"This week I was going to write about Ashlee Simpson and her Saturday Night Live lip syncing fiasco. But then I thought, who cares? Ashlee Simpson is boring, miming is boring, writing about miming is boring, the Popjustice webmonkeys will probably take so long to put my column up that the entire thing will have gone totally cold... So instead... Gigs. (Gigs are what they called pop concerts in the olden days.)

I've been to three gigs in the last week, which is a bit of a record for me as I usually only get round to going one a year. And even then, by the time I've realised the gig is actually on, tickets have sold out and I have to do one of the following:

1. Ring up dodgy bloke in Camden whose number I got out of Loot, and ask to buy a ticket. Ticket will usually be a few rows from the back.
2. Arrive at venue and try bargaining with a tout, who is again usually quite dodgy and probably also from Camden. End up paying ridiculous amount for ticket. Ticket will usually be one or two rows from the back. Or...
3. Get a free ticket from someone nice eg agent, magazine, friend. Ticket will be at the very back.

But this week I managed to go to three excellent shows - The Calling, Scissor Sisters and Hanson - all with very excellent seats. Well, at two of the shows I was standing, but in the words of Westlife: hey whatever.

My first ever gig was Bros at Wembley Stadium when I was about 8 years old. My mum took me and it was wicked. People were dancing and singing and throwing things and as I didn't know that's what you did at concerts back then, I was greatly intrigued. I thought you were just supposed to clap. Oh, and Sonia was the support act which was obviously nice as we were very close friends from back in our market days.

The best ever opening at a gig without doubt has to be (Wait for it... - Ed) B*Witched on their first arena tour. The sight of four irish lovelies suspended on a massive cargo net always gets me going. Oh, and it rained on stage during 'Blame It On The Weatherman' too, and you all know how I feel about a bit of rain. They did wimp out and use umbrellas though. Meanwhile the award for the best ever all round gig has got to go to Madge and her Re:Invention show back in September. She even did 'Nothing Fails', and I don't care what anyone says - that is the best Madonna song ever. Acoustic guitar, crazy gospel choir harmonies and the classic line - "I'm in love with you, you silly fool". Wonderful.

But lastly, special mention for the best small gig I've been to, which is Avril Lavigne before she was famous. I went with Tom and Danny from McFly back in the days when they didn't have blue and green faces and pretend to be Airfix kits. Like I said, Avril wasn't that famous back then, and it's always cool when you come across an act before they're big. In fact, have I ever told you about this band I know called V?

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