A post about some gigs that happened recently

On July 1st we played a gig in New Cross, South London courtesy of Chamber Club. Due to some technical hitches it was something of a shambles, but a lot of fun and we were probably just more punk than usual.

On July 8th I saw banjo hero, and comedy legend Steve Martin, playing with bluegrass band the Steep Canyon Rangers. They were phenomenal and if you get chance I recommend you get down: great tunes, great musicians, great sound, hilarious banter.

If I were to list my top bands of all time the top 3 would probably be Queen, Guns N Roses, and Primus. Freddie's sadly long gone, Axl and Slash have yet to reconcile their differences, and Primus haven't played in the UK for 14 years. Until this month. My associates and I rocked up to Brixton Academy like giddy schoolgirls and had an awesome 2 hours. Highlights for me included Tommy The Cat, Over The Electric Grapevine, and Is It Luck?

About 6 or 7 years ago I saw one of the greatest gigs I've ever seen: They Might Be Giants at Manchester Academy (and was especially pleased to play on the same stage myself a little while later playing guitar with Swound!, supporting The Crimea). So when I heard they were playing just down the road from me in Camden I jumped at the chance to see them again, and was not disappointed. As my companion said in delight halfway through the show "this band has charisma!". Some of my highlights were Alphabet of Nations, Birdhouse In Your Soul (is there really anything more joyous than a room full of people united by a blue canary in the outlet by their light switches?) and, after spending the whole gig saying "I hope they do Fingertips", out it came for an awesome finale. MystEEEEEEEEErious whisper!

Finally Great Men rounded it off with a show at the legendary Dublin Castle in Camden. I recommend the Deuchars (trivia: a million years ago I was barman at a pub called the White Hart in Quorn; Deuchars was one of our best beers). By the way is everyone else digging R-Man's rock stance as much as I am?

Musings on Roses

...because if I can't vomit my opinions onto the internet then why do blogs exist?

My all-time favourite band is Queen. This blog isn't about them.

My all-time second favourite band is Guns N Roses. I bet they think this blog is about them. It is.

I was first introduced to GNR around the age of 7 or 8 and Slash more than anyone else inspired me to pick up the guitar - probably by how cool he was as much as anything musical. Having just seen Axl's "GNR" for the second time I thought I'd spout some of my current thoughts and opinions. Feel free to throw me some of your own.

The legacy

I celebrate the entire [original] Guns N Roses catalogue, with the exception of one song: My World. It is completely out of place and pretty log. This is why I am angered by Sweet Child O' Mine being pretty much the only track you ever hear out, and the only one that non-fans know. I also put it to you that Estranged is not only the song November Rain could have been, but has the greatest music video of all time.

The new albums

I never cared much for Velvet Revolver: perfectly serviceable but not a patch on GNR.

Chinese Democracy is an incredible album. Worth the wait and worth the money. My only issue is that it shouldn't say Guns N Roses on the front; it's an Axl & Friends album and there's no shame in that. I've also been a Buckethead fan since before he ever became involved with Axl and I love spotting his guitar parts on this - Shackler's Revenge is pure Buckethead.

Slash's album isn't really an album. There's some cool stuff on there and some fun collaborations but it just isn't cohesive and I'm sorry Slash but Axl writes way better songs.

The live shows

I saw Slash's Sideboob at Download this year. They were excellent. Pure rock and roll: no gimmicks, just heart and soul. And Slash reminding everyone why he's arguably the definitive guitar hero.

I saw Axl's "Guns N Roses" a few years ago at Nottingham and again at Leeds festival this week. His voice is on the way back to greatness and he's still the greatest living frontman (number 2 of all-time after Freddie Mercury of course). His band are unfortunately no more than a very talented tribute band, and substitute the reality of Slash and co. with pyrotechnics. I also object to the hiring of a guitarist to look a bit like Slash to fool idiots:

In conclusion then, Slash has the heart and Axl has the show.

It's 2 years until Appetite For Destruction celebrates its 25th birthday... imagine if the reunion happened and brought the rock and roll back together...