Best of 2006 (3)

Happy Xmas/winter solstice/holidays to all readers. I’ll be back next Wednesday, 27 December - Gerry Smith


Thanks (again) to Mike Ollier for the second part of his list of the best of 2006:

1. Gigs of the year…

I did manage to get to a good load of gigs this year (compensating for the lack of albums bought), starting the first week with..

· Chuck Prophet ~ All Saints Church, Newcastle. Just Chuck, a Gibson Harmony, an Echoplex and a crowd in a never-to-be-repeated gig.

· Jackie Leven ~ The Cluny, Newcastle. Great songs, great voice, great stories, great guy.

· Tandy ~ Lakeside Lounge, NYC. My favourite band, on their home turf, a great venue in the East Village with a great selection of beers. Oh, and a photobooth!!

· The Pirates ~ Borderline, London. OK, they may be pushing 70 but they rocked big time ~ Britain's own rock n roll heroes from the 60s would put many a band half their age to shame.

Honourable mentions should go to Alejandra Escovedo, Peter Donegan (Lonnie's son) and The Caffrey Brothers and Richard Thompson.


2. BEST gig of the year (though not music): Jerry Sadowitz @ the Soho Theatre in London. Never has the tag line "Not For The Easily Offended" meant it so much!! Glaswegian potty-mouthed comedian/magician in fine form - until the 7th of January. This is magic/comedy most definitely for grown-ups. I justify its inclusion here because the tape being played whilst the venue was filling up included Warren Zevon and Tom Waits, amongst others.



Mike Ollier