retiredmartin

9 May 2022.

Back in February I told you how Alix Page from Costa Messa, CA was dominating my Tidal playlist, and lo and behold 3 months she tips up in the UK supporting Gracie Abrams, who I’d bought a ticket for before Alix joined her tour. The sun shines on the righteous, even in Leeds.

For the homesick Yorkies, here’s some classic Leeds;

You’re right, it’s a bit quiet on the streets, even for a Monday, but a large queue snakes around the Wardrobe, previously the, er, wardrobe for the Playhouse.

Chris Dyson (young as he is) will be familiar with the feeling of being the token old bloke at a gig full of youngsters, but this was something else.

400 gig-goers, and ALL of them asked for ID by the cheery West Yorkshire bouncers. Except me.

This was the bar, 10 minutes before Alix took the stage.

Perhaps they’re all real ale drinkers, boycotting the Camden fizz, which I’m fairly sure was priced below a fiver, value fans.

And for the first time in memory, there is no queue for the Gents. At all.

It’s terrifying. I spot two blokes and stand near them in solidarity. They’re called Norman and Billy, (probably), chaperoning their 16 year old daughters Chloe and Emily (probably).

I buy a T-shirt, loosely modelled on a Hawkwind ’78 tour poster and get some free stickers, and will wear it to death once I lose a couple of stone and it fits.

Alix plays an acoustic set ; a little disappointing as her band drives the songs but it’s still wonderful aand when she’s bigger than Phoebe and Julia and Adele you’ll remember this post.

And this is the greatest single of the last year.

Or, at least I thought it was…