Gigs again

 We went to our second gig that was bounced due to covid. It was Magnum ( originally booked for 2020) at the Assembly Hall Islington, strangely enough  it's been the same venue the past 3 times we have seen them.

Self ,T & Kevin were dropped off at the station by a very kind Number 3 son and we were off....... except I'd managed to book us a timed train rather than 'any train from,'  so we'd missed it!  No alternative to get another ticket. Railway staff very disinterested in our plight. Marvellous isn't it!

Anyway, got to Islington  and made our way to The Vineyard, a pub opposite the venue. Beer was bit of a disappointment as their only handpump beer was a general pub bitter, whatever that is, which wasn't very good. Doombar was available a little later which Kevin had but I saw the had the glorious  Punk IPA by Brewdog so slummed it on that brew Tara enjoying a bitter shandy.

I picked this place as not only was it extremely convenient for the gig but it had a few choices for Tara's dinner, sadly and I have to say typically, they had some out of stocks so T didn't have a great choice  but there was a couple of items she could have. Self & Kev had a bacon & cheese burger and fish n chips respectively.  

In we went  to the Assembly Hall, a really nice Art Deco building opened as a dance hall in the 1930's and renovated to its former grandeur in the 1970's.

The first support Theia, were instantly forgettable, I looked them up before we went as I hadn't heard of them and they were billed as a three piece only to see them as a two piece with added PC accompaniment! 'Nuff said.

The second support Vega then came on. We had seen them before supporting Magnum in 2016 , I liked them then but T & K weren't keen though tonight we all agreed  they were very good. Worth investigating their albums I think.       

And so to Magnum. I first saw Magnum in 1980 and have followed them ever since. I've seen them five times but this will be the last. What can I say? Both T & I thought Bob Catley's voice has gone, he is 74 and you can't keep on for ever, though to view all the FaceBook posts about the gig we are very much in a minority. I didn't post my thoughts as it would inevitably bring down much flak  and would have been viewed as heresy! His voice was shot to pieces and he fumbled some of the words. He also looked like an old person who had grabbed  the mic at a family wedding. It was sad to be honest.

 I know alot of performers want to 'die with their boots on,' but surely you have to think of the performance you are delivering. Its not a normal 9 to 5 job admittedly and creative types probably can push on into old age, but just for how long? I think the worst thing is that this is how we'll remember the live performance by Magnum and that isn't fair really, they  are a great band and in fact it wasn't all bad, he did warm  up and not all the singing was below par. It was also good to hear some tracks from earlier albums, it was a good evening overall but I didn't leave the gig with that buzz I usually get.

There you have it.