Saw PiL (Public Image Limited) at the newly refurbished Boiler Room in Newcastle back at the end of May. Didn’t blog any review, but was left intrigued that I didn’t catch who the excellent support band were.
Also saw PiL a couple of days ago, 1st August in Holmfirth, at the Picturedrome. Support this time were The Gulps, also excellent. Their name reminded me I’d seen that they were supporting PiL elsewhere on this tour too and they were the only name searches threw up when looking for the support act, but it wasn’t them. I discover now, thanks to a comment at SetListFM, the Newcastle support were The Jacques.
The reason to go to the Holmfirth gig was the venue. Never been to either Holmfirth or the famous Picturedrome before. Brilliant. No time for any reviews today. John as ever. John used to dedicate Death Disco to his mother, but having lost Nora and Rambo since the last tour, all the more poignant. Scott’s bass driving their characteristic sound. New boy Mark Roberts slotting in seamlessly for Bruce on a very similar acoustic and electronic drum set-up. Something’s changed in Lu’s sound can’t quite put my finger on – not as “fat” on classics like Public Image and Open Up? (*)
Anyway just the one more big gig this season. QOTSA at the Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield 28th August. Oh, and then Divine Comedy later at York Barbican in October. (**)
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Post Note (*) – as is to prove my point, atmospheric, trancey opening to Open-Up (at Chelmsford) – with the riff introduced by Lu stepping-up. Just too thin? Still a couple of AC30 sized amps, but with some new devices clamped to the front rather than standard mic’s simply mounted in front. Lost the head-banging over-driven edginess teetering on the edge of feedback, with Public Image as well as Open Up.
Post Note (**) – managed to fit in another musical event – the Conjuring (was Northern Kin) festival at Pealie’s Barn nr Northallerton on the Saturday last weekend 16th August. Glad I went. Interesting location, housing & run by a kinda hippy craft collective in converted old farm buildings. All lovely people, including promoter Jack (of “Dirt” fame). 7 or 8 bands in turn on the one stage. Only downside of the physical arrangement being the high stage at the high-end of the sloping barn-yard, reduced visibility of the acts the further away you got. Better if the stage could be / have been at the other end, raked more like an old-fashioned theatre? Anyway the bands – pretty eclectic mix, all self-created “garage rock” but with a strong trancey / psychedelic theme of riffs over long loopy grooves. Apart from the headliners, my reason to be there (below), the pick were “DaDaXL” – a pick-up 3-piece thrown together for the fest – great musicians all, channelling Hawkwind through their 3 x 15 minute epics, and “Dry Retch” a fun 4-piece trading on the Aussie accent of their lead vocal, an Angus Young parody on the heavy lead guitar, an “F1-Elevens” low-slung bassist, and a drummer playing his first gig with them. Silly, but accomplished, entertaining fun. Mentions to “Amon Acid” (band) and “Bloodjoy” (collective project) maintaining the “psych” continuity. Which brings us to the headliners. Joe and Jordan Bell of Avalanche Party for a first gig with “Primitive” their new 7-piece project(?). The sound and aesthetic were all spot on – see heavy trancey / psychy / loopy / grooves – with Joe’s bass and the new drummer synching like they’ve always been together. Slight confusion over the rest in terms of longer term roles as a band or as a flexible early-days-project-in-progress? Sounded great, but Jordan very much the main vocals over a new vocalist, on guitar riffs over a new guitarist, electric piano, synth and laptop over a new looper and a keyboard / saxophonist? Loved the piano intro to their first number by the latter, put me in mind of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from Quadrophenia. Promising and already a great sound.
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