GIG REVIEW

GIG REVIEW: Pulp at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

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By Neil Durham

WHEN? Friday 28 July, tour runs until Saturday 29 July 2023

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

SETLIST: I Spy; Disco 2000; Mis-Shapes; Something Changed; Pink Glove; Weeds; Weeds II; F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E; Sorted For Es And Whizz; This Is Hardcore; Do You Remember The First Time?; Babies; Sunrise; Like A Friend; Underwear; Common People; After You; Razzamatzz; Glory Days; Hymn Of The North

The most moving moment during this 535th gig by Pulp was when lead singer Jarvis Cocker dedicated Something Changed to bassist Steve Mackey who died on 2 March 2023 aged 56 and revealed that his wife Katie and son Marley are with us in the audience.

  • Read on for reasons including why we’re wishing for the band to release their 1st new album since 2001
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GIG REVIEW: The Human League, Altered Images & Nik Kershaw at Kew The Music

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 14 July 2023

SETLIST: The Sound Of The Crowd; Mirror Man; Heart Like A Wheel; The Things That Dreams Are Made Of; Open Your Heart; Seconds; The Lebanon; One Man In My Heart; Human; Behind The Mask; Love Action; Tell Me When; Fascination; Don’t You Want Me; Being Boiled; Together In Electric Dreams

Let’s just say that I went to church on Friday. The church of The Human League.

  • Read on for reasons including A Humdrum Mum’s thoughts on Altered Images and Nik Kershaw
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GIG REVIEW: Alison Goldfrapp at Somerset House

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Sunday 9 July, tour runs until 1 March 2024

SETLIST: Hotel (Suite 23); Love Invention; Believer; Digging Deeper; So Hard So Hot; Number 1; Impossible; Anymore; Ride A White Horse; SloFlo; The Beat Divine; Gatto Gelato; NeverStop; In Electric Blue; Rocket; Strict Machine; Fever (This Is The Real Thing)

It was very much the weekend to see music outdoors in London with friends seeing Blur at Wembley Stadium and Bruce Springsteen in Hyde Park but we were more than happy with our choice.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Alison Goldfrapp on tour this year and into 2024 in London
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GIG REVIEW: Welly at the Edge Of The Wedge, Portsmouth

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 30 June 2023, tour runs until 2 September 2023

Having “discovered’ Welly on day one of Victorious Festival last year, making our whole weekend (along with the comedy), we have seen this Brighton-based (originally from Southampton) band three times now.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see the band this summer
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Last Man Dancing by Jake Shears (June 2023 and gig at Village Underground)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Too Much Music; Do The Television; Voices; I Used To Be In Love; Really Big Deal; Last Man Dancing; 8 Ball; Devil Came Down The Dancefloor; Mess Of Me; Doses; Radio Eyes; Diamonds Don’t Burn

SETLIST: Too Much Music; Really Big Deal; Any Which Way; Meltdown; Do The Television; Voices; Comfortably Numb; I Used To Be In Love; Creep City; Laura; Take Your Mama; Last Man Dancing; I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’; Devil Came Down The Dancefloor; 8 Ball; Destiny; Invisible Light; Filthy/Gorgeous

We’ve recently read Shears’ memoir Boys Keep Swinging and it’s a fascinating insight into the mindset of the former Scissor Sisters’ frontman who has struggled for inspiration.

  • Read on for reasons including how Shears invited his audience to his east London home after this gig
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GIG REVIEW: KEiiNO, Michael Rice, Laurell & Ari Olafsson at Heaven

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday April 15 2023

KEiiNO SETLIST: Unbreakable; Dancing In The Smoke; Would I Lie?; Praying; Mother Of The Night; Shallow; Joik solo; Nights Of Thunder; I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me); Colours; Black Leather; On A Night Like This; Monument; the Sun Always Shines On TV; Spirit In The Sky

KEiiNO may only have won the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest televote rather than the event outright but it’s testament to the band’s popularity that nearly 4 years later they can almost fill this prestigious nightclub venue in the heart of London.

  • Read on for reasons including how support acts Ari Olafsson, Laurell and Michael Rice made this a gig to remember
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GIG REVIEW: Cian Ducrot at KOKO

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 20 March, tour runs until 28 April 2023

SETLIST: Make Believe; Victory; Not Usually Like This; Aftertaste; Him; Crocodiles; Endless Nights; How Do You Know?; Hello Gorgeous; Part Of Me; All For You; I’ll Be Waiting

Last night Ducrot played a sold out show at the 2,400-capacity KOKO in Camden and has re-arranged his tour schedule so he can support Ed Sheeran at gigs including The 02 in London on Friday and Saturday this week.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t wait for Ducrot’s debut album
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LAST NIGHT: GIG REVIEW: Paul Heaton (get well soon Jacqui Abbott) and Billy Bragg at The 02

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 17 December, last night of the tour

SETLIST: I Drove Her Away With My Tears; From Under The Covers; Too Much For One (Not Enough For Two); One Last Love Song; Everybody’s Talkin’; Old Red Eyes Is Back; A Good Day Is Hard To Find; A Little Time; The People Who Grinned Themselves Top Death; Five Get Over Excited; I’ll Sail This Ship Alone; Liars’ Bar; My Mother’s Womb; Me And The Farmer; Prettiest Eyes; Manchester; Heatongrad; Rotterdam; Song For Whoever; Think For A Minute; Happy Hour; Perfect 10; You Keep It All In; Caravan Of Love

36 years ago The Housemartins’ cover of Caravan Of Love was number 1 and it is the last song tonight and elevated brilliantly by an enthusiastic audience singalong.

  • Read on for reasons including why Heaton and Abbott are in the Guinness Book Of World Records
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