New look blog, last gig of the year and the much treasured Furtheron gig of the year awards.

I’ve tarted up the blog a bit as you may notice. Along with the seductively reclining Les Paul on the header there are some lists as to music I’m listening to and books I’ve been reading on your right that I’ll endeavour to update regularly. Please feel free to comment on anything you notice in there…

Mrs F got an early Christmas present last night as I took her to see Simply Red at The O2 on their Greatest Hits tour. Simply put Simply Red are Mrs F’s favourites above all others so she is sad that they are calling time on their career and that this is the final tour. This was the fifth time I think we’ve seen them, once about second album time at the Docklands Arena (does that still exist?) and I remember them having loads of technical issues that night. At Wembley Arena I think on the Stars tour. Brighton some time later on the Home tour and a couple of years back at an open air gig at Leeds Castle in Kent just after Blue came out.

So anyhow – very very good gig. We were up in the gods and I really mean that – if you have a problem with heights level 4 at the O2 is to be avoided. Still we had a very clear view of the stage :-) bit like a Buzzard does as it circles it’s prey. Simply Red aren’t my personal favourites but they are a very impressive live act, very polished, excellent sound quality and extremely tight. I’d love to work with the two brothers who make up the rhythm section they are just stunningly solid.

It was a hits tour and they have a fair number to get through. My favourite album by them is A New Flame and they played a few off that which was good. One of the big crowd pleasers was Money too tight too mention which made me think that in the 23 years since that was a hit we’ve sort of gone full circle really… or have we not moved?

So that is it for gigs this year. I suppose time to vote for gig of the year… blimey difficult as always given they are all so varied. Metallica has to be up there for the fan club O2 gig, which was great as they played such a different set from their standard fare, cost only £5 and apparently they gave the proceeds to charity. How come I normally shell out £40 to get in to a gig then? David Gray was very good at Folkestone – I like that venue as it is so intimate. Hmm Queen were very good… then the stadium gigs Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden…. Okay…

Best gig overall – Metallica for some of the reasons above and because they played their socks off.
Best Stadium gig – oh tricky, I think the Foos just edge it as they clearly loved it and the finale with Jimmy Page and JP Jones topped it.
Best small gig – I’m going to give to Gordon Giltrap at Chathams lovely little Brook Theatre. If you’ve never seen him do yourself a favour and get along. He’s very witty in his little monologues in between the songs and one of the finest guitarists you’ll ever have the privilege to witness.