Save the venues.

Support your local music scene!

As some of you are aware I'm a huge supporter of my local music scene.

Although my town is pretty rundown and generally forgotten about there is one decent place that I love to go. That would be Central Station. I've been going to Central for years and they've never disappointed. I've seen some really awesome bands there including Black Stone Cherry, Puddle Of Mudd and Twin Atlantic... Among others. I find it mind boggling how I saw Black Stone Cherry at this 500 cap venue in my little town and in a couple of months I will be seeing them at Manchester Arena. That's just crazy! 

Central has a Sister venue just over the border in Chester which have also had some kick ass bands playing. I recently saw the legends that are The Misfits there.

Without the support these types of venues will shut down. I've read article after article about smaller venues having to shut down all over the uk. I'd hate for this to happen to these venues, especially since it's one of the last decent things around here. I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way about the venues in their town. 

Now as I said I'm a huge supporter of the local music scene. This doesn't just include the venues. Nope. I'm talking about independent music shops and bands too.

A few months ago it was World Record Store Day, a day to celebrate independent music shops.  

I went down to my local store bright and early to show my support and buy some records and CDs.

As for bands, I always try and check local artists out. If a local band is supporting a band I've gone to see I will get there early to check them out. After all bands have to start out somewhere. I've seen a lot of supporting bands who are so grateful to see some people there watching them, it may not be a lot but them few faces in the crowd probably mean so much to the band members. I love listening to new music and have gotten to know a fair few bands from seeing them support through to a headline gig. An amazing number of bands 'under the radar' have a great amount of talent, these smaller venues give them chance to showcase it and get their name out there. 

I really hope people keep supporting their local music scene. Don't let it die. Keep rocking. Keep supporting. \m/

Life of Grumpy Gig Kat

So I started this week doing what I do best..... gigging! I went to see Emily's Army (or ''Swimmers'' I should say) in Manchester. Very good gig I must say. I had no idea who the supports were before I got there but after they played I ended up signing up to their mailing lists and chatting to them. Wasters and Matt Grocott and The Shrives gained a new fan. I was pleased with Emily's Army's setlist it contained a mixture of old, new... middle songs :) They guys were really nice and stuck around to sign autographs and take pictures. Everyone formed a line to meet them. Time was running out, everyone had to be out the venue by 11pm. Emily's Army were kind enough to go outside in the rain to spend time with everyone so that people didn't miss out. It was my turn I was talking to them and Cole remembered me from the last time I'd seen them a year earlier. Pretty cool.

That was the start of my week. It's now Thursday and I'm craving another gig. I'm currently doing 12 days in a row in work. It is quite tiring due to having pallets involved in my job... fun. With it being Leeds/Reading FEstival this weekend, I keep thinking back to my experience at Leeds last year. I think I have a bit of post gig depression. I think that weekend could probably be described as one of the best weekends of my life and also one of my worst. I don't think I've ever seen that much mud. To be fair it was fun. That was my first festival experience and I went back to another one this year so it couldn't have been that bad.. right?

Truth be told, I wouldn't have even thought of going for the whole weekend if Green Day weren't there. I only bought my ticket when they got announced, and then I realized how good the rest of the line up was. Obviously Green Day were my favourite thing about the weekend. I mean how could someone not like hearing Dookie played in full, a very rare cover ''A Quick One'' (The Who) and a debut of a song.... on a 30 song setlist. YEAH... Pure Awesomeness.

Well that's me for now. If you're looking for me i'll just be over in the corner reminiscing about Leeds Fest 2013 having a major case of post gig depression.

See you soon,
Grumpy Gig Kat

Why I go to Gigs?

So I get asked this a lot and I thought it would be good to get my answer out there in detail as I know some people reading this will be able to relate.

First of all everyone knows I love going to Live events. For me it all started when I saw Green Day for the first time in 2009 at Manchester Arena. After that I looked for my favourite bands touring as I knew I wanted to go to more concerts.
Last year (2013) I reached my highest number of gigs in one year having been to 21 gigs. As I got a bit older and more independent I found it easier to go to concerts.

For me going to gigs is like therapy. It's a chance to just forget everything going on in life, all the rubbish you leave behind at home. You get to be in the same room/venue as the people who help you on a daily basis. You look up to these people and finally you are there witnessing the songs being played live. It's a feeling you can't even describe. It makes you feel good.

Secondly, people always say ''how can you afford to go to all these gigs?''. Simple answer is I see a lot of smaller, upcoming bands and I save for my favourite bands (which cost a little more for a ticket due to them being a big band playing an arena). Generally the tickets I buy cost under £20 some under £10 then say £20 tops for travel. So In actual fact I spend less that what a ''normal teenager'' going on a night out would. I've never been one for going on nights out anyway and gigs give me the chance to socialise and meet new people.

I have met many good people from going to gigs, most of which I speak to more than I do the people who live around my town.

For me, there's nothing like getting lost in the moment at a concert, singing, jumping, clapping, just being there, the atmosphere is incredible. Sometimes I just love seeing the crowd, I remember seeing Green Day at Emirates Stadium, the last song of the evening ''Brutal Love'' quite a slow paced song for Green Day really. Half way through the song lights at the back of me caught my eye. I turned my head so I could get a decent view, I saw what seemed like everyone with their phones/cameras in the air. Thousands of lights, the song that was being played, I just remember shaking my head like it was all a dream. Hands down one of the best things I've ever witnessed.

As I said before I love going to see smaller/ upcoming bands. I'm big believer in helping to support independent music venues and local bands. Everyone has to start somewhere and it's great to see the fresh talent.

Concerts are a big part of my life now. I really don't know what I'd do without them.  They are the things I look forward to, they are what I work towards. If I'm having a bad day, I often use one of my many gig memories to help me through. When I go to a concert I feel safe, I feel like a belong, a feeling I don't get very often.

I will continue to go to concerts, every bruise, every sore throat, every ache and pain the next day is so worth it.

-Grumpy Gig Kat... out! :)