I... I Still Love You

It's been a long ten years (ish) since I first saw Tom McRae live.

Of all the concerts I've seen over the years, from The Nolans to U2, Gin Blossoms to Michael Jackson, there is only one where I came away liking the support act more than the actual act I had bought the ticket for. That concert was Dido at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2000 and the support act was a singer/songwriter called Tom McRae.

This shy looking fellow crept on to the stage and, with just a guitar and a microphone, captivated the whole audience. Haunting lyrics and a soft melodic voice left me wanting more and hoping Dido would be suddenly taken ill or called away on urgent business so he could fill in for the rest of the night.

The next day I went out and hunted down his self-titled debut album and it has remained a firm favourite ever since. I admit I have not been the most loyal or dedicated fan. For a few years I lost track of what he was up to and although I kept up with the album releases, it wasn't until this year I actually got to see him live again. I managed to catch him earlier this year on his Alphabets of Hurricanes tour at the Scala, Kings Cross and again tonight back at the Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Tom's style has changed over the years. His earlier material was more dark and haunting and his later creations have a definite Americana influence but I love it all. Each song is a poem set to music and although I don't claim to be anywhere near intellectual enough to understand all his lyrics, I appreciate them for the little piece of art each one is.

His singles and albums may not have achieved the level of success in Britain which he would have hoped for but I have a deep respect for this artist who refuses to compromise his ideals by commercialising his songs to make them more radio friendly. When I listen to his albums I can understand why he doesn't receive much, if any, airplay in the UK. This is a hard artist to pigeon-hole into a genre. Although he is most often listed as a folk artist, I don't agree with this label at all. Recorded, most of his work is slow and moody but live is another story. As well as being an incredible songwriter, he is also a talented performer. With a live band his music is transformed. It is rockier, more energetic and more entertaining. He has a unique relationship with his fans and often cracks a lot of self-deprecating jokes while on stage. The humour and personality that we are lucky enough to witness at his live performance is not captured on his recordings and this is a shame. This is an artist who deserves all the fame and fortune the music industry has to offer. Unfortunately, it seems our music industry is more concerned with image and styling than actual talent.

You can find more information of Tom McRae at http://www.tommcrae.com/

More More More

I never thought I'd ever have anything to thank Simon Fuller for but without him there would have been no Daughtry! Well, that's not strictly true because I am sure Chris Daughtry would have made his way without Fuller's American Idol help but it probably would have taken longer for him to get established and for us to find him.

Chris Daughtry was a finalist in season 5 of American Idol. He didn't win, although I rooted for him from the start, but he did go straight out and form a band and start making great music. Two albums later, a couple of stints supporting bands like Bon Jovi and Nickelback and now a few dates headlining across Europe. Daughtry has come a long way in a relatively short space of time. Although I don't like the shotgun approach to celebrity that these reality shows provide, in this instance I feel it is justified.

Last night at KOKO, Camden was incredible. There is nothing better than seeing an artist truly humbled by an audience that knows all their lyrics. This band rocked our socks off. I can't wait to see them again next year (if they keep their promise).

It's been a heavy couple of days. Daughtry at KOKO, Camden yesterday and Tom McRae tonight. Which was better? It's hard to say. It would depend on your taste in music and how you rate a good concert. As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I have very eclectic tastes. I like almost every genre of music there is. This week we are going to three concerts; Daughtry (Rock), Tom McRae (Folk-ish!) and The Dualers (SKA). Each one different and special in its own right. I couldn't choose between them even if I wanted to.

Sad Times

The last couple of weeks have been very hard for me. I lost two old friends.

Strictly speaking I lost Gary and "Uncle" Lol years ago. Families drift and move away and we lost touch over twenty years ago. Now they are gone and that friendship can never be rekindled. That is what I have found so hard to deal with this week; two funerals seeing people I grew up with and loved like family. It has been a harsh reminder of all the things I miss from my childhood.

With all the social networking available nowadays, has maintaining or renewing friendships become any easier? Personally, I find it hard to communicate with friends and family I haven't seen or spoken to in a very long time. So much time has passed, new families have been made, new friendships forged. These people have become almost like strangers. The faces look familiar and they seem to know all this stuff about you but the connection is gone.

There are some people I have lost touch with over the years that I would love to become close with again. It all seems a little improbable though. Their lives are complete and there is little room for me to burrow my way in.

I have my own little family unit now as well and little time to make new friends or expand my social life. Work and home commitments fill the days and exhaustion takes the nights. The past is the past and I suppose I must lay it to rest. I often criticise my sisters for living in the past too much and yet lately I have found myself dwelling on my own history more and more. All these "what ifs" and "if onlys" race around my mind. I wouldn't necessarily want to change where I have ended up but I think I would have preferred a different journey.

It's Been a While

Wow, I didn't realise how long it's been since I blogged! Too many other things taking priority I guess. I can't even say I been doing anything really interesting. I've been writing a lot, of course. I've been working on the next draft of my screenplay. It's coming along but I still have a lot of rewriting to do. It's hard, in this house, to find the right environment to be creative. There always something happening and it's usually quite loud. (I just realised that line is from a Madness song!) Anyway between work and home I'm not left with a great deal of time. I'm plodding along as best I can and I'm hoping to have another draft ready for reading in a couple of weeks. I really want to get this one finished soon as I have already started planning out my next two projects.

October is going to be quite a busy month on the entertainment front. We have tickets to see Daughtry, Tom McRae and the Dualers. We're also going to Rumfest, all in the same week. That'll be our last few planned outings for this year. I guess it's time to settle down and start preparing for Christmas!