The Last Of The Famous Vegetarian Cowboys

I bought my ticket for the Morrissey concert in Athens back in September last year. So in order to prepare myself, during my trip to England for the Bryan Adams concert I had taken with me Morrissey's Autobiography as a reading companion.

Learning more about the man (more than I already knew from reading Record Mirror and Smash Hits during the 80's) before seeing him live would prove useful to me just before the concert started.
It wasn't so simple however. The concert was scheduled for the 5th of December (a Friday). Lots of people from all over Greece, even fans from abroad had bought tickets. However, as I was approaching the venue it was announced that the concert was postponed. The official explanation was that Morrissey had missed his flight to Athens. Not a lot of people believed that, especially with rumours circulating about his health. A few days passed without any further news and finally it was announced that the concert was rescheduled for December the 15th (a Monday). The original tickets would be valid and no refunds would be issued to those who could not attend. As you can understand, this made a lot of fans angry, especially those coming from other parts of Greece. The rescheduled date was not on a weekend so those few who still have jobs in today's Greece would not be able to make the trip. But even those who had the time, they could not afford to make the trip again. Some people claimed that these particular organizers have never issued a refund when something went wrong with a concert. I cannot verify that, but in my case I remember there was no refund issued when at the 2007 Ejekt Festival the headliners, Underworld, did not appear after they were attacked by rioters who set the venue on fire. However since I had attended that festival in order to see the two bands that appeared before them (Madness and The Beastie Boys) I did not really mind...
So it was that 10 days later I made my way to the venue once again to finally see Morrissey. There was no support band, but before he appeared several videos from his favourite artists were displayed (among them The Ramones and Penetration).

And that's where reading his Autobiography came handy, since it was in there that he described them and how they shaped his childhood and his musical tastes. It was interesting to note that one of these videos was a performance of "Don't Dictate" by Penetration which was one of the first new wave songs that I listened to back in 1979 in a compilation given by Greek music magazine "POP + ROCK".

And then Morrissey came on stage with a rousing version of "The Queen Is Dead" followed by his own debut single Suedehead.

Now, his latest album was a very good one in my humble opinion, one of the best of 2014. So i did not mind that he played several songs from it including the title track "World Peace Is None Of Your Business" which he renamed "World, Greece Is None Of Your Business". Thank you Steven!

Other highlights included my favourite "Every Day Is Like Sunday" and "Asleep" which I had a hunch it was one of the Smiths songs he would play on the night.

But what was embedded in most people's mind was the last song "Meat Is Murder" which was accompanied by an explicit video showing exactly how the animals that we eat are treated and killed. By looking at faces in the crowd while this video was playing I can bet there were several people who turned vegetarian on that night. You can say what you want about Morrissey, but you have to recognize that his beliefs are strong and he knows how to promote them.

But, this was not really the last song. He was back with an encore of "How Soon Is Now?" that brought the house down.

Upon leaving the venue it was ironic to notice all these canteens selling meat-based fast food. There is a rumour that in the past he has cancelled gigs because he could smell them inside the venue. Of course, nothing like this happened in Athens.

Ignoring the food smells, we started the long walk to Athens city centre since there was of course no public transport at that place. There was however a lot of beer...

SETLIST:

01. The Queen Is Dead (The Smiths song)
02. Suedehead
03. Speedway
04. Kiss Me a Lot
05. Staircase at the University
06. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
07. World Peace Is None of Your Business
08. Neal Cassady Drops Dead
09. One of Our Own
10. The Bullfighter Dies
11. Scandinavia
12. Yes, I Am Blind
13. Everyday Is Like Sunday
14. Smiler with Knife
15. Asleep (The Smiths song)
16. I'm Not a Man
17. Certain People I Know
18. Trouble Loves Me
19. Meat Is Murder (The Smiths song)

Encore:
20. How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths song)

Getting to see the Canadian Bruce live!

That's what we used to call Bryan Adams 30 years ago. His 1984 album "Reckless" was a big hit throughout 1985, as was "Born In The USA". So, after having seen Bruce Springsteen live 11 times so far, I wanted to see Bryan Adams as well. Last year Bryan decided to tour the album for its 30th anniversary playing it in full at each gig. So I accepted the invitation of a fellow Greek blogger who currently lives in Statford-Upon-Avon in the UK, a distance of  2835km away from his hometown to see him together.

So, after arriving overnight at Gatwick airport last November, I spent the day around London (picking up a copy of the 30th anniversary edition of "Reckless" at FOPP - all the other major record stores in London have now closed), I took the evening train to Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The next morning was spent sightseeing around Shakespeare's hometown. In a future post I hope to report on everything I've seen and been up to, both in London and Stratford, but here I am going to focus on the concert.

We drove from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Birmingham International Airport which is supposed to be a one-hour journey. I could of course complain a little about the traffic, but then again it could be worse. And after a small confusion about finding our way into the correct parking building, we were on our way, on foot to the Birmingham NEC (or LG Arena as it's now known - I should know, because the last time I was there it was back in 1991).

After the customary t-shirt and beer purchases the concert started. We were just in time! And it started with the title track from "Reckless" which funnily enough was NOT included on the album! Bryan explained this was due to the limited space on vinyl records (CD's did exist in 1984 but only in limited quantities and the players were enormously expensive). So, several tracks had to be left out and "Reckless" was one of them. All these tracks though are now featured in the anniversary edition. Following the title track the whole of the original album was played. At first he seemed to be following the original running order with "One Night Love Affair" and "She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'" but then he shuffled songs around a bit, most notably leaving "Summer Of '69" for the end of this section, even after "Ain't Gonna Cry" (the last song on the album "the song on the album that nobody liked"). 

Contrary to what many people believe he has recorded several other albums before and after "Reckless" and we were treated to a selection of songs from these leading up to his latest covers album "The Tracks Of My Years". In my own humble opinion the ones after "Waking Up The Neighbours" are not his strongest ones, still they brought back memories, as we listened to them once again on the night,  including of course the "mega-hit" "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" - 16 weeks at number 1 back in 1991. He played for more than 2 hours (we Springsteen fans tend to track the duration of every other concert we attend), including a generous encore culminating with "All For Love". Oh and he even asked a girl from the crowd to dance with him! From a distance, since she was somewhere in the back rows.

Satisfied, we made our way back to Stratford-Upon-Avon where there was more sightseeing for me the next day followed by the train journey back to London and the flight back to Athens.

I'd like to thank my bloodbrother Petros without who this journey would not have been possible. If you're a Greek speaker you can read his own review on his blog.                  

2835km Review:
Bryan Adams at LG Arena, Birmingham review

Setlist:

01. Reckless

02. One Night Love Affair

03. She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'

04. Run To You

05. Heaven

06. Kids Wanna Rock

07. It's Only Love

08. Long Gone

09. Somebody

10. Ain't Gonna Cry

11. Summer Of '69

12. Let Me Down Easy (acoustic)

13. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You

14. If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good

15. Cuts Like a Knife

16. Can't Stop This Thing We Started

17. Please Forgive Me

18. When You're Gone

19. 18 Til I Die

20. Cloud #9

21. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You

Encore:

22. You've Been a Friend to Me

23. C'mon Everybody (Eddie Cochran cover)

24. She Knows Me (acoustic)

25. Straight from the Heart (acoustic)

26. All for Love (acoustic)

The next big thing - A hope for the future (islands)

It was my girlfriend who urged me to go and see Future Islands live (when the day came though she couldn't join me). And by doing a little research on the internet I realized it was a case of "the next big thing", a "hope for the future" playing in Greece live. They have actually played here in the past, but after their appearance on Letterman and their "Seasons" hit they are probably a case of "the current big thing happening now". And, as I have mentioned before the conspiracy theory of bands not playing in Greece when they're in their prime, but only when they're old or down on their luck and not successful anymore, this gig was probably a rare occasion. I mean, if the conspiracy theorists are right, we'll probably never see them live again (until a probable "reunion" tour in the future).

Support duties were performed by Mechanimal, a Greek band of which I think I cauight a glimpse at a festival last year. This time, with a chance to witness, if not a full, at least a support set, I was pleasantly surprised.

The biggest surpise of the night were of course Future Islands themselves. There are 3 things one immediately notices about them:

1. They are liked and respected by both electronica fans AND ther "real music brigade". They use both electronic and "real" instruments in such doses so that they keep both camps happy,

2. The lead singer's theatrics on stage, particurarly his dance routines and his pumping his chest with his fist.

3. The way he suddenly changes his voice to a "thrash metal" style one (I don't know how else to describe it).

Now, while I admire them for all of the above 3 reasons (because it is exciting to see something different) it is number 2 mostly that apart from fans has given them several enemies. I am not going to mention what has been said about them in general, I am just going to focus on the Greek music scene. On one review I read on the internet just after the gig, the reviewer was asking members of Greek bands what they thought of Future Islands and more specifically of their singer. Most comments were negative making him to be a sort of a charlatan. The Greek word "karagiozis" was mostly used ("karagioz" is the Turkish word), so I guess that our Greek and Turkish readers will get a better idea of what I'm talking about. So, you're in a band, which probably no one has heard of outside your own country and you think Future Islands are "charlatans". How very mature! And, as if that wasn't enough, one of these people accused him of "looking like a waiter"! Nice attitude pal, I would never wish to eat in the same restaurant as you, I would not like to see how you treat the waiters serving you. I mean, what does a waiter look like? Can somebody explain that to me? Just remember kids that the waiter is someone who can spit or piss in your food if he is mistreated (Read "Fight Club" if you don't believe me). Just saying...

Enough of that though, the important thing is that the people who actually paid a ticket to be there were the ones who enjoyed the gig and knew what to expect. And "Seasons (Waiting For You)" was what several of them were expecting. 

And Future Islands did not disappoint. I wish them better things and greater success for the future. After all haters are going to hate no matter what...

SETLISTS:
Mechanimal
01. Song to the sirens
02. Freezer
03. Obscure
04. Secret Science
05. Kindergarten
06. The Den
07. Ghost

Future Islands:
01. Give Us the Wind
02. Back in the Tall Grass
03. A Dream of You and Me
04. Walking Through That Door
05. Balance
06. Before the Bridge
07. Doves
08. Heart Grows Old
09. A Song for Our Grandfathers
10. Light House
11. Seasons (Waiting on You)
12. Tin Man
13. Long Flight
14. Spirit
Encore:
15. Fall from Grace
16. Inch of Dust
17. Vireo's Eye

Greek Progressive Rock

 Now, I do not normally post gig reviews of Greek-singing artists on this blog anymore but this is something a bit different. PLJ Band were formed in the late 70's and they played progressive rock at a time when it had already gone out of fashion. Their first LP "Armageddon" was released in 1982 featuring music inspired by John's Revelation, sung in English, although there were some passages that were recited in the original ancient Greek text. It was promoted by the record company alongside the first LP by new wave band T.V.C. (now, I wonder what happened to them?). Needless to say the record was not a success. It sold about 400 copies and I'm proud to say I bought one of them back then. What the band did after that, was they changed their name to "Τερμιτες" (Greek for "Termites"), they started singing in Greek and success in Greece followed soon afterwards. Meanwhile the "Armageddon" LP gathered some attention abroad, especially after the internet came along, mostly by collectors who viewed the concept of a band from Greece playing progressive rock somewhat exotic.
So, last autumn, the band decided to reform and play "Armageddon" in its entirety. Having bought the album when it originally came out, this was something that I wanted to see. Unfortunately (and probably predictably) not very many people were interested in that, so the concert was rescheduled and apart from "Armageddon" the setlist was expanded to feature the well known songs and hits from the band's Greek-singing "Termites" phase.

I went to listen to "Armageddon", most of the others went to listen to "Termites", I guess in the end everybody was happy.
And here, you can get a glimpse of what "Greek Progressive Rock" sounds like along with a sample from their Greek phase...

Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance

Why wouldn't they? However, this is in fact the title of the latest album by Belle And Sebastian. It is truly a 2015 album, since it was released in January. And it was actually released in 2 different editions. The standard edition, available on CD and double vinyl LP contains 12 songs. The deluxe edition however, available on a quadruple vinyl LP box set contains 16 songs. It contains the 12 songs of the standard edition, however one in an "extended version" and another one in an "extended mix" (more about these definitions later), plus 4 songs that are exclusive to this edition. On top of that, the running order of the songs in the deluxe edition is completely different to that on the standard one. Confused? You will be!
It was this, the deluxe edition that I listened to first, before listening to the standard. Not from the vinyl though. When you buy the box set (and its price is quite reasonable for a quadruple vinyl), you also get a "download code" inside the box which you can use to download these 16 tracks. I fit these songs into two CD-R's (I'm an old-fashioned "physical product" junkie myself) and listened to it from there.
Now, usually, on a Belle And Sebastian album, the opening track is usually the most important track, or maybe the best one (but that is of course, a matter of taste). Now, I know I have listened to the deluxe version first, but I still can't imagine a better opening than "The Party Line", which is exactly what it says on the tin: A great, almost disco, dance song. There are other up-tempo songs you can dance to, possibly better songs, like "Enter Sylvia Plath" and "The Book Of You" which in my opinion is the best song on the album (there's hardly a bad song on this album as we will see later), but I think "The Party Line" is the perfect opener.
On the other hand, listening to the standard version, one realizes that "Nobody's Empire" is an equally strong track to open the album, even if it is less danceable. And it features the second best lyric of the album in "If I had a camera I'd snap you now, cos there's beauty in every stumble". If dancing is what you're after though, then look no further than "Enter Sylvia Plath". It's not so much disco,  it's more the synth-pop track of the album. Maybe a little bit Hi-NRG at some points (for those who remember the definition from the 80's). There's more synth-pop on "Play For Today" another of my favourite songs. Then there's "The Everlasting Muse" with its jazzy bassline, which suddenly turns into a waltz right in the middle. In short, this album is a celebration of pop music, the kind of pop music with the kind of lyrics that are typically Belle & Sebastian ever since they were formed. A perfect example of this is "Ever Had A Little Faith?". This song is one of two that get a special treatment on the deluxe edition. "Ever Had A Little Faith?" is featured in an "extended version" and "Perfect Couples" in an "extended mix". Belle & Sebastian have used in each of these cases, the correct definition those of us who were buying 12inch singles in the 80's are familiar with. "Ever Had A Little Faith?" has an extended ending and "Perfect Couples" is longer as a result of several additions in the mix in various parts of the song (but not a "remix"). The song that would benefit from an extended or "dance" mix in my opinion is of course "The Party Line".
So, while we're talking about the differences between the two editions what about the four bonus songs that feature only in the deluxe one?. One surely tends to think that they were probably not that good so Stuart decided to keep them off the standard and chuck them in the deluxe for die-hard fans and completists only, right? Well, wrong! In my opinion leaving "Two Birds" off the standard edition is a crime! This is just a great song! Especially considering that "Today (This Army's For Peace)" the album's only weak track is in both editions. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just sort of... boring. Although one must admit placing it as the album's closing track is a good choice. A slow song, and if one switches off the album out of boredom let's say, they won't miss anything since it's the last song. (The closing track in the deluxe edition, by the way, is "The Cat With The Cream"). The other 3 bonus tracks are also good, especially "Piggy In The Middle with an amazing bassline.
Finally, I know we're only two months into 2015, but I can honestly say, "Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance" is the best album I've listened to this year so far. Non-stop pure pop as MTV used to say.

A subtle gift to modern rock
She says "be popular, play pop"
And you will win my love

If it was up to me though, I would take "Today" off and I would replace it with "Two Birds". But then, I'd probably move "The Book Of You" as the last track so that the album would end with its most beautiful (and most romantic) lyric:

We're always walking in the rain
And you're just trouble so I claim
But then the world can see
That I'm the one for you
And you're the one for me

 

All we hear is Lady GaGa

As I have said before on this blog (I think) pop concerts in Greece usually do not work. They don't sell many tickets. (Unless it's a super huge name like Madonna). Heavy metal concerts and old school type rock in general are the ones who draw crowds. So, we were probably not expecting to see Lady GaGa in Greece. So, how come she finally came? Well, it probably has to do with the fact that the promoter who brought her, although not a new name in the business, it was his first time organizing a gig featuring an international artist. So, you could probably say that he had no "sense of danger", no sense of the risk he was taking bringing Lady GaGa to Greece. We could say that his risk in the end paid off, but he made just one mistake: His choice of venue, Athens Olympic Stadium was too big for Lady GaGa. Had he chosen the nearby Olympic Arena, everybody would be talking today of a huge success, because it would have been sold out. Plus, most of the other European dates on Lady GaGa's ArtPop Ball tour were held in arenas, not stadia. That should have been a hint. Anyway, choice of venue aside we should be feeling nothing but thankful to a promoter who dared to bring to us an artist we would normally not see in Greece and all we can ask him for the future is to "please, bring us Bruce Springsteen" (because nobody else will).
In the days leading to the concert we were expecting to face a media circus like the one back in 2008 before the Madonna concert. Because Lady GaGa is "in fashion" we were expecting all the "lifestyle types" and TV "personas to show up and keep talking about this event. And the day before, her arrival at the airport, her naked photos she was posting from her hotel room and her fans waiting to catch a glimpse outside her hotel gave more fuel for the lifestyle and gossip shows on Greek TV. And of course we should not forget the religious lady outside the hotel who kept shouting "Lady GaGa you are satan!". But apart from the media circus, there was also the outcry coming from all "serious music" fans targeted towards those who dared to admit that yes, they were going to see Lady GaGa.

With all these in mind, we approached the Olympic Stadium on a Friday September evening. The first thing we noticed were the usual promotional events one comes to expect on a concert of this type. Like for example the installation, by a Greek mobile phone company, where one would walk through while dancing to Lady GaGa songs and would finally be given a pendant emitting a green glow, to wear during the concert.

The next thing we noticed were the faces. Mostly young (but not always) and mostly different. Different to the faces one is used to seeing in concerts in Greece. Lots of jewellery, many accessories and hair in all kinds of colours. We can only guess that for many of these people this was their first concert.

The final thing we noticed, just before entering the pitch was a drone, for the first time in a concert in Greece. It seems it got scared when we took a picture of it and quickly flew away from us!

So we were in, and the first thing to do was to wait for the support act. There was a competition to choose it in the months before and although I, personally would have preferred to see Berlin Brides, Alex Kavvadias was chosen.

And it proved to be a good choice, well suited to the mood of the evening with the added bonus of a cover of the Tears For Fears hit "Shout". 

Next, it was time for Lady Starlight's DJ set. I know she's been apparently supporting Lady GaGa since they both started together, but on a warm Greek evening and with the anticipation of the main event on a high, a minimal techno set was probably a bit tiring.

But now it was time for the real party to begin. The lights went down and the ArtRave was about to begin. And it began with 5 songs from Artpop. OK, not her most successful album, but the crowd did not seem to care. And my personal opinion is that the title track is one of the strongest and a perfect choice for the opener. After these it was time for a medley from "The Fame Monster" and 4 songs from "Born This Way". However, each album was treated differently: We got full versions of the tracks from "Artpop" while the songs from "Fame Monster" were mostly delivered in a medley with 2 minutes of each played.

OK, I know that most people would prefer more of these songs, but you have to remember that this tour is to support "Artpop", so this is what you're mostly going to hear. So, what about "Born This Way" then? Well, this is where (in my opinion) there was a slight disappointment. OK, so we had "You And I", but then we got "Born This Way" on an acoustic version on the piano.

And then we only got a 30 second, acapella snippet of "The Edge Of Glory". Only half a minute? Surely it deserved better. I wouldn't have minded the acoustic "Born This Way" much, if I could have had a full blown version of "The Edge Of Glory", one of her best songs. At least after that we got "Judas" albeit in a medley with "Aura" from "Artpop". Then there was more "Artpop" but also more "Fame Monster" for the conclusion of the show, where "Applause", the first single from the latest album seemed to work as one of the last songs on the setlist even though it's not one of her strongest tracks. It all ended with "Swine", but she was back in a few minutes for an encore with "Gyspy"

 

 

 

 

So what did we get between all this. She talked to us about Greece, Greek civilization but also about the Greek restaurants in the US she used to work at. The highlight of the show of course had to be the moment where she read, onstage, a letter from one greek fan.

Oh, and she wrapped herself with the Greek flag! (Not forgetting the moment where she changed her outfit on stage!).

With the show over, and the crowd going home you could see that everybody was happy. One could argue, that, we got to see a big name live, but, once again, as is often the case with Greece,not at the peak of her career. This has got to do with the fact that "Artpop" was not as successful as her first two albums. But then again, we would never expect to see Lady GaGa in Greece, right? Right?
There were still fans outside her hotel the next day, as she left, but before going to the airport she stopped at a record shop to promote her new album with Tony Bennett "Cheek To Cheek", wearing only the bare essentials. Unfortunately, the shop was closed, but she hung a promotional poster of the album on the shop window...

SETLIST:

01. ARTPOP
02. G.U.Y.
03. Donatella
04. Venus
05. MANiCURE
06. Just Dance
07. Poker Face
08. Telephone
09. Paparazzi
10. Do What U Want
11. Yoü and I
12. Born This Way
13. The Edge of Glory
14. Judas
15. Aura
16. Sexxx Dreams
17. Alejandro
18. Bad Romance 

19. Applause
20. Swine
Encore:
21. Gypsy