PCN Gallery Review
2019 Memories
As 2019, Patchchord News’s 4th year, draws to a close, let’s take a look back at some of our special music memories. Our contributors have been busier than ever this year so grab yourself a festive treat and settle in to reflect, with a random snapshot of our good times.
“It was an amazing experience being able to shoot Alice and Nita. Alice of course, an icon of rock and Nita has many years ahead of her. I loved the juxtaposition of young and old but both rocking as hard!” – Raymond Thomson (Contributing Editor- Reviewer and Photographer)
“Duncan Reid and the Big Heads – This picture just epitomised the bands performance at Rebellion. An album cover if ever I saw one.” – Raymond Thomson (Contributing Editor- Reviewer and Photographer)
“One of my first highlights of the year was photographing Chvrches ‘Love is Dead Tour’ in their hometown of Glasgow this February. They played an outstanding show at the SSE Hydro. Lauren Mayberry’s performance was stunning.” Martin Bone (PCN Editor-in-Chief)
“TRNSMT was a great set of two days; there was too much to mention and hopefully will be a regular date for me. It is hard to pick out just one moment but I think the crowds were really fantastic to photograph and certainly when DMAs were playing. I am now a fan of the DMAs. Lewis Capaldi was brilliant and made another great front cover for the PCN magazine.” Martin Bone (PCN Editor-in-Chief)
“The National at ‘Summer Nights’ at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Bandstand left me speechless. What a perfect way to spend a Scottish summer- quite literally dripping wet yet filled with musical warmth. Gig highlight for me has to be their heartfelt tribute to Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison – ‘My Backwards Walk’ – a sorrowful moment filled with pure love.” – Kerrin Carr (Reviewer and Photographer)
“KISS played in Glasgow, Scotland this July. As the show came to an end Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer were gently lowered to the stage as the fireworks, confetti, tickertape, balloons and flame throwers all came together in one final display of the outlandish stage set KISS brought with them. It would be very hard to explain this show to someone who has never heard of KISS but, then again, who has never heard of KISS. Afterall, they remain the hottest band in the world in terms of music, spectacle and the sheer amount and frequency of flame throwers they had with them. What a show!” – Gavin Ross (Reviewer and Photographer)
“By the time Skunk Anansie hit the stage, the Corn Exchange was heaving. Any young woman looking for a role model need look no further than Skin – she is fierce, beautiful, scary, vulnerable, powerful, dramatic, explosive and giggly all at the same time. And her voice is as immense as ever. Fittingly, she emerged in an outfit created by Craig Lawrence they called The Fireball, a massive coat made of hundreds of strips of gold and silver metallic tape. After some serious prowling, swooshing and glittering (Grace Jones very much comes to mind), she threw it off to reveal a Skin who hasn’t aged at all in the 20 years since this writer last saw her. She proceeded to overwhelm the audience with her unique brand of charm, at one moment African warrior queen pumping out aggressive loud screamy rock, the next commanding circle pits in her very high, surprisingly gentle voice.” Naomi Dryden-Smith (Contributing Editor- Reviewer/ Photographer)
“The crowd were then taken back to the early days as Shirley reminded us that she had been performing for over 30 years, first with the band Good-bye Mr McKenzie and for the last 20 years+ with the band Garbage. Shirley then stripped off the cloak and commenced to sing Stupid Girl, an early-days hit for the band. Still fresh from the band’s 20th Anniversary tour last year the next two tracks were taken from the band’s most successful 2ndalbum Version 2.0 released in 1998. These tracks were backed with Shirley’s voice being echoed through the sound system and had the crowed singing back.” Hugh Connell (Reviewer)
“For me, one of my gig highlights this year has been Snow Patrol at Usher Hall, Edinburgh this December. It was very last minute but what a superb live show. I stayed singing all night.” Steve Gunn (Photographer)
“Magnum’s Live At The Symphony Hallalbum is a double live album of pure quality. Its been on my turntable throughout the year and never ceases to wow. So its of no surprise that my gig of the year would be Magnum at The Apex, Bury. Some of the songs are over 30 year old, but there is no doubt that the energy, skill and musicianship of the guys on stage are still delivering the goods in emphatic style. Improving like a fine wine.” Steve Ritchie (Contributing Editor – Reviewer and Photographer)
“A special mention should also go to Rodrigo y Gabriela. Supremely talented, the pair filled the Eventim Apollo with grace and aplomb. Their performance is quite unique, yet totally engrossing and moving. A single Youtube video moved my wife to tears. If you’ve not caught these yet, you are missing out on something special.” Steve Ritchie (Contributing Editor – Reviewer and Photographer)
“The Specials gig at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom in May this year was my first show for PCN. The Glasgow crowd couldn’t get enough! It was a brilliant stage set-up; in fact, the band recently charity auctioned off the placards created by the band’s Horace Panter and Terry Hall.” Stephen Wilson (Reviewer and Contributor)
“For me, Skinny Lister closing out their tour with a hometown show at the Electric Ballroom, London was possibly the best and most exciting show I attended all year. It had everything – top support acts, crowd surfing galore, and even a guest appearance by Frank Turner – and the atmosphere was truly electric. I left the venue buzzing and am still buzzing a bit now.” Paul Dubbelman (Reviewer and Photographer)
“Another memory from me, and mainly because it is one of my best images of the year, was Ana Popovic at the now sadly-missed Borderline in London. Ana’s was the last show I shot there before it closed its doors at the end of August.” Paul Dubbelman (Reviewer and Photographer)
“Three shows stand out as my favourite of 2019. Gretchen Peters is always a joy to see live. Her beautiful voice mixed with her brilliant songwriting this year had the added bonus of a string quartet. Definitely a highlight of my year. Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was released in 1998, and to celebrate its 21st aniversary she played the album in its entirity giving background to the writing of all songs. A true joy to witness and interesting to hear more about Lucinda’s life and her writing process. Colter Wall is a young man with an old voice. Mix with that songs that simultaneously feel old and new, he is brilliant live. His band complement the music beautifully and resulted in a great night.” Claire Stones – Reviewer and Photographer
“My two favourite concerts I shot this year in Toronto, Canada was Greyson Chance at The Mod Club Theatre, and The Menzingers at The Phoenix Concert Theatre. It was a surreal experience watching how Greyson Chance becoming a performer of himself ever since he was a viral hit in the past. The Menzingers was a crazy, but exhilarating experience filled with crowd surfing, and the crowd singing to every words.” – Andrew Wu (Reviewer and Photographer)
Thank you to ALL our 2019 contributors! And, of course, thank you to all our readers– we hope you have had as much fun reading our reviews and viewing our galleries as we have had creating them. Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2020. Keep watching this space for more exciting PCN times, coming very soon…
Article includes content from Raymond Thomson, Martin Bone, Kerrin Carr, Gavin Ross, Naomi Dryden- Smith, Steve Gunn, Hugh Connell, Steve Ritchie, Stephen Wilson, Paul Dubbelman, Claire Stones, John Brown, Andrew Wu and Ralph Fitzgerald.
