Autumnal gigs and a sliver of a holiday

Autumn’s probably my favourite season. I’m not sure if it’s because my birthday’s in October and I’m narcissistic; because after the relaxing heat of the summer the freshness of the breeze and the clarity of the light are just wonderful; because I’m a sucker for the bittersweet romanticism of the point just past ripeness; because, like anyone in these climes who’s had a fling with Psilocybe semilanceata that lasted more than a year, the season becomes the year’s distinct highlight; or maybe it’s the gigs.

Of course also it’s the start of the educational year, and the Celtic year too. The former gives us an overflow of rambunctiousness as all that youthful energy converges (especially evident when I was living in the student-saturated Hyde Park area of Leeds), and the latter gives us Samhain/Halloween, arguably the funnest popular seasonal celebration of the year. I think being at university kick-started a real feeling of excitement about autumn, there being some concentration of good gigs to break the freshers in. Then, moving to the university area of Leeds after graduation, with the student’s union hall being the site of many great autumnal gigs, fuelled by fresh Liberty Caps, the whole thing got consolidated.

I remember one October week in ‘95 seeing trance techno hippies Astralasia, global rhythm freaks Loop Guru, and the just-nascent Chemical Brothers. All three were astonishing gigs, the latter being one of my favourite Dionysian freak-outs I’ve ever been to.

Last year there was a similarly good trio, this time three nights in a row seeing Julian Cope, Jane’s Addiction (their Halloween bash at Brixton Academy), and the marvellous Legendary Pink Dots. 2001 I remember being especially great, too, with Diamanda Galas doing her voodoo blues bit, La Serpenta Canta, at the Royal Festival Hall, Laurie Anderson (not the best gig but it was great to finally see her), Spiritualized, and a fantastically inspiring Lydia Lunch.

And this year’s shaped up to be a real humdinger (and wallet-destroyer): the latest incarnation of Psychic TV at the Forum (which could go either way in terms of greatness), Primal Scream and Spiritualized together at Brixton, and The Polyphonic Spree at the Astoria.

Then along comes Tom Waits, playing his first UK gig since 1987 (a good few years before I got into him). He’s always been on my "have to see" list, so even the fucking silly door price of £55 (before those pesky fees) couldn’t put me off. Trying to get through to the Ticketmaster servers at 9am this morning as most boozy bohemians in the UK tried to do likewise nearly scuppered my chances. But despite the craziness that saw the gig selling out within half an hour, I managed to grab tickets. I’m looking forward to it like you wouldn’t believe.

But for now, looks like I’m breaking my post-a-day habit for a little sojourn in Cambridge to visit a friend, and share a much-needed, if alarmingly brief, holiday for us both. I’ll leave you with a commemorative home page, and catch you in a couple of days.