Magazine, The Forum, 13th February 2009
On Friday I went to see Magazine. I actually came reasonably close to not going, it was cold out, I was really tired, but Real Life and Secondhand Daylight are two of my all time favourite albums and who knows if there would ever be another chance to see them, I didn't expect this chance! So I left pretty late and timed it perfectly, arriving about fifteen minutes before they came on. Just time to get a good spot and find Nils. He was pretty easy to spot as he and I were among the tiny minority of people who were under forty. I've never been to a gig with so many middle aged men. At one point I heard someone say "I haven't seen them since 1978". It was lovely to feel so young. :)
The instrumental The Thin Air kicked off the show before the curtain had dropped, I couldn't decide if it was live or not, but the bass reverberated into my chest. Devoto's voice came out of nowhere explaining sardonically and at great length how they came to reform for this gig, ending with "but mostly there was this woman I needed to impress". Class. :)
The black curtain dropped and everyone bar Devoto came onstage. Barry Adamson is such a dude. He was looking particularly cool in a white shirt, black waistcoat, massive shades and a top hat, but John McGeoch-replacement Noko looked great too in a red suit. He played really well too, it was sad that John couldn't be with them, but Noko did it justice. They dedicated "Rhymthm of Cruelty" to John.
They went straight into a throbbing, powerful The Light Pours Out of Me, Devoto strolling onstage in time to start singing, and frankly I'd have paid my £25 just to hear that, but they carried on for another hour and a half including encores and there was not a single dull moment. They were as tight as if they'd been playing together for the last 30 years but nothing sounded tired, and their energy was amazing. I'd agree with the Guardian review, that their music is so timeless that it still sounds fresh and different.
I was actually slightly disappointed that they started with The Light Pours Out of Me because I couldn't see how they could possibly follow that, but they did. Shot by Both Sides, Model Worker, I Want to Burn Again, I Love You Big Dummy, Because You're Frightened, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again), You Never Knew Me, A Song From Under the Floorboards, Rhythm of Cruelty, Honeymoon Killers, Definitive Gaze, Parade, and to my surprise and delight - Permafrost (with an interestingly altered lyric in the first chorus - "you want me to drug you and fuck you" instead of "I will drug"), they then went on to do Motorcade in the first encore, with The Light Pours Out of Me, my three favourite Magazine songs.
Ah, sod it, I can't be bothered writing any more. It was awesome, enough said. I've just found concert recordings on YouTube so I'm going to listen to those instead. I love the 21st century!
Part One - The Light Pours Out Of Me and Rhythm of Cruelty
Part Two - A Song From Under The Floorboards and Parade
Part Three - Shot by Both Sides and Motorcade
Times review
The instrumental The Thin Air kicked off the show before the curtain had dropped, I couldn't decide if it was live or not, but the bass reverberated into my chest. Devoto's voice came out of nowhere explaining sardonically and at great length how they came to reform for this gig, ending with "but mostly there was this woman I needed to impress". Class. :)
The black curtain dropped and everyone bar Devoto came onstage. Barry Adamson is such a dude. He was looking particularly cool in a white shirt, black waistcoat, massive shades and a top hat, but John McGeoch-replacement Noko looked great too in a red suit. He played really well too, it was sad that John couldn't be with them, but Noko did it justice. They dedicated "Rhymthm of Cruelty" to John.
They went straight into a throbbing, powerful The Light Pours Out of Me, Devoto strolling onstage in time to start singing, and frankly I'd have paid my £25 just to hear that, but they carried on for another hour and a half including encores and there was not a single dull moment. They were as tight as if they'd been playing together for the last 30 years but nothing sounded tired, and their energy was amazing. I'd agree with the Guardian review, that their music is so timeless that it still sounds fresh and different.
I was actually slightly disappointed that they started with The Light Pours Out of Me because I couldn't see how they could possibly follow that, but they did. Shot by Both Sides, Model Worker, I Want to Burn Again, I Love You Big Dummy, Because You're Frightened, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again), You Never Knew Me, A Song From Under the Floorboards, Rhythm of Cruelty, Honeymoon Killers, Definitive Gaze, Parade, and to my surprise and delight - Permafrost (with an interestingly altered lyric in the first chorus - "you want me to drug you and fuck you" instead of "I will drug"), they then went on to do Motorcade in the first encore, with The Light Pours Out of Me, my three favourite Magazine songs.
Ah, sod it, I can't be bothered writing any more. It was awesome, enough said. I've just found concert recordings on YouTube so I'm going to listen to those instead. I love the 21st century!
Part One - The Light Pours Out Of Me and Rhythm of Cruelty
Part Two - A Song From Under The Floorboards and Parade
Part Three - Shot by Both Sides and Motorcade
Times review