It’s been a busy couple of months for gigs and shows – I’ve had a bunch that have kind of collected together at the end of the year, so I’ve actually been to 8 live shows in under 8 weeks!

First gig was Keane on the 19th October. It was originally supposed to be one of the first shows at the new Co-Op Live venue back in May, but because of all the issues they had with it not being ready, it was rescheduled to October.

It was definitely worth the wait – they were really great, and Tom Chaplin has such an incredible voice… plus the fact the date was changed to October meant it became a birthday treat for me! Oh, and the Lathums as support was pretty cool too!

Set-list:

Can’t Stop Now
Silenced by the Night
Bend and Break
Your Eyes Open
We Might as Well Be Strangers
Nothing in My Way
Spiralling
Sunshine
The Way I Feel
You Are Young
Everybody’s Changing
Hamburg Song
Untitled 1
A Bad Dream
Perfect Symmetry
Is It Any Wonder?
She Has No Time
This Is the Last Time
Crystal Ball
Somewhere Only We Know

Encore:
On a Day Like Today
Sovereign Light Café
Bedshaped

Then a couple of weeks later, I was off to The Lowry to see Jason Byrne, and as per the couple of times I’ve seen him before, it was really crazy! He does have a bit of structure in the latter part of the show, but his crowd-work for the rest of it is really impressive!

Then, just over a week later, I got to see a band whose album ‘Flood’ I bought nearly 35 years ago!

‘They Might Be Giants’ were doing a UK tour, and I managed to get a ticket for this sold-out show, and they were amazing! They did 2 hour-long sets, and played everything from that iconic ‘Flood’ album, plus newer stuff too! And I’m convinced that ‘Birdhouse In Your Soul’ is one of the best pop songs ever written!

Set-list:

Synopsis for Latecomers
Particle Man
Meet James Ensor
The Famous Polka
Moonbeam Rays
Letterbox
Twisting
Someone Keeps Moving My Chair
Minimum Wage
Damn Good Times
Whistling in the Dark
When Will You Die
Road Movie to Berlin
Women & Men
Your Racist Friend
Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love (in reverse)
Brontosaurus
Hearing Aid
We Want a Rock
Can’t Keep Johnny Down
Hot Cha
Let Me Tell You About My Operation
Museum of Idiots
Lucky Ball and Chain
Spy
Mammal
Dead
Theme from Flood
Birdhouse in Your Soul

Encore:
Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Fingertips
Doctor Worm

Then, the following week, Blossoms were rounding off their ‘Gary’ tour by playing five nights at different venues across Manchester, and I went to their final show at the O2 Apollo.

I think it might now be the 8th time I’ve seen Blossoms live, and it’s been interesting to see how they’ve progressed over the last few years. They put on a really good show, and the crowd I was in was definitely up for a good time!

Set-list:

Your Girlfriend
Perfect Me
I Can’t Stand It
Getaway
Oh No (I Think I’m in Love)
What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?
The Keeper
Nightclub
Mothers
Cut Me and I’ll Bleed
Care For
Honey Sweet
My Swimming Brain
Big Star
I Like Your Look
At Most a Kiss
If You Think This Is Real Life

Encore:
My Favourite Room
There’s a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)
Charlemagne
Gary

Then, the following Wednesday, I had a night at the theatre!

I went to see the classic Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers at The Palace. I originally saw it when I was at secondary school in the late 80s, when we went on a trip to see it at the theatre in Coventry I think. I could remember a little bit about the staging of it, and a couple of the songs, and also remembered that it starred Kiki Dee, but the majority of it was still pretty new to me! I do think the orchestration of the music, and the reliance on synths, makes it feel quite dated, but the actual performance and look of it does feel fresh.

(I’d forgotten how bad the legroom is in the circle at The Palace though!!)

And then the following week, I had 3 gigs in 5 days! I’d actually been feeling pretty rough all week, so was worried I might have to miss some of them, but I felt just about well enough to head out on the Thursday evening to see The Lightning Seeds at the Albert Hall in Manchester.

I met up with Lee and his mate Connor, who’d also got tickets to the gig, and a good night was had by all (even though I wasn’t feeling 100%!).

Set-list:

Life’s Too Short
Change
Sense
Sunshine
Ready or Not
All I Want
Feeling Lazy
Perfect
Waiting for Today to Happen
Emily Smiles
You Showed Me
What If…
Whole Wide World
Lucky You
Sugar Coated Iceberg
Pure
Three Lions

Encore:
Marvellous
Be My Baby
The Life of Riley

Then, the next night I was back at the same venue, this time to see Travis – for the second time this year!

I last saw them supporting The Killers in the summer for an arena show at the Co-op Live, but this gig was a lot more intimate! Again, I wish I’d been feeling a little bit more lively, but I still had a good time!

Set-list:

Bus
Driftwood
Love Will Come Through
Alive
I Love You Anyways
Good Feeling
Coming Around
Writing to Reach You
Side
Re-Offender
Closer
Raze the Bar
Naked in New York City
Sing
Gaslight
Turn

Encore:
Flowers in the Window
My Eyes
Why Does It Always Rain on Me?

And then on Monday, I went to my final gig for this year. This time it was Midge Ure at the Bridgewater Hall. To be honest, I only know a few of his songs, since a lot of stuff is from before I started getting into music in the late 80s, but obviously I know his biggest hits!

I saw him doing an interview promoting this tour a while back, and decided that I’d like to hear some more of his stuff!

Set-list:

Marching Men
Passing Strangers
If I Was
Reap the Wild Wind
May Your Good Lord
No Regrets
Sleepwalk
The Supernatural
Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)
Lament
The Maker
Breathe
Fragile
Vienna
Fade to Grey
Love’s Great Adventure
Hymn
The Boys Are Back in Town
One Small Day
Dancing With Tears in My Eyes

Encore:
The Voice