General What Have You Been Listening To Lately? 🎵

[MarkG]

when it was around/ in use in the 90s- early noughties, Brookes Uni venue ( top of Headington Hill) was ideal for that kind of host venue- presume bands no longer have uni type dates on their tour itineraries these days?

I can't remember if it was someone on here or another discussion group who explained it. Apparently the government (John Major?) banned student unions from subsidising gigs and so the whole uni gig circuit disappeared. I think there are a few universities that still have bands on but I guess it is at commercial rates.

 

[holdsteady]

I can't remember if it was someone on here or another discussion group who explained it. Apparently the government (John Major?) banned student unions from subsidising gigs and so the whole uni gig circuit disappeared. I think there are a few universities that still have bands on but I guess it is at commercial rates.

Can't be John Major, I was going to gigs at Brookes after New Labour got in under Blair.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I can't remember if it was someone on here or another discussion group who explained it. Apparently the government (John Major?) banned student unions from subsidising gigs and so the whole uni gig circuit disappeared. I think there are a few universities that still have bands on but I guess it is at commercial rates.

Oh that's interesting. Despite all the students Oxford has never been part of the uni gig circuit, largely due to the lack of a large central hall, I guess. Brookes was good for a while (I saw Mercury Rev, Beth Orton, and er Coldplay there) but no longer seems to do anything with live music.

 

[Stranger]

Oh that's interesting. Despite all the students Oxford has never been part of the uni gig circuit, largely due to the lack of a large central hall, I guess. Brookes was good for a while (I saw Mercury Rev, Beth Orton, and er Coldplay there) but no longer seems to do anything with live music.

I've seen a couple of bands at Oxford Uni - Siouxsie and the Banshees in 79 (I think) at Exeter College and Oui3 at that one near the Plain (although admittedly that wasn't open to the public, I gatecrashed some end of term event).

Used to watch loads at the Poly - Here & Now, Steve Hillage, Gong, Stranglers, Slowdive and others I've forgotten in the midst of time.

 

[Nadi-]

Oh that's interesting. Despite all the students Oxford has never been part of the uni gig circuit, largely due to the lack of a large central hall, I guess. Brookes was good for a while (I saw Mercury Rev, Beth Orton, and er Coldplay there) but no longer seems to do anything with live music.

Saw The Stranglers, Be Bop Deluxe, Stiff Records night, Matumba . And one id like to forget Dr Hook and the medicine show.
I missed it but the brother went to Devo

 

[Stranger]

Saw The Stranglers, Be Bop Deluxe, Stiff Records night, Matumba . And one id like to forget Dr Hook and the medicine show.
I missed it but the brother went to Devo

Saw Be Bop Deluxe, although in my mind that was at the New Theatre, so maybe they played Oxford twice

 

[werthersoriginal]

Saw The Stranglers, Be Bop Deluxe, Stiff Records night, Matumba . And one id like to forget Dr Hook and the medicine show.
I missed it but the brother went to Devo

I think they were a bit before my time. I suspect there were others I missed because they weren't really advertised to the public - I ended up seeing King Crimson at the Wheatley campus in the early 80s because someone told me about it.

 

[holdsteady]

Oh that's interesting. Despite all the students Oxford has never been part of the uni gig circuit, largely due to the lack of a large central hall, I guess. Brookes was good for a while (I saw Mercury Rev, Beth Orton, and er Coldplay there) but no longer seems to do anything with live music.

Forum ban incoming for that.

I saw that at V festival back in the 2000s, first couple of albums were alright and they were not to bad that night, went downhill sharply afterwards.

Watched Embrace (who had a good first album then also went downhill), supported by the unbelievable truth I think, Dirty Pretty Things and someone who I have completely forgotten in the venue they had on the Headington Hill Hall site, but don't remember seeing anything advertised post 2010.

Took step daughter and her friend to a nightclub that puts shows on before becoming a nightclub later in the evening in Kingston Upon Thames a bit back, didn't go in myself so no idea how the sound was but you would think that would be an idea for Oxford, given the lack of gig venues in town and the struggle nightclubs have, Kingston is pretty similar to Oxford as well in being a tightly crammed in centre with a lot of students about.

 

[Nadi-]

I think they were a bit before my time. I suspect there were others I missed because they weren't really advertised to the public - I ended up seeing King Crimson at the Wheatley campus in the early 80s because someone told me about it.

They were on the poly site, so 70s
Brooke’s
Gomez, Supergrass, Travis, The Subways who had Cage The Elephant as support and maybe one or two I’ve forgotten

 

[werthersoriginal]

Forum ban incoming for that.

I saw that at V festival back in the 2000s, first couple of albums were alright and they were not to bad that night, went downhill sharply afterwards.

Watched Embrace (who had a good first album then also went downhill), supported by the unbelievable truth I think, Dirty Pretty Things and someone who I have completely forgotten in the venue they had on the Headington Hill Hall site, but don't remember seeing anything advertised post 2010.

Took step daughter and her friend to a nightclub that puts shows on before becoming a nightclub later in the evening in Kingston Upon Thames a bit back, didn't go in myself so no idea how the sound was but you would think that would be an idea for Oxford, given the lack of gig venues in town and the struggle nightclubs have, Kingston is pretty similar to Oxford as well in being a tightly crammed in centre with a lot of students about.

In my defence your honour Coldplay were bottom of the bill supporting a band called Shack who I really like. We all said 'Radiohead wannabes'.

Even clubs are struggling in Oxford at the moment I believe, young people just seem to stay at home.

 

[Stranger]

They were on the poly site, so 70s
Brooke’s
Gomez, Supergrass, Travis, The Subways who had Cage The Elephant as support and maybe one or two I’ve forgotten

Seeing them this evening as it happens, instore at Truck (followed by the Wedding Present at the O2)

 

[Nadi-]

Saw Be Bop Deluxe, although in my mind that was at the New Theatre, so maybe they played Oxford twice

A little later but was also at the Be Bop New Theatre night, had The Steve Gibbons band as support. Who’s drummer invited us to their Exeter? College ball gig later.

 

[Stranger]

A little later but was also at the Be Bop New Theatre night, had The Steve Gibbons band as support. Who’s drummer invited us to their Exeter? College ball gig later.

That's the one, with Steve Gibbons in support.

 

[holdsteady]

In my defence your honour Coldplay were bottom of the bill supporting a band called Shack who I really like. We all said 'Radiohead wannabes'.

Even clubs are struggling in Oxford at the moment I believe, young people just seem to stay at home.

Not me you have to convince, as you have mentioned them in the same paragraph as Radiohead as well you ar6e just digging a bigger hole for yourself.

Fan of Shack myself, although that must be a long time ago if Coldplay were supporting them, doubt you will ever see a bottom of the bill eclipse the headliner by that much ever again (in terms of sales etc) quite the turnaround.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking though, nightclubs need money so would be extra revenue for them. Although I am ten years out of date with knowledge on Oxfords nightclubs so they might all be shut by now.

 

[Nadi-]

Seeing them this evening as it happens, instore at Truck (followed by the Wedding Present at the O2)

You’ll enjoy it, top band and management Lunns a quality bloke.

 

[mariokempes]

Just managed to get Radiohead tickets in the latest round of sales

 

[SteMerritt]

Debut album by The Clause out today.

 

[Beech Road Bokelberg]

Debut album by The Clause out today.

Getting Foals vibes....

 

[Stranger]

You’ll enjoy it, top band and management Lunns a quality bloke.

Yeah, saw them at the O2 about a year back, supported by the rather brilliant iDestroy

 

[Witney Yellow]

I've seen a couple of bands at Oxford Uni - Siouxsie and the Banshees in 79 (I think) at Exeter College and Oui3 at that one near the Plain (although admittedly that wasn't open to the public, I gatecrashed some end of term event).

Used to watch loads at the Poly - Here & Now, Steve Hillage, Gong, Stranglers, Slowdive and others I've forgotten in the midst of time.

I saw Chuck Berry in the early 80s and I think it was at Oxford Poly.

 

[SteMerritt]

I saw Chuck Berry in the early 80s and I think it was at Oxford Poly.

13th October 1984

https://www.Oxfordm**l.co.uk/news/15166671.remember-when-chuck-berry-played-oxford/

(remembering to fix the link)

 

[MarkG]

Last night I went to see King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard play a "rave" set at Electric Brixton.
I was expecting a six-music type "all day rave" which is basically any club music from the last 40 years.

Instead it was actually a pretty deep synthesizer and acid for the first 45 minutes before getting onto a bit more of an LCD soundsystem/ dub towards the end. So like a blend of Josh Wink, LCD Soundsystem, The Orb.

Video from a few days ago in Melbourne - fast forward to around 20 minutes for the start or 37 minutes in.

 

[Stranger]

Caught the Prolapse at Common Ground last week - excellent and the first time I've seen that place packed to the rafters. The two support acts - The People Assembly and The Plan - were also superb.

Also saw The Big Sky Orchestra at the Little Bully - very West Coast in style and they even did a couple of (very good) Grateful Dead covers along with their own material. Also caught local act Tiger Mendoza's album launch show at Truck. Well worth checking out for those of you who like electronica

 

[werthersoriginal]

Todd Rundgren at the London Palladium. Fantastic! I won't bore on about it here though.

 

[Nadi-]

Todd Rundgren at the London Palladium. Fantastic! I won't bore on about it here though.

Is he still going, saw him at giants stadium back in 79 with Boston, Poco and The Outlaws

 

[SteMerritt]

Todd Rundgren at the London Palladium. Fantastic! I won't bore on about it here though.

Things like that are exactly what this thread is for!

 

[werthersoriginal]

Is he still going, saw him at giants stadium back in 79 with Boston, Poco and The Outlaws

He’s about 75 but in great shape and played a two hour set with hardly any of the songs he’s known for- but still really enjoyable

 

[LowerSouth]

 

[Stranger]

Just been to see Tankus at Truck. They're playing again at the Bully in March - highly recommended

 

[chuckbert]

Todd Rundgren at the London Palladium. Fantastic! I won't bore on about it here though.

Pleeease do!