Live music in 2015

So as anyone who read my previous post will know, 2015 has been a bit of a landmark year for me. Weddings are a life changing moment for anyone and so much of the first half of 2015 was dedicated to planning and preparing for the big day. That being said 2015 has also been a bit of a landmark year for me in terms of live music. I've been watching bands since I was 16 and I struggle to think of a year when I've had such a vintage year of gig going. Why you ask? I suppose I should just start from the beginning...

Who: Queen + Adam Lambert
Where: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
When: 13th January

What better way to start the year than to watch my favourite band of all time (the classic line up at least) with their latest charismatic frontman? It's a shame that Freddie left us too soon but I for one love the fact that Brian May and Roger Taylor still tour the world performing the songs we love. Anyone who read my previous post late last year will know that despite my love of Queen that I had had reservations due to the hefty price tag. However as predicted it was a truly fantastic night. Brian and Roger were as always on fantastic form and Adam Lambert was a revelation. The band had rang in the New Year on BBC1 so that had already whet me appetite. However by the time the band hit the stage performing mid-80's cut 'One Vision' I was already at fever pitch. Queen's years with Paul Rodgers were fantastic but his bluesy style eliminated the opportunity to perform classics such as 'Killer Queen' and 'Don't Stop Me Now'. Adam Lambert ticked them all off like it was effortless. Roger taking the mic to sing 'It's A Kind of Magic' was of course a personal highlight for me and Freddie's appearances on the big screen were truly chilling in the best way possible. If Brian and Roger decide to call it a day after this tour, they've wrapped it up in style!

Who: Steel Panther
Where: O2 Apollo Manchester
When: 6th March

This particular gig will always hold a special place in my heart as it also kicked off my stag weekend! In fact the gig was my entire reason for picking Manchester as my stag weekend location. My best man and two of my groomsmen joined me a day early to catch Steel Panther (surely the quintessential stag do band) who were promoting their 'All You Can Eat' album.

I should probably point out at this point that Kimbo (the bloke randomly peeking out of the bottom right hand corner had NEVER heard the band before. I don't mean he was a casual fan. He had literally never heard a Steel Panther song before. He'd only come as it was part of the stag weekend. Seriously commendable if you ask me. Oh boy did he not realise what was coming...

In a rare moment for me personally we missed the support acts that night. We were too busy having some drinks and generally being stag like. We made sure not to miss the Panther though. They took the stage... well after shooing off some dwarf lookalikes who'd made the stage before them. The hilarity continued in earnest as they took tracks from all three of their hilarious albums to create a setlist that would challenge most metal bands today. The moment I'll never forget? When the band performed their latest single at the time; the blatantly titled 'Gloryhole'. What was so unforgettable? Well first off (if you're not easily offended... I'm serious!) watch this video below... go ahead I'll wait.

 What do you think? Pretty crazy right? Even if you're not easily offended that might just do it. Imagine that video being played on two MASSIVE screens while the band performs it. Then imagine my good friend Kimbo watching said video on two MASSIVE screens. I will never forget the look on his face. I'm sure he's still judging me to this day. Having said that when I asked him at the end of the show what he thought of the gig his reply was priceless:

"Well it was good... not as good as the Big Reunion though!"

Wow... just wow.

Who: Black Stone Cherry
Where: The Garage, Glasgow
When: 11th June

So this was actually the 6th time I've seen Kentucky's finest (and I'll be making it 7 in February) but they never fail to disappoint. I'd go as far to say that this was actually the greatest gig I've EVER been to.

My wife and I made the trip to Glasgow to see the Cherry warm up for Download. My birthday was the next day and this gig doubled as a birthday celebration/second honeymoon (or as we dubbed it 'Honeygig'). Unfortunately Kayl was rather ill and we nearly didn't make it to the gig! However she managed to make it through the show and what a show it was! The Garage is a tiny venue with a 750 capacity. We managed to get pretty much to the very front of the Garage and had an amazing view of the band. I'm sure I've covered my love of Black Stone Cherry many times. I've watched them grow from support act to bonafide arena headliners and believe that their next album (out early next year) could be the album to blast them into the stratosphere. If that's the case, this gig may be the last chance to see a huge band in such an intimate setting. The guitars were loud, the vocals were on point and I still get chills when I think about that night. They were as always phenomenal, but to be that close to the action is something I'll forever be thankful for. February can't come soon enough.

Who: Radio 2 Live at Hyde Park
Where: Hyde Park, London (obviously)
When: 13th September 2015

The same week we were heading to Glasgow for Black Stone Cherry, I received some amazing news. The Corrs; one of my favourite bands of all time announced that they were reuniting to record a new album... and that they would kick off their return at Hyde Park in September! The very day after BSC I had bought tickets and was counting down the days to the big event. Now of course there were other acts performing; the Corrs weren't even headlining but as my friend Ian and I drove down to London, there was only one performance I was excited about. That isn't to say I didn't have a great day watching some fantastic perfomances.

We arrived just in time for folk singer Kate Rusby who I'd heard very little of before Hyde Park. Her set was only 20 minutes but it was enough to get over how great her music is and piqued my interest in checking her out in the future. Up next was... Leona Lewis so as you can imagine this was a perfect opportunity for a food/toilet break and to find a good position for what for me was the main event.

The last time I saw the Corrs was in 2004, shortly before their hiatus. It was one of the first gigs I ever went to and it set in stone my love for this talented Irish family. Those who share my love of rock and metal may scoff but the Corrs are a lot more than they seem on the surface. They're a phenomenal family band, all of whom are multi-instrumentalists and excellent singers. They're closer to the likes of Fleetwood Mac than the bubblegum pop that surrounded them in the late 90s. It's that reason that they were given a rapturous reception by Hyde Park. The feeling was indescribable. It was like seeing old friends for the first time in years. I was just ridiculously happy. The Corrs haven't missed a beat and they ran through the hits in quick succession. By the time they played 'Toss the Feathers' to end the set, their 30 minute set had felt like 10. I loved every minute but wanted more- surely the aim of any live band. Fortunately shortly after they announced their new album 'White Light' on November 28th and a UK tour in January. You can be assured that I'll keep you updated.

Next up was Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. It wasn't really until the Corrs left the stage that I realised that I would be seeing 'the' Bryan Adams live. He's been doing this for so long that you know you're in safe hands. Having said that it was surprising that he didn't perform his definitive hit 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)' (he must really hate that song) but he still did all the other hits you'd expect. Plus I can tick Bryan Adams off my gig bucket list.

Before Rod Stewart headlined the show, it was the turn of legendary producer Giorgio Moroder to take to the stage. Where I was standing it didn't go down hugely well. Ian and I enjoyed it and it was really interesting to hear all the classic songs that Moroder had a hand in. However some of the fans around me were simply impatient for Rod and seeing a 70 year old man who looked like Maurice from Beauty and the Beast with a backwards cap on his Macbook wasn't cutting the mustard. Maybe he was the wrong act for the wrong show.

Then it was the actual main event. Rod Stewart hit the stage after a bit of miscommunication and delved deep into his back catalogue. My parents played so much Rod Stewart growing up that there were times that I suddenly went back in time about 20 years. I would love to have heard 'Sailing' or 'Maggie May' but some of the songs Rod chose hadn't been performed in over 40 years. I certainly can't complain when Rod performs stuff from his Faces days! I may just have to catch Rod Stewart on another tour one day.

Overall the festival was fantastic and if money isn't an issue and the line up is good I'd have no hesitation going again next year. Hyde Park is always a special place for live music (curfews permitting. Rod was the latest victim of this at the end of the night.) and I've no doubt the festival was a huge success.

Who: Madness
Where: Durham County Cricket Club, Chester Le Street
When: 26th September 2015

When my wife and I got married back in May, we picked 'It Must Be Love' by Madness as our first dance. I've loved Madness for years and it seemed like the perfect song for both of us. When it was announced that Madness were touring throughout the summer and that the tour would finish in our home city of Durham it seemed like it was meant to be.

This tour was a bit special in that Madness were taking over racecourses, sports arenas and in this case a cricket ground. We splashed out a little extra and bought the 'Gladness' package. That got us a T-shirt upon entry, a lanyard as well as access to an exclusive 'Gladness' beer garden. The beer garden was cordoned off and the bar itself was a black London style taxi cab. We got a free plastic Gladness cup and sampled Madness' lager; the lager that inspired all this beer garden-y goodness. The set up at the cricket ground meant we could enjoy the support acts while sipping some lovely alcoholic beverages.

By the time Madness came on the crowd was merry and ready for a good time. I've seen the band twice previously but there was something special about seeing the band with my wife just months after dancing to them in front of our friends and family. The cricket ground setting just seemed to add something unique and the band had a lot of fun. By the time they got towards the end of the set they had us in the palm of their hands. 'House of Fun', 'Wings of A Dove' and 'Our House' were rattled off in quick succession before wrapping up with 'It Must Be Love'. Personally as I'm sure you can imagine it was just a lovely moment. Kayl went as far as to say it was the best gig she's ever been to. Next time they come to your town you MUST check them out!

So yeah it's been a vintage year for gigs and it's not over yet. As I mentioned in my previous post I'm off to see Fozzy again in December. As my gig buddy (and my best man last May) is emigrating to Canada, I decided to treat us both to VIP tickets. We've seen the likes of Aerosmith, Metallica and AC/DC together and I thought that a VIP experience would be a great way to send him and his lovely wife off to the True North in February. Rest assured you'll hear all about it here!

What gigs have you been lucky to check out this year? Feel free to chat about it on the Facebook page or tweet me @NorrisApproved3!

See you soon!

Back in Black!

Hello everyone!


So Norris Approved has lay dormant for just under a year; a year in which an awful lot has happened. I've perfected my beard for one thing but the main headline for anyone who knows me is that I got married in May which was truly the greatest day of my life. But now the dust has settled and as often happens I have a hankering to write. As I write this it's 1.15 am and I'm about to start a nice holiday from work. As I've got a bit of time to sit back and take stock it made me realise that there are so many things I wanna spout off about and indeed many things to look forward to. Here's a taste of what sort of things I'll be blabbering on about in coming weeks and for those who haven't really read my blog before the sort of thing to expect!

Wrestling

2015 has been a crazily interesting year for wrestling. Due to the sheer amount of interest some of my WWE and TNA related posts have gained in the past there's no doubt I'll have a prattle on about all things grapply. My post about the UK's long wait for the WWE Network around this time last year earned a lot of retweets and correspondence so I'd like to think you'd all be interested to see what I think of the Network almost a year on. Also anyone who has followed my ramblings over the years will know I used to write for a great website called Divas of Destruction. I even reviewed NXT in it's early days before it became super awesome. I have quite a few thoughts on today's Divas Revolution that I'm sure will get aired at some point. So yeah... expect lots of WWE related posts.

Music

The other huge love in my life is music. If you look back through my posts you'll see I lean mainly towards hard rock and metal kinda bands but I have some other genres on my iPhone too. In the time I've neglected this blog I've seen the likes of Queen + Adam Lambert, Steel Panther (my stag night), Madness and Radio 2's Festival at Hyde Park! But don't worry I have so much more to come too. I've been lucky enough to get tickets to the Corrs comeback tour when it hits the O2 in London as well as tickets for Black Stone Cherry, Shinedown and Halestorm in Leeds next February...

However I'm also very excited to say that I will be seeing Fozzy for the 3rd time in December and that I've managed to snag VIP tickets for the show! Even Y2J himself is on notice!

Needless to say I'll have FULL details of that encounter as well as the gig itself. Fozzy always put on an amazing show and I'm sure December will be no different. I'm thinking I may summarize all the great shows I've seen this year sometime soon but we'll see.

Mental Health

Might seem a bit left field on a predominantly wrestling/music related blog but after suffering from anxiety and panic disorder in the past and having qualified as a counsellor I often like to speak about mental health. I posted something last year that really helped a lot of people and if I can do that again that would actually be pretty great.

So when you're bored or fancy a quick read, head over to this blog and maybe when you're done tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or like my Facebook page to get a discussion going. Hopefully there'll be another post or two that will really inspire some people.

See you soon!

Mike

Christmas songs that are Norris Approved!

I love Christmas. I really do! Don't try and be a grinch with me good sir. I'm a moody, cantankerous bugger for a good chunk of the year but once December hits and the Christmas music starts being played in every supermarket across the country (including my own) I suddenly am endowed with an un-exhaustible amount of Christmas spirit. Sure many Christmas songs are cheesy but they get you excited for the big day. I'm not a fan of Mariah Carey 11 months out of the year but I defy you to listen to 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' and NOT feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately not many bands/singers record Christmas songs these days. The Christmas Number One usually belongs to whoever won the X Factor or whichever charity tugged the hardest at our heartstrings. So year after year we tend to hear the same songs. Wizzard wish it was Christmas every day, Cliff dusts off his Mistletoe and Wine while Noddy screams 'IT'S CHRISTMAAAAASSS!!!' at any given opportunity. Even though it's only once a year you'd be forgiven for getting royally sick of the same tunes.

Having said that there are some songs that I really look forward to hearing. Some you may have heard before; others I'm going to guess you may not have. Hopefully my little playlist of Norris Approved Christmas songs will get you in the festive mood!

Queen- Thank God It's Christmas

For a band that are as huge as Queen, it's a mystery as to why their Christmas song is rarely if ever played on the radio. In fact you'd be forgiven for thinking that a Queen Christmas song doesn't even exist- but it does my friends. In between recording 'The Works' and 'A Kind of Magic' albums, Queen released this chilled out little track. It's really quite nice and jolly while perfectly capturing that feeling we all have on Christmas Day- thank God we finally made it!

The Darkness- Christmastime (Don't Let The Bells End)

Arguably the most well known song on my list. Back in 2003 when the Darkness were possibly the biggest band in the UK, everyone's favourite glam rockers of the new millennium decided to release a Yuletide rocker in the hope of getting Christmas Number 1. They lost out to Gary Jules and Michael Andrews' cover of 'Mad World' which had been part of the soundtrack to 'Donny Darko' but that doesn't stop this awesome song firmly cementing it's place in Christmas song history. Bonus points for the choir!

This song will always have a special place in my heart after seeing the band live in November 2011. Being we were so close to Christmas the band played this very song as it started to snow in the O2 Academy Newcastle. Meanwhile a drunken man slow danced with me throughout the whole song. Truly epic.

Madness- Inanity Over Christmas

This obscure Madness track was presumably a B-Side or something. I discovered it on a 3 track retrospective called 'The Business'. It's not the Christmassiest song I've ever heard. It's just completely insane. You can tell they had a lot of fun with it and that at the same time it was never really intended to join the likes of Slade and Band Aid. A definite must listen for fans of Suggs and co.

Michael Bolton- White Christmas

Ah 'White Christmas'... so many people have covered this song and we all know Bing Crosby recorded the definitive version. But my personal favourite version is one that I only discovered this year. Michael Bolton's version is everything you'd expect of him. If you hate him then avoid. If like me you actually secretly (and now no longer secretly) love him then you'll love it. Love it I tell you. Michael!!!

But I've saved the best for last. My personal favourite Christmas song. Until I hear this song on the radio or at work I can't truly get into the Christmas spirit. Don't ask me why, I've simply always loved it. In tribute to my very good friend Danielle Bage, here is my favourite Christmas song...

Chris Rea- Driving Home For Christmas

Pour yourself some hot chocolate, put on the fire and enjoy... unless you're actually driving home for Christmas in which case put this on IMMEDIATELY!! Chris Rea demands it!

So what do you think? Those are simply MY favourite festive tunes but maybe you have others that get you in the mood. Please tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message below or on my Facebook page.

Until next time!

In defence of: Nickelback

Canadian rockers Nickelback released their latest album 'No Fixed Address' earlier this week and took the time to announce a huge UK tour to commence in November 2015. The tour starts in Sheffield and ends in London which will certainly disappoint THIS GUY (click to follow the link). When you go to as many gigs as I have in the past your email inbox is inundated with pre-sales and ticket information regarding all the big UK tours. An email from Live Nation proudly stated that this will be Nickelback's 10th World tour. In an age when bands split up within six or seven years or never get the opportunity to shine on the big stage 10 world tours is damn impressive! It got me thinking about the redheaded stepchildren of rock. Nickelback have been around for 20 years by the time they tour next year and for a good half of that they've been maligned as one of the WORST bands in music history. My opinion? I like them. I'm certainly not alone in that perception otherwise they wouldn't have the huge success they currently enjoy. If you search 'Nickelback' on any search engine, I'm sure you'll find a million and one articles talking about how much the band suck. Admittedly some of the points they make aren't hugely inaccurate but very often some of those same points are also a part of what makes them appealing to so many of their fans.

Back in 1995 when the band formed, right through to 2001 when their breakthrough album 'Silver Side Up' was released, Nickelback were plonked into that ever irritating genre known as 'post-grunge' which you may as well call 'post-Cobain'. I get it. Nirvana were a great band. Kurt Cobain was an enigmatic artist. Why does that mean that nearly every other band post-1994 had to try and sound like him? No one was going to match Nirvana. They were on the crest of a wave and were the perfect antidote to the hair metal bands that the music buying public were tired of. The problem was that post-grunge bands weren't fun. I became a Nickelback fan in when 'How You Remind Me' was EVERYWHERE towards the end of 2001. It reached No.4 in the singles charts and I made sure to pick up their album. It had a very dark tone filled with angst and anger; the perfect soundtrack for the 15 year old me who I'd decided wasn't understood by anybody.

Fast forward a couple of albums and Nickelback were a very different band. Songs about domestic violence and dysfunctional relationships were replaced with songs about sex in the back of cars and generally living the rock and roll lifestyle. People were in shock! What happened to Nickelback? Why aren't they keeping it real? Here's the secret... they are! Once 'Silver Side Up' came out, Nickelback were catapulted into the rock stratosphere just like Linkin Park around the same time. They toured the world, rocked out in front of thousands, got drunk and likely had their pick of sex, drugs and rock and roll. So when it came time to sit down and write the next album guess what they wrote about? Bingo!

I genuinely respect it. That may sound odd but bear with me. I truly appreciate when a band/singer puts everything into what they do. I truly respect the songwriter that spills their heart on the page. But what happens next? They get recognition for their amazing work. They tour and live the rock and roll life. For many the bad times are over. Sure some may have demons to work through be it alcohol, drugs etc but there are many rock stars that would be the first to admit that the bad times in their lives are over. So what do they do? They become complacent before trying to recapture whatever it was that made them resonate with us in the first place. I always use KoRn as an example. Before I go on I want to say that I'm not bashing KoRn. Anyone who reads this and thinks I am is invited to read my previous post Surviving your Twenties before bearing in mind that their music was basically the soundtrack to that very dark time in my life. The point I want to make is that Jonathan Davis went through some horrific things in his childhood. Those first albums resonate very heavily with anyone who has suffered from depression, anxiety or had suicidal thoughts. The problem is once the band became the huge name they are today the motivation to be downbeat had gone. They were rich and were doing what they loved in front of millions of fans. Those dark days were a million miles away. Without downplaying what JD has been through in his life, the band writing the same kind of songs they did in their 20s now in 2014 comes off as trying to recapture something they once had. Nickelback writing about getting pissed and shagging everything in sight is a more genuine approximation of where Chad Kroeger and co are at this stage in their lives. They're freaking rockstars and that makes their music more honest than most.

Ok so perhaps that's what they want me to think. Maybe Chad Kroeger sits backstage with a ginger tea and finger sandwiches and it's all an image. If so I can promise you they aren't the first band to do that. They're just one of the few to be doing it in the modern music landscape. A band like Airbourne can down beers on stage and shout about how rock and roll will never die... but Nickelback can't? At this point we come to a huge part of the anti-Nickelback movement: Chad Kroeger. Yes it seems that some people don't so much have a problem with the band as their ever present frontman. Yes it seems the general consensus is that Chad is an utter twat. This opinion wasn't helped by the fact that he married Avril Lavigne of all people. So let's see... a rock band with an arrogant front man who sing about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll (for the most part), who despite hatred from the critics play huge stadiums across the globe. Sound like anyone else we know?

So perhaps Nickelback are following the Kiss method of being rock stars. Let's be honest it's working... and you know what? I'd sooner buy a Nickelback album than a lot of the other successful stuff out at the moment. Sure it's simplistic but so is AC/DC. Sure the lyrics are extremely sexually suggestive while slipping by completely unnoticed by most ('I'll come for you but only if you want me to' anyone?) but then Aerosmith were always pretty good at that themselves. Sorry haters, I have a feeling Nickelback will be around for a while- they're one of the few rock bands flying the flag for rock's long standing motto:

Agree? Disagree? I wanna hear from you! Tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message in my Facebook group. Ciao for now!

Black Stone Cherry: Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, 27/10/14

It wasn't long ago that Gene Simmons from Kiss proclaimed that rock was dead. It was a pretty controversial statement. What's always interested me about rock is the idea that it's finite. Rock stars are always constantly talking about how rock 'n' roll will never die. You don't hear Katy Perry proclaiming that pop will live forever or Eminem tell the world that rap will never die. No it's always rock. The idea that the rock legends of the 70s and 80s would burn out in a blaze of glory simply didn't come to fruition. Instead they went on reunion tours and charged us extortionate amount to hear the hits (although that's another post for another time). If rock truly is dead then it's because those legendary rock stars never stepped aside... and the rock bands of today don't have the balls to break the glass ceiling.

But rock isn't dead. No way my friends. I have one clear cut example.

I'm sure many readers of this blog know my thoughts on Black Stone Cherry. They are simply put my favourite band to come along for years. I first saw them support Def Leppard and Whitesnake at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. Even a short 20 minute set let me know that these guys were the real deal. Now 6 years later, Kentucky's finest have gone from opening arena gigs to headlining them and boy are they ready!

 This was my 5th time seeing the band. It was also my fiancé Kayleigh's first time at a Black Stone Cherry show. We'd driven two hours from Durham to Sheffield especially for the gig and the excitement at our hotel was palpable. Pretty much everyone was there to see Black Stone Cherry. It made for a great atmosphere.

Canadian rockers 'Theory of A Deadman' opened proceedings to a pretty respectable crowd but at least from where I was sitting we were all waiting for the main event. Insane Aussies 'Airbourne' were up next; a band I've seen at many a festival or support slot. As predicted they were fantastic. Given a couple more album cycles they could surely do an arena tour of their own. Kayl summed it up best by telling me later that Airbourne were so loud she could 'hear them in her lungs'. On any other night I could quite happily have gone home then.

I've been to a lot of gigs. One of my favourite moments at any show would be the start of a Metallica gig. As 'Ecstasy of Gold' builds to its climax I get goosebumps. It's a moment any rock fan should experience. But even that is merely the music played before Metallica hit the stage. This was the 5th time I've seen Black Stone Cherry but as I sat in the Motorpoint Arena and the band started playing 'Rain Wizard' I got goosebumps all over. I knew this crowd were ready to rock and that this band wouldn't disappoint. As Chris Robertson screamed "Here comes the rain!" an entire arena screamed back in unison. It will always be a treasured gig memory.

I have to take the time to praise the setlist that the BSC played in Sheffield. As I'd followed news of the rest of the tour across Europe I saw that some of their best cuts were missing. Europe missed out on early hits such as 'Soul Creek' or fan favourite 'Things My Father Said'. By the time the band had hit Glasgow the night before these songs were back in the set. All the hits were represented: 'Blind Man', 'Blame It On The Boom Boom', 'Lonely Train' and of course the amazing 'Me & Mary Jane'. "The only thing," I'd said to Kayl before the gig "that would make their setlist complete would be 'Fiesta Del Fuego'. However I was confident I wouldn't hear it on this night. So the moment the rumbling bass line kicked in I might as well have screamed like a girl.

The new album 'Magic Mountain' was well represented and as always the entire band were on top form. They also seemed genuinely shocked at the reception they were getting. Hearing the fans sing their songs back to them with such force must have been a life changing experience for a band who are cruelly under appreciated in their home land. This UK arena tour should be proof of three things:

1. Black Stone Cherry are one of the greatest (if not the greatest) live bands in the world. 

2. They are more than ready to headline festivals and gigs all over the world including back in the U.S.

3. That Gene Simmons was totally wrong. Rock and roll is very much alive and well. We just need to let the young blood kick down the door!

Surviving your twenties

Lately with so much going on in my life there have been times where I have felt like the walls are closing in. Yes I'm seriously happy with a beautiful fiance, a wedding to plan and a house that we both own. However working up to 39 hours every week, volunteering as a counsellor on one of my two days off and helping look after my grandma (who is currently in care) leaves very little time for me to enjoy the fruits of my wonderful life. Don't get me wrong. I'm certainly not trying to claim that I have it hard; far from it. What my counselling training has taught me however is that experiences like depression, anxiety and panic are all subjective. What can cause one to rock in the fetal position in the corner of the room could happen to another and they'd barely break a sweat. When I feel the pressure and feel like those walls are within touching distance, I simply try to think about other times in my life and how far I've come.

Frankie Boyle of all people said something really profound in his first book 'My Shit Life So Far' and it has stuck with me in the years since I read it. I'm frustrated that I can't find the direct quote but the main crux of it is this. The majority of people seem to have a major breakdown or crisis in their twenties yet no-one really addresses this. Mid-life crisis? Sure that's a thing. However the idea of having a major identity crisis before you hit your 30th birthday may seem asinine to some.

Mine was at the very start of my twenties. One random Saturday afternoon in 2008 I was entirely positive that I was going to die. Perhaps all the pepperoni pizzas and kebab meat and chips (one meal folks) were catching up with me. I wasn't sure. All I knew was that in the middle of a shift at work that I was going to meet Freddie Mercury in the sky. NB: I'm not trying to be offensive there. I genuinely like to think that when I finally move on to the next plain that Freddie is there somewhere with a vodka and coke waiting. It turns out it was *just* a panic attack. Just. Anyone who has ever been unfortunate to have a panic attack will tell you it certainly doesn't feel trivial enough to warrant a 'just' before it. Well at least I wasn't dead...

I spent the next six months in a constant cycle of panic attacks followed by crippling tiredness and so on. It takes me a long time to fully recover from a panic attack. The adrenaline is so intense that I'm exhausted for days. On this occasion I fully believe I never truly had enough time between them to pull myself together. I didn't miss a day of work (although I should have) at this point and just carried on.

I pulled through only to stumble into another bout of panic attacks in 2009. I remember sitting on the bus and realising that for the first time in several months that it was happening again. I could have actually cried my eyes out... and I nearly did. This time it was this and the break up of a relationship that made me look at who this 23 year old man I'd become was. I had no idea. In my head I was still 16 and listening to Metallica 'til one in the morning. Perhaps I was the 19 year old that was the life and soul of a night out at university. He'd had high dreams to become a director and a writer. In 2009 I was working on a deli counter for a supermarket; far far away from my lofty aspirations.

I went for counselling shortly after my girlfriend at the time dumped me. To be honest it was for the best and would only have happened later. I simply wasn't ready for a relationship. I didn't even know who I was! Counselling was a huge moment in my life. It didn't mean I was crazy or insane; it simply meant I was brave enough and strong enough to ask for help. It had such a profound effect on me that I completed training to become a counsellor myself! My counsellor sat and listened to everything I had to say without judgement. If you aren't this lucky, get another counsellor. A good friend of mine told me his counsellor sat and talked at him for an hour before asking if that helped! I was lucky that I was given the space to look at my life. In comparison to some my life hasn't exactly been traumatic but I still had stuff to deal with.

It's nearly five years since my last panic attack. I'm 28 and yes I still work for that very same supermarket albeit a branch closer to home. The difference is that I know who I am. I will always consider myself very fortunate that my counselling training gave me an opportunity to look at myself and face up to what I saw. Some of it I didn't like; I still don't. I put things off for far too long. I'm crap with money. I'm very reluctant to take criticism. That being said there are things about myself I do like. I'm kind. I have an innate desire to help people. I like to make people laugh. I'm a son, a fiancé,  a brother, a friend and most recently an uncle and I can genuinely say that I've never been happier. Yes I have those stressful moments but I have something that 16 year old Mike didn't have: self respect.

Why have I decided to talk about this now? Let's think about what Frankie Boyle said. At some point in your mid 20s you'll have some kind of identity crisis. I consider myself lucky that I had mine at 23.  Some of my friends currently feel lost or unsure of their place in life.  It's a really shitty place to be. All I want to say is take a deep breath and look after yourself. It's not new agey. Chill out with your favourite film, cook your favourite meal or do what I did: put on your earphones and walk. It'll get better... after all we've got mid life crises to deal with in a couple of decades!!

I hope this has helped you and ask if there is any post here at Norris Approved that you share to make it this one.  I personally recommend the web forum NoMorePanic if you need support for panic disorder or depression. Plesse tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message below or on the Facebook page if you'd like to share your own experiences.

How much is TOO much for live music?

I'm off to see Black Stone Cherry later this month. It's going to be their first headlining arena tour in the UK and they are bringing along Aussie rockers Airbourne and Theory of a Deadman for support. For a great night of modern hard rock I paid £25 per ticket. In this day and age that's actually a bargain! Plus I KNOW that it will be an amazing show.

Black Stone Cherry at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield will be my 53rd gig (including festivals) since I saw Guns N'Roses and Foo Fighters at Leeds Festival back in 2002. Throughout the past twelve years I've seen acts as folky as Mumford & Sons right through to thrash gods Metallica but I've always had one rule...

Back in 2005, my sister told me that a friend was selling U2 tickets for the then City of Manchester Stadium. I agreed to take them off her hands before realising they were £60 each! As good as the show was I made a promise to myself on the train back to Durham: Never spend over £50 on a gig ticket. A £50 seems quite reasonable. Hell I nearly made if £40! As amazing as it is to see your favourite artists on stage, it's only one night and by the time you factor in travel, merchandise, food and possibly even a hotel you could easily be upwards of £100 out of pocket.

I've come close a couple of times to breaking my £50 rule. Festivals obviously don't count as you get so much more for your money. However there have been times when a really great band or singer comes to town and they want upwards of £50. Peter Gabriel is charging £51 (before fees) for his show at the Metro Radio Arena. I've seen Peter Gabriel once before (funny story I may tell one day relating to that) and he was great but I can't justify even that. Usher is also coming to the arena. He's not to my taste but obviously he's a pretty big deal. That being said he wants £61 of your hard earned money to sing 'Yeah!' and some other songs to you. I just can't justify it. Kylie Minogue wants £80 for a ticket to a show on her latest tour!! £80??? She should be so lucky! ...  ... I'll get my coat...

However this week I finally broke my £50 rule; call it inflation, call it weakness, I don't know. Queen's classic line up have been no more since 1991 when Freddie Mercury left us too soon. That hasn't stopped Brian May and Roger Taylor taking the baton over the past decade or so and hitting the road. One of the first gigs I ever went to was only their second show billed as Queen since the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Queen + Paul Rodgers played the Metro Radio Arena in 2005 and gave us younger Queen fans a chance to see our heroes play the songs we love. In that context I was happy to pay £50. It is still one of the greatest nights of my life. Q+PR returned to the arena in 2008 on their Cosmos Rocks Tour and again blew the house down. I genuinely thought that I would never see Queen in any incarnation again.

Their current collaboration with American Idol alum Adam Lambert has breathed new life into the band and has seen them tour the world for a whole new generation of fans. Their much awaited UK tour went on sale yesterday with a price tag of... £70. Well £60 for the cheap seats. I'm not gonna lie, I really thought long and hard before getting tickets. In the end it was only the fact that my mum was so generous as to contribute towards the price of tickets as a Christmas present that I decided to go ahead and buy them. I simply couldn't have afforded it on my own. I'm 28 years old with a mortgage and a wedding to pay for. £70 (or £60 as I eventually plucked for) is a lot of money! That could pay my electricity or a good food shop. Perhaps I'm getting older and my priorities have changed. I'm extremely excited that I'm going to get to see Brian and Roger one more time and the fact they've been singing relatively obscure songs like 'In The Lap of The Gods... Revisited' give me goosebumps. That being said I'm fully aware that what their promoters expect fans to pay is extortion.

I'm not having a go at Queen. I've listed loads of artists here who are charging a huge amount to let you see them perform. Queen (like all the others) charge so much because they know we'll pay it. I'm living proof. However I'm pretty sure that I won't break my £50 rule again. Some of the best shows I've ever been to were also the cheapest. Every time I see WWE Superstar Chris Jericho's group Fozzy, I leave having thoroughly enjoyed myself and having only parted with an amount of money that would pay for a takeaway for me and the missus. Steel Panther (as of 2014) never charge over £20 and put on the most hilarious and bitchin' show I've ever seen; so much so I'll be seeing them again as part of my stag weekend next March.

Then there's Black Stone Cherry... 5th time seeing them in a few weeks and I KNOW I'll get my money's worth. Not that I think they'll ever charge over £50 a ticket but like Queen they are one of the few bands I'd be happy to break my £50 rule for.

What do you guys think? Do you have a cap for how much you'll pay for live music? You may also be interested in reading a post I wrote a few years back about Gorillaz cancelling some UK shows in favour of touring America. Read it on the link below:

An Open Letter to the Management of Gorillaz

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