[Johnnyo]

The last time that I saw Lucinda Williams play live was at a small venue in East London pre pandemic so maybe 2018. Last night I saw her at the very prestigious Barbican here in London. I'm guessing it holds 2500 so a very different experience this time around for many reasons.

For those of you who aren't aware, Lou had a stroke in 2020 and has made some recovery but she isn't the performer that I saw in 2018, she can't play guitar anymore and it was quite shocking to see how small she looks now compared to previous but what a trooper. If you read about how the stroke affected her it's amazing that she is performing at all. A real fighter

I wasn't sure what to expect from the gig but it was really good. The set list was clearly chosen to work around Lou's physical limitations and she has a band of really great musicians. Her voice, IMO, has improved over the years or maybe it's that she can't yell as well anymore but her delivery was really great.

All in all a top notch gig. Keep on rockin' Lou

[Johnnyo]

Really interesting afternoon gig yesterday at an amazing venue.

I saw The Karma Effect at the Gibson Garage here in Central London. For anyone who is a guitar aficionado, the Gibson Garage must be your nirvana. It Gibsons store in London with a small venue in the basement. You have to walk through the shop to get to the stairs to the venue and what an experience.

Glanced at the prices of some of the guitars, way out of my price bracket but such craftsmanship.

So, the gig. The Karma Effect are a UK rock band and they were playing acoustic for this gig. Think


Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990) by Tesla

and you get the vibe

Anyway, really good gig, loads of banter and I think that I'll try and catch these guys when they play a electric set next. Very enjoyable afternoon

[Johnnyo]

An artists that I forgot to mention is Ben De La Cour

Saw him play In support of Lucinda Williams.

Very decent support act. Think a little Steve Earle / Townes Van Zandt.

A good start to the evening

[Johnnyo]

Saw the intransigents play patchworks in SW London last week.

Great band who are getting better with each gig. Excellent musicians and material.

[Johnnyo]

Samantha Fish

Another great gig by one of the best blues rock guitarists around.

Saw her at the Empire, in Shepherds Bush here in London. Great crowd who really got into it. The sound wasn't quite right at the start but after a couple of tracks they got it bang on

The band started with a cover of MC5's Kick Out The Jams, as they did the last time we saw her and finished with RL Burnsides Goin Down South, as last time but in-between we 1 1/2 hours of tracks from her new album and some Fish classics.

All in all, a great gig. Already looking forward to next time

[Johnnyo]

The Zac Schulze Gang

Saw them supporting Samantha Fish. Really good Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac sound. Did a great version of Oh Well!

Worth catching if they are playing in your area and you love a bit of blues rock[/u]

[Johnnyo]

Saw Thurston Moore at Café Oto in Dalston, North London. Great venue which I've been to before but what a weird gig.

It would appear that Thurston is now into discordant / atonal jazz and the set and a bit that I heard was basically unlistenable (for me anyway). Others seemed to really love it and I don't mind a bit of discordant but this was off the charts.

After the first 40 minute set I was fearing the worst for the next set and after about five minutes of the same I had to say my goodbyes and leave.

This gig gets added to a very, very short list of gigs that I've left early because I couldn't take it anymore

Still, it was a good night out with friends, very decent beer and a great venue. disappointed yes, because the last time I saw him live it was brilliant but C'est la vie