16. Bryan Adams – Warwick Castle – 28/7/2002

Previously on Sweating With Strangers: I pad out an entire blog post worrying about whether or not it's okay to like music that the creators have since disowned. In my family, whenever Christmas or a birthday or any other big event rolls around, the default gift of choice for all family members is concert tickets. … Continue reading 16. Bryan Adams – Warwick Castle – 28/7/2002 →

15. Easyworld – The Cavern, Exeter – 8/5/2002

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: I begin my Wildhearts obsession, and their gig in Bristol takes the crown. Continuing our spring 2002 Easyworld/Wildhearts odyssey, it's time to get back to Eastbourne's favourite indie-pop-rockers - no, not Toploader. This is a gig about which I remember very little, except that I was certain it had happened, … Continue reading 15. Easyworld – The Cavern, Exeter – 8/5/2002 →

14. The Wildhearts – Bristol Academy – 28/04/2002

Previously on Sweating with Strangers - the Bluetones' guitarist may or may not be wasted, and I find a new favourite band. After first experiencing the musical stylings of David Ford in my previous post, it's on to another artist that would become a huge part of the later phases of my life. In fact, … Continue reading 14. The Wildhearts – Bristol Academy – 28/04/2002 →

13. The Bluetones – Lemon Grove, Exeter – 14/03/2002

Previously on Sweating with Strangers - the Beach Boys bring the rain, and I'm one ill-timed pee away from meeting my heroes. Where was I? Oh that's right, university! Yes, after 6 years in the Midlands I had failed to learn my own lesson about the proximity of decent gig venues and the availability of … Continue reading 13. The Bluetones – Lemon Grove, Exeter – 14/03/2002 →

11. Bon Jovi – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – 17/6/2001

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: Frenzal Rhomb disturb me greatly, and Less than Jake are less than memorable. Around the turn of the millennium, I started getting massively into a genre of music that I would kindly describe as white American males, singing sincere songs really well, and playing instruments brilliantly. Unfortunately, the wider world … Continue reading 11. Bon Jovi – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – 17/6/2001 →

10. Less than Jake – Birmingham Academy (Dale End) – 12/4/2001

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: the Stereophonics don't like any writers, and Turin Brakes' drummer doesn't like this one: So, here's the thing. The other day I was doing some prep work for future blog posts (yes, I prepare for them, don't look so surprised!), and I thought about how the first time I went … Continue reading 10. Less than Jake – Birmingham Academy (Dale End) – 12/4/2001 →

9. Stereophonics – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 24/3/2001

Previously on Sweating With Strangers: Status Quo take it real damn sloooow, and we bid farewell to drummer Jeff. An avid reader tells me "the world is praying for no more Status Quo for a while." Really? I think the world has been praying for something along those lines since 1978, and even death cannot … Continue reading 9. Stereophonics – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 24/3/2001 →

8. Status Quo – NEC Arena, Birmingham – 16/12/2000

Previously on Sweating with Strangers: Status Quo tease getting good again and playing Young Hodge's favourite song 14 months may be all that had passed between seeing Status Quo at the NEC Arena for the 3rd time and seeing Status Quo at the NEC Arena for the 4th time, but so very much had changed … Continue reading 8. Status Quo – NEC Arena, Birmingham – 16/12/2000 →

7. Status Quo – NEC, Birmingham – 16/10/1999

Previously on Sweating With Strangers: urination, deathly crushes and nationalism in South Wales. We've reached a banner year for this blog: 1999, the first year to feature 2 gigs, and therefore an early leader on this super cool graph: 2015 was fun Yes, after the eurphoric highs and pee-stained lows of my trip across the … Continue reading 7. Status Quo – NEC, Birmingham – 16/10/1999 →