Eddie Izzard, Liverpool Echo Arena, 31st October 2009

Eddie was class, it felt like watching a comedians equivalent of a 'greatest hits' show, but in a way that made it better - all those old favourites that we used to know by heart cropped up here and there in different forms. There were Bees, Noah's Ark and the Spanish Inquisition all making us giggle far more than they should, and a few new characters that will stick in my mind, like a Jazz Chicken that plays Jazz through it's beak, and a Giraffe with no alarm call. Here are my scribbled notes on the memorable bits during the interval, not intended to make any sense, just a way for me to remember the night.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Martin Freeman presenting, October 2009.

An educational experience seeing how Never Mind The Buzzcocks is filmed, it all ran like clockwork and was fascinating to watch. Aside from that very funny too - it'll be interesting to see how much of it is actually suitable to air in the next few weeks though! :-)

We were allowed to hang around nervously in the green room afterwards, which was NOTHING like I expected it would be - I thought it would be full of important/expensive people lounging on futons having peeled grapes placed in their mouths (well, not quite but you get my drift). It was nothing of the sort, just nice and relaxed with all the famous peeps drifting from one group to another, Noel Fielding came to chat to us and was quite a fascinating person - lovely and strange all at once.

Bloc Party, Venue Cymru Llandudno, 18th October 2009.

Not a great gig really, the band were arrogant (not always a bad thing but it didn't work this time) and looked like they weren't talking to eachother. The set had it's high points, but on the whole nothing about this gig enriched my life one bit.

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Super Furry Animals, Nation Liverpool, 5th November 2009

This was better than the Bangor gig, if you can believe that. Plus lots of our old friends were there, double bonus! Loved the venue - so good to see a LOUD gig for a change!

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Super Furry Animals, Bangor University Pritchard Jones Hall, October 30th 2009.

So after heading over to Galeri in Caernarfon thinking that the gig was there (along with a few others who'd made the same mistake I hasten to add) we arrived at Bangor University with minutes to spare before the support act came onstage. The Pritchard Jones hall was quite impressive really, the tall ceiling wasn't great for sound but the stage looked ace, and the hall itself was pretty grand (for round here).

Strange crowd at this one, lots of listening and taking it all in, and not much in the way of dancing, which isn't what I expected for a 'home crowd'. It felt cosy though, I hesitate to use the word intimate, but that's how it felt - very relaxed and warm. Hearing them play songs like Hometown Unicorn and Do or Die was like being knocked over with nostalgia - last time I heard them play some of those songs I was ten years younger and leaping around like a loon. The leaping has become a sort of dodgy dance now, and the band are a little less lively, but still as sincere and immaculate as ever. It was definitely one of the higher ranking SFA gigs I've been to, I'm tempted to say the best but I can't, some of those early gigs were unique. Keep the cosmic trigger happy was the perfect song to end on, so good, and so short - always leaves you wanting more!

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The Cribs, Manchester Apollo, 2nd October 2009

Los Campesinos! and Adam Green supported, and I guess the drawback to writing this a couple of weeks later is that I can't remember a thing about Los Campesinos! Adam Green did stick in my mind though, he was hypnotic to watch and his music was great, not the most original but performed to perfection. He danced like Ian Curtis, but with way more cheeky confidence, and since seeing him I've started following his blog which is just as crazy, I especially love his little notes and poetry - such a great way to do a blog.

Anyway, the Cribs were brilliant, wired and maybe with a little extra gusto because they were playing in Marr's hometown. Ross Jarman reminded us of Dennis Wilson, a very simple unfussy drumming style that worked perfectly. Johnny Marr was way too cool, and fitted in so well that you almost forgot he was new to the band. Loved this gig, I think that some of their songs have that 'perfect' something about them, sort of a 'Teenage Kicks' feeling that you get once in a blue moon, especially 'Men's Needs'. It must be the honesty, there's not a drop of pretension in Ryan and Gary Jarman.

We Were Aborted
Hey Scenesters!
I'm a Realist
Emasculate Me
Girls Like Mystery
Last Year's Snow
Cheat on Me
We Share the Same Skies
I've Tried Everything
Direction
Hari Kari
Save Your Secrets
Our Bovine Public
Another Number
Ignore the Ignorant
Be Safe
Mirror Kissers
Men's Needs
City of Bugs

The Lemonheads, Manchester Academy 2, 13th September 2009

This was the gig I've always wanted to see - The Lemonheads are utter perfection. I've seen Evan Dando a couple of times acoustic, and he never fails to whisk me away, but seeing him perform as the Lemonheads, electric and acoustic, was special. He always seems a little nervous when he comes onstage, and generally looks like he's trying to hide behind his hair, but the music soon takes over. The crowd were very attentive, listening carefully to every word he sang, singing along under it's breath, and in the perfect venue for a gig like this. Evan Dando always fascinates me - he plays the songs almost 'album perfect', but there is always some feeling of improvisation, as though the songs are being written as he sings them. He plays the guitar in a natural flowing 'intuitive' kind of way, letting notes ring out and not rushing or sticking to the rhythm, it really makes you feel like that song can only exist for that moment.

Here's the setlist:

Layin' Up With Linda (Off 'Varshons')
Down About It
Confetti
Pittsburgh
My Drug Buddy
Style
Bit Part
Big Gay Heart
Hospital
Dandylion Seeds (Varshons) - This was ACE!
It's About Time
Tenderfoot
The Green Fuz

Evan Dando Acoustic:
No Backbone
Favourite T
Into Your Arms
Why Do You Do This To Yourself
The Outdoor Type
Ride With Me
All My Life - The crowd LOVED this acoustic section, I recon you could have had us all in one big group hug at the end of this (yes even the everso trendy Manchester types).

Encore:
Rudderless - The BEST song to end on with that beautiful chord at the beginning! Wanted more though :-)

Thanks Evan!