Thursday, 25 March, 1982 – Hammersmith Palais, London, England

Soundcheck:

The Classical
Middle Mass

Gig:

Hip Priest
I’m into CB
Mere Pseud Mag Ed
Just Step S’ways
Flat of Angles
Who makes the Nazis?
Wings (Early Version)
Town called Crappy
Solicitor in Studio
Look, Know
Lie Dream of a Casino Soul
Hexen Definitive
And This Day
The Classical
Fantastic Life

NOTES

87 minutes

Audience Audio excluding

“Town Called Crappy” (aka “Don’t Like Maggie”), appears on Sanctuary’s expanded “Room to Live” (2005).

“Who Makes the Nazis?” and “And this Day” appear on Situation Two BBL13CD “Hip Priests and Kamerads”

all in soundboard form.

A good quality audience tape with some background chatter however not too intrusive. All instruments and vocals very clear. Some versions do not contain the Soundcheck tracks. Two tracks officially released on “Hip Priest and Kamerads” in soundboard form beg the question – is the whole gig available locked away in someone’s vault somewhere?

If any gig is a statement of intent of this line-up of The Fall it is this one. To start a major gig in the Capital with near on nine minutes of the intense “Hip Priest” is a challenge to any listener. To follow it with the fledging “I’m into C.B.” running at just over six minutes is an indication of the way this gig is going.

The version of “Nazis” is particularly exceptional with mentions for Len Deighton and George Orwell and a scary “Benny’s Cobweb Eyes”. Mark also presages “Joker Hysterical Face” with use of the word “hip-poliocracy”.

A superb performance by the 1982 band marred by an altogether odd and loose version of “And this Day” which might be accused of overstaying its welcome at close on 16 minutes. This is very clear on the “Hip Priest and Kamerads” version where there is a peculiar juxtaposition of a very strange bass sound from Hanley, and tumbling drums which are on the edge of collapse, but not quite. Mark previews “Marquis Cha Cha” towards the end and things are brought to an end with a “guest appearance” from Alan(a) Pellay who provides some interesting narrative.

By the time of the Band on the Wall gigs in May of this year the material had shifted more towards the forthcoming “Room to Live” so this is a good record of material from the Hex Tour.

Essential.

ALTERNATIVE REVIEW IN 2008
An excellent audience recording of a gruppe in full pomp.

An exceptional “Hip Priest” kicks things off with Mark opining on it’s poptastic potential, this is followed by a controlled. tense “CB” now growing after four “proper” outings into the classic single form. I’m minded to recall the “CB” enthusiasts that used to hang out in the “House that Jack Built” in nether Broughton at this time. After two lengthy tirade gruppe gives audience no respite and delivers a silky “Pseud Mag” replete with MES witticisms and asides.

Rawk sensibilities and a mild concession to bouncy dancing is delivered through a sumptuous, nay lavishly, delivered “S’Ways” which is performed with such swaggering dexterity that previously quite quiet crowd starts to warm up somewhat. Monstrous bass driven “Flat of Angles” follows – brooding menacing and altogether breath taking stuff here from the Mighty Fall. That we should luxuriate in the magnificence of a nigh perfect delivery of “Who makes the Nazis?” is unquestionable – driven, vibrant and altogether danceable.

Matters turn from the sublime to the astonishing with an excellent second outing of “Wings” in its first iteration. Matters get a little humorous as Mark apes the “Jam” (released in various places) and then moves into an excellent fourth outing for Magnus Pike and co in which S Hanley earns his corn in spades.

Steve’s twangy bass dominates a developing “Look, Know” which is all bass and drums until the middle eight/chorus thingy…..brilliant. Also exceptional is a driven “Lie Dream” wherein Riley keyboard takes the point here and takes us on a surging little journey via Astley and Leigh into the heart of Uncle Joe country. A short punchy “Hex” feels a tad rushed after the drums kick in…MES in fine form here …. it shudders into a mammoth trek through “And this Day” which defies any logical description other than Hanley S dominates as a driving central pulse.

Two exceptional encores conclude matters. “Classical” is simply perfect and “F Life” is towering record said gruppe at zenith.