‘There’s nothing to compare to live music’
Gloria Gaynor once said: “There’s nothing to compare to live music, there just isn’t anything.” And after the last couple of years and, currently, the continuing storm clouds in Eastern Europe we all need to grab hold of the hope of better things to come. The return of consistent, vibrant, endorphin-inducing live music across our area (and beyond) is surely an antidote to what else 2022 currently has on offer?
For me, give me a ticket to a festival, a venue, an auditorium, a corner of a pub – anywhere – with a raised floor, the sparkle of a drum kit, the promise of a mic stand and the expectant hum of an amp, and I’ll be there!
Yes, those of us who indulge, got to a gig or two in recent times – possibly distanced, masked and with the wonderful perfume of hand-gel in tow – but this year we really are hoping for more.
A normality of performance and pleasure, one might say.
Whether it be The Backroom gigs at Chichester Festival Theatre, a band at The Hothampton in Bognor, The Music at Murrell’s Field event in Barnham, which V2 Radio is so proud to sponsor, or even a quick hop over to the Isle of Wight Festival, the list of music opportunities within easy reach this spring and summer rolls out in front of us like a rescue remedy or rock and pop.
If you listen to my 80s Express show on V2 Radio, it won’t be a surprise to you that I’m always on the lookout for an 80s night or even a tribute act now and again – but, in the end, it’s all about the experience, whatever the genre, both acoustic, plugged in, or a bit of both!
In conversations I’ve had with people in recent times as we get used to being able to hear each other again without fabric or cloth on our faces (if we choose) or the fact that we’re even together again(!), we almost need to remember, or even retrain ourselves, to share experiences and performances again.
We all adapted as best we could during the height of the pandemic.
I even knew one working musician near me who built a special shed in his garden (he called it his ‘summerhouse’), ran electricity through the garden (including extended ethernet cables) so he could live stream his own gigs.
They were great.
But now it’s time for those of us who wish to, to gather again to clap, cheer, boogie, bop, pogo(?) and singalong live, in unison, to the army of musicians who want to share their messages and joy with us.
Brian Eno put it nicely: “The emotional aspect is more important in live music.”
Well, I can’t wait.
You’ll find me at the front warmed up and ready to go!