Just spent four days in the North East. Managed to fit in a couple of nights with family, a lovely meal out at a local Italian, a nostalgic trip to the Metro Centre (not as impressive as we remembered after 20 odd years away) and an unexpected victory for the oldies at Trivia Pursuit.
Then over to Gateshead and a first trip to the beautiful Gateshead Sage to see Jackson Browne in concert. Understandably, plenty of stuff from the new album “Standing In The Breach”, which stood up well and a selection of material from his extensive back catalogue. A couple of choices out of left field (including a Warren Zevon song and the Danny Kortchmar penned ‘Shaky Town’) kept things fresh, as did arrangement variations for some of the old favourites. A little bit one paced in the first set maybe, but that couldn’t be said post interval and overall a show as excellent as you would expect from the great man. Very fine band as well.
Also managed to fit in a wander around Newcastle and a visit to a local genealogical society for Denise to try and dig out a bit more detail on one of her early 19th century ancestors. That proved fruitless, but she discovered another web site of interest that will undoubtedly result in goggle eyes and a few late nights of research.
An excellent trip, not at all spoiled by the rather tortuous and convoluted train journey home.