It's good having a friend in the music business, you get to go to the occasional free gig, hang around at crappy after-show parties and use the backstage toilets at Glastonbury. That's Not My Age and friend once went to see Suede at the ICA, London. When I say went to see Suede, I mean the last five minutes. Music industry types have been to so many gigs they don't seem to mind just catching the encore - whereas us civilians like to get our money's worth. So we spent most of the evening in a wine bar round the corner, but what little Suede action I did see was bloody brilliant. Brett Anderson, now 43, is sexy in a Bowie-like way and has the kind of stage presence I'd like to bottle and sell to X Factor wannabes.
He's also straight talking. This week dispelling the myth that life on the road is all women, wine and song:
'Rock's not all about carnal glamour. You spend a lot of time sitting on grubby sofas backstage, fiddling with bits of cheese.'
Oh and Mr That's Not My Age has just informed me that this Suede gig is in his all time top 10 live performances:
The band are reforming in March but Mr TNMA doesn't want to go, oh no! 'One should never go back,' he says. I didn't need telling. After seeing New Order at Glastonbury in 2005, Bernard Sumner's embarrassing dad-dance was enough to convince me revivalism is wrong.
And, now for a small survey:
1. Firstly, I'd like to know if anyone has ever been to a decent post-gig drink-up? (I want dates, names and rider details, please.)
2. Have you ever seen one of your all-time favourite bands 10 or 20 years down the line? And how was it for you?
3. Don't you think Mr Anderson looks very fine in his classic shirt?
Quote and photo from The Guardian.
8 comments:
He does look mighty fine in that shirt.
Shut UP! It will not hear a bad word said about Barney-New-Order's dad dancing. I have always thought they were great live so there. Bowie at Hammersmith Odeon (or whatever it's called now) a few years ago was great too. Oh, Edwyn Collins is brilliant live... And Billy Bragg. Ok enough now.
I did love the Take That reunion but I only went once. I've got lots of post band stories but they are probably best not for airing!
I went to see Leonard Cohen last year and it was brilliant. And he was wearing a brilliant suit and fedora hat.
He does look very fine in that shirt.
Funny, I just did a post today on taking my daughter to see Lady Gaga at Radio City over the weekend. For me Prince has stood up. He was my first concert at 13 and I've seen him many times over the years. I still adore him.
RG - me too, until the hideous Glastonbury experience which I'll never ever recover from. I'm a massive New Order fan,saw lots of early gigs in Manchester (and apparently their first as New Order after Ian Curtis died) and properly loved Barney when I was a teenager and he was sullen, sober and stationary! But the image I'll take to my grave is that of a red-faced bloke doing the dad dance. Tragedy. And if you don't believe me check it out on YouTube!
MDS - ooh err, I guess we're not talking about sitting around on sofas fiddling with bits of cheese?
LCDS - I missed that tour but you're right, Cohen is brilliant and v stylish too.
Kwana - wow, I'm so impressed you took your daughter to see Gaga! I'm coming over to your blog to read all about it. And love Prince - bet his after-show parties are cool as.
went to after show party with Dexy's Midnight Runners in early 80s (shut it TNMA they were tray avant-garde at the time) don't remember much about it but neither did kevin rowland when he blanked me 10 years later. maybe he didn't like my neckerchief?
Hello eagleboy and thanks for leaving a comment - I don't mind a bit of Dexy's and have seen them myself, thank you very much!
PS were you wearing dungarees?
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