Sala Apolo

GIG REVIEW: The Divine Comedy at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 5 March 2026, tour runs through 22 August 2026

SETLIST: Achilles; The Last Time I Saw The Old Man; Rainy Sunday Afternoon; Norman and Norma; Your Daddy’s Car; Bang Goes The Knighthood; I Want You; A Lady Of A Certain Age; Songs Of Love; At The Indie Disco; Neapolitan Girl; Mar-a-Lago By The Sea; Bad Ambassador; I Like; The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter; Absent Friends; Becoming More Like Alfie; Generation Sex; National Express; Our Mutual Friend; Invisible Thread; Tonight We Fly

Rainy Sunday Afternoon is the title of the latest album by The Divine Comedy and it’s a thundery Thursday evening in Barcelona.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a a very European expression of musical joy
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GIG REVIEW: Sam Ryder at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Tuesday 8 November, tour runs until 4 April 2023

SETLIST: Tiny Riot; Whirlwind; Somebody; Put A Light On Me; Deep Blue Doubt; You’re The Voice; All The Way Over; More; Everybody Wants To Rule The World/I Want To Break Free/September/The Way You Make Me Feel; SPACE MAN

Before this show we thank Ryder for turning around the UK’s Eurovision fortunes and ask him whether he will be playing a part in the 2023 event in Liverpool next May and he doesn’t yet know.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think Ryder deserves to take part in Liverpool 2023 for bringing Eurovision to the UK
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GIG REVIEW: Stereolab at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Monday 7 November 2022, tour runs to 3 December 2022

SETLIST: Supah Jaianto; Laissex Faire; Eye Of The Volcano; Refractions In The Plastic Pulse; U.H.F. – MF; Miss Modular; Mountain; Hamonium; I Feel The Air (Of Another Planet); Pack Yr Romantic Mind; Super-Electric; Gus The Mynah Bird; French Disko; Simple Headphone Mind

The 1st words lead singer Laetitia Sadier utters are: ‘F*ck the oligarchs’ and as we contemplate an imminent World Cup in a Quatar beset by human rights violations we can’t help but concur as FIFA counts its TV viewing rights receipts.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the bands politics that make us better appreciate them
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