Popshifter‘s Best Of Lists

My Top Five Gig Experiences of 2008

By Alex Gabriel-Bayston

Kylie Minogue
Photo © Alex Gabriel-Bayston

5. Kylie Minogue at Glasgow’s SECC; July 9, 2008: Yes, you read that right! One of my dearest friends is lucky and talented enough to have the job of being Kylie’s bass player, so when her X tour came to Scotland, I couldn’t justify not going. I have never been a fan of Kylie’s music, so I was unsure what to expect. Despite wanting to see my friend in action alongside one of pop’s biggest stars, the snobbier part of me was certain I would hate the gig. I am delighted to say I was wrong. The whole show was like going to an amazingly well choreographed musical. There were dancers, acrobats, tons of costume changes, wonderful visuals, and thousands of very excited fans. Going to the Kylie show taught me to be less snobby about pop music; that Kylie fans love Kylie just as much as Sparks fans love Sparks. She finished the show with “I Should Be So Lucky” which catapulted me back to my primary school disco, and my friend and I were boogieing away to that effect!

4. Sparks performing Kimono My House at the Islington Carling Academy; May 18, 2008: Despite the fact that the venue which housed the magnificent “Sparks Spectacular” is situated within the soulless locale of the N1 Centre (a mall), nothing could quell the anticipatory joy of Sparks fans getting to see their favorite band performing each of their 21 albums from start to finish. Kimono was an obvious choice when making the painstaking decision of which albums to attend. Judging by the rammed, sweaty turnout, it had been an obvious choice for many. I arrived with a friend (also a small female) and we were unable to get close to the stage, so our enjoyment of the show was somewhat hindered by not being able to see much. The music more than made up for it! The gleeful roaring and singalongs at this gig were a delight to behold and be a part of. My personal favorite section of the band’s performance was the last four songs on the album (“Talent is an Asset,” “Complaints,” “In my Family,” and “Equator”). “Complaints” was three frenetic minutes of toe-tapping ecstasy, and “Equator” required some serious audience participation, being a difficult song to perform live. I came away from the show buzzing, and very pleased that I had made the decision to attend two more of the shows in the Spectacular.

Russell Mael of Sparks
Photo © Sarah Halford-Fletcher

3. Sparks performing Indiscreet at the Islington Carling Academy; May 21, 2008: This gig was tinged with sadness for me, knowing that it was going to be the last of the Sparks Spectacular performances that I would get to see. This time we were really close to the front, on Ron’s side. The crowd was so enthusiastic, more so than at either of the other Sparks gigs I had attended that week. Everyone was singing along to every word! The incredible breath control which Russell displays on the recording of “Happy Hunting Ground” was an absolute inspiration live. They used a string section for “Under the Table with Her” and “It Ain’t 1918,” and a horn section for “Get in the Swing” and “Looks, Looks, Looks.” Before they launched into “Pineapple,” Russell said, “Out of the over 350 songs we’re playing on this tour, I wrote over. . . three of them!” During “Tits,” the backdrop showed lots of very old photos of the brothers Mael. I felt that the lyric from “Miss the Start, Miss the End” really summed up my whole Sparks Spectacular experience: “there are things to be loved and things to only attend, miss the start, miss the end.”

2. Sparks performing Propaganda at the Islington Carling Academy; May 20, 2008: I already reviewed this gig for Popshifter, so I shall only briefly rehash how incredible this performance was. Propaganda is, without question, one of my favorite albums, not just by Sparks, but of all time, by any artist. One standout moment, which I hope will stay with me for the rest of my life, was during the moving “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth.” Russell gestured at the audience when singing the line “Amen to anything that brings a quick return to my friends. . . to my friends!” I felt it accurately summed up the feeling of community that these gigs provided. Another unforgettable moment was Ron getting up from his seat during “Who Don’t Like Kids” and executing his famous Ron shuffle, before modestly saying he would never do it again! There was more fantastic audience participation during the splendid “Achoo.” All in all, it was truly a Sparktacular gig.

1. Leonard Cohen at Edinburgh Castle; July 16, 2008: Getting to see Leonard Cohen was, quite literally, a dream come true. Getting to see him in the grounds of my hometown’s castle was breathtaking. Leonard Cohen is a gentleman and a scholar. Despite his advanced age, he was full of energy. He was a charming, amusing, and thoughtful host. His performances ranged from tear-jerking to funky. Clad in his trademark fedora, he bounded around the stage like a man half his age. His banter was exceptionally entertaining. One of my favorite moments from the gig was during “Tower of Song”, when he sings the immortal line “I was born like this, I had no choice / I was born with the gift of a golden voice” and the crowd erupted with knowing cheers. His so-called golden voice has aged very gracefully, indeed. The gig was a very long one; none of us minded that despite it being an outdoor concert in July, we were getting rained on. But Leonard worried about us all catching our deaths. He seemed genuinely honored to be playing such an illustrious venue. I will treasure my memories of being able to see this iconic and brilliant songwriter for all my days, as it was one of the best gigs of my life, let alone 2008.

Leonard Cohen
Photo © Alex Gabriel-Bayston

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