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Critic's choice: top 5 gigs
By David Smyth 22.06.07
Aerosmith headline at Hyde Park Calling
Bon Jovi opens to O2 Arena
Iron Maiden will play the Brixton Academy
David Smyth gives us his top five gigs happening in London this weekend including Hyde Park Calling, Jarvis Cocker and Bon Jovi at the O2 Arena.
Hyde Park Calling
Hyde Park
The big names just keep on coming to Hyde Park. Following last week's Wireless Festival, the same set-up remains for two more huge shows featuring the rarely seen and rather talented Peter Gabriel plus newly reformed Crowded House (Sat), and long absent rock sleazebags Aerosmith (Sun). Support acts including the Feeling and Chris Cornell make up the numbers.
(0870 400 0688) Sat 23, Sun 24 Jun. 2pm
Bon Jovi
02 Arena, SE10
The first gig at what we all really must learn to stop calling the Dome, this set from the veteran rockers should kick off the building's reinvention in fine fist-pumping style. The band have gone a bit country of late, but still have a way with a big chorus.
(0870 534 4444) Sun 24 Jun. 6pm
Iron Maiden
Brixton Academy, SW9
Rarely seen out of the arenas and stadiums, the metal pioneers scale things down as far as possible with this one-off charity show in aid of
former drummer Clive Burr's MS Trust Fund. It's the last chance to see them in this country for at least a year.
(0870 771 2000) Sun 24 Jun, 7pm.
John Fogerty
Wembley Arena, HA9,
Biggest London date in years for the former Creedence Clearwater Revival man and, lest we forget, composer of Rockin' All Over the World, whose roaring voice remains one of rock's most familiar.
(0870 060 0870) Fri 22 Jun, 6.30pm
Meltdown: Jarvis Cocker
Royal Festival Hall, SE1
Jarv provides the grand finale to his own party, following a week of his favourite bands on the South Bank for his Meltdown festival. At recent live dates he's been concentrating on his newer solo material, but maybe he'll break out the Pulp stuff for this special occasion.
(0871 663 2500) Sat 23 Jun, 7.30pm
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'I've fallen in love with a Yorkshireman' was the cheeky intro. by the organiser of Meltdown, at last night's closing gig, by the man himself, Jarvis Cocker.
By the end of the night, it was clear that almost everyone else has too.
Despite a recent tour and the stress of directing this year's Meltdown which he later commented had turned him into a 'nervous wreck', the 'Unstoppable Jarv' was full of energy, dancing like a 10 year old at a wedding, writhing about on the floor and leaping to an unfeasable height for a man of 43.
This evening was billed as a chance for his recent abum to be performed with the full instrumentation, so at intervals, Jarvis politely introduced a string section, choir and at one point, a cameo appearance by ex- Pulp member Candida Doyle- to help him create the lovely atmospherics needed for songs such as 'Quantum Theory.'
Highlights included his touchingly minimal xylophone playing during 'Baby's Coming Back to Me', and the hilariously inappropriate cover of encore 'Eye of the Tiger', complete with stage invasion.
Jarvis, we salute you!
- M Lindsay, Sevenoaks, England
