26. The Bluetones – Exeter Cavern – 10/12/2003

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: Status Quo are heavy, unpredictable and exciting, and then two weeks later I see them and they're just fine. What do you do when you meet your heroes? I've met an upsettingly small number of mine, but judging by the two experiences that spring to mind, that's no bad thing. … Continue reading 26. The Bluetones – Exeter Cavern – 10/12/2003 →

25. Status Quo – Plymouth Pavilions – 27/11/2003

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: the All-American Rejects sucked... my blood! Also, they just sucked. Remember when I said it would get awkward remembering how much money I spent going to gigs when I was a student surviving on a few thousand pound a year? Well this is the third gig out of four I … Continue reading 25. Status Quo – Plymouth Pavilions – 27/11/2003 →

24. All American Rejects – Bristol Academy – 19/11/2003

Previously on Sweating With Strangers: Kelly Jones takes drugs and has a bad haircut in an Exeter cowshed. What makes a gig a bad gig? What makes anything a bad anything for that matter? Enjoyment? Expectation? Whose? Talent? Skill? Those are highly relative. I've been to gigs which many others could have argued were awful, but … Continue reading 24. All American Rejects – Bristol Academy – 19/11/2003 →

23. Stereophonics – Westpoint Arena, Exeter – 12/11/2003

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: Lifehouse get angry, but not too angry, there are records to sell after all. Who knew there was an arena in Exeter? Not me, that's for sure, until Stereophonics announced that their You Gotta Go There to Come Back tour would by swinging by Westpoint Arena while I was at uni … Continue reading 23. Stereophonics – Westpoint Arena, Exeter – 12/11/2003 →

22. Lifehouse – Birmingham Academy – 8/9/2003

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: Maroon 5's career and fame levels reach their peak, as they support Matchbox Twenty in front of a couple thousand Brummies and a large black curtain. In the second part of my September 2003 American Soft Rock Band Rearranged Gig Double Bill - catchy title - it's off to see … Continue reading 22. Lifehouse – Birmingham Academy – 8/9/2003 →

21. Matchbox Twenty – NEC Arena, Birmingham – 05/09/2003

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: a lovely evening out in Bristol is sullied by a 'fan' doing a Tigger impression. Sorry for the delay folks, I've been massively distracted by Brexit - true story. Luckily I saw dear old Roger Daltrey say it won't make a bit of difference, and as a live music blog … Continue reading 21. Matchbox Twenty – NEC Arena, Birmingham – 05/09/2003 →

20. Vega 4 – The Fleece, Bristol – 17/07/2003

Previously on Sweating With Strangers: the Bluetones spent 90 minutes trying to convince 21-year-old me to buy a cd, which is definitely the easiest sales pitch of all time. Street Teams: I've never been on one, even though it seems like the kind of thing I would do, but that's mainly because I don't much … Continue reading 20. Vega 4 – The Fleece, Bristol – 17/07/2003 →

17. Reel Big Fish – Oxford Zodiac – 06/09/2002

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: Bryan Adams is almost upstaged by Mr Courtney Cox climbing some rigging.Sorry, it's been quite a while since my last post. I got disheartened with this whole blogging lifestyle when Bryan Adams bizarrely failed to retweet my post in which I called one of his songs "utter pap".But I'm back … Continue reading 17. Reel Big Fish – Oxford Zodiac – 06/09/2002 →