- The Joke
- Mountain Energei
- (We Are) Mod Mock Goth
- Theme from Sparta F.C.
- Wrong Place, Right Time
- Mr. Pharmacist
- What About Us
- Big New Prinz
- White Lightning
- Blindness
NOTES
50 minutes
This appears to be a soundboard of very good quality
Final performance of The Joke
“Right we got Chris from the support band standing for us on drums this evening” says Ben.
“Louder, More!” says Elena.
Once again with the drummer and bass player lost in transit – Smith and Co manage to pull off an exceptional performance with a stand-in drummer. A breathless, brash and angry “Joke” kicks it off…..Smith explains the shortness of the set due to the youth club planned for 9:30 – however Jim plays bass and the band motors on.
A langorous “Mountain” is dominated by shredded guitar shards from Ben and EP’s succulent synth patch. This is followed by an immense take on “Mod Mock Goth” where Smith conjures up phrasing from “Grotesque” with the intent and melody emerging from beneath an acerbic and visceral synth patch from Elena and some exceptionally funky drumming from the stand in. Photographs from the evening show JJW closely directing matters from near the drum kit.
“Sparta” is a good riotous affair with some good shouty vocals from the band. You get to hear EP’s greek bit quite well and there is some nice interplay in the middle of the song. “Wrong Place” is muscular and driven.
“Mr P” has no drums for the first line of the first verse but thereinafter is played with some chutzpah – however Mark and the band are out of kilter on the middle eight – and there is some odd beat dropping. “What about us…” starts with some strange intonations from Smith and talk of “walking leg-ends” and “poetry of my own”. EPs one note rhythm demands attention as Ben’s guitar is somewhere in the background.
After a false start “Prinz” is played well – the drummer starts to find his feet after a while and picks up a good rhythm, the keys pick up the contrapuntal rhythmic device as the rest play it straight other than Mr S who tends to slide succulently over the sound, sussurating and spitting sedition.
“I love this old port with its traditional values” mumbles Mark as his band launches into an incredibly fast “White Lightning”. Things are concluded with an incredibly funky version of “Blindness” – Ben and Jim manage to conjur a rhythm from the depths of George Clintons booty – Chris picks it up with some on the spot snare as Elena holds the centre with some melody. Mark is magnificent. Direct and intense and clear. A glorious noise. Towards the end Marks voice starts to go on the high notes which only adds to the vitality of the performance
A unique gig…..one off line up…sound board quality ……short but brilliant.