The Food Of Love

I’ve not had any time to write a blog in a little while despite having a lot of thoughts about things. That is, things I feel I should impose on anyone who really has nothing better to do with their time than read my occasional blogs, rather than just things. I’ve had lots of thoughts on things very few have any need or interest to know about. A large portion of today has already been spent just musing on how to eat a stupidly massive wheel of brie we have in the fridge. For any of you who are concerned or engaged by this sort of chat, I’ve decided the answer is: all at once.

So rather than try and backtrack on all the serious things that bothered me in the past month or so, the general injustices of the world I naively assumed that a few words from me might contribute to the situation or anything actually life changing, here instead is a blog on music. I’ve finally got a few days over this Christmas period to do absolutely nothing and aside from recovering from eating a wheel of cheese, I’m going to enjoy listening to a lot of music I’ve either missed or not had enough time for this year. Currently as I type this I’m listening to Olof Arnalds gently beautiful  ‘Olof Sings’ EP should you wish to join in.

I’ve met people who say they ‘aren’t into music’ a few times in my life. I have learned over years to understand and respect various differences in opinion over religion, politics, how to eat a big wheel of brie, but this is my empathetic stumbling block. I cannot fathom not being a music person. I can understand not liking types of music or certain acts. I’ve grown out of saying I dislike entire genres after learning that there is always someone who will play that type of music in a way that makes it brilliant. Someone who’ll bring something new. I insisted as a young teenager that country music was awful and then was politely introduced to Jonny Cash and felt like an idiot. This year alone I’ve had so many moments where a piece of music, a track I love or one I’ve just been introduced to, has left me elated. There have been so many excited conversations when someone has told me about music they might think I’d like. I’ve always been fairly susceptible to getting sucked into a moment and feeling emotional about it. There have been a few theatre shows here and there that left me in tears (in a good way) and the very very occasional comedy show (pretty much only ones by Daniel Kitson), but for some reason music is the one makes me feel more overwhelmed than most. (Currently listening to Nina Simone’s ‘Don’t Smoke In Bed’ which is somehow heart wrenchingly sad, yet empowering in it’s story.)

I’ve got no idea why. I assume it’s partly because I’m musically inept aside from being able to sing a bit. I managed the ’12 Bar Blues’ on the guitar at music school then promptly got stuck, and I’m not sure anyone’s ever played a recorder so wrongly to the extent that nearby cats made noise pollution complaints. Therefore when I hear someone being brilliant at music it’s completely beyond my comprehension of how they’ve done that. I’m rarely star struck when meeting famous comedians or actors anymore. Not because I lack respect for them, but because I can, in some way, understand what they do. On the rare occasion I’ve been in the vicinity of a musician I admire I’m usually unable to say hello on account of being too busy quaking in the corner in awe. (I’m now listening to Samaris, another Icelandic band. Keep up. I’m on an Icelandic tip at the mo.)

I remember reading a theory once that everyone has a ‘certain resonance’ and that when music is on that same resonance it immediately connects with you in some way. I couldn’t possibly begin to understand if that holds any truth but it may explain why children can hear higher notes than adults and therefore put up with some of the awful pop shit they listen to. I can’t say what it is that makes me like a track. Sometimes its a lyric, sometimes it’s the break, sometimes the moment a violin comes in and sweeps you off your feet, and sometimes its hearing other people around you sing it in sheer joy and the huge room becomes one unit of happy people.

Over the past couple of years I realised that comedy was the culprit for my diminishing visits to live music gigs and so I’ve been making an effort to go to more. I saw Damon Albarn treat the Royal Albert Hall ‘like a big pub’ and grinned from ear to ear as the entire room sang ‘Tender’ with him and Graham Coxon. I was blown away by Kate Tempest in the small Village Underground venue, and applauded as she told the crowd we had to ‘Battle your greed, cultivate your empathy’ before launching into verse. I saw Jungle on a rooftop of a car park on a lovely sunny evening, the Divine Comedy in a tent in Westport, proudly saw my brother and his band launch his new EP, and Elbow made me cry, again, at the O2. One of my favourites was watching a singer called Nick Hakim, in the Social in London, to audience of about 40 people, cause a silence you could have heard a pin drop in. The hairs on everyone’s necks went up as his sang. When me and L left, we were unable to say anything to each other for a while, just taking in how amazing it was. (I’ve now been reminded of Nick Hakim’s songs and have to listen to ‘Cold’ from his first EP).

About a month ago I was meant to be writing so found instead, a lengthy way to procrastinate, and I tried to list every live music gig I’d ever seen. I don’t think I’ve managed them all, but it brought back a lot of memories of some performances I feel very lucky to have seen. I’ve popped the list below this blog so you only have to read it if you want to. But if you do, and you were at any of those shows, please share any memories you might have of them in the comments. There’s few things that can bring back as vivid memories as a song. They say that stand-up comedians often wish they were rock stars. I’m not sure that’s true but I do find that I often wish I could work out how to comedy in a way that affects people as much as a favourite song might. I’m not sure that’s ever possible. Until then I guess I’ll just have to be very pleased with the wealth of music there is out there and how fortunate I am to be a ‘music person’. (I’m now listening to D’Angelo’s new album on repeat. I think it might help the brie go down).

If you fancy some alternative Xmas music, here’s a small list I made: https://storify.com/TiernanDouieb/t-s-christmas-playlist

 

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In reverse order:

All The Gigs I’ve Ever Seen (Except For Some I’ve Forgotten)

2014

The Last Skeptik + Dream McClean, Jehst & Femme – Birthdays, Nov 27th

Damon Albarn + De La Soul, Brian Eno, Kano & Graham Coxon. Support Songhoy Blues – Royal Albert Hall, Nov 15th

Kate Tempest + Rag N Bone Man – Village Underground, Nov 11th

Gregory Porter + Laura Mvula – Roundhouse, Sept 17^th

Eric Whitacre + Hans Zimmer – Roundhouse, Sept 17^th

The Last Skeptik – Jazz Café, Sept 12^th

Nick Hakim – The Social, Sept 9th

Robert Plant / Luke Sital Singh – Roundhouse, Sept 8th

Jonnie Common – Henry’s Cellar Bar, Aug 16^th

Jungle – Franks, Peckham, 14^th July

Bryan Adams – Westport 29^th June

Sinead O Conner – Westport 29^th June

Divine Comedy – Westport, 28^th June

Goldie & The Royal Heritage Orchestra – RFH, 21^st June

Elbow – O2, 16^th April

Jimi Goodwin – O2, 16^th April

Shlomo – RFH, 30^th March

Femme/ Corin – Shoreditch House, 12^th March

 

2013

 

Tunng – Heaven, 8^th October

Atoms For Peace – Roundhouse, 25^th July

Van Morrison – Cornbury Festival, 7^th July

Sam Carter – Purcell Room, 22^nd March

Cocos Lovers – Purcell Room, 22^nd March

Sigur Ros – Brixton Academy, 7^th March

Of Monsters And Men – Shepherds Bush Empire, 6^th March

 

2012

 

Michael Kiwanuka – RFH, 5^th December

Tom Odell – RFH, 5^th December

Hudson Taylor – RFH, 5^th December

Radiohead – The O2, 8^th October

Cheek Mountain Thief – Purcell Room, 11 Sept

Stevie Wonder – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

Sigur Ros – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

The 2 Bears – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

Gary Numan – Bestival 7^th – 9^th September

Michael Kiwanuk – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

Little Dragon – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

Prince Fatty – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

Mary Epworth – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th September

Tony Allen & The Niaja Centric Orchestra ( feat Damon Albarn + Neneh Cherry) – Royal Opera House, 31^st Aug

Blur – Hyde Park, 12^th Aug

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Wilderness, 11^th August

Rizzle Kicks – Camp Bestival, 17^th – 19^th July

Adam Ant – Camp Bestival, 17^th – 19^th July

Earth, Wind and Fire – Camp Bestival, 17^th – 19^th July

Kool and the Gang – Camp Bestival, 17^th – 19^th July

Kid Koala – Trafalgar Square, 1^st July

 

 

2011

 

DJ Shadow – The Forum, 9^th Dec

Sam Duckworth – Borderline, 17^th Oct

Pendulum – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Mogwai – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Graham Coxon – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Beardyman – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

The Cure – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Bjork – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

James Blake – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Kelis – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

Daughter – Bestival, 8^th – 11^th Sept

The National – Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 23^rd Aug

Goodnight Lenin – Lounge On The Farm, 9^th July

Elbow – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Pendulum – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Wu Tang Clan – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Jessie J – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Big Boi – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

DJ Shadow – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Warpaint – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Radiohead – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Caribou – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – Glastonbury, 24^th – 26^th June

Bonobo – Koko, 26^th April

Kid Koala – Koko, 12^th March

DJ Vadim’s The Electric – Koko, 12^th March

Polar Bear – Koko, 12^th March

 

 

2010

 

Gorillaz – The O2, 14^th Nov

Public Enemy – The O2, 14^th Nov

Marina & The Diamonds – The Forum, 9^th Nov

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – Electric Ballroom, 13^th Oct

Dizzee Rascal – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Hot Chip – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

The Flaming Lips – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

The Prodigy – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Gil Scott Heron – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Mumford and Sons – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Chase and Status – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Marc Almond – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

The XX – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Jonsi – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Fat Freddy’s Drop – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Beardyman – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Janelle Monae – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Vanilla Ice – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Glen Matlock – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

The Correspondants – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Roxy Music – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Tricky – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Phil Selway – Bestival 10^th – 12^th Sept

Madness – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

The Human League – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Lee Scratch Perry – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Nextmen – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Mr Scruff – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

The Fall – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Funkadelic – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Gold Panda – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Billy Bragg – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

The Apples – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Pete and The Pirates – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Cuban Brothers – Camp Bestival 31^st July – 2^nd Aug

Martha And The Vandellas – Lounge On The Farm, 10^th July

LCD Soundsystem – Wireless Festival, 2^nd – 4^th July

DJ Shadow – Wireless Festival, 2^nd – 4^th July

Missy Elliot – Wireless Festival, 2^nd – 4^th July

Jamie Lidell – Wireless Festival, 2^nd – 4^th July

Snoop Dogg – Wireless Festival, 2^nd – 4^th July

Blondie – Rockness, 12^th June

Leftfield – Rockness, 12^th June

Alabama 3 – Rockness, 12^th June

Maccabees – Rockness, 12^th June

Ian Brown – Rockness, 12^th June

Soulwax – Rockness, 12^th June

Annie Mac – Rockness, 12^th June

Rage Against The Machine – Finsbury Park, 6^th June

Roots Manuva – Finsbury Park, 6^th June

Gallows – Finsbury Park, 6^th June

Gogol Bordello – Finsbury Park, 6^th June

 

 

 

2009

 

Lily Allen – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Beardyman – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Bat For Lashes – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

DJ Yoda – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Florance And The Machine – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Fleet Foxes – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Seasick Steve – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

The Beat – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

La Roux – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Annie Nightingale – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Massive Attack – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Soulwax – Bestival, 11^th -13^th Sept

Blur – Hyde Park, 3^rd July

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Shepherds Bush Empire, 25^th April

 

2008

Africa Express – Koko, 22^nd Oct

Roni Size Reprazent – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Sebastian Tellier – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Laurent Garnier – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Coldcut – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

DJ Yoda – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Amy Winehouse – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Hot Chip – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Annie Mac – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis – Bestival, 6^th – 8^th Sept

REM – Twickenham Stadium, 30^th Aug

Editors – Twickenham Stadium, 30^th Aug

Guillemots – Twickenham Stadium, 30^th Aug

Erykah Badu – Brixton Academy, 24^th July

Joanna Newsom – Somerset House, 20^th July

Chuck Berry – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

DJ Krust – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

Florence and The Machine – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

The Flaming Lips – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

Billy Bragg – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

King Creosote – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

Kate Nash – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

Emiliana Torrini – Camp Bestival, 18^th – 20^th July

Radiohead – Victoria Park, 25^th June

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Jazz Café, 18^th April

 

2007

 

GZA – Koko, 9^th Dec

Joanna Newsom – Royal Albert Hall, 28 Sept

Roy Harper/ The Moore Brothers – Royal Albert Hall, 28 Sept

The Chemical Brothers – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Mr Scruff – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Giles Peterson – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

The Beastie Boys – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Soul II Soul Soundsystem – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Billy Bragg – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Candie Payne – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Colcut – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Luke Vibert – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

The Orb – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

The Gossip – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

Dub Pistols – Bestival, 7^th – 9^th Sept

The Shins – Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 23^rd Aug

Kanye West – Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 20^th Aug

The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Tower Of London, 9^th July

Daft Punk – Wireless Festival ,16^th June

LCD Soundsystem – Wireless Festival ,16^th June

CSS – Wireless Festival ,16^th June

Faithless – Wireless Festival ,15^th June

Mark Ronson – Wireless Festival ,15^th June

Kelis – Wireless Festival ,15^th June

The Cat Empire – Wireless Festival ,15^th June

Cinematic Orchestra – Barbican, 6^th May 2007

Homelife – Barbican, 6^th May 2007

 

2006

 

Madlib & Peanut Butter Wolf – Koko, 5^th Oct

Radiohead – Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh 22^nd Aug

Beck – Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh 22^nd Aug

Breakestra – Jazz Café, 9^th March

 

 

 

2005

 

John Legend – Brixton Academy, 2^nd Sept

Ed Harcourt & Gita Langley – The Social, ?

 

 

2004

 

Turin Brakes – Somerset House, 5^th August

Gang Starr – The Astoria, 18^th June

Ugly Duckling – Jazz Café, 15^th March

Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Jazz Café, 24^th Feb

Damien Rice – Brixton Academy, 21^st Feb

 

 

 

2003

 

Kid Koala – Lock 17, 17 Nov

Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man – Somerset House, 12^th July

Sparklehorse – Somerset House, 12^th July

The Chemical Brothers – Homeland, 24^th May

Plump DJs – Homeland, 24^th May

Krust & Die Present ‘I Kamanchi’ – Homeland, 24^th May

DJ Marky – Homeland, 24^th May

DJ Hype – Homeland, 24^th May

MC Tali – Homeland, 24^th May

Grandmaster Flash – Homeland, 24^th May

DJ Food – Homeland, 24^th May

2manyDJs – Homeland, 24^th May

De La Soul – Homeland, 24^th May

Junior Senior – Homeland, 24^th May

Audio Bullys – Homeland, 24^th May

Slam – Homeland, 24^th May

Radiohead – Belfast Waterfront, 19^th May

FourTet – Belfast Waterfront, 19^th May

 

 

2002

 

DJ Shadow – ICA, 30^th Aug

Jewel – Royal Albert Hall, 28^th May

DJ Shadow – London Astoria, 20^th May

Massive Attack – Brixton Academy, 18^th April

Doug E Fresh – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

DJ Noize – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

The Herbaliser – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Souls Of Mischief – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

DJ Craze – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

4Hero – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

People Under The Stairs – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Poets Of Rhythm – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Edan – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

The Heavies feat Killa Kela, Plus One, Rodney P, Jungle Drummer – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Aim – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

TY + DJ Biznizz – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Quantic – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Phi Life Cypher – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Def Tex – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

The New Mastersounds – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

DJ Yoda – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Andrew Weatherall – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Radioactive Man – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Luke Vibert – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

Richard D James aka Aphex Twin – Dedbeat Weekender, 22^nd – 24^th Feb

 

 

2001

 

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist: Product Placement – 28 Oct 2001

Mark B and Blade – The Mean Fiddler, 24^th Jan

Phi Life Cypher – The Mean Fiddler, 24^th Jan

Mixologists – The Mean Fiddler, 24^th Jan

 

 

2000

Roni Size Reprezent – Shepherds Bush Empire, 16^th Oct

MJ Cole – Shepherds Bush Empire, 16^th Oct

No Doubt – London Hanover Grand, 28^th Feb