A one-line review of every gig I’ve been to in December 2024

This monthly series is probably more for my benefit than yours, but maybe your interest will be piqued by one of the reviews. Maybe you’ll scroll straight past. Maybe you’ll unsubscribe thinking what did I see in this blog in the first place? You can find all of my one-line gig reviews here.

Rein, Electric Ballroom, Camden, 8 Dec – The aesthetic was “Wednesday Addams rocks up to play electroclash while Tron is on in the background” so if you’ve met me, you’ll know that was very much in my wheelhouse …

[The very enjoyable Rein at the Electric Ballroom, Camden]

Front 242, Electric Ballroom, Camden, 8 Dec – Seemingly a gathering of the league of bald-headed men on and off the stage, I first saw shouty electronic Belgian noiseniks Front 242 at the Astoria in 1989, haven’t to be honest listened to them much in the intervening 35 years, but saw they were doing a farewell tour and felt it churlish not to go. A great time was had by all. Altogether now, “One, you lock the target. Two, you bait the line. Three, you slowly spread the net. And four, you catch the man!”

[Front 242 at the Electric Ballroom, Camden]

Sophie Ellis-Bexter, Wembley Arena, London, 14 Dec – Not really my cup of tea, but blimey, does she know how to work getting an arena up and dancing. Like a Joe Wicks’ workout but with added Abba tunes.

The Human League, Wembley Arena, London, 14 Dec – This leaned a bit more into stuff from the late 1980s and early 1990s than when I’ve seen them before, but there’s also nothing quite like watching the majority of Wembley Arena become completely baffled by them launching into Empire State Human. Truly an amazing catalogue of hits and great, great sing-a-long fun.

[The Human League at Wembley Arena]

Incidentally, during the song Louise, I always get over-emotional during the verses, imagining what would happen if I randomly bumped into some of the people I’ve previously dated but not seen for decades, and then that godawful squeaky keytar solo comes in and the reverie is completely smashed.

[Just sayin’]

Paul McCartney, O2 Arena, London, 18 Dec – By the grace of god what an absolute miracle it is to be lucky and privileged enough to get to see Paul McCartney singing Beatles songs from 1963 onwards in the year of our lord 2024. A show of poignant memories and absolutely unbridled joy. There is you, Paul McCartney, and 19,999 other people all singing along to Let It Be, Hey Jude, Get Back, Love Me Do, Drive My Car, Got To Get You Into My Life, Maybe I’m Amazed, Band On The Run, Live And Let Die, Lady Madonna, Something, Can’t Buy Me Love … the list of timeless classics is just endless. Incredible show.

[Paul McCartney (with John and Ringo on the big screen) at the O2 Arena]

Charley Stone and the Actual Band, The Lexington, Islington, 30 Dec – The felt like a much rockier harder-edged incarnation of the Actual Band, topped off with a riotously fun version of Madonna’s Material Girl.

[Charley Stone and the Actual Band at the Lexington]

Ye Nuns, The Lexington, Islington, 30 Dec – I don’t really know The Monks’ stuff beyond that they were scratchy proto-punk and Mark E Smith liked them, but Ye Nuns has several people I know in the band and looked like it would be great end of year fun and I was not wrong, and it the lovely symmetry that on stage was Charley Stone, the first act I saw in 2024 and part of the last act I saw in 2024.

[Ye Nuns at the Lexington]

Here’s to going to many more gigs in 2025 – already booked in on the heritage side of things I am expecting to see Kraftwerk, Duran Duran, ABC, the Manics and the Human League for the umpteenth times, and also looking forward to seeing some artists for the first time, including Helen Gayna, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Pill, and I’m also booked to see a few of my favourite current artists including Desperate Journalist and the Anchoress. Maybe I’ll see you at one of those? Happy new year!

Find all of my one-line gig reviews here.