Air Traffic @ Islington Assembly Hall, London - October 9, 2017

Air Traffic have been performing a handful of gigs to celebrate their only album, Fractured Life's 10th anniversary. This is an added-on date due to the first shows selling out quickly.

I discovered Air Traffic shortly after their 1st album was released in 2007 when I was loving all the British new wave of post punk revival bands and the like at this time. 2008 was a packed concert year for me and seeing Air Traffic open for Elbow in an Anglican Church in Vancouver was one of that year's sweeter musical moments. I vividly remember the opening duo of drums that begins No More Running Away acoustically filling the church. It was uplifting and almost spiritual. Just beautiful.

The other memory is the hard pew Steve and I had to endure, and how the mellowness of Elbow had set Steve nodding off before the end of their set. Still, it was a uniquely lovely show in a unique venue. Air Traffic remain one of only two bands I've gone to see specifically when they are still opening acts. Elbow was just bonus.

When I stumbled across this gig it was pure luck. We had been listening to some of their songs that are favourites and I happened to look them up to see if they had done anything lately. Such great timing. Steve was actually happy to go with me. I couldn't quite believe it but he was singing along towards the end. That was fun to experience.

I predicted that the audience would be mellow, but I've been surprised before. This time, however, I was spot on. The crowd was exactly what you'd expect: late 20s, 30-something mainly; many in couples, and not a mosher in sight. This fit perfectly with the singer's banter about getting older. He finished Take Your Hands Off Me by saying "God knows what we were so angry about." The crowd could clearly identify. They laughed when he introduced This Old Town as Bournemouth, and told us it's the town  they're from, were desperate to get out of, and all now live once again.

Chris Wall and the rest of the band were clearly enjoying themselves and he continued the audience interaction with charm. By the end of the set and in the encore we had three big singalongs to Your Fractured Life, No More Running Away and Shooting Star. In fact, when the set ended and the crowd kept up the "No More Running Aways", Wall did a cartoonish slow-motion running escape from the stage and the whole band was brought back as we all kept up the chant. I wondered if this had happened every night, but checked out some videos of other nights and suspect this may have been original. It would be a fitting piece of appreciation on Air Traffic's last night of this particular group of reunion shows.

The sound was great. Not too loud and no ringing ears today. They performed tightly and with energy and joy and it was an enjoyable concert. The penultimate song was introduced with the information it is a newly written track that has just been released as a single and humourously that "Album 2 is riding on it. No pressure." I like it and would be really pleased for more material and to see them get back to doing something they obviously love. Wall thanked a host of people, but particularly the band, singling out their drummer, David Ryan Jordan, as the real impetus behind the reunion. Cheers David!


Setlist:
Just Abuse Me
Never Even Told Me Her Name
Time Goes By
Can't Go Back
Come On
Empty Space
I Can't Understand
This Old Town
Charlotte
I Like That
Take Your Hands Off Me
Get In Line
An End To All Our Problems
Your Fractured Life
No More Running Away
Encore:
The Running Caught Me High
Almost Human
Shooting Star

Against Me! @ WUK, Vienna - December 18, 2016

Despite the one hour delay to start the show, this is one of the better Against Me! shows I've seen (I'm up to 7 now.) There was a good vibe and lots of smiling from the band. I went with friend and fellow Against Me! fan, Janey who's a great concert pal. As opposed to London where they played 7 tracks off the new album, Shape Shift With Me, tonight they only played 5. The new song Norse Truth wasn't done in London and was the penultimate song during the encore. Kind of a lyrical follow up to Delicate, Petite & Other Things I'll Never Be which they also played.

A huge highlight of the night for me was when they played their cover of Clash song Train in Vain. I'd seen videos, but it was cool to get to see and hear it live and jump around like a mad woman. I got the feeling not everyone around me was as familiar, which was strange. Does that make me old?

WUK is a really nice venue to see a show. It has a 550 standing capacity, so a good size, plus good sitelines. It's basically one big square room with concrete floor and a wide raised stage at one end. The room next door is the bar and set up really well. The efficient bar staff were all friendly. They have reusable drink cups, so that's great. Best of all, they stayed open after the gig so we could have another drink or two after the show without being rushed out. What a treat! It was also really easy to get in and out without logjams. Even the bathrooms were easy. Such a great venue really helps improve a concert experience immeasurably.

Setlist:
True Trans Soul Rebel
333
Haunting, Haunted, Haunts
Unconditional Love
White Crosses
Dead Friend
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
T.S.R. (This Shit Rules)
Cliche Guevara
Walking Is Still Honest
Bamboo Bones
White People for Peace
Delicate, Petite & Other Things I'll Never Be
Rebecca
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
I Was a Teenage Anarchist
Black Me Out

Encore:
Train in Vain (Clash cover)
FUCKMYLIFE666
Norse Truth
Sink, Florida, Sink

Against Me! @ Electric Ballroom, London - December 8, 2016

The last four times I've seen Against Me! have been with my concert pal, Janey. (We actually met because of this band, when her boyfriend/my friend wanted to get out of going to see them in London in '14). This concert got announced right after she received a present of tickets to another show on the same night. She was gutted, but we decided to catch another show and took a trip to Vienna for it ten days later, which you can read above. I did briefly consider skipping this show, but couldn't bring myself to miss it, particularly since seeing AM! at the same venue two years ago is possibly my favourite concert memory ever. Nope. I was going.

The openers were Mobina Galore and Milk Teeth, the latter's set I caught part of, and it was reminiscent of 90s indie bands, almost riot grrl stuff, like Veruca Salt. They were a little dull to watch until the drummer stood up to try to get the audience into it.

I'd bought Janey Laura Jane Grace's new autobiography Tranny at the merch table, so with it in a cloth bag tied to my belt, I tried to keep it from bashing those around me, as I can never help myself from jumping around when AM! play. And from the opening notes of the first song, I was jumping! The whole set was full of energy and passion. It was great to hear all the songs of the new album live and it seemed that the band was having fun playing them.

Laura talked to the crowd between songs, with some familiar banter ("this is about self-care, smoking cigarettes and drinking whisky") and some new banter. She commented that Rebecca sure has a lot of words, and how happy she was to play in the UK, where she knows with 100% certainty that no one there voted for Trump. She dedicated Dead Friend to "old friends" and 12:03 to "new friends". Bamboo Bones she prefaced by saying she's an atheist and how performing feels for her is what she imagines going to church feels for others, and she said you can call this song "an atheist's spiritual". She also said that she hopes we are excited to hear new songs, cuz they are excited to play them, but they are conscious that people like to hear old songs, and they played the "deep cut" Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%.

Really glad I went. Note to self: Never miss Against Me!

Setlist:
True Trans Soul Rebel
333
Haunting, Haunted, Haunts
Unconditional Love
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
White Crosses
Dead Friend
12:03
Crash
Delicate, Petite & Other Things I'll Never Be
Rebecca
Bamboo Bones
Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%
T.S.R. (This Shit Rules)
Cliche Guevara
Walking Is Still Honest
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
I Was a Teenage Anarchist
Black Me Out
Encore:
Baby, I'm an Anarchist! (Laura solo)
FUCKMYLIFE666
Boyfriend
Sink, Florida, Sink

Full Set recorded by fan, pbrook:

Or watch on youtube, with comments and song timing marked.

Levellers @ UEA, Norwich - December 7, 2016

This was the 25th Anniversary tour for the Levelling the Land album. I saw that original tour in Toronto in 1992, after having LOVED that album and listened to it over and over. So when my concert pal invited me, I had to go.

We tried to get there to see the opener Gaz Brookfield, as I'd seen him in a pub in Camden after a London Faith No More Gig and he was very impressive. Unfortunately we only caught one song, but it was nice to see something more of his. He seemed full of energy and audience interaction, and I will try and see him again. The second openers, Ferocious Dog, I didn't know, but seemed suited to the slot, being folk punk with a touch of hippie (dreads galore).

The Levellers played their album in track order and I found myself singing along with almost all of it, transported back 25 years. Damn if those songs don't hold up! Still such a good album. The band were full of energy and gave their all. Following up the album were a bunch of songs that I'm unfamiliar with, having not kept up with their music. Glad I didn't miss this one.

Setlist:
One Way
The Game
Fifteen Years
The Boatman
Liberty Song
Far From Home
Sell Out
Another Man's Cause
The Road
The Riverflow
Battle of the Beanfield

This Garden
Men-an-Tol
Truth Is
Carry Me
The Cholera Well

Encore:
Julie
Beautiful Day

2nd Encore:
What You Know (with Ferocious Dog members)

Slaves @ O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - November 29, 2016

I'd been really looking forward to seeing Slaves live, anticipating a super high energy show. But, I was still surprised at just how much fun it was. The crowd was young sure, but more varied than I thought. There were plenty of girls and some attendees put way more thought into their outfits than I'd predict for a "punk" show. But the overall feeling from the crowd and the band and the night was feel-good, fun and welcoming.

Having looked them up before the show, I was interested in checking out openers LIFE. They're from Hull, and were a great match for Slaves with their enthusiasm and matching energy. Good choice.

With only an EP and 2 LPs to choose from, Slaves still put on a great long show. Lots of their songs are short, sharp punk singalongs, so the show had a great up beat throughout.

Laurie and Isaac were both indefatigable and engaging right at the very front of the stage; both often stepping up on the monitors, Isaac when he moved away from his stand-up drum set-up. On a few songs, Isaac was off the stage, on the barrier, or just in front of it. The fans respond accordingly with a huge, surging mosh pit and singing along enthusiastically.

Slaves are one of the best live bands I've seen. They make a genuine connection with the audience. They feel real and present and are extremely compelling to watch, and, of course, jump up and down with. I'd definitely catch another show.

Setlist:
Intro
Sockets
Play Dead
Same Again
People That You Meet
Dave (Skit)
Despair and Traffic
Suicide
Where's Your Car Debbie?
STD's/PHD's
Fuck The Hi-Hat
Consume Or Be Consumed
Angelica
Take Control
Hey
Girl Fight
Steer Clear
Cheer Up London
Feed the Mantaray
Are You Satisfied?
The Hunter
Encore:
Gary (Skit)
Lies
White Knuckle Ride
Spit It Out

Pixies @ O2 Academy Brixton, London - November 28, 2016

33 songs is a lot for the average concert. But, I was really surprised at some of the omissions. It made sense when I checked the setlist for this blog entry, and saw the following night's setlist in the same venue. They almost didn't repeat themselves. This would have been awesome for the fan attending both shows, of course. So, I missed Wave of Mutilation, Monkey Gone To Heaven, Gigantic, and some lesser gems like Is She Weird and Subacultcha. But, fortunately I got to hear U-Mass, my favourite Pixies song, to which I lost my shit over. As you do. Because they're touring in support of their new album, Head Carrier, I was expecting to hear the first single which I really like, Um Chagga Lagga. The next night's fans got that treat.

We got a good spot with a view of centre stage, and I spent much of the show letting the Pixies sound/noise wash over me. It was a slow builder, and no one in the band addressed the audience, but slowly you get swept into their sonic sea. The early songs are mostly back lit, obscuring the detail of their faces, as they seemingly take their time letting us into their world. Then the full colour hits and by the first notes of Here Comes Your Man, we are fully welcomed in, with the attendant singalong.

It was great to experience the Pixies' sound live, having loved many of their albums and tracks for years. Some bands are all about showmanship or energy or loudness, but the Pixies' live are all about the sound. And they got it right. It was special, and before a brief encore, the band took a bowing curtain call, which you don't often see at rock shows. Then, just before they came back on, the dry ice machine belched a massive wave over us. As it cleared, it was like emerging from a warzone, grey and surreal. As the Pixies played Into The White in the eerie fog, the new bassist Paz Lenchantin stood silhouetted with her low slung bass and sang almost motionlessly. Then more massive waves of dry ice buffeted us. It was by far the most I've ever experienced and then that was repeated half a dozen times. This final destination was a fittingly atmospheric representation of the enveloping aural journey we'd been taken on.

Setlist:
Where Is My Mind?
Nimrod's Son
Break My Body
Brick Is Red
Winterlong (Neil Young cover)
Blown Away
Mr.Grieves
La La Love You
Ana
All the Saints
Here Comes Your Man
Motorway to Roswell
Magdalena 318
Tenement Song
Classic Masher
Head On (Jesus and Mary Chain cover)
U-Mass
I've Been Tired
Velouria
Havalina
Snakes
Caribou
Rock Music
Baal's Back
Isla de Encanta
Oona
Planet of Sound
All I Think About Now
Hey
Gouge Away
Debaser
Tame

Encore:
Into the White

The Specials @ Rivermead Centre, Reading - November 8, 2016

The Specials live are all I hoped they would be: genuine and invigorating.

The set opened with their huge hit Ghost Town, and being in Reading at a little used (for music) leisure centre, it seemed fitting. Although the place was anything but a Ghost Town; it was packed with mostly 50+ Fred Perry and pork pie hat wearing blokes, a few with their girls in tow.

Terry Hall quite quickly starting chatting with the crowd and continued throughout the show. For once, I could clearly hear the stage banter. In fact, I thought the sound was really good and at the perfect volume. No ringing ears this morning!

He asked about the Town name pronounciation jokingly and there were some nods to missing band members, particularly John Bradbury who passed last December and should have been on this tour. Gary Powell from the Libertines very ably sat in on drums. At one point Terry admonished whoever threw a bottle on stage, and warned that one more and they'd walk off - they don't put up with that shit. I liked his middle-aged reasonableness: "put the empty in your pocket. Keep Britain Tidy." I imagine that the humble Mr. Hall has always been a decent bloke, and liked seeing this side of his personality.

Lynval Golding was full of energy throughout the show, and also talked to the crowd, mentioning (on this US Election eve) that he now lives in America and doesn't know if that's a good or bad thing. Horace Panter, the only other original member held down stage right with his bass. The rest of the band was guitarist, keyboardist, and at times, 2 trombonists, a violinist and backup singer.

Following Ghost Town were a handful of songs that weren't very familiar to me from my North American viewpoint, but by Blank Expression I was well into very familiar territory. This is the bouncy, driving ska band I fell in love with all those years ago.The only song I'd have like to have heard that I didn't was Pressure Drop, but that's only in retrospect as I type this.

Setlist:
Ghost Town
Do Nothing
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
Stereotype
Man At C&A
Blank Expression
Rat Race
Redemption Song (Bob Marley Cover)
Doesn't Make It Alright
Nite Klub
(Dawning of a) New Era
Do the Dog
Gangsters
Concrete Jungle
A Message to You, Rudy
Monkey Man
Little Bitch
Too Much Too Young
Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)
Guns of Navarone
All the Time In The World (dedicated to John Bradbury)
You're Wondering Now