en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal The Last.fm journal for streetspirit81. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal/2008/04/07/8liig_gogol_bordello_for_life. Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:26:21 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal/2008/04/07/8liig_gogol_bordello_for_life. Wed 2 Apr – Gogol Bordello

The gig was kicked off with the amazing Skindred. A band that I had first seen also supporting Gogol Bordello at my first Gogol gig back in early 2006 in Astoria. I remember back then how brilliant and energetic they were, especially frontman Benji Webbe who really knows how to get a crowd going and has a charismatic stage presence. I had seen and met him almost 10 years ago exactly when he was with a band called Dub War, so when I had chance to speak to him before gig and at afterparty it was nice to have chance to finally talk to him after so long and that the band is getting nothing but positive vibes for music and live shows to which he was grateful. He’s a very modest and down to earth guy and I can’t wait to see them when they do their own UK show next month. Nice musical fusion of ragga, metal, dub and pun – highly recommended.

Gogol as ever really outdid themselves yet again (this was my 7th time witnessing them live) and I can tell you not many bands can perform to their intense, energetic and entertaining level that makes them stand out from any other band you can see live. They have people coming back for more and more which makes for the best and most fun gig atmosphere you can hope for as music fan, even if you’re watching from the back. I don’t think I’ve come across anyone who’s come to their previous shows who didn’t enjoy them or not regard it as one of the best and liveliest gigs they could ever experience. Nothing quite compares to their originality and their live music in what they do combining different types of world music together.

The set kicked off with ‘Ultimate’ from latest album Super Taranta then ‘Not a Crime’ which got crowd going to point my ribs were already bruised. All worth it though. For their 4th song the brilliantly wonderful ‘Wonderlust King’ they have Elizabeth and Pamela who are band’s dancers, percussionists and backing vocalists (NOT just their dancing girls) do the best dance routine and love especially love the way their have their own microphone for backing vocals then they join Eugene, Uri and Sergey on their mics then back to their own mic. Saw it at Reading and Hammersmith too but that is one song in particular I very much love seeing live.

At one point Eugene like at Hammersmith went drag on us and wore funky red wig and high heeled shoes for Zina Marina which he’s did on last tour as well and only he must be the only moustached man in the world who can get away with that and still look cool on stage. We get treated to more songs from Super Taranta and Underdog World Strike until the encore.

When the band had come back for the encore they started with “Alcohol” but we were in for in for nice surprise (unless you had gone to his other UK shows this tour) as the band the treated us to a new song called Romania which I liked, an early taster of 5th album – good things to come! The last 2 songs were ‘Harem in Tuscany’ and song they normally always finish with the brilliant ‘Baro Foro’. Eugene and the band's whole added caberet put on the biggest effort possible to ensure both them and crowd have the most fun. This is why I am addicted to them and shall make every effort to see all their London shows (and more out of London on next tour hopefully).

I was fortunate as well to get afterparty passes from band and talking to both Uri and Sergey as well as having chance to speak to the other band members again (as I’d met a few previously). The afterparty was great fun and the night was a whole is something I shall never ever forget for long time again. I urge everyone to purchase their albums and come to next tour if you haven’t already. One friend who came along and wasn’t even familiar with their music is now a proud convert.

Gogol Bordello for life!

Set list:
Ultimate
Not A Crime
I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again
Supertheory of Supereverything
Wonderlust King
Zina Marina
Mishto
Tribal Connection
60 Revolutions
Forces of Victory
Dub the Frequencies of Love
American Wedding
Start Wearing Purple
Think Locally, Fuck Globally
Encore:
Alcohol
Romania
Harem in Tuscany
Baro Faro]]> http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal/2008/03/23/8lich_the_cure_20.03.08 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:44:57 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal/2008/03/23/8lich_the_cure_20.03.08 Thu 20 Mar – The Cure, 65daysofstatic

The whole gig was indescribably amazing and beautiful. I'm still buzzing from just how flawlessly good the whole gig was from set list t0 encores to amazing visuals and Robert Smith's enigmatic stage presence. It was one of the best gigs ever. Definitely the best of 2008. Apart from Radiohead this year I can't imagine me being so overjoyed or happy after a gig for a long time to come. The goosebumps I had when they did the beginning guitar riffs of "A Forest" left me speechless. I'm so glad I got to see them live as they're a band that have been around 30+ years and last night showed why Mr Smith and co are one of the greatest and most infuential of all time.



They played 3 fucking encores!! I was the happiest fan ever last night, add to the fact I was at the very front and somehow in Wembley Arena managed to get back to very front after having to get dragged out to use toilet, even the bouncer was impressed how I managed to get back so quickly. However this was The Cure so I managed to sincerely express to the people I was going past how I had qued up outside for 3 hours and was trying to regain place. One Scottish bloke was going to start some trouble but him and his group let me through in the end; I am a very lucky bastard.



Here's the setlist:

Mainset:
plainsong
prayers for rain
a strange day
alt.

end
a night like this
the end of the world
lovesong
to wish impossible things
pictures of you
lullaby
from the edge of the deep green sea
hot hot hot!!!
please project
the walk
push
friday i'm in love
inbetween days
just like heaven
primary
a boy i never knew
shake dog shake
never enough
wrong number
one hundred years
disintegration

Encore 1:
at night
m
play for today
a forest

Encore 2:
the lovecats
let's go to bed
freak show
close to me
why can't i be you?

Encore 3:
three imaginary boys
fire in cairo
boys don't cry
jumping someone else's train
grinding halt
10:15 saturday night
killing an arab

W x]]> http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal/2007/03/11/8li9a_what_an_amazing_show. Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:52:43 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/streetspirit81/journal/2007/03/11/8li9a_what_an_amazing_show. Sat 10 Mar – Nine Inch Nails, Ladytron

After seeing them on Wednesday and already being blown away by Trent and co's brilliant performance (despite him having sore throat) it had been one of the best gigs I had been to this year, however Saturday's show was the best gig I've been to so far in 2007.

Ladytron themselves blew me away with their set. I had seen them the first time back in 2003 on a headline tour at the Astoria and have been a fan of them for many years. I felt Wednesday's show due to a few technical problems and Helen not looking too enthusiastic (which can't be easy in front of so many goth types) had not really done their music and them justice. Last night they pretty much got most of crowd going and no doubt gained a whole new legion of fans (which this tour will have done anyway). Helen and Mira were looking stunning as ever, and Mira's dance routine is enticing. They were so much more into the night than Wednesday which made me happy and Destroy Everything You Touch gave me goosebumps.

NIN being NIN were flawlessly brilliant. It was nice to hear them especially play Adrift and at Peace, Reptile and Dead Souls (which has very special place in my heart as The Crow was a film I used to love so much when younger). Trent truly is one of the most hypnotizing and captivating frontmen you can ever possibly witness on stage. They still played no Sin or Starfuckers like Wednesday which I personally can live with as just seeing them with added bonus of Ladytron opening up for second time was unbeatable as NIN beltted out so many great songs (like they even lack any to begin with!).

My friend is probably going to go for 3rd time tonight for last show. As tempting as it is I have to save myself for work tomorrow as as well as IamX gig. However NIN/Ladytron will be such a hard act to follow after last night. If anyone has any pics please post them up from last night :)]]>