A gigging weekend

Sometimes you just have to tell people about what happens to you, so how about this:

Friday 4th December, I meet two members of 14 Carat Grapefruit (Tim - one of the best guitarists in the band and Otto, the only lead singer in the band) at the Assembly Rooms in Camden. A couple of beers later and we're standing in the Forum watching The Urban Voodoo Machine - support to the New York Dolls. What a band! Unfortunately we were late and only saw three numbers, however, the effect will last a very long time. Self billed as "Bourdon soaked Gypsy Blues Rock & Stroll" one may be fooled into thinking they are somewhat similar to Gorgol Bordello. I won't hear a word of that claptrap. Any band that has two drummers and one of which is painted lime green gets my vote. Don't believe me?

http://theurbanvoodoomachine.com/content/?page_id=636&nggpage=6

That experience was worth the £26 I haven't paid Otto yet for the ticket. New York Dolls - what can I say? Class. Absolute class. Even when they f*cked up the start of one song you just knew they would recover with class. I love their current "Cause I sez so" album and was not disappointed to hear the majority of it in their set and I can say with my hand on my heart I've seen the New York Dolls. The place was rocking. Defdinately the loudest band I've seen for a long time - thanks to the soundman, who care about decibel restrictions - they let it rip. The only person there that did not get it was Otto - but he's a singer [sic] so what does he know?
Next - Sunday 6th I return to the Hammersmith Appollo with Tim (I say return as we were there 3 weeks ago to witness a 2hr 10min guitar solo - sorry, I mean Deep Purple - less said about that the better, but why don't they just open with Smoke on the Water so we can all then f*ck off back to the bar?). Why were we there? To witness the Alice Cooper Theatre of Death show - which I've just nominated at the best live show of 2009 on RTYD survey. The most polished vaudeville experience you could ever see, accompanied by the best rock outfit to cross the Atlantic. Life is good at times.