(no subject)
It's back again! The insatiable urge to go to as many gigs as possible, and there's a lot in the pipeline!
The Aliens were monumentally disappointing. Lone Pigeon is a brilliant man, Robin Jones is a powerhouse of a drummer and John Maclean is adorable and was wearing some kind of kimono. They played brilliantly and there were some stunning/thrilling/hilarious moments...but the crowd. O the crowd. Alex nailed it when she said it was like a wedding reception gone wrong. They were mental, which is all very well, but they were so in a selfish manner which made it very difficult for people like me who were there to enjoy the music, not to get pissed and flail and scream wildly. All the hallmarks of selfish gig behaviour was there - talking during the quieter songs (they ruined Theramin) and acting so uncontrollably wild during the louder songs that attention was distracted completely from the band. A fat pig of a sweaty fucker (who NEVER STOPPED shouting "We want to be happy!" throughout) grabbed me at one point in a malodorous, soaking embrace and tried to jump up and down with me. No. Fuck off. And some banshee jumped onstage during the moody intro to Billy Jack and danced around desperately. It was a truly embarrassing sight, and once again it served to completely ruin the song. And the setlist was very uncreative. They relied far too much on their safe "party" songs. They have this amazing new album but it was so unrepresented that it was frustrating as hell. They were great, could've been much better, but the crowd were horrible. Absolutely horrible. That said, I do keep getting fond recollections of certain moments. I just may never go and see them again.
Then came British Sea Power, my first ever gig at the Ritz! It must be the best venue in Manchester. That's how gigs used to make me feel! Like I was stepping into another world! Granted, the foliage and flags and documentaries about seahorses, picnic baskets, animal prints, books about the sea...it all helped, really should've invested in some of their ale. But yes, it was such perfect escapist bliss that when they said "Evening Manchester," I had actually forgotten that I was in said city. That's how gigs should be. A commune of mutual enjoyment of song after song of stunning beauty. An escape! A break from the terrible bullshit of every other day! And British Sea Power just get better every time I see them. I must see them again. As usual, they played a song which previously hadn't jumped out as a gem from an album to which I now cannot stop listening. This time it's The Land Beyond.
Up next, dEUS!
The Aliens were monumentally disappointing. Lone Pigeon is a brilliant man, Robin Jones is a powerhouse of a drummer and John Maclean is adorable and was wearing some kind of kimono. They played brilliantly and there were some stunning/thrilling/hilarious moments...but the crowd. O the crowd. Alex nailed it when she said it was like a wedding reception gone wrong. They were mental, which is all very well, but they were so in a selfish manner which made it very difficult for people like me who were there to enjoy the music, not to get pissed and flail and scream wildly. All the hallmarks of selfish gig behaviour was there - talking during the quieter songs (they ruined Theramin) and acting so uncontrollably wild during the louder songs that attention was distracted completely from the band. A fat pig of a sweaty fucker (who NEVER STOPPED shouting "We want to be happy!" throughout) grabbed me at one point in a malodorous, soaking embrace and tried to jump up and down with me. No. Fuck off. And some banshee jumped onstage during the moody intro to Billy Jack and danced around desperately. It was a truly embarrassing sight, and once again it served to completely ruin the song. And the setlist was very uncreative. They relied far too much on their safe "party" songs. They have this amazing new album but it was so unrepresented that it was frustrating as hell. They were great, could've been much better, but the crowd were horrible. Absolutely horrible. That said, I do keep getting fond recollections of certain moments. I just may never go and see them again.
Then came British Sea Power, my first ever gig at the Ritz! It must be the best venue in Manchester. That's how gigs used to make me feel! Like I was stepping into another world! Granted, the foliage and flags and documentaries about seahorses, picnic baskets, animal prints, books about the sea...it all helped, really should've invested in some of their ale. But yes, it was such perfect escapist bliss that when they said "Evening Manchester," I had actually forgotten that I was in said city. That's how gigs should be. A commune of mutual enjoyment of song after song of stunning beauty. An escape! A break from the terrible bullshit of every other day! And British Sea Power just get better every time I see them. I must see them again. As usual, they played a song which previously hadn't jumped out as a gem from an album to which I now cannot stop listening. This time it's The Land Beyond.
Up next, dEUS!