Considering London has one of the most vibrant live music scenes in the world, very rarely if ever see musicians at gigs - too much of a busman’s holiday, maybe. In fact, over the years I’ve only ever seen one musician attend shows and that was Trembling Bell’s Alex Neilson, who has also played with Bonnie Prince Billy, Current 93, Jandek, Richard Youngs etc
Back in the day we both knew a live music promoter, so as casual acquaintances we’d chat at shows.
When I saw Saint Vitus at the Fleece there was some hipster dickhead walking around. I was judging him so hard. Then Wino gave Jus Osborn a shoutout and it all clicked into place
A long time ago was watching scout niblett support Bonnie Prince Billy in Brighton, and realised I was stood next to nick cave, Warren Ellis and a couple of other bad seeds. The whole thing was pretty fucking cool. See nick and sometimes warren around town from time to time, and it always makes my day.
Saw J Willgoose from Public Service Broadcasting at Haiku Salut in Hackney last year - that’s about it for me, although slightly different but also saw a couple of the Bad Seeds members at the opening night screening of One More Time with Feeling
Arctic Monkeys (and Richard Ayoade) at a Pivot (AKA PVT) gig at the 100 Club 10 years ago
Stood next to Nigel Godrich at a Jonny Greenwood + LCO gig at the Roundhouse
That’ll do for now.
Chris Martin at one of Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible warm-up shows.
Kele Okereke and Kelly Osborne at Patrick Wolf at the Bloomsbury Theatre.
One of Razorlight at a Black Francis warm up show at The Social (Chris Morris was apparently there too)
Romeo from the Magic Numbers at Joanna Newsom
Those Dancing Days at a Black Kids gig (the most 2008 sentence I’ve ever written).
Lee Ranaldo (+ his touring band) at Julia Holter
Thurston Moore at Lucinda Williams (+ just walking about in London generally - the guy sticks out)
Loads of people from a whole bunch of bands at Radiator Hospital last year.