 |
| Bring that middle-aged Domestic Goddess to my dressing room, NOW! |
And it's no lie - the man's voice is like honey rolling over hot coals.
I'd bought the tickets ages ago, well, B and C had bought my tickets ages ago, but sadly Tartarus shipped out to Mexico on the day of the gig and we could not get the ticket sold. So we had the most expensive coat and handbag depository in the country last night!
We had fully intended to catch Joe Elliot of Def Leppard who was the support act with The Quireboys, but the convivial conversation and red wine in the Pelican Cafe (slap bang opposite Kelvingrove Art Galleries) was too convivial to wolf down.
The weather on the West Coast was beautiful yesterday, all Pixar blue skies and heat haze shimmering on the tarmac - just the temperature for kicking back with a lovely Pinot Noir and plates of seafood linguine with some old friends....hmmmm *drools like Homer Simpson*.
Anyway, we just got into the Clyde Auditorium and the 5 minute warning tannoyed out - just time to pick up some 'water' from the bar. I've never been at a gig in the Clyde Auditorium and while the acoustics were great, the drab grey interior only lacked the white, black and red of the swastika drapery and it would have made the perfect venue for a Hitler Rally.
We were delighted to note that we seemed to be amongst the youngest there - or perhaps we ALL look that age these days and all still feel about 21 inside, who knows. Anyway, we had good seats and settled back for the show.
And from the moment Rogers appeared on stage, you knew that you were in a safe pair of hands. Moving seamlessly from Bad Company to Free to his own solo material and back again in any number of permutations, we marvelled at the quality of his voice -sure the high notes he didn't hang onto so long, but come on, the guy must be 60 if he's a day!
He's also not much into between song banter. We got a 'Great to be back in Glasgow' and a few 'Lemme hear you sing' kind of comments during songs, but not much else. And I'm not complaining. Nothing is more likely to make my stomach tighten into a knot is when an artist on stage tries to reply to some Glaswegian shouting. Usually the shouting is benign, but it can quickly escalate into 'Hey, cu*t - gie us some All Right now'...oh yeah, been there, heard that - it's humiliating to think that these giants of rock might leave the venue thinking that we're all Neanderthal knuckle-draggers in this city. I iz quite cultured, akshully.
Actually, Rogers was looking pretty buff - a white t-shirt that showed off his toned physique and black jeans. He looked a damned sight better than Tartarus would do in that outfit, for sure. It was effortless, comfortable stuff from a guy that knows he doesn't have to try too hard to be marvellous. True, he now seems to sport teeth that gleam so brightly you could see them from space, but if I had that kind of money, I'd have everything capped and gleaming too.
The Nazi Rally thoughts abounded as stewards stalked the rows, making sure that no-one took pictures and that lone dancers in the middle of rows were made to sit down, If everyone was up, then they let the dancing go, but they were pretty strict about the photography *bugger*.
What is it with people that they can sit and text while in the middle of a concert? A concert that you paid £45 a ticket, to boot. We nosily read the texts and bad jokes over the shoulders of the people in front - don't they know that the glowing screen can be seen from stage? What an insult to an artist. Here's a couple of the Hugely Important Texts sent from the row in front:
'Spoke to L and she's coming.'
'Next week?'
And a joke about Neil Lennon (the manager of Celtic Football Club that cannot be repeated, even on my very sweary blog)
As you can see - all TERRIBLY important......
After the gig, our ears humming, we headed back to B&Cs for a herbal tea and to pass out quietly in their spare room. How rock and roll was that?
Paul Rogers was an excellent gig and I really wished that I was one of those bad women in the Classic Rock quote.... :-)
What was your most favourite gig to date and why?
I refuse to be jealous x
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I'm not really sure who he is, but if it was a gig that involved sitting down, I probably would have hated it. I refuse to go to stadium gigs and large seated venues - I can't see the point.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite gigs have always been in small venues like pubs, the Astoria, the Marquee and the former Hammersmith Palais. Somewhere you could either boogie about in the space at the back near the bar and still make eye contact with the band members or hurl yourself into the mosh pit (less than 20ft away) and get sweatier and more jostled than on the London Underground in rush hour.
aaah sounds fab :)
ReplyDeleteMy fave gig to date...my last one, Newton Faulkner at our local entertainment parlour (that's nightclub with sticky floors to you and I). He also got a wee bit of rude treatment...locals pissed as newts loudly talking over the poor guy singing (I wont even mention his young talented female, but not at all ballsy support act), but thats what you get in the far north if you start your gig at 9 and let the locals in at 7 with a bar open.
Over the noise he was fabulous, such a sweet attitude and lovely voice. And a sense of humour (thank god). I spent most of the night with my mate, nursing one drink (so we didnt lose our space) and just staring at his happy form about ten feet away.
Bliss :) xx
Sounds like you had a lovely time in Glasgow.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I went to a gig it was Steeleye Span at their farewell tour and it was in the City Halls. Not great accoustics but quite an impressive building.
The music was great, but I almost smothered under the high concentration of Patchouli that was in the air.
I think it must have been a mandatory inclusion in the ticket: If you're female, you have to wear Patchouli .
Ben Folds in Manchester earlier this year was pretty special but I got very irritated with my friend who wouldn't turn her bloody phone off and kept texting all the way through the gig. Honestly, is it that hard to just leave your phone in your bag for a couple of hours?
ReplyDeleteps - are you sure you can't share the Neil Lennon joke?
aaah the delight of not being the oldest in the room.....that's one of the many joys of a Patti Smith gig...sounds like you had a grand night out....seeing Patti at the Union Chapel was probably my most recent best gig ever.....x
ReplyDeleteI am jealous! I also don't like the Clyde Auditorium. It's more than a bit soulless.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can pick a best gig. I would maybe be able to narrow it down to about 20. I get to see really fantastic bands more often than your average person!
My favorite concert was Elton John and a percussionist ONLY in Cincinnati, Ohio some years back.
ReplyDeleteI hate these idiots who text all the time. They'll be at dinner and be texting, ignoring the poor soul they're dining with. I'd get up and leave.
Love you, buddy.
Dear Ali, my best gig is a toss up between David Bowie, The Stones at the Astoria or Prince.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good night, shame about the place but lovely to not be the oldest one.
I feel like that when I go clubbing sometimes now!
Hope all's good with you. When are you around for a chat? Tomorrow?
Much love, C xx