- Is This New
- Wings
- Pacifying Joint
- 50 Year Old Man
- Fall Sound
- I’ve Been Duped
- Wolf Kidult Man
- Alton Towers
- Reformation
- Tommy Shooter
- White Lightning
- Blindness
NOTES
A bit “big room” echoey compared to some of the smaller club dates of this tour but a damn good capture. Bass is a bit too tinny for my liking in places.
An interesting slight gap between Niki and his poem and “Is this New”.
I don’t know if its me, and those that were there will put me straight no doubt, but whilst this is a great show, it does not quite measure up to the Scottish gigs to follow. It might be something to do with the ambience of the recording which places the band at mid-distance rather than the in your face captures of the later recordings. Anyway, I am probably being picky.
So its the usual fare from this tour. Mark presages “50 year old man” with a jokey “this is a long story which you will enjoy”. Interesting Country and Western feel to the “banjo” part this evening with a synth sound straight out of Nashville.
As is to often on the tour EP is only just audible on “Duped” – interestingly MES joins in this time. When it gets to “Kidult” then I start to understand what’s worrying me and its Keirons drumming which feels, in parts only, a little to four to the floor tonight. There are also some structural problems with this track as the guitar seems to be sliding over the rhythm in places. That having been said its a stunning version. Also, it’s fair to say that the drumming regains its usual quality after this.’
A memorable version of “Alton Towers” showing some considerable variation from previous versions and some interesting dub/space rock noises. MES is a little too low in the mix for my liking.
There is a fairly straight version of “Reformation!” with some good guitar from Pete and some interesting riffing in places. Interestingly Dave’s bass emerges from its weedy reedy sound and gets to add a great texture. There are some elements of Damo homage in places
“Tommy Shooter” features both Nick and MES and is all the better for it. A memorable last few minutes has MES and his roadie trading sentences. “White Lightning” gets a sort of response from the audience and its usual languorous self.
As with other nights straight into a breathtaking 11-minute haul through Blindness which I think speaks for itself. Interesting how Mark turns Pete down and then up again. The audience gets to join in at the end.
A quick shake of the whammy bar, a thump on the body of the guitar and its all over.
Probably a classic but the echo puts me off a bit.