BRAKES @ MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3

Well did the set get to go over sixty minutes? Jury's still out on that one. Here's the set-list:


All Nite Disco Party
Hi How Are You
Margaherita
Hold Me In The River
If I Should Die Tonight
Pick Up The Phone
I Can't Stand To Stand Beside You
Cheney x 2
The Beatific Visions
We Saw Jerry's Daughter
Heard About Your Band
On Your Side
Cease & Desist
Porcupine or Pineapple?
What's In It For Me?
Spring Chicken
NY Pie
The Most Fun
Ring A Ding Ding
Comma Comma Comma Full Stop
- encores -
No Return
Jackson
Huevos Rancheros

Fun as ever but felt it lacked a bit of (audience?) spark and a bit of volume. Highlight was 'What's In It For Me' which I thought was stand-out track of the night - felt all four were really getting into it, loads of energy behind it. Another highlight was the cover of Camper Van Beethoven's 'We Saw Jenny's Daughter'. Can't really go wrong with this if you stay faithful to it and they did. Matt the merchandise guy joined the band for 'The Most Fun'. They claimed 'No Return' was first time ever live? And Alex the drummer wore a Proclaimers T-shirt.

But more importantly, we came home with The Pineapple thrown by Tom the guitarist into the audience!

Need MUCH more practise with the new camera-phone.

HOLD ME IN THE RIVER
Brakes
The Beatific Visions [buy]


WE SAW JENNY'S DAUGHTER
Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven [buy]


Second time I've seen Absentee now. And it doesn't get better. They aim for cool-and-laid-back, playing indie-country-rock but just strike me as bland and unoriginal. Bobby Cook on the other hand showed huge promise. Only caught the last two songs but distinctly Postcard Records c.1980 in sound (jangle) and look (floppy fringed singer and checked shirts all round). Nothing on sale at merchandise stall - but must find out more. Any info gratefully received.

MALCOLM MIDDLETON IN-STORE

Malcolm Middleton played Fopp in Manchester this lunchtime. Appeared a bit uncomfortable at whole idea of 'promotional in-store tour' but played a great 25 minute acoustic set.

We're Going to Die
A Brighter Beat
Fuck It, I Love New
Total Belief
Loneliness Shines
Stay Close Sit Tight
The Devil & The Angel

'Loneliness Shines' was a request (skipping over the request for 'Cold Winter'). 'Total Belief' is a new song "which will probably be on the next album". It was jaw-droppingly brilliant and should be rush released as a single now I say.

Malcolm (again uncomfortably) signed some stuff.


And I got a freebie balloon to take home too.


Tour dates here. Malcolm and band play Manchester's Life Cafe on 22 March. Tickets here.

ADDED TO THE ARCHIVE: SPANKY WILSON

You know how it is. For a work meeting, you pop out for coffee. And then someone suggests a record shop that happens to serve coffee. You concentrate very hard during the meeting but can't help wondering what that song is they are playing. After the meeting you ask - purely out of curiosity of course - who it was. Next the person behind the counter is showing you the cover. And before you know it you are shelling out on a new CD - all as part of work.

The shop was Vox Pop Music; the coffee was by Love Saves The Day; the artist was Spanky Wilson & the Quantic Soul Orchestra

DON'T JOKE WITH A HUNGRY MAN PT.2
Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra
I'm Thankful 2006 [buy]
Tru Thoughts Recordings

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A GIN SLING

Due to a horrendous scheduling error, I am not attending the Half Man Half Biscuit gig at Manchester Academy tonight; instead it is "cocktail night".

Sorry Nigel & Co - will see you soon. Am there is spirit, whilst involved with sluicing my innards with spirits. Salut!

TEQUILA!

The Champs

Rhythm Riot [buy]

BOB WILSON ANCHORMAN

Half Man Half Biscuit

Editor's Recommendation [buy] or [buy]

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY?

Photo by Supercapacity

Rather hastily assembled (just like those last-minute presents and cards?) is the fourth Follycast: Love Comes in Spurts.

34 minutes of 'love' songs - but with reduced sugary-sweetness and a little more bile and pessimism. Oh and some explicit language.

Features Wanda Jackson, Bongwater, The Blenders, Richard Hell, The Bastard Fairies, Shocking Blue and The Associates amongst others. Tracklisting in comments.

Follycast #4: Love Comes in Spurts

And if you want more have a listen to Mr Fab's 2005 Happy VD Mix here

FOUR LADS FROM LIVERPOOL WHO SHOOK THE WORLD

Well who shook Manchester Academy 3 anyway. Exceptionally good gig from Clinic tonight. Only about a hour in length but to the point and with lots of bite.

Some unfamiliar (to me) songs ("Fortune Teller" was a highlight), some classics and lots of material from Visitations. Only disappointment was no "Distortions".

But how do they create that extraordinary sound with only four of them? Other than one extra guitar at times, mellodeon and some harmonica they stuck with same four instruments all night.



The One That Got Away:

DISTORTIONS

from Internal Wrangler [buy]

TUSK

Live in Toronto 5 November 2004

from Visitations [buy]

THE DECEMBERISTS @ MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2

Tonight's gig was their third time in Manchester; my first time seeing them. And it was great.

I expected them to be bookish and serious but quite the opposite. Colin Meloy was clearly the front person without being egotistical, clearly enjoyed 'performing' but was never hammy; the band were accomplished but not dull; and although they never 'rocked out' they played with energy and genuine passion. One of those gigs were you feel you know a band better for having seem them live.

Set List:
Crane Wife 3
The Island
Billy Liar
We Both Go Down Together
Engine Driver
Yankee Bayonet
Shankill Butchers
Odalisque
O Valencia
Sixteen Military Wives
Sons & Daughters
- encores -
Eli The Barrow Boy
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
The Culling of The Fold

ELI THE BARROW BOY
The Decemberists
Picaresque
[buy] [website]

Hmmm....must get a better camera-phone.