3 Gigs in 2 weeks...

31/10/14 Cosmic Charlies, Fiddler's Elbow in Camden, London

A rare (third this year?) gig for the Charlies but they soon showed they had lost nothing of the flair and enthusiasm for playing this music.

An emphasis on Bobby tunes tonight following the cancellation of his Ratdog tour (due to ill health?) earlier this year. But the highlight for me was a St Stephen>Not Fade Away>St Stephen>Eleven>Lovelight sequence and a sweet Uncle John's into So What.

But I was too near the speakers in the first set and my right ear was ringing for 3 days!

Talked to an Alaskan Deadhead who works in Zimbabwe who just happened to be in the UK for a few days for a meeting and had Googled 'Grateful Dead + London' and found this gig! Another weird GD coincidence.

Check 'em out yourself on Youtube! Three more gigs booked at the Fiddler for 2015!

9/11/14 The Levellers, Rock City, Nottingham

Last time they played here I only knew 2 songs. This time the tour is to support a new greatest hits album which I have been listening to solidly for the last 3 weeks. So no surprises and plenty of favourites.(I think the only song played which was not on the new album was 'Sell Out'.)

Started at the front, firmly in the mosh zone, about 6 people back from the stage. Lasted just two numbers by which time I felt like I'd run a 100m alongside Usain Bolt, and had to drop back to a space with room to move without having to keep up. Getting old sucks.

The band were on fire. For energy, passion, and genuine anger they can't be beat. Songs that have to be heard load and live. Songs of protest, desperation, sadness. Songs that draw a line in the sand. Songs you can believe in (One Way, This Garden, Exodus, Liberty). "And if this is how far your culture's got. Then I deny it".

Talked to a guy doing a philosophy masters degree; for his dissertation he's going to investigate whether atheists have pantheistic tendencies. (Intellectually interesting but who really cares?)

12/11/14 Doors Alive, The Globe, Cardiff

I've lost count of all the Doors-related gigs I've done with my brother Mark. But this was up there with the best, apart from the two fights (do Cardiff geezers drink too much?) and the fact that I was at the bar when the second set started so did not get back to my place at the front amid the girls who were really going for it after the break (one of whom apparently ended up topless).

Willie's voice is great for these songs, and he has just the right stage presence without overtly imitating Jim. Every time I come away with something new, even though I know the music so well. There were good extended solos from the guitar player (why can't I find his name anywhere?) and (new) keyboard player.

Talked to a girl about the fighting (but sadly didn't hear a word she said).

Bottom line - I need to get fitter if I want to carry on getting the most out of rock concerts.