go, several songs were familiar but not their names (fortunately someone else figured out the exact play list), but I was really happy to hear some of my favourites: Dance Music, Wear Black, Waylon Jennings Live!, Younger, Up the Wolves and This Year. But the highlight for me was getting to hear No Children live. The feeling was universal among the audience as it was one big shout-along. Tremendous! I captured one minute on video, not being able to help myself capturing my favourite verse, although I now understand that Darnielle is no fan of mobile phones at shows. I've already rewatched it about 5 times, so I'm afraid I can't say I regret it!

Setlist:
Estate Sale Sign
No More Tears
Hebrews 11:40
Heretic Pride
Younger
Goblin Wizard in the Crawlspace of my Heart
Transcendental Youth
We Shall All Be Healed

(John solo:)
Dance Music
Waco
Matthew 25:21

(Matt Returns:)
Wear Black

Waylon Jennings Live!

Magpie

(openers Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards joins:)
Tianchi Lake
Doc Gooden
Cadaver Sniffing Dog
Up the Wolves

Encore:
Possum by Night
You or Your Memory
No Children
This Year

Gaz Brookfield @ The Monarch, Camden - November 8, 2018

I first stumbled across Gaz Brookfield in 2015 when I was looking for a drink after the Faith No More Roundhouse show. He was finishing his set at The Monarch and his instantly singable songs made me want to hear a lot more. He was actually the first person I followed on Twitter so I could hear about future shows near me.

A year and a half later I was in Norwich to go to the Levellers' Levelling the Land Anniversary show. Gaz Brookfield was the first opener so I asked my concert companions if we could try to catch his set. Wrangling several people for a 1/2 hour drive prevented this, and we walked in during Gaz's final song. He did a big splits jump at the end to underline what a good set we must have missed. I did manage to have a quick, awkward chat with him at his merch table, and grabbed a flyer with future dates, still hoping to catch his set one day soon.

Newly moved to Camden borough, of course I wasn't going to miss the next Gaz Brookfield show at The Monarch. I doubly wanted to go after discovering Solo Armada, a group for music loving solo gig-goers who want to support live music and meet up at shows. On their gig listings, I saw a few people were going to be there sporting their buttons. I had a slight second-thought when I got an alert that a ticket became available for Art Brut at Boston Music Room, but I'm glad I stuck with my plan, because it was good to meet some Solo Armada folk and see a really fun, engaging show.

Ben Sydes, aka B-Sydes, was part way through his set when I arrived. There were several laughs about shots being delivered to the stage and stage banter that all three singer-songwriters would continue alone and together through the evening. They were obviously good friends and having a fun night with the audience feeling part of the celebrations. I can't say any of B-Sydes songs particularly grabbed me, and his nasally voice isn't for me, but he did a great job of warming us up and setting a friendly tone.

Next up was Jake Martin, a great showman with some belting singalongs like For Fuck's Sake Jake where the crowd was encouraged to sing back "You're an Asshole" after the lines "I'm a King Without a Castle / You're my Queen. I'm an Asshole" and cooperated with gusto. He later joined Gaz Brookfield for a couple of songs that they've written together for their Aged Revolt album, a collaboration where they cover each other's songs.

There wasn't much of a pause and Gaz soon jumped into action with a short but energetic and feel-good set. We got a few songs from each of his albums and most of the crowd sung along enthusiastically. Brookfield is a warm and funny performer, happy to share jokes and go with the flow through any surprises or glitches.

Finally seeing a full Gaz Brookfield set has only reinforced my liking for his music. His songwriting is sincere and original. His guitar playing is clean and upbeat in the best indie folk  tradition and I really enjoy his gravelly voice. He's a well-seasoned performer and delivers a fun night out. Pretty damn good value for a mere £6.

Most songs were introduced with a bit of banter and before he sung Aged Revolt he shared a story about the origins of the name. Apparently, he and Jake wanted to write an album called the Travelodge Diaries and when he contacted Travelodge corporate for permission to use their name, they declined. So into an anagram generator went "Travelodge" and the album and tour had a name, and a fitting one he's mused, sharing that (despite his boyish looks) he is almost 40.

The final song of the night, the new Great Minds Drink Alike, saw Jake and Gaz off the stage in the middle of the crowd singing among us. I shot most of it on video if you care to have a look.


Setlist:
Solo Acoustic Guy
The Diabetes Blues
The March of Progress
The Tale of Gunner Haines
Under the Table
It's All So Rock and Roll
Godless Man
I've Paid My Money
Aged Revolt
Be the Bigger Man
Thin
Encore:
Great Minds Drink Alike

Skinny Lister / Beans on Toast @ Norwich Waterfront - November 30, 2017

This show was part of the Double Trouble Tour: Beans on Toast and then Skinny Lister. Beans on Toast served up a big chunk of his almost stream-of-consciousness rap/sung folk songs. I get the feeling he is extremely prolific and just dumps his stuff on the audience. I couldn't help feeling that he might instead slow down and more carefully craft what he does, but maybe I'm missing the point of his output. It was certainly entertaining though, and he is engaging and fun, as he veers between the political and the personal. He had 4 musicians backing him up, which I understand isn't normal for him. I enjoyed his introduction of the violin player: she used to play with Lord of the Dance but quit when they wouldn't let her skip their performance for Donald Trump. Many cheers for that story.

Skinny Lister is a new discovery for me. They are about to release their fourth album (springtime?) and tour unrelentingly. It shows. Their set is tight and crazy fun. All the band members are natural entertainers and provide a great night of jumping around and singing along. But I have to single out the indefatigable Lorna Thomas, singer and whirling ball of energy. She is flanked by her husband on guitar and sharing singing duties, and her brother, on accordian, who along with the rest of the band all have spotlight moments that richochet between band members. They share their energy and essence, and delight the crowd as one cohesive, and churning engine delivering (what they call) Shanty Punk. I'd love to see them live again, and will wait impatiently for the next album.

Setlist:
Tragedy in A Minor
Christmas Calls
Cathy
My Life, My Architecture
Geordie Lad
The Devil in Me
John Kanaka
Rollin' Over
Trouble on Oxford Street
Bonny Away
Wanted
This is War
Hamburg Drunk
Encore:
Beat It From the Chest
This Christmas (with Beans on Toast)

-Setlist is approximate. They might have played Thing Like That and George's Glass among others.