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

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? Now with added musical notes for icons.

Nadine Shah, Audley End, the middle of effin’ nowhere, 1 Aug – She must be doing something right as she is now tied as the artist I’ve seen the fifth-most times in my entire life alongside Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk, Super Furry Animals and *checks notes* Jesus Jones. As intense a performance as usual, despite it being a light lovely evening outside a stately home. Finished with a passionate version of Way Out calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Nadine Shah at Audley End

Johnny Marr, Audley End, the middle of effin’ nowhere, 1 Aug – The absolute warmth and love for Johnny Marr doing Smiths’ songs from the crowd was something to behold. His solo stuff is fine too, live, and great to get one of Electronic’s hits, but it was How Soon Is Now? and There Is A Light That Will Never Go Out that will live in memory.

One of these Johnny Marrs at Audley End is big, the other Johnny Marr is far away

Suede, Audley End, the middle of effin’ nowhere, 1 Aug – I know I’d only seen them a couple of weeks before on that double bill with the Manics, but I truly believe Brett when he says Autofiction is their best album – so why not catch them live again at this sparkling moment in their career?

Suede at Audley End

On the Heritage Live website it advises you not to travel by foot from the venue to the train station after the gig as it is an unlit B-road. But I had walked there in the afternoon in the blazing sunshine after a few pints at a local pub, and thought this will be fine, it is paved, not sure what the fuss is etc etc …

… Ho ho ho what an absolute death trap that was in the dark on the way back, that’ll learn me^*.

Suki Waterhouse, Wembley Stadium, London, 17 Aug – I hadn’t realised she was on the bill at this Taylor Swift show so this was a bonus as I’ve had Supersad on my playlists recently. Unfortunately she had a super-short set and didn’t play that or any of the other miserable stuff she does, but I enjoyed her upbeat numbers anyway.

Suki Waterhouse at Wembley Stadium

Paramore, Wembley Stadium, London, 17 Aug – I went into this armed with my dismissive “I guess this is the closest I’ll ever get to seeing No Doubt at Wembley” quip but actually they were very good, have been taken to heart by the Swifties, loads of whom were word perfect for this set, they played their surprisingly faithful version of Burning Down The House, and a good time was had by all.

Points off Hayley for spitting on stage though – this isn’t Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976 – Taylor and her team have got to sing and dance on that floor you know.

Paramore at Wembley Stadium

Oh, and a shout out to Taylor Swift’s handling of the support acts, I’ve been at plenty of stadium and arena shows where the other acts don’t get to use the runway or the full video rig or whatever, but Suki Waterhouse and Paramore both got to use the full extent of the stage, full width of the screen etc etc.

And then …

Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium – Lover era

Taylor Swift, Wembley Stadium, London, 17 Aug – What can you say about this? Not just a gig, the scale and production is more like an Olympic opening ceremony than a concert.

Aside from having liked her stuff from Red and 1989 onwards, I wanted to see this because it feels the same as having gone to see Michael Jackson and Madonna and Prince and George Michael back in the day – it is the biggest ticket in town for the artist who is dominating the pop landscape at the moment.

Of course it is incredibly tightly choreographed – and I had seen the cinema show last year so was well-versed on what to expect – and more like watching a stage musical than a band, but the way fans have woven lore around the songs, around Taylor, and around the tour is amazing to experience. I don’t think I’ve ever been in such a large enthusiastic crowd that wholeheartedly loved an artist so much. Such a good welcoming vibe with the fans down the front as well – no toxic cliques here.

Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium – Folklore/Evermore era

I was right down the front and at times it was just mind-boggling thinking about how one of probably the top five most famous people in the western world was literally a few metres away.

Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium – The Tortured Poets Department era

Incredible show. Long though. I chose the middle-aged man option of skipping out before the last three songs and avoiding the travel chaos.

A personal send off from Taylor Swift as I sneak out while Anti-Hero is finishing during the closing Midnights era section of the show

^*I have learned nothing.

Find all of my one-line gig reviews here.