2004 got to be black!

Tuesday 5th August 2004

Friday night was brilliant. Went to see Roy Ayers and the African Jazz Allstars at the Drum in Newtown. He was great and it was so heart-warming to see such a legend. That was also a negative in one sense, as the Drum wasn't really fit to host the event. This guy deserves a better, more prominent stage. Having said that, I guess the social significance of this black community venue suited the African nature of the set, a timely compliment to the Fela Kuti month being held at the Barbican, where Ayers was due to play the following night. He's quite old but he was jovial throughout and danced, albeit tentatively, at various points. He played Africa Centre Of The World and Black 2000 as well as Everybody Loves The Sunshine and Keep On Trying. I went with Tshepi who loved it so much she couldn't stop thanking me and Sean from work who also loved it.

Sunday night continued my good streak. Went to see Dead Man's Shoes on my own at UGC Broad St. Hugely dark and frankly disturbing, it moved me like nothing else could. I couldn't sleep that night. The music was stunning - Adem, Calexico, Aphex Twin, Arvo Part, Bonnie'Prince' Billy. Paddy Considine is a special actor. It truly depicted the English small town moron thing.

On Monday I went to see James' first gig proper at the Chestnut Tree in Sheldon, a dive of a place if ever there was one. He did ok, a few of his new songs sounded pretty good. He did a Jesse Malin song, Springsteen's Nothing Man. His finger picking wasn't great and it inhibited him from concentrating on his voice, which was really good in places. Made it back for Sopranos and a short film by Shane Meadows.