A handy trio of gigs

Sorry to say I've neglected the blog so far this year and I still have a lengthy backlog of gigs from 1980 onwards to sort out! Anyway this update deals with the three, very different gigs, up to Augusts Green Man Festival which will be a post all of it's own!

Going back to March 25th and Steven Wilson playing at The Sage, Gateshead as part of the To the Bone Tour. This would be the 6th time I've seen SW. This time round I was all ready to give it a miss and it was at my wife's insistence that we both went. If I'm honest I wasn't really enjoying the To The Bone album finding it a bit lightweight and just not as interesting as his earlier work.

As is so often the case when SW performs, there would be no supporting band, and we would get 2 sets from the man.

Arrived just in time at The Sage and took our seats, which were bang in the centre but towards the back on a slightly rising section. They were a in a great position and turned out to be a perfect spot for tonights show. The show opened with Nowhere Now from the new album, but second song - Pariah - set the tone for the whole show. it's clear a great deal of thought has gone in to the way Steven Wilson presents his music and the presentation of Pariah was stunning with Ninet Tayeb's face being projected in an almost 3D way (she wasn't actually there) as she duetted on the song with SW. The first set felt like Steven Wilson was drawing from some of his more aggressive songs.

After a short break the second set opened with one of my favourite Porcupine Tree songs - Arriving Somewhere but not Here, yes it goes on a bit but its a classic, Lazarus another Porcupine Tree is in the setlist to. So the song selection really took in all times and styles from Steven Wilsons career. Overall though it was the visuals that made the show a special one, I'm still not keen on the new album but next tour, I'll definitely be getting tickets!

At the other end of the scale would be a gig by The Lake Poets at Wylam brewery in Newcastle, this would be on April 30th 2018. The Lake Poets are essentially singer-songwriter Martin Longstaff. Martins songs are very personal and intimate and in a venue like Wylam Brewery worked perfectly. If he's playing anywhere near you I highly recommend you go see him.

Ending this trio of gigs is Sheryl Crow, also playing The Sage in Gateshead on June 21st. Now Sheryl Crow is one of those people I've always meant to go see live, but just never got round to it. Well this time round I did go and managed to catch her on what was a greatest hits tour. Her band were tight and she was on top form delivering a near perfect collection of songs. Loved every minute of it!

You can see the setlist here.