RTG's

I went to see the Guillemots at Brixton Academy on Friday, and whilst I found the band to be rather dull I did have a rather amazing experience!

Those of you who have frequented gigs with me in the past will know that I seem to have a mysterious magnetism as far as tall people coming to stand in front of me are concerned....we think we have a safe spot, the band's about to come on, and suddenly....whoosh.... the requisite tall person slides in out of nowhere to take (usually) his place directly in front of me, thus blocking my view for the majority of the gig...

And indeed the same thing happened on Friday - we came in by the stage, found a suitably clear area, and 30 seconds before the band came on, suddenly, as if by magic the RTG (requisite tall guy) appeared...and in this case he was rather wide as well...

But then, to my right I spotted a group of merry midgets, to which I sidled over, stood behind and enjoyed an uninterrupted view of the show....so I would just like to say (and I apologise for any un-pc-ness here, but...) Hurrayfor midgets! I am seriously thiking about starting a 'More Midgets at Gigs Campaign'.... butmaybe that's a bridge too far...

Shows Seen in 2007

Live Stuff 2007
23rd June - Jarvis Cocker + The Valerie Project - Royal Festival Hall
20th June - Iggy Pop - Royal Festival Hall
14-17th June - Wireless Festival - Hyde Park
11th June - Royal Festival Hall Gala Opening - Royal Festival Hall
8-10th June - Download Festival - Donnington Park
22nd May - The National - Astoria
17th May - Last Man Standing - Barfly
17th May - Patti Smith - Roundhouse
15th May - Interpol - Koko
11th May - Roger Waters - Earl's Court
1st May - Frida Hyvonen - Purcell Room
30th April - Alberta Cross, Angus & Julia Stone - Soho Arts Theatre
26th April - James - Brixton Academy
23rd April - Maps - ICA
17th April - Rickie Lee Jones - Jazz Cafe
12th April - Joan as Policewoman - Scala
11th April - Patrick Wolf - Astoria
20th March - Misty's Big Adventure - Water Rats
17th March - Arcade Fire - Brixton Academy
16th March - Arcade Fire - Brixton Academy
13th March - Midsummer Night's Dream - Roundhouse
28th February - Tilly & the Wall + Kate Nash - Scala
26th February - Patrick Wolf - ICA
18th February - Micah P Hinson - Union Chapel
16th February - Guillemots - Brixton Academy
15th February - Kate Nash @ Koko
Last Man Standing @ 100 Club
Cold War Kids @ Barfly, Camden
12th February - Larrikin Love + Tiny Dancers - Koko
2nd February - Arcade Fire - Porchester Hall
6th January - The Mermaid - QEH
5th January - Zoe Rahman - QEH

Live Stuff 2006
20th December - David Ford - Bush Hall
11th December - The Books + Kim Hiorthoy - QEH
8th December - My Life Story + The Soho Dolls - London Astoria
5th December - Michael Franti & Spearhead - Shepherd's Bush Empire
24th November - Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Shepherd's Bush Empire
23rd November - Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Forum
18th November - Magic Numbers - Hammersmith Apollo
17th November - Estelle Kokot - Octave Bar
16th November - EST + Polar Bear - Barbican
15th November - Steve Lawson, Huw Warren, Cleveland Watkiss + more - Recycle Collective 1st Birthday - Darbucka
14th November - Flaming Lips - Hammermsith Apollo
12th November - Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds - Adelphi Theatre
26th October - Sparklehorse - QEH
13th October - Kenny Young & the Eggplants - Betsey Trotwood
12th October - Kenny Young & the Eggplants - Mother Bar
3rd October - Massive Attack - Roseland Ballroom, New York
29th September - Jamie Cullum - Roseland Ballroom, New York
27th September - Jamie Leonhart, Michael Leonhart, Kate McGarry - Rockwood Music Halls, New York
26th September - Erin McKeown - Joe's Pub, New York
12th September - Patti Smith & Kevin Shields (The Coral Sea) - Queen Elizabeth Hall
29th August - David Ford - The Borderline
23rd August - Steve Lawson, Seb Rochford, Andy Hamill, Julian Ferraretto, Mandy Drummond - Recycle Collective - Darbucka
23rd August - Fuerzabruta - The Roundhouse
22nd August - Rolling Stones - Twickenham Stadium
16th August - Fionn Regan - The Luminaire
15th August - Madonna - Wembley Arena
4th August - Puppini Sisters, Nouvelle vage & others, Fruitstock, Regents Park
26th July - Steve Lawson, Julie McKee, Cleveland Watkiss - Recycle Collective - Darbucka
23rd July - Hanne Hukkelburg, Alexander's Festival Hall - The Luminaire
15th/16th July - Summer Nights Festival - Bath Rec
6th July - !!!, Ben Harper, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield
5th July - !!!, Ben Harper, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Derby
3rd July - !!!, Ben Harper, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Majedski Stadium, Reading
2nd July - !!!, Ben Harper, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Ricoh Stadium, Coventry
1st July - Suzanne Vega, Lightning Seeds, Roger Waters & Nick Mason - Hyde Park Calling, Hyde Park
25th June - OK GO, The Fratellis, Thomas Dolby, The Dears, Mystery Jets, Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode - Wireless Festival, Hyde Park
24th June - The Automatic, Fratellis, Smoosh, Killa Kela, Chic, Freestylers, eels, Zero 7, James Blunt - Wireless Festival, Hyde Park
23rd June - Astrid Williamson, Shortwave Set, Terry Callier, DJ Shadow, Flaming Lips, Massive Attack - Wireless Festival, Hyde Park
22nd June - Sion, Mike Rosenburg, Violent Femmes, Ray Lomantagne, Fun Lovin Criminals, KT Tunstall, David Gray - Wireless Festival, Hyde Park
21st June - The Raconteurs, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals, The Strokes - Wireless Festival, Hyde Park
20th June - XFM World Cup Screening - England v Sweden - Islington Academy
18th June - Foo Fighters/Motorhead/Queens of the Stone Age - Hyde Park
9-11th June - Download Festival (Metallica, Soulfly, Prodigy, Guns n' Roses) - Donington Park
4th June - Rodrigo Y Gabriela - London Scala
31st May - The National - Camden Koko
31st May - Steve Lawson with Julie McKee - National Theatre Foyer
29th May - Rapid City + Jon Thorne's Oedipus Complex - QEH Foyer (Jazz on a Spring Day)
26th May - My Life Story - Mean Fiddler
25th May - Take That - Wembley Arena
19th May - Radiohead + Willy Mason - Hammersmith Apollo
16th May - Hard-Fi + Wrongtom (+ surprise appearance by Billy Bragg) - Brixton Academy
14th May - Naked Sunday Collective - Beauberry House, Dulwich
12th May - The New Couriers - QEH Foyer
9th May - Robert Hylton's Urban Classicism - Purcell Room
8th May - Sol Seppy/Keith/Sebastien Tellier - The Spitz
6th/7th May - The Sultan's Elephant, Royal de Luxe - central London
24th April - Jose Gonzalez - Hammersmith Apollo
22nd April - Lola Perrin - Purcell Room
19th April - Recycle Collective (Steve Lawson/Cleveland Watkiss/Leo Abrahams) - Darbucka
3rd April - Depeche Mode - Wembley Arena
1st April - The Mighty Boosh Live - Hammersmith Apollo
30th March - OKGO - London Scala
29th March - Sigur Ros - Hammersmith Apollo
16th March - Recycle Collective (Steve Lawson/BJ Cole/Thomas Leeb)- Darbucka
13th March - Zoe Rahman - QEH Foyer
4th March - Steve Lawson/Theo Travis, National Theatre Foyer
3rd March - Andrea Vicari Quartet, QEH Foyer
3rd February - ()scape - Aotea Centre, Auckland NZ