Sunday, 7 May, 1978 – Foxes at the Greyhound, Croydon, London, England

Psycho Mafia
Mother-Sister
Like to Blow
Music Scene
Crap Rap
Industrial Estate
Bingo Masters Breakout
Repetition
Rebellious Jukebox
Hey! Fascist
Stepping Out
Repetition

NOTES

40 minutes

A reasonable audience recording given its age. The group is a little bit distant but generally the sound is clear. There is some limited audience noise which does not detract from the overall listening experience.

One of the few available recordings of the band in Spring 1978 and as far as I know the only recording with Eric McGann in the band. Also Yvonne Pawlett’s first gig.

Another piece of history here as this the gig where John Walters saw the band and on the basis of the performance arranged the first Peel Session. The band were the support act to Siouxie and the Banshees.

A quick tumble through “Psycho”, “Mother-Sister” and “Blow” leads to a totally shambolic “Music Scene” which starts with some accapella daftness from Marc and Martin, but suffers from serious rhythm problems until it settles down. There is some dodgy guitar from Martin and Mark betrays some prog leanings.

Matters are rescued with an acerbic “Crap Rap” leading to a sprightly “Ind.Est” – the clunky rhythmic interplay is pure early Fall and shows the band developing it’s raison d’etre.

“We do not sell, we deliver” leads to a pulsing hypnotic “Bingo Master’s” with Martin playing a wonderous single keening note.

“All the groups imitate because we’ve got r-r-repetition” introduces a masterful 6 minutes plus of pure genius. This is followed by an equally masterful “Rebellious Jukebox”. This listener is struck by the way band lures one into a hypnotic web of catchy hooks and riffs. One wonders how refreshing/ different/ unique this would have sounded at the time. Mark tears his voice apart here with scabrous howling.

A completely wacky “fascist” is some mad melange of punk, ska and god knows what. Yvonne plays a quirky little keyboard figure against an off-beat guitar. I’m not sure you’ll here its like elsewhere. This is a moment of Fall history.

“Here’s the last number” — crowd howls its appreciation “That’s what I like a reaction” leads to a strangely muted “Steppin’ out” and some grumpiness from at least one member of the audience.

The gig concludes with a repeat of “Repetition” taken at a faster punkier pace and the band apeing the extant music scene.

A fabulous early record of the group.

First available recorded performances of

Mother-Sister
Like to Blow
Music Scene
Crap Rap
Rebellious Jukebox

listing

Alternative Ulster