The Gigwatcher 01/12/2006

Urgh.

Apologies for the excessive tardiness this week but I've been a tad unwell. I don't mean 'unwell' in a Jeffrey Bernard sense, I've not been languishing in a bar drinking heavily and doing bad O'Toole impressions (though that's something I can try tomorrow).

I've had one of the many many strains of lurgee that are doing the rounds, and very unpleasant it was too (I'll spare you the gory details). Thus I got to spend a few days at home, moaning pathetically as us blokes are wont to do when we're not feeling that great, watching old films* on TV and getting cajoled into online gaming by the chaps at work (even on my sick bed I can't escape it).

But now I'm feeling much better so, for some foolish reason, I decided to come back to work. On a Friday. Ah. Weddun.

*koff*

Luckily the nice lady in the shop had held onto my NME, so here are the pick of the new gigs I found listed in the back pages:

The Mescalitas @ Lennons, Southampton - 02/12/2006
Jackie-O Mofo @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 11/12/2006
The Enemy @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/02/2007
+44 @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 09/02/2007
ShockWaves NME Awards 'Indie Rock' Tour 2007 (featuring The Horrors, The Automatic) @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 16/02/2007
Amy Winehouse @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/02/2007
ShockWaves NME Awards 'Indie Rave' Tour 2007 (featuring Klaxons, CSS) @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 20/02/2007
The Rifles @ The University, Southampton - 07/03/2007

Don't forget that ALL the gigs I list each week are added into the SoMC Events Calendar, it's literally packed to the gunnells with local gigs for local people (i.e. you guys). However, in order to peruse its contents you'll need to be registered on the SoMC forum. Once you've signed up you can post up reviews, jokes, web-links et al on the forum boards. If you're still undecided, here's some gigs from the Events Calendar that I've picked for your perusal:

Red Honey & The Pimps @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth - 02/12/2006 (featuring the legendary John 'Two Chillies' Nixon)
Easy Star All-Stars @ The Brook, Southampton - 04/12/2006
UK Subs @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/12/2006
The White Knuckle Blues Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 09/12/2006
Tony McPhee @ The Joiners, Southampton - 10/12/2006
Fi Lo Beddow (aka Mark Morriss of The Bluetones) @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/12/2006
Seth Lakeman @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/12/2006
The Bog Rolling Stones (acoustic) @ Little Johnny Russells, Portsmouth - 20/12/2006
A Tribute To Joe Strummer (featuring The Neville Staples Band and Amsterdam) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 21/12/2006
Wilko Johnson @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 30/01/2007

Both of the 'local' gigs by Faithless, 24th March at the BIC and 27th March at the Brighton Centre, are now SOLD OUT. I can't gets no tickets.. doo doo doo doo de de doo doo doo doo de de.. quite.

As you should all be aware, today is World Aids Day. In an effort to promote AIDS awareness (and have a laugh at the same time) local beat combo Hudson10 are joining forces with the one and only Adi Henry to become Adi & The Gaze. They're playing a FREE gig at the Old Vic in Portsmouth TONIGHT. It's likely to get a bit raucous, if the blurb here is anything to go by.

I can't wrap up this week's edition without a mention of the passing of Alan 'Fluff' Freeman, DJ and legend. RIP Fluff. Not 'arf. Well, that's about it for this week pop pickers.. this afternoon I have mostly been listening to Amy Winehouse. She scares me. A lot.

;o)

* The classic "I Was A Male War Bride" was on Sky Cinema, cheered me up no end.

The Gigwatcher 22/11/2006

Howdy do..

I know, late again. I can only apologise for the Gigwatcher's tardiness for I was tied up with real actual work. No, really I was. Honest. Stop laughing at the back, I'm being perfectly serious. I was doing proper manly IT work; lifting heavy tape libraries, pushing the impressively masculine blue trolley of dobber and swearing at SCSI adaptors with some aplomb.

Umm.

OK so I was down in Stores listening to the radio, y'happy? I couldn't help it, Edith Bowman was having a go at Lil'Chris. I mean, that's just not right, she should pick on someone her own size.

Oh.

She was.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's the cream of the gigs listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Little Man Tate @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 29/11/2006
The Levellers @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 03/12/2006
Rocco Deluca @ The Joiners, Southampton - 21/12/2006
Kerrang Tour 2007 (featuring Biffy Clyro, The Bronx & The Audition) @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/01/2007
The Noisettes @ Mr Kyps, Bournemouth - 20/01/2007
The Maccabees @ The Joiners, Southampton - 01/02/2007
Larrikin Love @ The University, Southampton - 10/02/2007
The Noisettes @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/02/2007
Keane @ BIC, Bournemouth - 22/02/2007
The Black Keys @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 25/02/2007
Eagles of Death Metal @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 10/03/2007
Incubus @ BIC, Bournemouth - 08/04/2007

As per usual I'll update the SoMC's Events Calendar with this just as soon as I can be bothered. The SoMC Events Calendar is, of course, rammed to the gills with lots of local gigs for local people (y'know, like you lot). However, in order to ch-ch-check it out (you see what I did there?) you'll need to be registered on the SoMC forum (it's simple, painless and, best of all, FREE!). If you're still undecided, here's some gigs from the Events Calendar that I've picked for your perusal:

The Strange Death of Liberal England @ The Joiners, Southampton - TONIGHT
Ed Harcourt @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - TONIGHT
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 24/11/2006
Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 25/11/2006
Spear of Destiny @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 30/11/2006
The Jamm @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 08/12/2006
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys @ The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham - 09/12/2006
The Bluetones @ The Brook, Southampton - 07/02/2007

Such is the demand for Steven Seagal's appearance at The Brook on 24/02/2007 that a second, matinee, performance has been arranged for the same day. As it's a matinee performance some restrictions apply; no alcohol will be served in the downstairs bar (I don't know if they'll be selling Mr Seagal's famed energy drink instead though).

December the first is, as you should all know, World Aids Day. In an effort to promote Aids awareness (and, at the same time, have some fun) the mighty Hudson10 are once again joining forces with the equally mighty Adi Henry to become Adi & The Gaze. The gig takes place at the Old Vic in Portsmouth, entry is FREE; a whole load more information on what they've got lined up can be found here.

Red Honey & The Pimps, featuring the legendary John 'Two Chillies' Nixon on guitar, are taking to the stage. They'll be bringing their brand of X to the Nell Gwynne in Southsea on Saturday 2nd December and I expect to see you all there.

Well, that's about it for this week.. this afternoon I have mostly been listening to Wolfmother (does anyone have a flute they want to sell me?).