Well goodbye 2011 you old bitch.
This is the year that our old friends in New Order realised that getting back to their roots, fun as it may have been for all, didn’t pay the bills or turn on the lights. Rough and ready one-off gigs, DIY albums and new material from unknown bands feel more exciting than they did at the time. 2011 saw re- branding, golden tickets and the re-commencement of the longest greatest hits tour in history; now with two heads, many arms and more Gibsons than a whole street of Roadhouses.
Dunno how anyone else felt about the Troxy gig but for me it was like pulling on old slippers, lighting up a briar and settling down to Last of the Summer Wine. The band showed none of the fear or excitement of the Bad Loo days, the audience laughed politely at the old wrinkly stocking gags, drank themselves silly and waited for the bathtub to set off down the hill. Come on indeed.
Fuck it, everyone has to make a living. I’ve been making mine, which is why I never caught The Light this year. Maybe I won’t. I doubt they’ll reach the heights I saw at the FAC251 launch. If they do then I fear for Hooky who put more passion into that night than most people will ever have. I probably will though.
So so long fear, swagger and danger and hello to sniping, gloss and another new boy. No doubt you are all here stay, so we may as well enjoy you.
This year’s Member of Biggy Empire is Leadfoot for his tattoo and for being the kind of musician I love: one who you believe would be standing next to you watching the gig if he wasn’t so busy playing in it. Member of the Badman Empire to Stone Roses, for still managing to convince people they were important and pinching their bassist back from the best gigging band in the world. Damehoods to Minx, Nat and anyone else feeding the Under 5 intake and to Canadia for all the drinks. Knighthoods to the Round Robin Crew for making me laugh when I’m at work and mention in despatches to GMan for services to the elderly.
Oh, who’s up for catching the Roses at MSG? Taking names.
Spike Island my arse.
Come on the Blues.
:p
