retiredmartin

October 2024. Birmingham.

October 28th had been the highlighted date in my calendar all year, the day I finally get to see my hero(ine) after two (2) failed attempts due to parental disasters and a tour cancellation.

It had looked very likely Monday would see another disaster with Mum still recovering in Addenbrookes, but Mrs RM kindly stayed in Waterbeach in case she was unexpectedly discharged at 2:30am, giving me the respite needed to find my way out of the maze that is Birmingham New Street (a mere 12 minutes today),

admire the view from the 5th floor of my B & B chain hotel

and joined a queue of 3,000 women (and 300 boyfriends in tow) for Lizzy McAlpine at the 02.

https://twitter.com/333toowell/status/1850925186108801364

Or perhaps I was a day too early (or 43 years too late) for Claire Grogan.

Not gonna lie, even as that lone Old Bloke who enjoys a lot of young female singer-songwriters, I was a bit scared. Mrs RM was no help.

Some of Lizzy’s young audience seems due to a 32 second clip of a sped up version of a deep cut off her last album which prompted millions of 22 year old women to dress up and prance about to.

@queen_astraea

@Mystic Fate 🏰🗡👑 catching me sprinting to their Dark Dominion Ball on October 28th. But, like, aesthetically. #queen #ball #ceilingstrend #ceilingslizzymcalpine #mysticfateevents

♬ original sound – 👑Queen Astraea👑

That album, “Five Seconds Flat“, was basically the soundtrack to my epic completion of the Scottish GBG in 2022.

This year’s stunning “Older” gets a tour with seated band straight out of blokey Americana,

astonishing sound, particularly at this set closer,

and many, many, tears from this Old Bloke as Lizzy sings about her dad dead in his 50s and a mum getting older. To the utter relief of the women around me, I only sing along with “Soccer Practice”, of which more later.

Five years ago my other musical hero Julia Jacklin asked a Moseley audience “What’s Birmingham famous for ?” and got the expected answer;

I’m not sure Lizzy McAlpine is yet in “Turns water into wine” territory, but give it time.

In 2022 I noted “A touch of Joni” in Lizzy’s music, and in Brum she brings us a gorgeous cover of “The Circle Game“, which I am the only one in an audience of 3,300 old enough to recognise.

One of Joni’s most famous lines is this one from Tin Alley;

“In a Bleecker Street cafe
I found someone to love today
I found someone to love today”

“Bleecker Street”, NY isn’t too far from “Blucher Street”, Brum,

a route that would have led me to this gem post-gig;

But, as you know, I headed for Bass in the Woodman.