I had an amazing year of gigs in 2018, which is pretty impressive considering how many I missed due to ill health (never going to get over missing the Manics’ Resistance Is Futile tour, quite honestly). Here are my top 5 of the year. The top 2 sit comfortably amongst the best gigs I’ve ever been to in my life.
pet shop boys
Pet Shop Boys at the Royal Opera House, Wednesday 25th and Saturday 28th of July, 2018
The Pet Shop Boys are where everything begins for me, when it comes to music. I don’t remember the exact date, but it was some time in the middle of 1988 that I borrowed my mum’s cassette of “Actually”, and suddenly, music became the most important thing in the world. So attending two shows at the Royal Opera House in the middle of 2018 felt like the perfect way for me to celebrate 30 years of Pet Shop Boys fandom.
All the gigs of my life: Gig 16 – Pet Shop Boys, Monday, June 16, 1997, Savoy Theatre
In June 1997 the Pet Shop Boys unveiled “Somewhere”, a three week residency at the Savoy Theatre. So of course I went along to see them!
All the gigs of my life: Gig 3 – Pet Shop Boys, Tuesday, November 01, 1994, Perth Entertainment Centre
“It’s only now, as midnight approaches, that I realize how many songs they didn’t play. I’m barely able to breathe let alone move or walk. I may never listen to guitar music again.”
This gig marked my introduction into the most joyous and life-affirming experience that I have ever known: seeing one of my all-time favourite bands live. As such, it was a pretty important day.
