The Black Crowes - Town and Country Club 30 September 1991

Still one of my favourite bands, I first became aware of the Black Crowes when I saw the video for Jealous Again on Raw Power. I bought the album at the next Brighton Record fair and I've been a fan ever since. 

The ticket itself is nothing much to blog about, but look! The actual band logo as used on the first album! The special guests were Thee Hypnotics and my sister rode shotgun.

While the support band were on, my sister decided to faint. Luckily we were standing against the back wall underneath the mixing desk, so she just slid down the wall into a heap on the floor without doing herself any damage. I tried to carry her outside to get some fresh air. She probably weighed no more than eight stone (110 pounds) but have you ever tried to carry someone who's unconscious? It's not as easy as they make it look in the movies. We made it as far as the bar when she started to come round. This wasn't the first time she'd done this but it was the first time when I'd been around to see it. Scary. She recovered pretty quickly and we watched the rest of the show from near the back, just in case.

Little Angels - Town and Country Club, 13 March 1991

Little Angels 13 March 1991

Little Angels have recently re-formed for some live shows, so I thought I'd dig this one out. A fairly eye-catching / watering ticket design in three colours. Also another example of a font / logo being used for the band name that I have not seen used anywhere else.

I believe this tour was to promote the Young Gods album but can't be sure. The 'special guests' were Katmandu, a short lived group featuring Dave King, formerly of Fastway on vocals. I hadn't heard them before but was sufficiently moved to buy their CD, which I still have. 

For those that may not be aware of the band, Little Angels are a British rock band from Yorkshire that play a raucous classic rock with air raid siren vocals and an occasional horn section. What's not to love? I have to admit to being a sucker for horns used in rock music and there are some crackers on the Don't Prey for Me album - particularly Radical Your Lover which was co-written with the wonderful Dan Reed. Glorious stuff.

Anyway, all this rambling has probably prepared you for the usual cop out ending to one of these posts. I remember very little of the headliner's set, but I do remember thinking they were every bit as good live as on record. I wanted Bruce's 'Eat my Dust' Les Paul and Toby's corkscrew barnet. I also remember wishing I was as good looking as Michael Lee, the drummer at the time. Great musician, handsome bastard, gone too soon.

The Presidents of the United States of America - Brixton Academy, 8 July 1996

This is a ticket for one of only two gigs I have watched from the circle at the Brixton Academy.  On the one hand, the view is amazing and I get a seat.  On the other, it is so high up that I feel removed from the live gig experience.  Like watching it on TV only the band never look you in the eye.

PUSA were famous for five minutes in 1995/6 when they had hits with a handful of singles from their first album.  Lump and Peaches in particular are perfect slices of punky power pop.  I believe my sister organised this trip - it was certainly her that came with me.  I remember being hesitant because I'm always wary of going to see a band that has only released one album.  They'll only do 45 minutes, you know what you're going to hear and if you're lucky they might throw in a cover version for an encore.  I was persuaded however when it was announced that Kula Shaker were going to be the 'Special Guests'.  I know, I know, but I still really like some of the stuff off their first album.  And I like their version of 'Hush'.  Deal with it.

As for the gig?  I have only vague memories of sitting, I think, in the front row of the circle.  And that's about it.  Look, I promise I'll do one of these soon where I can remember something about the gig, OK?  Sheesh, get off my back already.

Peaches live at Pink Pop 1996