ear4rock

Well done Little Cat’s Dad, he’s secured us tickets to go to WOMAD this year, a first for either of us.  We’re both interested in world music and up for new musical experiences, so I’m looking forward to a great time.  Now I no longer feel guilty about leaving Mrs Wighteye on her own, for she has the delights of Paul Weller at Osborne House while we are away.  we had our first kiss to Paul Weller (or was it Bryan Adams?) laying in the long grass on the riverbank opposite the Isle of Wight Festival in 2003.  Happy days!

Great to catch some free Jazz today at an Isle of Wight Jazz Festival fringe event;  Third Man were the trio in question and a write up can be found on the Wighteye blog at http://wighteye.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/isle-of-wight-jazz-festival-fringe/

Third Man are an island band and deserve a wider hearing, they are currently gigging at a variety of island venues.

Listening to Eagle Eye Cherry’s  ’Desireless’ in the car, though plagued by youngest son to play ‘Before these crowded streets’ by the Dave Matthews Band whenever he is present; he plays along on my harmonica!

Just returned from London having been privileged to see the legendary Neil Young live at Hammersmith Odeon, or the Apollo as it likes to be called now.  We were treated to a 75 minute solo acoustic set followed by a 90 minute electric set with his band.  Neil has such an extensive back catalogue to draw from, particularly memorable from the acoustic set was ‘Old Man’, Neil was in good humour and there was much calling out from the audience, the atmosphere was highly charged.  Whilst the acoustic set was reflective, Neil really rocked out in the electric set.  For me, highlights were ‘Hey Hey, My My’, ‘Tonight’s the Night’ and a fine ‘Fucking Up’ with a long rabid guitar solo and extended feedback.  This was the final gig of a 51 date continental tour and Neil didn’t look like someone that had relatively recently been at death’s door.  Keep on rockin’ in the free world!

Having been cajoled by Littlecat’s Dad into attending a local gig at Quay Arts by Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara last Friday, I found myself enjoying a combination of blues and african music.  Justin often plays guitar for Robert Plant and Juldeh is a griot, a master musician from Gambia playing local stringed instruments. They were ably assisted by Salah Dawson Miller on percussion; this guy had a weird hat to die for!  The whole experience was amazing and we left the gig with a couple of great CDs which I can’t stop playing.

Greatly enjoying ‘Desert Road’ by Justin Adams

So The Charlatans are the latest band to offer their latest album as a free download via the radio station, XFM.  They are apparently calculating on making their money from live gigs, merchandising etc and see the free download as an advertisement for their gigs.  Saw them a few years ago at one of the relaunched Isle of Wight festivals and enjoyed their show.  This can only be good for us and also champions the cause of live music - there’s nothing like it.

 Christmas had resulted in a handful of CDs and Mrs Wighteye’s contribution was The Eagles ‘Long Road out of Eden’.  At the time it had one or two plays but then got buried under the pile, recently to emerge and provoke differing responses from each of us.  She likes the first disk, quieter, poppier, more of an acoustic feel.  I prefer the second disk when they rock out.  Some might think The Eagles are just corporate and passe, but their lyrics continue where they left off some 30 years ago (is it really that long?), particularly raising the environmental concerns that were evident on ‘Hotel California’.

Had a bit of a laugh this morning (they say it’s the best medicine), listening to a Joe Walsh track I’d not come across before, ILBTs.  If you don’t know it, it’s ‘I like big tits’ and there was some mirth as he sang “I like big tits, they give me zits..”

I like blues, just not so keen when I got them myself … hence the generally quiet nature of this blog for a time; lack of motivation rather than lack of interest in music. I find music can help me through many different kinds of moods and situations and is able to take me out of myself.

Lately I’ve been exploring the range of music blogs available as a result of reading that fabulous article in The Guardian about sources of free music. There are so many sites it is mind boggling, not sure I should even bother, but I’ll not give up yet.

Writing this listening to a live Pink Floyd recording, the result of some judicious surfing!

…. for being lax and not posting recently, I’ve been waylaid by an article about ten days ago in The Guardian, about where to find free music on the internet;  I’ve been surfing regularly since! Suggest you read it at

 http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/reviews/story/0,,2234937,00.html

Buy more CDs

See more live music

Investigate more 60s and Blues roots music

Learn to play a few more tunes on my guitar!