Listen with me...

Two gigs went part way to filling my social calendar this week - one a brand new band without a record deal and the other a reformation. Glasvegas at Korova on Wednesday and The Pale Fountains at The Academy on Saturday. Both a joy to behold. And both a million miles away from my previous outings at the new stadium. You may remember I claimed to like my gigs dark and sweaty. Well Glasvegas ticked both of those boxes with the added element of not even being able to see the band apart from the top of a couple of heads. This didn't take away from the enjoyment at all and despite them having only a small setlist, I was happy to pretend I was 19 again.

And about 19 I would have been, I reckon, when I was listening to The Pale Fountains the first time around. They're only doing two gigs - sorry if you've missed them, but you did miss out - so there's a little treat above/below...(sorry this video thing is all new to me)

Like most gigs I go to it was full of tall men of a certain age. This time they managed to restrain themselves from talking throughout. Maybe because they realised that they were in for a rare treat. Why do people pay good money to go to see their favourite bands and then proceed to chat to their mates most of the time. It's beyond me and I know several people who would rather have a talking ban at gigs than a smoking ban.

Two fantastic nights and neither one particularly happening because it's the year of the Capital of Culture. I suspect both bands probably have a healthy disinterest in the trappings of the music industry but both brought joy to my heart and ears this week. I want to spread the joy.

The Number One Project

Liverpool has had 56 number one singles in the hit parade. I'm not bragging or saying this for camp effect (well, that bit isn't true - I love saying things for camp effect). It's a fact. Actually, as the night of the Number One Project Concert wore on, it was discovered we've had 57 number one hits. My favourite quote of the night - "Carol Decker. T'Pau. China in Your Hand. Born in Huyton". And it wasn't even from Billy Butler. But all this must be sounding very retro and insular to anyone not born within a ten mile radius of the Liver Building. So to the concert itself...

Due to a slight ticket hiccup we arrived a few songs in and I have no idea what we missed. But the seats were good. Seven rows from the front. And in an arena that seats 10, 600 this helped us get into the spirit of things. I hate big arenas. I like my gigs small, dark and slightly sweaty. But this was different, as I hope most things during the Capital of Culture year will be for me. Part of the reason for this blog. It's at this point that I'll say half of me was going with a firm sense of irony and the other half looking forward to seeing bands like China Crisis, The Farm and Shack. Not for me the mawkish sentimentality that often abounds in this city I call home. Ha. How we laughed. Or rather how I stood up and swayed along to Ferry Across the Mersey, All Together Now and You'll Never Walk Alone. Poor Sonia, she came on far too early to get everyone on their feet. And if someone would like to explain to me what Dr and the Medics were doing there then I'd happily listen. For about three seconds...

An Evertonian friend went off to the pub before Gerry got into his stride and I doubt anyone under forty would have had a clue what Mike McCartney and Scaffold were going on about. But being present for a real life rendition of Lilly the Pink pushed all my camp, retro and irony buttons for a good few years. I can't say I'd want to do it again in a hurry but it's a great project. To find out more go to http://www.thenumberoneproject.org/ It's a charity event and a frigging brilliant idea, you've got to admit.

I'll finish with a real brag - Yours Truly puffed up with pride when Gary Daly from China Crisis dedicated Wishful Thinking to all the Kirkby Girls. Oh what a night...