The Soundtrack to my Summer

In stereotypically British style, Summer turned up late and has hung around in spits and spurts this year. As such, concerns for my first gig of the season being outside were present and correct on the week running up to it. Even at lunchtime that day, as we sat eating warm, doughy flatbreads with crudités, hummus and tzatziki in the Real Greek in Westfield Stratford, rain drops splashed sporadically outside and my friend was talking through the options of what to wear "just in case". After a post-lunch glass of rosé though I was resolute - the weather would be glorious and I would only take sunglasses and my phone. And thankfully, my PMA was right.

Best Of You

I have seen the Foos perform live before, but in a very different setting. I used to work in production for the BBC and spent many a late night dancing in the fire lanes of TC1 (Studio 1) at what was then, BBC Television Centre, when working on episodes of Later...with Jools Holland. In November 2009 they performed a compilation of their hits thus far, ahead of releasing a new Greatest Hits album, and in the intimate setting of the studio, with a rapt audience that included Jay Z and Sting (what a combination), I was utterly mesmerised. Not least because of Dave Grohl's already legendary status in the music industry, but because their lyrics resonated with me. So seeing them again, 15 years later, in a 75,000 capacity stadium felt to me, the band's natural habitat. And I was not disappointed.

These Days

We had standing tickets, and after a painfully long time queue hopping to buy drinks (they kept running out when we got close the front!), I followed in the wake of my friend who artfully led us through the masses to a great view close to the front. As the band ran on stage the crowd roared as one, and when the first chords reverberated through the air, I found myself swept away in a tide of dedicated FF fans, singing and shouting along to All My Life. The energy and atmosphere, a fusion of laughter, cheers, and applause, felt like a big, warm hug that enveloped me in a world where time seemed to stand still, for three hours at least.

Times Like These

But the song that tipped me over the edge was My Hero. Already my favourite of the Foos now enormous back catalogue, so when Shane Hawkins took his seat behind the drums and started the familiar intro, I got goose bumps. There was a moment where he glanced up and the camera caught him looking around, saying "wow" to himself, as a 75,000 strong crowd took the vocals for the chorus and sang at him, sang it to the heavens for his dad. As we poured all our love for the music, for the band, for the missing heartbeat of the Foos into the night's sky; as the sun set overhead it felt like there was a little Taylor magic dusting over us all in the twilight. Not forgetting to mention the perfect combination of Everlong with a firework display as the encore? Talk about ending on a high!! 

These moments are the true essence of live performance, and something that is impossible to replicate or explain fully to those that weren't there, because nothing compares to the harmony and unity of a stadium crowd watching amazing musicians playing and singing their hearts out. 

Smile Like You Mean It

And as July rolled in, I was off to the O2 Arena to see The Killers. Having previously only seen them perform in television studio settings, I couldn't wait to see them in an arena.

It was 10 July 2024 and the England football team were playing in the Euros semi finals. For English people the general consensus was that this was a big deal; even non football fans (myself included) were feeling invested in the team. Everyone was hoping England would finally bring it home and the mood was buzzing with anticipation as I headed across London in glorious sunshine (I'm as surprised as you are by this two for two on good weather and gigs)! I had figured, if we win, I'll watch the highlights later, and if we lose - I will at least have had an amazingly distracted night.

Mr Brightside

An anthem in its own right, and one taken to the hearts of British pop culture over two decades ago; there was no better song The Killers could have picked as the backdrop to the England match result, than Mr Brightside.

Unbeknownst to the 20,000 fans already hopped up on nostalgia and their high energy set, The Killers later disclosed that they had planned to show the last few minutes of the match live and had prepped for all eventualities. As England secured their place in the Euros 2024 finals and a giddy kind of euphoria spread around the arena, an explosion of streamers and confetti in red and white burst over our heads and the band launched into Mr Brightside. Everyone was jumping and singing as one. An utterly unforgettable moment in an already amazing night - there was no other place on earth I would have wanted to be. 

Whilst hundreds of clips and photos of that moment went viral online, it was the sensation of being in that crowd as that band sang that song, which made it still such a personal memory. 

Just Sing

The true magic of live music lays in what it evokes in you. The incredible warm up for The Killers at the O2 were Travis, and as it happens I was given two tickets to see them in a small venue in Kingston the week after the O2 Arena.

On another gorgeously sunny day (I know what I said at the top of this blog - what can I say, I'm lucky with weather at gigs it would seem!) I travelled into Kingston to meet a friend for a rooftop sundowner near the venue before heading in to watch Travis' second show of the evening. They were doing these gigs to promote their newly released album L.A Times plus a tour at the end of this year. I loved how they came out and chatted and laughed with the crowd, how frontman Fran Healy showed off his new black patent shoes that he said he had coveted for years and when touring with The Killers made him think he needed to up his wardrobe game, he finally bought them!

Their set felt powerful but intimate, we were in the hands of seasoned pros who would melodically guided us through old and new songs with care and a flourish. My favourite of the new songs is The River with uplifting lyrics and roots in Gaelic folk it feels anthemic. I hope it gets the accolades it deserves. 

The standout moment for me though was hearing them play Driftwood live. Normally I would sing along to songs I know, smiling and singing is my go-to move. For the few songs that echo in my heart I stand and watch and just 'feel' the music in the moment. Driftwood is one such song and it took my breath away when they started playing it, more so because until that moment I had forgotten what it meant to me. It took me back to where I grew up, back to the people who were there, back to the person I was and the memories I made with Driftwood in the background. 

Music is woven into my life so intrinsically that I did not even notice how every room in my home (and I do mean every room) has a speaker in it, until someone commented on that fact recently! Like a scent can remind you of a person, place or time, music can sweep me back to a moment as if I am standing on the edge of the memory, watching it invisibly from the sidelines. So whilst it's still 'only July' and the Summer has barely started, I cannot wait to add to my ever expanding Summer 2024 soundtrack of live music memories.