Unplugged For Autism
with Special Guests
KOKO London 15.12.2014
Today is a really important day, it's the last gig of the year, it's in my second favourite city 'London' and it's in uber trendy Camden.
Its a Charity show all tonights guests are playing acoustic its for (NAS National Autistic Society), some of the artists playing tonight have Autism or have experience of someone close to them with Autism.
The Doors Open at 6pm and there are a few of us outside the doors queuing,this is not the usual gig protocol and its a very relaxed atmosphere we are are made very welcome when inside the venue which is in beautiful KOKO the most beautiful decored theatre I've seen in a long while with RED themed walls and pillars and decked up theatre boxes, topped with a Disco Ball, well 'Madonna' did play here for her Confessions promo show in 2005.
We are Introduced to artists who have Autism that are playing tonight first up is 'Sam Cooper', a young man dressed in casual Blue Jeans and t-shirt he sings at least three songs that he has written himself ,one them in particular which really made me smile a song about 'Ricky The Cricket' a fast paced lyrical ditty telling the story about a Cricket which was very well rhymed.
Next up another male artist with a guest musician on percussion 'Ed Goodacre' he has written songs about his battles with Autism in a song called 'The Symptoms' and poignant song about dealing with his brother going to war in Afganistan they were very good theres a lot of talented musicians here proof that Autism dosen't have to make us different when we understand it .
Then it was one of the girls "Laura Tapp" she apparently works for NAS and is also a songwriter and plays guitar, tonight she picks a few cover songs from a Twitter poll of requests particularly difficult to play acoustically was the version of Cars by Gary Numan, she also played covers of Katy Perry, and storming acoustic version of Radiohead's Creep!!
Then it was the first of tonight's special guests local London band 'White Lies' took to the stage, with a stripped back stage set up with a wooden chair, blue silver rouched drapes as a atmospheric backdrop, and they walk onto the stage 'Harry' walks over to the left where he has a mic stand Korg Keyboard and music stand, 'Jack' takes postion behind his Xylophone and 'Charles' takes over on Acoustic guitar sitting centre stage on the wooden chair making a change from the heavy bass he plays on stage usually.
'Good Evening we are going to play some acoustic versions of our songs for you now" says 'Harry' smiling, They begin with a 'Lana Del Rey' cover 'Ride',we get an exclusive never before heard acoustic version of 'Farewell To The Fairground' and lovely slow paced version of 'There Goes Our Love Again' and 'Harry surprises everyone by doing a solo acoustic version of 'First Time Caller', "These Guys are going to disappear now and leave me on my own for this one,quite nervous actually" he giggles, he pulls off a great performance of the song he's well suited as a soloist, simply dressed in White T-shirt and Black Jeans and some stage friendly sneakers.
The Other guys come back on stage and 'Charles' takes to his wooden chair again and 'Harry' says "We are going to play an acoustic version of a song on BIG TV a song called 'Change', 'Charles' is going to play the complicated piece on guitar" he laughs the crowd laughs,they seem relaxed in each others company.
It's then that 'Harry' opens up about his experience with Autism "As Autism affects someone in my family, I have some knowledge of it my sister has Autism" I was a little shocked but deeply moved by him sharing this with us the crowd, next song is 'Unfinished Business' and lastly a cover of 'Prince's 'I Would Die 4 U' which the band played their 'Big TV Tour' last year and it went down pretty well too,they say goodnight and take a bow and leave the stage.
Also present at the show is 'Gaz Coombes' of 'Supergrass' he plays some his solo material he is here tonight as his Daughter has Autism and he's raising awareness tonight he plays 1 'Supergrass' classic "Movin' " (Special Thanks to my friend ''Michelle for this extra piece of info as I'd left the venue to go outside on an errand to do with The Boys in case they left early so didn't see it)
It was a great way to end the year,and superb special show,you can see over 40 Pics from the night in the gallery links posted soon separately with 'White Lies' whole set pictured.
Merry Xmas To All Giggers & Happy New Year
2015 is going to be EPIC !!!
Kasabian
Manchester Phones 4 U Arena
12.12.2014
Leicester Home of the Cheese, Home Of The De Montfort Uni, the humble bag of Walkers crisps and... Kasabian!!
It's been 4 years since I last seen Leicesters finest rampaging on stage,so the second the tickets were on sale I was ready,and It's been almost a year to wait for this show but it's been worth it,the tour was huge all across the countryand tickets sold out super fast!!
As I set off to queue for much of the day I quickly realise there is none,no one else there by the time soundcheck was happening , a handful of fans came at around 4pm but really not that many whats happening why is there no queue doors almost opening time, as we go through the routine not many people following us down the stairs it's bizarre we are only 2 rows deep and I'm front on the left of the barrier perfect spot hardly anyone joing us .. this can mean only one thing it's 'The Calm Before The Storm' because they've all gone to get lagered up !!!
8pm support band 'The Maccabees' walk onto the stage with minimal cheers from the Manchester crowd huh what crowd?? still hardly anyone in the standing area,they play an energetic set ,just behind me are some long time fans of the band as the band themselves pay tribute to the supporters the singer points out "These guys have been coming to see us since Night & Day café for the last five years give them a round of applause",I'm chuffed for them they got a mention it's nice when bands recognise the loyality,they get a lukewarm warm reception from the 'Kasabian' fans, who now are arriving en mass behind us midset as the band play 'Pelican' an indie classic ,its getting busier in the seats now and a countdown begins on an LED Screen centre stage.
The music is pumping out its old skool house music with a mash up of Altern 8 Evapor 8,the barmy army have arrived,I hear them chanting 'Ezeeh Ezeeh' everyone behind is looking focused on the stage and they're shuffling closer but faster and in a not very friendly way ...oh yes and and most are steamin drunk already!! Gonna go off tonight then!!.
Countdown is now at 59 seconds, then bam the lights go down and Serge arrives on stage with the rest of the band followed by Tom and right on cue the crushing begins the crowd go Apeshit to the right 'Tom' is gesturing the crowd hes wearing a brown suit and has unshaven face fuzzy hair and cheeky grin "Manchester are you ready You Fxxkers!!,Serge's t-shirt has the slogan Me-Nan on it .. ,7 foot tall in frame skinny in skeleton bones printed on his trousers,the crowd go nuts then the whole arena rumbles as 'Bumblebee' kicks in to start Tom stalks the stage and the crowd really whip up a frenzy when 'Shoot The Runner' is up next people are bangin into each other and us on the barrier as if to move us off jumping up and down grinding bones,fighting,thumping is amass there is a strict no respect scenario building and it's pissing me off!!!
The show hasn't even started yet more goodies from 'West Ryder Lunatic Asylum' and 'The Underdog' followed by 'Where Did All The Love Go',it's a mad frenzy this girl behind me is going mad for 'Serge' waving her arms around yelling his name and another deranged girl elbows everyone on the shoulder blades so I tell security shes being violent she gets told off when she hit me I hit her back nothing or no-one is budging me from this barrier NOTHING!!!
So taking every bruise and every shove on I go defending my space, and this lad next to me who now keeps shoving me away when hes already firmly on the barrier has a rather annoying habit of scratching his head and sharing his dandruff with you Lovely.. totally doing my head in.
"Days Are Forgotten" comes on next the build up sees Tom shouting 'Can You Feel It Comin' Manchester !!' Fuck yeah I can I can see a white light don't walk into the light... I'm really not comfortable but worse cos I'm really angry now as this girl behind me thinks she can burrow through my back headbutting it to reach the barrier when I'm in front of it am I transparent or What ?? Hello you cant walk through me Bitch !!
Then the moment we've all been waiting for 'Eezeh' which is my fav song of the year my battles with the crowd forgotten as I'm entertained by bouncing 'Serge Pizzerno',he's like an excitable 10 year old on his playstation in the form of a man he has so much energy,another of my favs is on 'Fast Fuse' and then early era goodies 'Processed Beats', and then some slower paced songs take the vibe down just a bit before the bonkerness of 'Clubfoot' hits us full pelt!!
The roof has been well and truly lifted it all goes off ...stage divers invade the front stage down the middle of the crowd to ill coping security who cant believe the scene,somehow a live chicken gets on the stage no idea where it came from the band tweeted about it later,they cover 'Word Up' and 'Serge' decides to join us at the barrier for 'Treat', shaking hands singing into the crowd doing his freaky dancing ha.
Then it's back to business 'Tom' kicks into 'Switchblade Smiles' and the whole place just about implodes for 'Empire' we're not done yet til 'Fire' and 'Tom' get us singing along and it's not even the 'Encore',I'm still clinging on unable to move but loving the show, my other fav 'Stevie' the current release begins and then 'Vlad The Impaler' even though it does not see the appearance of 'Mr Noel Fielding' still epic performance but we do get a cover of 'Praise You' originally done by 'Fatboy Slim',ending with 'LSF' the crowd are still going bananas and at the end the band are overwhelmed and say goodnight feeling conquered, they wave, bow ,throw out drumsticks to the crowd and setlists (I didn't catch any grr).
'Kasabian' are becoming one of the biggest bands in U.K. and they get bigger every show they play,'Kasabian' certainly Rock live !! If you haven't seen the band yet it's a battle but where have you been they're a must see act !!I have some select pics from the show to put in the gallery not many as the crowd weren't interested in keeping still while I photographed the band,Great show to finish the year on Awesome!!! .
Battered,Bruised, Shattered and Ultimately Knackered
LMI x
