17 posts tagged “mark ronson”

We get to the O2 and in the pouring rain I argue with the security to get under the building into the proper car parking area.   Ken meets us inside with our passes and we go and find Jo who is waiting outside the main entrance.   We find our seats in time to go and see Glasvegas who are opening on the tour.  I am impressed that there is such a big turnout this early to see them.   They look amazing as well, all of them have lost weight, and are looking stylish; Rab has jettisoned the trench coat and James is wearing a smart jacket.   He actually looks like Elvis Costello tonight that is until he strips down to a muscle man T-shirt and shows off ripped arms.  The set list is surprising as they throw Geraldine out first .   James is looking like a real star now though; I can start feeling very confident for the future.
   We grab a drink before coming back for Kings of Leon.  The screaming blows me away, I have never been to a concert where so many girls are losing it, clearly I need to get out more or move my roster around a bit.   It is a big deal to have the Kings back in London, this is the place that took them to their heart first and they know it.   For all of their international success we are still ahead of the game, selling 2 million records, a figure unimaginable for a rock band in 2009.   They have stepped up their game; the tracks sound amazing, lean raw.  There is a precise menace to “Crawl” a deliberate understated power here that is thrilling to watch.   Likewise “Pistol of Fire” it is slower and heavier than on record and way more exciting.  I could just sit back and watch each member of the band go through their paces, each of them is so compelling.   Nathan is particular is a drummer to rival any in the world.  I am so proud that Scarlet has been given sticks by the John Bonham of today.
"Fans" is so heartfelt, a song about the crowd that is giving up everything for the band.  When they perform “Sex on Fire” the screams go up another level, I didn’t think it could get this crazy.   “The Bucket” is magnificent; all of the tracks they pick off ”Aha Shake Heartbreak” arguably their most overlooked record go down a storm.   Mark leans across to me telling me how their songs have an incredible resonance in a room like this.   He is right, they are the last true stadium rock band on the way up, they have that quality that resounds with classic rock from the seventies and eighties.   I am so lucky to have it happen on my watch.  They are properly delivering tonight as well.   Watching Caleb and Matthew duke it out on duelling guitars is like something from the Allman brothers.
They encore with a matchless run, “Knocked Up” into “Closer” two of Jo’s favourite tunes, then into Revelry”, and finally “California Waiting” how good is that?  

I head across to The Bloomsbury Ballroom where Daniel Merriweather is launching his album.   I run into mark Beaven there, he is on great form.  Angie turns up after I told her to go home and go to bed.   I do love her rock and roll spirit though.  It is great to be returning to the scene of Ronson’s launch two years on.   Especially when it looks like we are going to do similar numbers to Mark’s record.  It all feels real.   The gig sold out very fast and whilst we have packed the place out with media there are plenty of kids going wild for Daniel.   He looks great, relaxing into himself a lot more, letting his real fighting and drinking personality slip out.   I am surprised he lets some of his bigger songs out so early in the set.  “Stop Me” is the second song and “Water to a Flame” is fourth.   Adele was supposed to turn up and perform but in the end it is Talia who comes out.   It all goes up a gear when Ronson joins him on stage looking a million dollars and they belt through “Change” and “Money in my Pocket” with this amazing American rapper that Mark has discovered.  "Red' goes down a storm.    They return with Andrew Wyatt from Miike Snow on keyboards to perform “Live By Night” the song they wrote together.  
 Backstage everyone is celebrating and smoking heavily  the dressing room.   Ronson is in a great mood and I am happy to just enjoy the moment.  He is nearly finished on Duran Duran and then starts work at last on his record.  He introduces me to his girlfriend and to Sam his sister.   I head back to join the party.