The usual bag of tricks from the band; added to tonight's repetoire was playing all their singles in chronological order. Nice touch - but "Dog Like You" should have been a single. And threw in a few new songs too like "The Start of the Century", "the Rainbow and The Cloud" and "Television's (?) People". One new song was described as "indie jazz" - luckily it wasn't.
Several years ago now Mrs A and myself walked down the aisle after tying the knot to Benny Spellman singing "Fortune Teller". It was a register office naturally with us being atheists - and we don't have "our song" but this song was just too perfect not to be played. There are several versions about (notably The Who on Live From Leeds 1974) but nothing has topped the original Benny Spellman one to my mind. But the Plant & Krauss does come close.
One thing that is great about Brakes is hearing four musicians play short, sharp, fast and loud songs. With electrical instruments and amplification. So how was this going to work acoustically?
First time in Ruby Lounge. It is doesn't live up to the owner's own hype (see here). Worked well for three solo(ish) peformers and given small attendance (I reckon there was only 40-50 in) but would hate to see a band with a capacity crowd of 350 in. It's basically a spacious basement bar with a small, wide but shallow stage in one corner. The area immediately in front of the stage has two great supporting columns. So I guess you're OK if front and centre but further back or to the side could be a nightmare.
But I'm being picky. Great night despite low attendance. Three acts for £7 (shame about the exorbitant fees from See Tickets). First support was John Fairhurst. Played acoustic guitar and occasionally sang, accompanied by harmonica/spoons and bongos/tablas. Mixture of John Fahey-esque, almost trippy instrumentals and bluesy drawls. Couldn't help but imagine him being big on the festival circuit playing late night in a tent in the middle of nowhere.
Second support was The Voluntary Butler Scheme who had been playing with Eamon on several of these dates. VBS is one man - Rob Jones - with a very big fringe. Difficult to see his face through much of the playing because of his hair but also he moved between instruments fairly rapidly and had to concentrate fairly hard on this. For some songs he looped some percussion or guitar chords and then played guitar or keyboards over this. On one song he played kazoo and ukelele at the same time whilst beating a rhythm with his foot on a bass drum. Impressive stuff but the songs were pretty good too. Don't think anything has been officially released but bought the Tomatoes, Peppers, Garlic & Mushrooms CD-R 4 song EP of him at the end. It comes in a limited edition, hand-printed paper bag:
Songs reminded me of the playfulness of Aidan Smith, mixed with the bedroom romanticism of say Babybird or Momus (but not as artful). One to watch as they say.
Eamon's set:
First time I've ever had ticket number one? Pete & The Pirates played The Roadhouse tonight as part of UK tour in advance of their album coming out on 18 February. Having seen them at the End of The Road Festival and being very impressed (see here) hopes were high for tonight's gig in Manchester.
But probably the shortest set I've ever heard from a headlining band. It was good - don't get me wrong - but woefully too short. The new album is about 35 minutes long - and I think the set was shorter. Surely not right? And only one crappy photo because camera phone decided to have a hissy fit.
Early part of set was quite quiet (band and crowd) but definitely picked up. They've got some great songs (see all their singles). I've been struggling to think of a comparison band - always a mistake. The nearest I can get is The Undertones: nervy, clattery guitars; strong melodies but equally strong punkishness; very short; all about girls. But very English.
So next time: more of the same but longer.
The one that was written in Manchester apparently...
This was a competition winners-only event at BBC Radio Merseyside's performance space. Well the performance space was more like an office foyer with bright lighting with some amps and musical instruments shoved at one end. The lack of an obvious stage, the harsh lighting and no bar meant that most people (about 50 or 60 or so in attendance) were milling around until someone (a BBC Radio Merseyside DJ) introduced Clinic playing their first hometown gig in over 10 years. Clinic entered in the usual surgeon's masks, olive green North Korean-leader-style suits plus mop-top wigs. They played a no-nonsense, tight 45 minute set with five new songs including FREE NOT FREE which is available to download free today.
There might not have been much atmosphere due to the 'venue' but it was an impressive performance with the new songs fitting in well with classics like Cement Mixer and The Second Line. Great appetiser for the April UK tour (dates here).
PET EUNUCH 
Well after average (by BSP standards) show at Leeds was expecting more of tonight. In such a high state of excitement unfortunately that ended up drinking too much strong continental lager during the support slots. So blunted my critical faculties maybe - but I had a bloody good time.
Same set as has been played throughout this tour but from where I was (at the front, dead centre) felt much more energetic than Leeds - both band and crowd. Great performances of Lights Out For Darker Skies, Fear of Drowning and The Great Skua. Whether it was enjoyment or alcohol, ended up taking several photos with the camera phone.
And foliage even appeared for the encores:
The advertised running times all went to pot with These New Puritans coming on first. They were a bit flustered, having only arrived "ten minutes ago". Didn't appear to affect their performance but I do think they appear to have forgotten to unpack some songs. Lots of Mark E Smith-style shouting over pounding synth and drums - sounded good initially but didn't go anywhere really.
Two word review: "Missing Woody". There's no such thing as a bad BSP gig in my book - and this was far from a bad gig - but it was, well, tame. With drummer Woody injured, Tom from Electric Soft Parade/Brakes was taking his place with a week's notice or so. So all credit due for filling in at such short notice but it just wasn't the same.
Waving Flags 7" single cover
Sticker that comes with Waving Flags CD single
This just in from the Reverence email list:
Ah the Yorkshire Dales. God's Own Country. Or a very bleak, windswept landscape with no signs of life for miles around. Except the Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub (1372 feet above sea level) and the inspired setting for one stop on British Sea Power's current tour.
This was the only date I could get to this tour so expectations were high. Arriving at Tan Hill on Friday night in the dark with rain threatening and a side wind so strong you had to lean into it even just to walk, I started to wonder if it was such a good idea. But just stepping over the threshold into the warmth and welcome of the Tan Hill Inn dispelled the concerns. They were further dispelled by the Black Sheep bitter which slipped down with velvety smoothness. Tan Hill Inn has three rooms with one main bar and then a 'barn' has been built at the back which you can walk straight into from the pub. The barn was a square room, built of white-washed breeze block with a small stage at one end. The word 'functional' comes to mind.
I felt the pace dropped a bit after the first four songs as the set mixed songs from the new album (coming out 14 January) and older mid-tempo songs like Blackout. They were also accompanied by Phil on cornet, air raid siren and (I think) some keyboards and Abby on Viola on certain songs. Here's the set list.
Towards the end of the set there was plenty of crowd-surfing and a couple of people somehow managed to get on to a high wooden beam that went across the breadth of the barn. It was odd without the usual closing madness around Lately/Rock in A. Instead BSP have adoped a surprisingly traditional approach of playing encores. So after a short break they came back on and played How Will I Ever Find My Home, Carrion and Spirit of St Louis. This was sublime: the energy of band and crowd were terrific and St Louis ended in predictable chaos with Noble playing on the shoulders on an audience member and then crowd surfing (see this great set of photos).
I think the set finished about 11.30am but the evening wasn't over because Tan Hill Inn is open until "whenever we feel like it" and most people weren't going anywhere. So the pub filled with a really chilled bonhomie as band and fans mixed and drank even more. There was a charity auction of a signed single (went for £50 - good effort whoever bid that) and then following a further whip-round for charity there was "sing-along-a-BSP" around the piano.
Called it a night about 2am. Some hardy folk were camping(!), we opted for kipping in the car in the sleeping bags. Truly memorable, despite all the Black Sheep. This should become an annual event. The only downside was the indisposition of Mr P and then the seven hour journey home the next day due to "massive signal failure". With a bad head.
ATOM
British Sea Power
Krankenhaus? EP [BUY]
OUT OF MY MIND ON DOPE AND SPEED
Julian Cope
Skellington [SEEK]
