Jun 09

Jay-Z + Drake + Mr Hudson @ The LG Arena, Birmingham, UK – 9th June 2010

JAY-Z Is Jay-Z the best rapper ever? This was the topic of conversation between my friends and I on the way to the LG Arena Wednesday night. You see people always mention names like Eminem, Tupac and Biggie but people seem to sleep on the man born Shawn Corey Carter. Jay-Z is critically acclaimed within the whole of the rap industry, with 10 Grammy awards (and many more nominations) to his name whilst selling around 40 million albums worldwide. His latest album and 11th studio release “Blueprint 3” went straight to number one on the Billboard 200 last year (like each album before it), which was a record for a solo act in the history of the album charts, surpassing the late, great Elvis Presley who had 10. With the album sales, awards and even historical records piling up, surely Jay deserves to be mentioned as one of the greatest solo artists of our generation, never mind just the rap game?


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 07

Rihanna + Pixie Lott @ The LG Arena, Birmingham, UK – 7th May 2010

Rihanna Nothing to do with the performance - that was stunning - but more to the point, the fact that Rihanna didn't come on to the stage till nearly 10pm - almost an hour and a half after Pixie Lott had finished her performance. Now, it didn't really bother me, I had my iPhone to potter about with and there was a LOT of eye candy about, but - and it's a big BUT - the majority of the crowd were young girls, many of whom would be reliant on lifts off beleaguered parents/public transport to get home. I think even superstar Divas have a responsibility to their fans. It could have been a technical fault or she could have been applying another layer of make-up, who knows, but not a word of explanation or apology was uttered from either Rihanna or her management amongst the multitude of boos from the increasingly frustrated crowd as to why it was sooooo late to kick off. Bad form! Rant over!


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Apr 19

Boy George @ The Town Hall, Birmingham, UK – 19 April 2010

Boy George It’s hard to appreciate just what a big deal Boy George was back in the early 80’s. First of all the ‘is he a she debate?’ was, I recall, something of a national obsession, helping to catapult Culture Club into the big time all over the world. Then the drugs took hold and George was all over the papers again, this time literally fighting for life (at one point he was even outed by his own brother who claimed George had just days to live...looking at footage of the time he had a point). In recent years it’s been all about his battles with the law, culminating with what he tonight called his ‘holiday’ at her majesty’s pleasure last year. The fact that he’s arguably better known for all this other stuff right now than he is for his music is a real shame. Strip away the fuck ups (and boy, George has made his fair share) and there’s a lusciously rich vein of classic pop and dance anthems to get stuck into. Tonight, happily, George decided to do just that, covering all bases from early Culture Club through to his early solo stuff on to Jesus Loves You and right up to date with current single ‘Amazing Grace’.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 27

The Heavy + At The Zoo + Smiley Mic @ The Rainbow, Birmingham, UK – 27 November 2009

The Heavy After fighting off a dubious complaint about noise and fitting a new super roof that’s capable of muffling the sound of a nuclear explosion (probably) The Rainbow, arguably Digbeth’s jewel in the crown, continues to put on some darn fine gigs.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 13

Mr Hudson @ The Royal, Derby UK – 13 November 2009

Mr Hudson Despite his throat being “technically f****ed” as he put it, Mr Hudson’s performance in Derby on Friday the 13th was a confident and relaxed one. It was a thing of wonder witnessing one guy flirt with so many women in one go. I say women… The average age of the girls packed along the barrier couldn’t have been more than 17.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Aug 22

V Festival @ Weston Park Stafford UK – Saturday 22 August 2009

V Festival For me festivals fit into a number of brackets. You’ve got the raucous end of the spectrum with T in the Park – full of inebriated Scots having a ball and puking everywhere, through to the mystical Glastonbury – Hippies, circus acts and all that jazz. Weston Park's V, sits somewhere in the middle. If you had to pick one word to describe V it would be ‘nice’. The situ is great – smack bang in the middle of country, there’s a balanced mix of ‘beered-up’ revellers and families which makes for a great vibe and if the weathers good – as it was this weekend, and there’s a decent line-up (hey – it’s organised by Mr Branson – it’s gonna be a good line up!!) then you really are geared up for a ‘bostin’ weekend.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Apr 04

James Morrison + Vagabond + Karima Francis @ Birmingham Academy UK – 04/04/2009

James Morrison James’ opening gambit was ‘The Only Night’ the opening track of James’ 2nd album ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’, a lively track which announced Morrison’s intent to the greatly receptive packed house. It was going to be a lively night. He then sauntered through his back catalogue of modern day classics such as ‘You Give Me Something’ and soon to be hits like ‘Nothing Ever Hurt Like You’. Halfway through the set he was joined on stage by local girl Deborah Brown for a rendition of ‘Broken Strings’, much to the delight of the Birmingham contingent. The Brummy lass did a more than adequate job of emulating Miss Furtado as the other part of the duet.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Mar 31

Lionel Richie @ The LG Arena, Birmingham UK – 31/03/2009

Lionel Richie I signed up to review Lionel Richie because a friend of mine had seen him live and told me he actually danced on the ceiling, which was a feat I had to see for myself. Arriving at the LG Arena, I feel slightly out of place but with fabulous tickets; beer in hand, I sense this could be a fun night. Luckily, there is no support for tonight's show as I probably would have missed it, because it has taken forever to get from the car park to the arena let alone purchase a drink.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Mar 14

John Legend + Laura Izibor @ Birmingham Academy – 14th March 2009

John Legend I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to go from playing to the Hollywood elite at the Oscars to a bunch of rowdy Brummies at the 02 Academy in Birmingham? My guess is that the latter is more enjoyable. There’s no question that John Legend is a music heavy-weight. He’s a platinum selling artist, weighed down with celebrity friends and a six time Grammy award winner. It’s no wonder the gig was a sell out, he could probably have packed out the NEC, but the choice of venue was a definite bonus for his fans who got to see the soul star in a more intimate location.


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Feb 23

Joss Stone @ The Rainbow, Birmingham – 23rd February 2009

Joss Stone 444 Club are known for putting on the best of Birmingham's bands at The Rainbow, a smallish, nicely scuffed pub/music venue in Digbeth. So when the message started circulating that Joss Stone would be playing there the most common reaction was an entirely understandable 'What? THE Joss Stone?'


Want to see and read more? Click here
TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,