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SDE gigs of 2018

By Paul Sinclair

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103

They can be expensive, annoying (I don’t really want to watch the action on stage through someone’s phone), tiring (oh me legs!) and full of people wanting to ‘chat’ instead of listen… but if you pick the right venue and the right artists, LIVE MUSIC still offers a memorable night out and can be great value. It can also be an opportunity to engage wth the performer(s) at the merch stand and maybe pick up a signed copy of the latest album…

Just for fun here are the artists I went to see live in 2018. These were all in London (apart from a memorable evening in Brooklyn, New York) and mostly things I’ve gone to off my own steam, with the very occasional invitation (Spandau Ballet at Subterania being an example of the latter). Did you attend any of these? What were your memorable gigs from 2018? Leave a comment and let me know!

Gigs I attended in 2018:

  1. a-ha / O2 Arena
  2. Simple Minds / The Roundhouse
  3. Cloudbusting (Kate Bush tribute band) / Islington Assembly Halls
  4. Findlay (supporting Yonaka) / The Garage
  5. Art of Noise / British Library
  6. The Handsome Family / The Round Chapel
  7. Jack White / Brooklyn, USA
  8. Steven Wilson / The Royal Albert Hall
  9. Sophie Ellis Bextor / The Hospital Club
  10. Joan As Police Woman / Royal Festival Hall
  11. Jenn Bostic / Bush Hall
  12. Alice Phoebe Lou / Scala
  13. Swing Out Sister / The Hospital Club
  14. The Regrettes / The Old Blue Last
  15. Field Music / The Barbican
  16. The The / Royal Albert Hall
  17. Spandau Ballet / Subterania
  18. Five Star / Islington Assembly Hall
  19. Yes Featuring ARW / O2 Arena
  20. David Byrne / Eventim Hammersmith Apollo
  21. The Light Princess in Concert (Tori Amos) / Cadogan Hall
  22. Joan As Police Woman / Omera
  23. The Regrettes / The Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen
  24. Mike Garson and Friends / Pizza Express Holborn
  25. Anna Calvi / Rough Trade
  26. Elvis Costello / Maida Vale Studios (BBC ‘Mastertapes’ recording)
  27. Kevin Armstrong / Pizza Express Holborn
  28. The Rezillos (Department S supporting) / 229 Club
  29. Johnny Hates Jazz / Bush Hall
  30. They Might Be Giants / The Barbican
  31. U2 / O2 Arena
  32. Spandau Ballet / Eventim Apollo
  33. Trevor Horn / Queen Elizabeth Hall
  34. Findlay / Omera
  35. Andy Mackay / Queen Elizabeth Hall
  36. Luke Haines / The 100 Club
  37. The Cardigans / Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
  38. Cloudbusting (Kate Bush tribute) featuring Del Palmer / The Half Moon
  39. Matthew Sweet / Islington Assembly Halls

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103 Comments

103 thoughts on “SDE gigs of 2018”

  1. BSP-Belfast
    The Stranglers-Belfast
    Fontaines DC – London (one of the best gigs I’ve seen in years).
    Manic Street Preachers-Belfast
    The Undertones – Derry
    Roger Waters – London
    The Cure-London
    Idles – London (Awesome!)
    U2 – Manchester (both nights)
    U2 – London (both nights)
    U2 – Belfast (both nights)
    Murder Capital – Derry

  2. Impressive list Paul, congratulations!)

    Surprisingly for me, never been to any of those artists

    My concerts for 2018 were the following (all in Moscow):
    1. The BeatLove / Teatr Club (part of Beatlefest)
    2. Father McKenzie / Teatr Club (part of Beatlefest)
    3. Korney & The White Album Band / Teatr Club (part of Beatlefest)
    4. Alexandr Pushnoy / Glavclub
    5. Franz Ferdinand / Glavclub
    6. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds / Glavclub
    7. Nickelback / Olimpic Stadium
    8. Guns N’ Roses / Otkritie Arena
    9. Roger Waters / Olimpic Stadium
    10. The Music Trip (local cover band) / Muse Club

    1. Fleet Foxes -Brixton
      Death cab For Cutie – RFH London
      Clapton / Santana /Winwood – Hyde Park
      Steven Wilson – Cirkus (Stockholm) & RAH (London)
      The Unthanks – Camberley
      Big Big Train – Anvil, Basingstoke
      King Crimson – London Palladium
      Temperence Movement – Kentish Town Forum
      Paul Booth – Fleet Jazz Club
      Fairport Convention – Nettlebed folk Club
      Devon Allman Project – Islington Assembly

      Agree about comments re: unsociable behaviour talking all the way through sets , use of camera phones , and aggressive behaviour particularly at Hyde Park. On a pleasant note Crimson, Wilson, and Devon Allman were my favourites.
      Death Cab For Cutie, Steely Dan & Steve Winwood, and Crow Black Chicken lined up for 2019.

  3. Never understood why people pay £50 or more to talk through a show, never mind the sheer discourtesy of affecting other people’s enjoyment. And don’t get me started on people using phones…. King Crimson have it right: a polite request at the beginning of the show not to use phones and then an opportunity to do so at the end. (At this point my teenage daughter usually reminds me of the TV show ‘Grumpy Old Men’….).

    Many memorable gigs, and some much less so. But the standout – as Paul’s photo implies – was David Byrne. Complete re-imagining of what a rock show could be, making others look dated and derivative. Other highlights were Steven Wilson, Robert Plant (voice still strong) and, of course, the ever excellent Joanne Shaw Taylor. Saddest moment was Paul Simon’s final tour. But there again, how many final tours have been anything but?

  4. Absolutely agree with you Paul, why do people go to the concerts to have a chat with their friends instead of listening to the music I understand they love when it’s cheaper to spend the night at the pub? It’s at least annoying.

    My list of concerts this year is:

    Roger Waters & Richard Ashcroft, at the Hyde Park London
    Eric Clapton, Santana & Steve Winwood, at the Hyde Park London
    Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, at The Roundhouse London
    Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Nine Inch Nails, Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, etc (at the MadCool festival in Madrid)

    This new year I have tickets to see Tears for Fears at the Blenheim Palace, Vonda Sheppard & Sharon Corr at The Stables (Milton Keynes), Rod Stewart (at the Milton Keynes Stadium), The Cure (at MadCool festival in Madrid) and hopefully more to come!!

    Happy new year everyone!!

  5. – Michael McDonald (Zürich)
    – John Hiatt (Zürich)
    – Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes (Zürich)
    – Editors (Lörrach & Pratteln)
    – Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters (Lörrach)

  7. I’m not sure if this list is complete. :-)

    Celebrating David Bowie, Shepherds Bush Empire
    Sweet Billy Pilgrim, St Pancras Church
    Field Music, Rough Trade East
    Simple Minds, The Roundhouse
    Lloyd Cole, Bexhill
    Gizmodrome, The Scala
    Art Of Noise, British Library
    Everything Everything, Alexandra Palace
    Yes, Gateshead
    Steven Wilson, Gateshead
    Steven Wilson, Royal Albert Hall x 2
    Marillion, Corn Exchange
    Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bath Festival
    Alison Moyet, Bath Festival
    Paloma Faith, Bath Festival
    Seth Lakeman, Bath Festival
    Midge Ure, Bath Festival +
    Sensational Spaceshifters, Bath Festival
    Gazpacho, The Dome
    Anathema, O2 Arena
    Roger Hodgson, O2 Arena
    Yes Featuring ARW, O2 Arena
    Billy Idol, Brixton Academy
    Big Big Train, The Anvil, Basingstoke
    King Creosote, The Horn, St Albans
    The Aristocrats, Islington Assembly Hall
    Death Cab For Cutie, Southbank Centre
    Saucerful Of Secrets, Portsmouth
    Trevor Horn Band, SARM
    KScope 10th Anniversary (Anathema, Steve Hogarth etc.), Union Chapel
    Steve Hackett, Southbank Centre
    Pineapple Thief, Shepherds Bush Empire
    Level 42 (with) The Blow Monkeys), Guildford
    Glenn Hughes, Electric Ballroom
    Mew, The Barbican
    Tunng, Islington Assembly Hall
    David Byrne (with Benjamin Clementine), O2 Arena
    Public Service Broadcasting, Royal Albert Hall
    Trevor Horn Band, Southbank Centre
    Riverside, Electric Ballroom
    Heaven 17 (with xPropaganda), Shepherds Bush Empire
    Sonar with David Torn, Hackney
    Underworld, Village Underground
    Nils Frahm, Hammersmith Apollo
    Def Leppard, O2 Arena
    James (with The Charlatans), Wembley Arena
    Johnny Marr, Hackney
    Patrick Watson, Hackney
    Steve Hogarth, Oxford

    Having seen Simple Minds many, many times before I found this year’s show very disappointing. I’d almost say the current lineup is Simple Minds in name only.

    Paloma Faith was also awful and a terrible replacement for Tears For Fears. I wasn’t really expecting much but I thought I’d give it a go anyway.

    We left Everything Everything half way through because a significant number of the so-called audience were behaving like arses. It’s a pity, again I’ve seen them several times before and I wanted to enjoy them on a (much) bigger stage.

  8. So many good shows! Honors go to:

    Christine and the Queens (Philadelphia…I travelled for this one and it was mind blowing!)
    David Byrne (Shaky Knees Atlanta and again Jacksonville, Florida)
    My Bloody Valentine (NYC…WOW!!)
    Others of note:
    OMD (St Pete, FL)
    Simple Minds (also St Pete…and worth every penny for a VIP pkg which I rarely do!)
    Utopia (St Pete)
    BRMC (Atlanta)
    Nada Surf (Atlanta and Nashville)
    Echo & the Bunnymen (Orlando)

  9. Roger Waters – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
    Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – The Gov Adelaide
    The Weeknd – Coachella
    Kelela – Coachella
    Kali Uchis – Coachella
    Jean-Michel Jarre – Coachella
    Fazerdaze – Coachella
    Elohim – Coachella
    DREAMS – Coachella
    Bleachers – Coachella
    The War On Drugs – Coachella
    First Aid Kit – Coachella
    Django Django – Coachella
    Fleet Foxes – Coachella
    Beyonce – Coachella
    alt-J – Coachella
    David Byrne – Coachella
    BØRNS – Coachella
    LANY – Coachella
    Vance Joy – Coachella
    Cardi B – Coachella
    Portugal The Man – Coachella
    ODESZA – Coachella
    Eminem – Coachella
    Ed Kuepper – The Gov Adelaide
    The Bamboos – The Gov Adelaide
    The Charlatans – The Gov Adelaide
    Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Jive Adelaide
    The Church – Thebarton Theatre Adelaide

    Biggest disappointment: The Weeknd
    Beyond expectations: The Church
    Best act: David Byrne

    A great year for live music.

  10. The only artist i saw from your list was Steven Wilson at the Paris Olympia.
    Very good show but Steven annoyed me with his new “moving” haircut ! He even had a joke about it…
    Amongst all the shows i saw this year, my favourite were Gary Numan and the Charlatans.
    But like you said, sometimes you do not want to go anymore because of some unpolite persons, but the adrenaline of a gig is so good that it brings you back one day or another…

  12. I haven’t been to a concert since the Elton John/Billy Joel Show or Heart’s show many eons ago. John & Joel was a night of agony. My seat was next to a whistler. The girl kept her pinkies in her mouth and never stopped that GD trilling annoying noise. How could she hear the concert?

    I was also at a Heart concert. We paid for seats but couldn’t sit in them because everyone stood up. While we were standing, a couple behind us stole our seats so they could stand on them! They didn’t have tickets for our area (I heard the girl say “no one gives a ……k.”).

  13. I think you all missed the best; A Certain Ratio at the Garage Highbury Corner in May. Off the hook.

    Honourable mentions for Paul Draper at the Electric Brixton, Teenage Fanclub at the Electric Ballroom Camden, the Cure at Hyde Park and the Arctic Monkeys @ the O2.

  14. Just 2 for me –

    The War on Drugs – Berlin
    Big Country – Brighton

    Booked a long weekend for the WoD only to see them announce subsequently announce the O2 gig for a few nights after in December. Quite glad I avoided it to be honest as much prefer the smaller venues and fear they are now reaching ‘arena’ status. Saw them at Portsmouth Guildhall at the end of 2017 and I don’t think they’ll be playing such a place again anytime soon. My favourite band of the moment.

    The Big Country gig was brilliant – again a very small venue, reminded me of a school hall at times but really good sound and the band were clearly having as much fun as the audience. It was for the 35th anniversary of The Crossing which I am still shaking my head about!

    I also still hold tickets for TFF in Bournemouth which was rescheduled for this February. Fingers crossed it happens this time as I really enjoyed the Albert Hall gig.

  15. Only made it to one and that was local. Flu stopped me from seeing Elbow.

    Bad views, mobile phones, poor sound, fizzy lager and people are the only things that annoy me at gigs. Other than that i really enjoy seeing a live band. Hoping to go to Green Man this year though.

  16. My gigs in Ireland in 2018 were A-ha (Marquee, Cork) Erasure (Olympia), Roger Waters, Cliff Richard, (3 Arena), Billy Joel (Aviva Stadium), Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt (RDS), The Jacksons (Dun Laoghaire), Cloudbusing feat. Del Palmer (Set Theatre, Kilkenny). Roll on 2019.

  17. My highlight of the year, decenium and century was for me the Art of Noise gig in London!

    After being a big fan since 35+ years I was able to see them live for the very first time and have a chat with JJ Jeczalik after the show. Amazing evening!

    I see you were there as well Paul, a pity that I haven’t seen you to have a chat with you.

    Other bands I have seen and enjoyed were Simple Minds, A-ha and Zucchero.

  18. Limited number for 2018, most at Symphony Hall, Birmingham
    Suzanne Vega-excellent
    Jethro Tull-awful, Ian Anderson cannot sing anymore, so disappointed
    Eric Bibb-excellent, sound was superb, Town Hall, Birmingham
    Nick Harper-brilliant as always- concert on a river Boat, 30 on boat, from Worcester, 2 sessions split by stop at excellent real ale river pub, second half all requests, all on a beautiful summers evening
    Steve Wilson-excellent
    Steve Hackett-excellent, keeping the Genesis flag flying
    Marillion-excellent-probably best show of the year
    Lazuli-excellent, band really worth going to see, sing in French but music is so good-at the Robin 2 , Bilston

    Stephen

  19. Like the Michael from the US, I only got to two gigs in 2018 but they were both brilliant. Public Service Broadcasting in January in Belfast – a smaller gig at a great venue (the Limelight) but the show was amazing, especially from up front. Second was Roger Waters in Dublin in June which has to rate as one of my best gigs ever (again I got myself to the front) – like others have said here – fantastic show and really friendly crowd…

  20. I think I attended the following concerts:

    a-ha, Cologne, Lanxess Arena, 6 Feb 2018, ****
    The Charlatans, Cologne, Luxor, 26 FEB 2018, *****
    Katy Perry, Cologne, Lanxess, 23 May 2018, ***
    Louane, Strasbourg, Zenith, 19 May 2018, ****
    a-ha, Cambridge, Abbey Stadium, 10 Jun 2018, **
    OMD, Cambridge, Abbey Stadium, 10 Jun 2018, ****
    Arctic Monkeys, L.A., Hollywood Bowl. 17 Oct 2018, ****
    Chvrches, Cologne, Live Music Hall, 6 Nov 2018, *****
    Prodigy, Dusseldorf, Mitsubishi Electric Hall, 5 Dec 2018, ****
    Wolf Alice (+Surfbort), Cologne, Gebäude 9, 13 Dec 2018, ******

    The Unplugged (or rather not so much plugged) concert by a-ha in Cologne was better than expected, despite the venue being oversized both for a-ha in general and for an acoustic evening, but my trip to Cambridge too see them again in June was very disappointing as they just focused massively on the early days hits and cut the setlist down to just 18 songs. I was no big fan of OMD when I came to Cambridge, nor I’m too much into synth music, but their performance had much more power and fun.

    Seeing Arctic Monkeys at the legendary Hollywood Bowl was a great opportunity when on holiday in California (and the atmosphere was really great even though we sat far away from the stage), but the best gigs in 2018 came towards the end of this year: Chvrches (so much power) and especially Wolf Alice. What a great setlist and musical variety! Best band these days, but hardly covered here on SDE…

    Unfortunately, I missed Ash, Lana, Suede & Manics (bad timing/locations) and Hinds (I discovered them too late).

  21. Saw Paul Draper at Nottingham Rescue Rooms. Worst gig I have ever seen in my life. He was drunk, didn’t sing for 80% of the set but berated his band, the audience members and spent a lot of time on his iPad.

    He apologised the next day and claimed he’d make it up to Nottingham fans but never did.

    Shame, as it’s put me off a great album and, even more sadly, put me off going to see live music.

  22. I’m going to fewer and fewer concerts these days – partially due to my reluctance to pay £40+ for tickets. Just

    Goat Girl at KoKo
    Teleman at O2 Oxford
    Saint Etienne at the British Library

    for me this year.

  23. wow, some of you guys have a very understanding family….. so many concerts.

    my 2018 list is smaller. Much smaller…….

    Einstürzende Neubauten / Munich
    Steven Wilson / Munich
    King Crimson / Munich
    They Might Be Giants / Munich
    Blumfeld / Munich
    The The / London
    Paul McCartney / Liverpool

    Best one? mmmm…..Paul McCartney.

  24. Same here. I didn’t count but I probably attended something like 30 gigs last year (David Byrne, Killing Joke, Get Well Soon, MGMT, Suede, Courtney Marie Andrews, Marlon Williams, Ryan Downey, Seu Jorge, etc.).

    I agree with previous posts about David Byrne, I’d say it was the best and most memorable show last year. I saw him in Paris in july and I was blown away. Amazing show as usual with David Byrne. Every time I go to see him live I’m never disappointed. This American Utopia show is probably his most imaginative since Talking Heads concerts at Pantages Theater in Los Angeles in 1983 (Speaking in Tongues tour) which were shot by Jonathan Demme for Stop Making Sense.

  25. I saw the following last year

    The War on Drugs, The O2 Arena, London, England
    Slowdive, The O2 Arena, London, England
    Christine and the Queens, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England
    Johnny Marr, The Forum, Bath, England
    U2, The O2 Arena, London, England
    Glasvegas, Thekla, Bristol, England
    The Smashing Pumpkins, The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, England
    Myrkur, The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, England
    Editors, O2 Guildhall Southampton, Southampton, England
    Talos, O2 Guildhall Southampton, Southampton, England
    Garbage, O2 Academy Brixton, London, England
    Dream Wife, O2 Academy Brixton, London, England
    Dub Pistols, Beautiful Days 2018
    Dreadzone, Beautiful Days 2018
    The Slow Readers Club, Beautiful Days 2018
    Manic Street Preachers, Beautiful Days 2018
    Shed Seven, Beautiful Days 2018
    British Sea Power, Beautiful Days 2018
    Les Négresses Vertes, Beautiful Days 2018
    Suzanne Vega, Beautiful Days 2018
    Elvana, Bestival 2018
    Faithless, Bestival 2018
    London Grammar, Bestival 2018
    Grace Jones, Bestival 2018
    First Aid Kit, Bestival 2018
    IDLES, Bestival 2018
    The Big Moon, Bestival 2018
    Gabrielle Aplin, Latitude Festival 2018
    Wolf Alice, Latitude Festival 2018
    Jon Hopkins, Latitude Festival 2018
    Liam Gallagher, Latitude Festival 2018
    Parquet Courts, Latitude Festival 2018
    The Killers, Latitude Festival 2018
    The Vaccines, Latitude Festival 2018
    Bodega, Latitude Festival 2018
    The Charlatans, Latitude Festival 2018
    Nadine Shah, Latitude Festival 2018
    James, Latitude Festival 2018
    Goldfrapp, British Summer Time 2018
    Slowdive, British Summer Time 2018
    Pale Waves, British Summer Time 2018
    This Will Destroy You, British Summer Time 2018
    The Cure, British Summer Time 2018
    Interpol, British Summer Time 2018
    Editors, British Summer Time 2018
    a‐ha, Huish Park Stadium, Yeovil, England
    China Crisis, Huish Park Stadium, Yeovil, England
    Tom Bailey, Huish Park Stadium, Yeovil, England
    Beck, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England
    Sparks, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England
    shame, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England
    The Vaccines, O2 Academy Bournemouth, Bournemouth, England
    Dream Wife, O2 Academy Bournemouth, Bournemouth, England
    Feeder, O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol, England
    Paul Draper, SWX, Bristol, England

  26. For me: mostly metal concerts, I won’t bother you with that(but Slayer kicked ass).

    Other: Paul Simon @ Ziggodome Amsterdam with my mom. Great concert & great band. Nice to see a legend like Paul Simon.
    Don Mclean in Utrecht. Very nice.
    The Selecter & The Beat in Utrecht. Didn’t know them but enjoyed it.
    The Prodigy @Ziggodome. Concert of the year. The crowd was wild. Tough times the next day :-)

    Plans for 2019: Behemoth, and Slayer(again, now @Graspop Belgium).

  27. I completely agree about the David Byrne gig which was amazing – from your list also loved U2, Trevor Horn and Elvis Costello at Maida Vale.
    I go to far too many gigs! The list for 2018 is:

    NME AWARDS, BRIXTON ACADEMY 14/02/18
    THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT, CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION 20/02/18
    FRANZ FERDINAND & ALBERT HAMMOND JR , BRIXTON ACADEMY 24/02/18
    FIRST AID KIT, ROUNDHOUSE 01/03/18
    STEREOPHONICS, SSE ARENA, WEMBLEY 02/03/18
    PAUL WELLER & THE STRYPES, O2 ARENA, 03/03/18
    ANNIE LENNOX, SADLERS WELLS 04/03/18
    VANCE JOY, BRIXTON ACADEMY 07/03/18
    RAG ‘N’ BONE MAN, ALEXANDRA PALACE 08/03/18
    MORRISSEY, THE PALLADIUM 10/03/18
    PALOMA FAITH, O2 ARENA 14/03/18
    JAMES BAY, ELECTRIC BRIXTON 15/03/18
    FEEDER, BRIXTON ACADEMY 17/03/18
    THE COURTEENERS & BLOSSOMS, ROYAL ALBERT HALL 23/03/18
    THE FRATELLIS, FORUM, KENTISH TOWN 24/03/18
    JACK WHITE, THE GEORGE INN 28/03/18
    THE VACCINES, HMV OXFORD STREET 30/03/18
    GEORGE EZRA, BRIXTON ACADEMY 03/04/18
    NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE 13/04/18
    THE VACCINES, ALEXANDRA PALACE 14/04/18
    THE FEELING, APOLLO THEATRE, LONDON 15/04/18
    BASTILLE, ROYAL ALBERT HALL 16/04/18
    CC SMUGGLERS, THE HOSPITAL CLUB 25/04/18
    THE PRETENDERS, SUBTERRANIA, 26/04/18
    BRYAN FERRY, HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 03/05/18
    FRANK TURNER, HMV OXFORD STREET 06/05/18
    FLORENCE & THE MACHINE, ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL 08/05/18
    FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS, ROUNDHOUSE 11/05/18
    JAMES BAY, HMV OXFORD ST 18/05/18
    THE BLUETONES, SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE 19/05/18
    THE ROLLING STONES & LIAM GALLAGHER, LONDON STADIUM 22/05/18
    SPARKS, FORUM, KENTISH TOWN 24/05/18
    CHVRCHES, HOUSE OF VANS 25/05/18
    JAMES BAY, ROUNDHOUSE 29/05/18
    LUMP, OSLO 05/06/18
    HALF MAN, HALF BISCUIT, FORUM, KENTISH TOWN 08/06/18
    TRAVIS & TURIN BRAKES, ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL 12/06/18
    KAISER CHIEFS, ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA, 14/06/18
    HAIM, ALEXANDRA PALACE 15/06/18
    ELVIS COSTELLO, THE WATERBOYS & NICK LOWE BLENHEIM PALACE 16/06/18
    DAVID BYRNE, HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 19/06/18
    SHERYL CROW, ROYAL CONCERT HALL, NOTTINGHAM 22/06/18
    SUZANNE VEGA, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL 23/06/18
    JACK WHITE, HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 28/06/18
    JOHN HIATT, UNDER THE BRIDGE 02/07/18
    ROGER WATERS, THE CURE & ERIC CLAPTON, HYDE PARK 06-08/07/18
    PET SHOP BOYS, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE 28/07/18
    KASABIAN, BRIXTON ACADEMY 23/08/18
    ST VINCENT, CADOGAN HALL 04/09/18
    THE KOOKS, MOTH CLUB 05/09/18
    PASSENGER, THE ROUNDHOUSE 08/09/18
    ELVIS COSTELLO “Mastertapes”, BBC MAIDA VALE STUDIOS 10/09/18
    ARCTIC MONKEYS, O2 ARENA 12/09/18
    LIANNE LA HAVAS, HACKNEY ARTS CENTRE 18/09/18
    BIFFY CLYRO, ROYAL ALBERT HALL 24/09/18
    KT TUNSTALL, JAZZ CAFÉ 26/09/18
    SOFT CELL, O2 ARENA 30/09/18
    GRAHAM PARKER, ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALLS 03/10/18
    PAUL WELLER, ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL 11/10/18
    SUEDE & THE HORRORS, HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 12/10/18
    SAINT ETIENNE, BRITISH LIBRARY, LONDON 13/10/18
    WOLF ALICE & IDLES, ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON 17/10/18
    CARO EMERALD, JAZZ CAFÉ 18/10/18
    U2, O2 ARENA 23/10/18
    ASH, FORUM, KENTISH TOWN 24/10/18
    ROBERT PLANT & VAN MORRISON, O2 ARENA 26/10/18
    PIXIES, ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON 30/10/18
    TREVOR HORN, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL 02/11/18
    PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ABBOTT, ROYAL ALBERT HALL 28/11/18
    MUMFORD & SONS, O2 ARENA 29/11/18
    FRIENDLY FIRES, OVAL SPACE 30/11/18
    THE COURTEENERS, BRIXTON ACADEMY 01/12/18
    MUSE, ROYAL ALBERT HALL 03/12/18
    GABRIELLE APLIN & FRIENDS, UNION CHAPEL, LONDON 04/12/18
    JAMES & THE CHARLATANS, SSE ARENA, WEMBLEY 07/12 18
    CAST, FORUM, KENTISH TOWN 08/12/18
    HOZIER, HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 11/12/18
    LILY ALLEN, ROUNDHOUSE 17/12/18

    Three biggest disappointments – Chvrches (terrible sound), LUMP (I love Laura Marling but this collaboration just doesn’t do it for me) and Arctic Monkeys (over-hyped and boring).
    The top three would have to be Annie Lennox, St Vincent and Sheryl Crow (motivated to see her by your review from Shepherds Bush last year, Paul, and I wasn’t disappointed!)
    Keep up the good work.

  28. I went to quite a few this year (too many to list/remember), but my highlights were definitely;

    Paramore at the O2
    Bryan Adams at the O2
    Noel Gallagher at Wembley Arena
    Nickelback at the O2
    Hollywood Vampires, but more-so The Darkness at the O2
    The Rolling Stones (twice) at London Stadium
    Queen + Adam Lambert at the O2
    Bring Me The Horizon at Alexandra Palace
    Def Leppard at Wembley Arena

    I have a few lined up for this year so far, but hoping to squeeze even more into 2019 :)

  29. I go mostly to ” de Boerderij ” in Zoetermeer the Netherlands around 700 people can get in.

    I’ve seen there:
    Damanek, the Flowerkings, the Tangent, Spock’s Beard a.o.
    I allso hate it when people talking they don’t hear what the other says so they talk louder, and the telephones you are atracked to if someone stands before you. I HATE IT. it must be forbidden.

  31. I agree on David Byrne. By far the most original , intelligent and dynamic gig of the year. I saw him play at the Werchter festival in Belgium back in July.
    Last year I went to 70+ gigs, most of them in Belgium. These are the most famous names starting from January 2018 :

    Iron & Wine
    Lord Huron
    MGMT
    Belle & Sebastian
    Joan as Police Woman (showcase at PIAS offices)
    The Killers
    Asaf Avidan (acoustic gig, fantastic !!!)
    Calexico
    Jonathan Wilson
    Joan as Police Woman (again but this time a real gig)
    Field Music
    Arcade Fire
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
    Angèle (Belgian female singer, now becoming a superstar in France with her platinum album)
    Selah Sue
    Shame
    Courtney Barnett
    Thom Yorke
    Beck
    Bryan Ferry
    Foo Fighters
    Eels
    John Cale
    Jack White (at the Olympia in Paris)
    Paul Simon
    Werchter Festival (with David Byrne, George Ezra, Liam Gallagher, Nick Cave and Arctic Monkeys on the same day)
    Britney Spears
    Nile Rodgers
    Emiliana Torrini
    Julia Holter
    Feist
    Janelle Monae
    Jeff Lynne’s ELO (Amsterdam)
    Suede
    Paul Weller
    Christine & The Queens
    Bon Iver
    Khruangbin (my favourite album of the year, ‘Con Todo El Mundo’)
    The Human League
    Father John Misty
    Echo & the Bunnymen
    Kylie Minogue
    Natalie Prass
    The Breeders
    Gruff Rhys
    Mick Harvey (covering Serge Gainsbourg’s songs)

  32. My list for 2018 – King Crimson was the best of the year.

    Magnum – Tramshed Cardiff
    Yes – Colston Hall Bristol
    Stick Men – Acapela Cardiff
    Steven Wilson – St David’s Hall (SDH) Cardiff
    Marillion – Birmingham Symphony Hall
    Android Lust – little club in Manchester
    Roger Waters – Manchester Arena
    King Crimson – SDH Cardiff
    Mogwai – SDH Cardiff
    Lazuli – little club in Bristol
    Def Leppard – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
    IQ – Islington Assembly Rooms, London

    Already have a few booked for 2019 including Howard Jones, Marillion, Nick Mason and Steve Hackett

  33. A quiet year for me gig wise but:
    20/2 Roger Waters – Perth Arena – spectacular
    6/3 Queen with Adam Lambert – Perth Arena – wonderful
    3/4 Sheryl Crow & Melissa Etheridge – Perth Riverside Theatre – wonderful & awesome in that order.
    Oh, and I’ll throw in Roger Federer 2/1/18 & 4/1/18 & 29/12/18, 1/1/19 & 5/1/19. – Perth Arena – Hopman Cup. “Poetry in motion”
    (Well, they do have a DJ at the Hopman Cup who plays music in between games – lol)

  34. Only 2 gigs in 2018 for me, a record low. But OMD were fabulous in D.C., and Tom Bailey in Pittsburgh was nice (did not stay for Culture Club, though). Both with my then 3 year old son, who was tired but loved both bands. So, a good time had by all.

  36. This is pretty cool to see what shows people are seeing in the UK, especially artists/bands who won’t come over the US. Here’s a list of shows this reader got to see in Denver, Colorado USA in 2018, venues in size from 500-18,000 capacity:

    The Reverend Horton Heat
    Celebrate Bowie
    Clan Of Xymox
    Front 242
    Squirrel Nut Zippers
    Colorado Symphony Orchestra performing live with movie screenings of ‘Jaws’ and ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ (2 different nights obviously)
    Rob Zombie/Marilyn Manson
    NIN/night 2 at Red Rocks
    Simple Minds (an evening with, no less)
    Killing Joke
    Gary Numan
    Monster Magnet
    A Place To Bury Strangers
    Echo & The Bunnymen
    Ministry
    Thom Yorke solo tour
    Brian Setzer holiday show

    Out of all these, no real clunkers other than Marilyn Manson, thankfully most were very good to outstanding!

    Get to start live gigs for 2019 with 3 consecutive nights in February, also in Colorado:
    Joe Jackson (who had show-stopping crowd ovations here on his last tour)
    Bob Mould
    Peter Murphy/David J doing ‘In The Flat Field’ in full

    Here’s hoping all you fellow readers get to see some good live music this year, wherever you are!!

      1. Saw them in Mesa, AZ. Excellent! Always a pleasure to hang out with them. My missus worked at Wax Trax for years so they had some catching up to do. If you’re a fan of the label, catch the documentary making the rounds. She’s in that as well.

  38. Just the one, Garbage at Manchester Academy. Would have loved to have seen David Byrne but he was one of those that sold out straight away only to appear on resale sites at a ridiculous mark up and I refuse to be held to ransom. The only other gig I was remotely interested in was Madness at the Manchester Arena. Unfortunately I only found out last minute that I could go by which time it was too late to organise anything.

  39. Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Rick Wakeman and The Damned all at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea. I have reached the stage where going to gigs in London and getting home at stupid o’clock are a no-no unless it is something really special. I would rather see a band in a small venue where I can clearly see the act on stage and not at an inflated London price.

  40. Glad I’m not the only one seriously pi$$ed off with so called fans chatting all through the gig. Saw Tom Odell at the Apollo in Manchester back in Sept and all the quiet stuff was ruined by loads of people chatting and some not even watching. Why do they pay decent money for tickets and then not bother listening. Bizarre and also totally disrespectful to the artist. It’s also one reason (plus advancing years) why I prefer all seater venues to ground floor standing ones

  41. Top Five:
    1. Janelle Monáe at Manchester Academy
    2. Metric at O2 Ritz, Manchester
    3. British Sea Power at Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
    4. The Gaslight Anthem at O2 Apollo, Manchester
    5. 2manyDJ’s at The White Hotel, Manchester

    Bottom One.
    Belly at The Leadmill, Sheffield. Great group with a cracking new album out and brilliant back catalogue. But, the sound at this gig was dire. The sound engineer successfully blended the bands full range and all their efforts into a wall of indistinguishable noise. What the Fraggle Rock was he up to!

  42. In order of frequency:

    Wesley Gonzalez x4 – Amersham Arms New Cross/Windmill Brixton x2/Paper Dress Vintage Hackney
    MGMT x3 – Kingston College/ Somerset House/Hammersmith Apollo
    Cloudbusting Kate Bush x2 – Islington Assembly Hall/Set Theatre Kilkenny
    Jarvis Cocker introducing Jarv Is x2 – Patterns Brighton/EartH Hackney

    Nick Cave/Courtney Barnett/Psychedelic Furs/ Baxter Dury
    The National/The War On Drugs/Future Islands
    (Victoria Park)
    Art Garfunkel – Royal Albert Hall
    Arctic Monkeys – O2
    Anna Calvi – Heaven, Charing Cross
    Suede – Hammersmith Apollo
    Interpol – Royal Albert Hall
    Human League – Hammersmith Apollo
    Tchaikovsky Gala – Royal Festival Hall) not sure that counts!)
    Also some talks/signings (Pete Wylde/Brett Anderson)

    Think that’s all of them…Christ, I’ll never get to as many as this if babies come along…

    All were enjoyable although worst venue was the O2 for the Monkeys – shit atmosphere and too many knobhead fans.
    Fave – any of the Wesley Gonzalez ones (he should be huge, he has been premiering new songs at his gigs in recent months. Going by that, his second solo album deserves to be successful. Really excited to see how it goes for him)

    Aim for 2019 is to check out/support less-established artists like Wesley

  44. Of the gigs I saw, the best were David Byrne (amazingly inventive and exciting) at Birmingham and Nottingham, King Crimson (by far the most musically agile and powerful band currently playing) at Birmingham, Nottingham and Manchester and Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets (electric excitement from a band who’d mastered the material and really enjoy playing it) at Nottingham.

    I also greatly enjoyed Roger Waters in Birmingham, The Waterboys in Nottingham, a small gig by Kate Bush tribute act Cloudbusting and an acoustic show by three of Suede at Nottingham’s branch of Rough Trade.

  45. Top 12 of 2018

    Morrissey RAH – March
    John Cale Barbican – March
    Bob Dylan Verona – April
    Patti Smith Hackney – June
    Rolling Stones Twickenham – June
    Rodney Crowell Nells – July
    Kathryn Joseph – Rough Trade in store – August
    Springsteen on Broadway – August
    Richard Thompson Barbican -October
    Ry Cooder Cadogan Hall – October
    New Order Alexander Palace – November
    British Sea Power -Louth – December

  46. Not really many last year:
    10cc, Rufus Wainwright solo (twice), Nik Kershaw, James Harries (glad I discovered him!), Serpentwithfeet (a revelation!) and My Brightest Diamond.
    One thing bothers me more and more: Why do some concerts have to be that loud? Nik Kershaw and My Brightest Diamond were two of the loudest. Nik (who I really love) is coming again this year and I won’t be going as a consequence.
    This year I’ll be seeing Rufus again (with band), The Beach Boys (Mike and Bruce that is), Udo Lindenberg and hopefully many more!

  47. Here are my favorites of the gigs I attended in 2018:

    TV on the Radio (Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, TX)
    Wolf Parade (HoB in Dallas, TX)
    The National (Southside Ballroom in Dallas, TX)
    Now, Now (Stubbs BBQ in Austin, TX)
    Beach House (The Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX)
    Belle & Sebastian (The Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX)
    Wild Nothing (White Oak Music Hall in Houston, TX)
    Johnny Marr (Granada Theatre in Dallas, TX)
    Still Corners (Barracuda in Austin, TX)
    Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (The Majestic Theatre in Dallas, TX)
    Slowdive (Stubbs BBQ in Austin, TX)
    Destroyer (Club DaDa in Dallas, TX)

  48. 2018-12-21 Thunder, The Roundhouse
    2018-12-16 Paul McCartney, O2 London
    2018-12-11 Fish, Doris Brendel, Nottingham Rock City
    2018-12-08 James, The Charlatans, Manchester Arena
    2018-12-06 Lucero, Will Hoge, the Deaf Institute
    2018-11-19 Gary Numan, Royal Albert Hall
    2018-11-17 Blackberry Smoke, Quaker City Nighthawks, M/C Apollo
    2018-11-06 Hugh Cornwell, O2 Academy Islington
    2018-10-29 King Crimson, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
    2018-10-27 Tom Robinson Band, Lee Forsyth Griffiths, Shepherds Bush Empire
    2018-10-26 Robert Plant, Van Morrison, O2 London
    2018-10-03 Steve Hackett, Bridgewater Hall Manchester
    2018-10-01 Steve Hackett, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
    2018-09-14 The Quireboys, HEAT, Aaron Buchanan & the Cult Classics, Those Damn Crows, Forum Kentish Town
    2018-07-08 Eric Clapton, Santana, Steve Winwood, Gary Clark jr, Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real, Hyde Park
    2018-07-07 The Cure, Interpol, Goldfrapp, the Editors, Hyde Park
    2018-07-06 Roger Waters, Squeeze, Hyde Park
    2018-07-03 Roger Waters, Manchester Arena
    2018-06-23 Foo Fighters, The Kills, Olympic Stadium London
    2018-06-09 Guns ‘n’ Roses, Black Stone Cherry, Thunder, The Temperance Movement, The Struts, Download Festival
    2018-06-02 The National, War On Drugs, Broken Social Scene, Don Letts (DJ Set), All Points East Hackney
    2018-05-23 The Rolling Stones, Liam Gallagher, Olympic Stadium London
    2018-03-28 Steven Wilson, Royal Albert Hall
    2018-03-24 Kasabian, Spring King, Royal Albert Hall
    2018-03-13 The Temperance Movement, Naked Six, Colchester Arts Centre
    2018-03-12 The Stranglers, Therapy?, Nottingham Rock City
    2018-03-08 The Temperance Movement, Nottingham Rock City
    2018-02-28 Will Hoge, Dean Owens, The Maze Nottingham
    2018-02-16 The Damned, Koko London
    2018-02-14 Franz Ferdinand, Nottingham Rock City
    2018-01-02 Black Country Communion, Wolverhampton Civic Hall

  50. Not as many gigs as I would have liked last year but every one was great!
    Morrissey
    Eels
    Roger Waters / Richard Ashcroft
    The Australian Pink Floyd
    A-ha supported by OMD (who in my opinion stole the show)
    Johnny Marr (met him before the show – top bloke!)

  51. We only attended two gigs this year. Two young children seriously curbs the ability to go to live music.

    We saw Elio Pace at the Norwich playhouse, and George Ezra at Wembley arena.

    Both were excellent, but Elio was only slightly disappointing because he played exactly the same set as the last time we saw him at the venue two years before……but still superb.

    George Ezra was fantastic but seemed nervous at playing such a big venue so it only really got going in the second half.

    Next year we’re already booked for Billy Joel at Wembley stadium and hoping to see Elio again playing a different show.

    Wanted to see Muse but I don’t fancy them in a stadium.

  52. I’m a total gig fiend. It’s a rare week I don’t go to something. This usually makes it very difficult to choose but 2018 for me had 3 standout gigs.
    Bruce Springsteen On Broadway – I’m a long time fan and have seen him many times but this ws truly something else.
    James Taylor at the Glasgow Hydro – I’d never seen him before and was completely blown away by the show. A masterclass in how to do it from simple singer with guitar to the full band.
    Ennio Morricone at the O2 Arena London. – Another first for me and sadly his farewell gig but a dazzling performance of the breadth of his musical genius.

    Lots of fine gigs in the runners up positions too
    The Rolling Stones at Murrayfield Stadium
    Blue Rose Code, Caledonia Soul at Edinburgh Queens Hall
    Graham Nash at Perth Concert Hall
    David Byrne at Glasgow Hydro
    The Waterboys at Glasgow Barrowlands
    Martyn Bennett’s Bothy Culture at Edinburgh Playhouse
    Elvis Costello at Edinburgh Playhouse
    Darlingside at Edinburgh Mash House
    Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets – Glasgow Armadillo
    St. Vincent – Edinburgh Playhouse

  53. Thought I spotted you at Matthew Sweet. Should have said hello but wasn’t absolutely sure and then lost you in the growing crowd. Would have been nice to compare notes on how to get hold of a copy of ‘Wicked System of Things’ – no luck so far.

  54. Don’t go to many Gigs as not keen on crowds.
    Saw the Proclaimers at Bournemouth Pavillion
    and a Night Demon plus seven more at a metal fest at Andernach both good

  55. My list:
    Depeche Mode, Royal Arena, Copenhagen
    Depeche Mode, O2 Arena, Berlin
    OMD, Studie 2, Copenhagen
    Grandmaster Flash, Amager Bio, Copenhagen
    Erasure, Royal Arena, Copenhagen
    Level 42, Koncerthuset, Copenhagen
    Jeff Lynne (ElO), Royal Arena, Copenhagen
    Human League, VEGA, Copenhagen

  56. I live a little bit in the sticks with the closest venue some 30 miles away (& London 50 miles), so every year I aim for an average of a gig a month. Having listed them below I’m pleased I got to 17 last year! I was at the same Rezillos gig you were at Paul, they are always good fun!

    * = Best gigs of the year for me.

    Nadine Shah – Roundhouse
    The Damned – O2 Forum
    The Stranglers – Brixton Academy
    *The Ruts – Luton Hat Factory
    The Vibrators – Islington Assembly Hall
    Bjork (also saw Khruangbin, Father John Misty) – All Points East
    The The – Brixton Academy
    Loop – Southbank Centre
    Manic Street Preachers – Southbank Centre
    *The Cure (& Interpol) – Hyde Park (Yes, it was BST but I will NOT miss The Cure! I ate before I got in and took in several 500mm plastics bottles!)
    Rezillos – 229
    Soft Cell – O2 Arena
    *Tom Robinson Band – Shepherds Bush Empire
    New Order – Alexandra Palais
    Peter Murphy – Northampton Roadmenders
    The Damned – Oxford O2
    Sex Pissed Dolls – Northampton Roadmenders

  57. Here’s hoping Roland and Curt sort their problems out and they appear at the Echo Arena on 2nd Feb. Already bought tickets and accommodation for the second time for this. Curt has been posting some odd comments on Twitter and it seems he may not be there.

  58. Field Music – Northern Stage – 2nd February 2018 10/10
    Field Music – Northern Stage – 3rd February 2018 10/10
    Paul Chowdhry – Newcastle Theatre Royal – 4th March 2018 Postponed
    Temperance Movement – Newcastle University – 4th March 2018 10/10
    Steven Wilson – Gateshead Sage – 25th March 2018 9/10
    Glenn Tilbrook, Gateshead Sage Hall 2 – 27th March 2018 7/10
    Arcade Fire – Glasgow Hydro – 16th April 2018 8.5/10
    Marillion – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – 20th April 2018 7.5/10
    Manic Street Preachers – Newcastle Arena – 23rd April 2018 5/10
    Noel Gallagher – Newcastle Arena – 3rd May 2018 8/10
    Paul Chowdhry – Newcastle Theatre Royal – 13th May 2018 8/10
    The Rolling Stones – London Olympic Stadium – 25th May 2018 10/10
    LCD Soundsystem – Manchester Apollo – 6th June 2018 6/10
    Public Image Ltd – Newcastle Academy – 12th June 2018 7/10
    David Byrne – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – 15th June 2018 8/10
    Pearl Jam – O2 Arena – 18th June 2018 8/10
    Foo Fighters – Manchester Etihad Stadium – 19th June 2018
    Sheryl Crow – Gateshead Sage – 21st June 2018 7/10
    Nine Inch Nails – Royal Festival Hall – 22nd June 2018 8/10
    Nine Inch Nails – Royal Albert Hall – 24th June 2018 10/10
    Roisin Murphy – Gateshead Sage – 29th June 2018 6/10
    Roger Waters – Birmingham Arena – 6th July 2018 7.5/10
    Deer Shed Festival – Baldersby Park, N. Yorks – 20-22nd July 2018 10/10
    Iron Maiden – Newcastle Arena – 31st July 2018 9/10
    Gomez – Newcastle Academy – 24th August 2018 10/10
    The The – Newcastle University – 3rd September 2018 6.5/10
    Garbage – Northumbria University – 12th September 2018 5/10
    RNS Rocks feat. Maximo Park & Field Music – Gateshead Sage – 21st September 2018 7/10
    Arctic Monkeys – Sheffield Arena – 22nd September 2018 8/10
    Arctic Monkeys – Newcastle Arena – 27th September 2018 9/10
    Arctic Monkeys – Newcastle Arena – 28th September 2018 9/10
    Anna Calvi – Boiler Shop Newcastle- 3rd October 2018 7/10
    Steve Hackett – Gateshead Sage – 7th October 2018 7/10
    Glenn Hughes – Newcastle Academy – 10th October 2018 8/10
    U2 – Manchester Arena – 19th October 2018 9/10
    U2 – Manchester Arena – 20th October 2018 9/10
    Father John Misty – Gateshead Sage – 26th October 2018 9/10
    Dan Reed Network – Newcastle Riverside – 8th November 2018 8/10
    Michael Schenker Fest – Newcastle Academy – 9th November 2018 10/10 for Schenker’s playing / 6/10 for there gig overall – let down by appalling singing and cliched frontmen
    Johnny Marr – Newcastle Academy – 14th November 2018 8/10
    Ross Noble – Newcastle City Hall – 21st November 2018
    Courtney Barnett – Northumbria University – 21st November 2018 10/10
    The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Cullercoats Crescent Club – 27th November 2018 9/10
    The Magpie Salute – Newcastle Riverside – 7th December 2018 10/10
    Def Leppard / Cheap Trick – Newcastle Arena – 9th December 2018 9/10 for both bands.
    Deacon Blue – Newcastle City Hall – 12th December 2018
    Mercury Rev – St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle – 15th December 2018 8.5/10

  61. I saw way too many shows in 2018, seemed like everyone I was interested in came out of the woodwork and I tried to see all I could (about 25 total). Note I am in california so my list is a bit different, I will just list the more memorable ones:

    art of noise – I was actually in london for this show at the british library, I made the trek because I feared it might be my last chance to see them, having never gotten around to seeing them previously. Luckily my employer sends me to london office once a year or so, I was able to coordinate that trip with this show.

    David Byrne (in SF civic auditorium) was definitely my favorite, though ‘gig’ understates what that show was, since it was as much performance art as music. I sure hope they are going to put that on dvd/blu-ray/uhd!

    Billy Idol – was only an OK show, but an unusual venue which was the Portland Zoo (in Oregon). An actual zoo, they had to put the elephants away before the show, and the zoo keepers were monitoring decibel levels. Zoo admission was included with the concert ticket.

    Thomas Dolby in LA at the largo coronet – he only did a few songs which were randomly chosen out of a hat by an audience member, he then told stories on the background of each song, as well as projecting his computer on a screen showing a bit of how he would build the track up before performing it.

  62. Well, I’m a serious lightweight!
    I actually only started going to gigs again this year. Having six dogs makes it difficult for us to go to any gigs outside Edinburgh unless we pay hefty kennel fees!
    Anyway, here’s my ‘list’ for 2018:

    – Morrissey @ SSE Hydro, Glasgow 17/02
    – First Aid Kit @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 24/02
    – Sparks @ O2 Academy, Glasgow 22/05
    – First Aid Kit @ Usher Hall, Edinburgh 26/10
    – Gary Numan @ Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow 20/11
    There was also a cancelled Morrissey gig in Edinburgh in July
    Looking forward to the Manics next year though!

  63. Gigs attended in 2018:

    Paul Draper – Newcastle Riverside – Did Solo material and Full Mansun album Attack of the Grey Lantern
    Roger Waters – Glasgow Hydro – Superb show and super friendly crowd.
    Paul Smith – Durham Old Cinema Launderette (album launch show), and yes it’s actually a Launderette :)
    Arctic Monkeys – Newcastle Arena
    Jack White – Usher Hall Edinburgh (12 song encore, unbelievable)
    Paul Smith – The Cluny, Ouseburn (Newcastle) Support from the excellent Kathryn Williams

    Nothing currently booked in for 2019 so far, a nice blank canvas to play with, just need some bands/artists to start announcing those gigs now.

  64. I have been a concert goer since 1976 but cannot remember my first 2 shows. My third was Paul McCartney and Wings at MSG in New York City. I have been to concerts every year since and once had 3 shows in one week to attend. But sadly, 2018 was the first without a show. It would have been the Mickey/Mike Monkees show but Mike got sick. The real contributing factor is the pricing of seats. It is now out of hand with so many options and pricings. Sad how greed has fully entered the picture.
    HO-WELL

    HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL
    DAVE

  65. Rolling Stones – was magical. And I am not even a big fan.
    Depeche Mode
    the the
    Salad
    Marion

    Would have loved to have seen Belly / Tanya Donnelly too!

  66. Pizza Express Jazz clubs in Holborn and Soho are highly recommended. Intimate, civilised and great acts. My list is a bit different to yours:

    Andy Allo – Pizza Express Soho
    Sheila E. – Paisley Park
    Prince on the big screen – Target Center Minneapolis
    True Funk Soldiers – Paisley Park
    FDeluxe – Paisley Park
    Liv Warfield – The Dakota, Minneapolis
    Donna Grantis – The Dakota, Minneapolis
    The Prince Experince (Prince tribute band), The Venue, Derby
    The New Power Generation, The Jacksons, Boney M, Morcheeba – Common People festival, Oxford
    Purple Celebration, Ingrid Chavez – Cafe de Paris, London
    Judith Hill – Night and Day, Manchester
    Judith Hill – Pizza Express Holborn x 2
    The Coral, Mel C, Feeder, Scouting for Girls, Craig Charles, Artful Dodger, Endorphinmachine – Camper Calling, Ragley Hall
    LANY – Kentish Town Forum
    Purple Celebration (Prince Tribute) – Rock City, Nottingham

  67. From the Jam 10 Times various venues from Wakefield in the North to Weston super Mare in the South and Savannah , band from Telford 12 times

    1. I saw MC Solaar in Paris, the venue was too big, probably the size of Wembley Arena. But still, it was a blinding show with loads of guests and other people with grey hair. He even did a little jazzy bit in the middle a la Beastie Boys. Nice one Claude!.

  70. Wow, long and great list, paul.

    My List for 2018

    Rod Stewart (Zagreb)
    Steven Wilson 2x (Vienna and Verona)
    RogerWaters 2x (zagreb and vienna)
    New Order & Liam Gillick (vienna)
    Iron Maiden (zagreb)
    The pinnacle Thief (vienna)
    Jehtro Tull (zagreb)
    Paul Young (london)
    Def Leppard (london)
    Fish (london)

    And I had the chance to be on the bohemian rhapsody – movie world premiere in Wembley and the Steven Wilson Home Invasion Screening in London.

          1. True enough. Makes you reminisce about Bad News and “Two quid for one bloody sausage!”.
            I need to watch that again…

          2. Despite my reservations, I’m seeing Neil and Bob in Hyde Park in July. I have gone for the General Admission option and will probably regret it Will make sure I have a hearty meal and a few pints before I go in! And maybe try to sneak a hipflask in too! Any other suggestions Paul?

  71. Happily I avoided the o2 Arena in London in 2018

    stand out gigs of the year were the 2 Depeche Mode gigs at Waldebuhne in Berlin at end of July. Great weather, great atmosphere, fab venue and 2 different set lists.

    Runner up position u2 in Dublin in November and Lady Gaga ( before she cancelled the tour) in Barecelona way back in January

  74. Steven Wilson the second night where i met you at the bar before the show à great show thé B show in SW terms with more HCE material ..for the french fan that i an it as à very spécial moment

      1. “David Byrne was amazing…” You got that right. His Detroit show was one for the books, and I think the most memorable concert of my year. Other Motor City winners include Richard Thompson, Public Image Limited, and the closing of the MC50 tour. In other locations: Bowie Celebration, The Wailers, The Kinsey Report, Graham Parker, Steven Wilson, King Crimson, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern. Also, Festival Beat in Modena, IT, is the best outdoor festival I have ever attended. Live music may be the only thing creating a firewall against severe depression for many now, I believe. We should all be grateful for every chance to see a great band or artist in any space that is not compromised by bad sound and poor crowd behavior. Thankfully, these opportunities do still exist. Thanks, Paul.

        1. Mister Stick,
          Being Detroit based, we were probably picking up the same shows…especially Byrne at the Fox and Wilson at the Danforth. Did you pick up the Beck show at the Fox ? Decidedly odd.
          Didn’t go to the Richard Thompson simply because I could face standing all night

          See you down the LCA/Fox/DTE/Meadowbrook…The 1975 is solidly sold out at Meadowbrook in May unless you want to risk the lawn

          1. Sorry, but this only occurred to me after I read Paul’s review of the Kate Bush cover band there in the UK, and after noticing that other people here took in the Celebrating Bowie show.

            I wonder if this is the same for others: This was the year when I started to welcome cover shows with fully open ears. Along with the terrific Bowie alumni show, I saw The Fab Faux for the second time. As BritInDetroit would know (thanks for the shout-out), the “Re-Fabs” are annual visitors to this area and have become a tradition for those who want to hear The Beatles’ most complex music in a live setting. In this century, that can be done… There is the tech, the talent and the marketplace. Many music geeks have always turned up their noses at ‘tribute’ acts, where a band dresses and behaves as a great act would. Guilty, your honor. I will never grow comfortable with an roofing products salesman from Cleveland cavorting around the stage dressed as Freddie Mercury on his weekends, no matter how perfect the mustache.

            But this rising tide of serious players, often once connected to the musician or band whose work they are performing, who appear as themselves but dedicate their talents to the work of a writer that preceded them, and performing without pretense… There really can be something very rewarding there. I’ve seen grown men nearly in tears at Dweezil’s Zappa Plays Zappa shows. FZ’s music is not garden-variety bar band stock, and after his passing, many thought they would never hear it performed in largesse ever again. The reconstituted and young Wailers – some of which are sons of that masterful band’s originals – play Bob Marley’s music with the kind of conviction and joy, real joy, that makes you grateful for any chance to see them. And encouraged by the fact that they fill the hall with 25-year olds, who have chosen to seek Marley’s catalog in place of the ‘here-t’day-gon’-tomarra-mon’ gray-tone throwaways that are so often foisted on the kids by lost and withering music industry. Their lives will be better for that choice. And as ridiculous as the name “Australian Pink Floyd” sounds, the sounds that band makes are not just carbon copies, but convincing enough to be moving. Great songs are the trick to turn, not the costume. If you can play them for their sake of the music itself, rather than work as a imitator, the listeners will come and they will be appreciative, even loyal.

            A good name for these acts might be ‘canon bands’… Musical collectives dedicated to keeping the work of one of a previous generation’s most memorable rock musos in our ears and hearts. Sooner or later, you say ‘why not?’ and jump in. It’s not a new concept in jazz, and obviously not in classical circles.

            Yes’s Chris Squire once said that he thought his band’s music would be performed in 100 years. It sounded daft at first, but then you realize that at least two generations have fallen for Yes’s songs since their glory days. Some early members still perform, but their days of that are surely limited now. If we agree that that the live communal experience still has the most potential for our own exhilaration, then young Yes fans (or those of Kate Bush or Tull or Thin Lizzy or The Jam or Abba or whatever) should have the future chance to get a proper honest presentation of that work, and to do so in the company of others who feel the same about it. Chris Squire might just have been right.

            I hope such nights out don’t replace performers of new and original music, of course. But I’m grateful to know how so many work to hold up the music of the past.

            Thanks again, Paul, and to everyone here for great remarks about something so precious to us all.

      2. I saw over 50 acts in 2018.. including Mogwai, Beyonce, Rolling Stones, Pale Waves, Florence when the Machine, Dualipa, The Killers , Foo Fighters, Against the Current, Neko Case, U2, Lea Michelle and the wonderful Taylor Swift.

        I love the deluxe editions but live music is still the best. Sure phones are annoying, as are grown men pissing on the floor, hours of standing and poor views .. but all the artists I saw were amazing.. no matter what the circumstance..

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