Ticket
The Apollo
8th June 2015

This was one of my favourite gigs of 2015, and one of my favourite gigs of all time.

I wasn't sure about buying a ticket at first - I'm a bit suspicious of the whole 'album anniversary' circus - but I'm so glad I took a punt on Patti.

As soon as those immortal words 'Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine' rang out I was in raptures. The arrangements were faithful - mischievous at times, with 'Land', for example, circling back into a rabble rousing 'Gloria' reprise. (How we roared!) It was only on the second play of Gloria that we were treated to that world-conquering solo drum fill we know and love (5 mins into the LP).

I was surprised by how powerful Patti's presence was (I shouldn't have been) and how slinkily she moves. I know from her books how funny she is, and on this night she was letting rip in all departments.

She raged and ranted throughout the track 'Horses' about poor ol' Johnny still crashing his his against that locker after all these years '...still in that same fucking hallway!' What an image!

During 'Elegie' she listed the many people she's lost in her life: Fred 'Sonic' Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe, etc. As she continued her poignant litany someone rather unfortunately shouted 'FRANK SIDEBOTTOM'! Very much your typical Manchester heckler moment. Funny/cringey.

But a heckler also struck gold by requesting 'Piss Factory' from which we scored a thrilling excerpt:

"Sixteen and time to pay off
I got this job in a piss factory inspecting pipes
Forty hours thirty-six dollars a week
But it's a paycheck, Jack!"

As a teenager I was always struck by the line in 'Horses' about the sea of possibilities. That's how I felt about life at that time. Now I see it as more of a puddle (at best). But at the Apollo, Patti made me believe again in that sea opening out before me... I carried the feeling home with me...for a few days anyway.

This gig was made even more special by the crew I went out with - some of my oldest, dearest and loudest friends and family. An unforgettable night.