One of Bobs recent ‘InnerThursday’ sleeves on the QUIMS Facebook page was Paul Haigs ‘Chain’ LP. Playing ‘Something Good’ made him wonder why it wasn’t a smash hit….which led to tonights theme. Cheese and crackers and beer and tunes and an impromptu quiz from the back pages of the Guinness book of hit singles….. which chart has Billy Fury at No.1 followed by The Who, Prince and Nat ‘King’ Cole….?  Which chart was topped by Captain Sensibles ‘Happy Talk’ and followed by Elvis Prestley, Musical Youth and Shakin’ Stevens?? – a top night of quimming…

….and those charts….

Bob the Chiropodist

 

For a band that’s been going 40 years – Wire still sound like young upstarts, with maybe a touch of finesse now and again. A great blend of mostly new tunes (but some lovely old ones – three girl rhumba!!!) to a full house…..they went down a storm.

Bob the Chiropodist

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Public Service Broadcasting are back with their LP about the decline of the Welsh Mining Industry. Their set has grown in scale and ambition as their popularity has blossomed. Boosted by a bass and brass section they have a beefier sound. 3 albums in, they still find room in the set for old favoutites like ‘Spitfire’ and ‘Everest’.

I was chuft when they used the stage to call for justice for Orgreave “Hillsborough has it now, this was the same Police force using the same tactics – you have a right to get angry about it!”. The visuals were spot on for the whole night.

2 folks came on, dancing in space suits at the end for ‘Go!’ – “Were any of you at our Brudenell gig? Well one of those dancers got up on stage that night, but has redeemed herself tonight….”

……and this years T-Shirt – based on the old National Coal Board logo…

Bob the Chiropodist

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Jeffrey Lewis never lets you down – Another great gig bursting with passion and humour and wonderful songs with new arrangements – the guy’s a genius!

This was our first time in the new room at the Brudenell – at first it felt a bit…..square – but once the bands started and the place filled up it worked well. Toys did a great set – the bass player is just amazing – no wonder they don’t have a guitarist – they don’t need one!

Jeffrey Lewis started with  song/poem about how people who did him a favour years ago still expect to be on the guest list before embarking on a set (with brother Jack back in the mix) which featured my personal fave (Time Trade) as well as a illustrated history of Communism part 7.5 about Cuba….

He managed another mini epic film – Cannibal Monkeys before finishing with his poem WWPRD “In America you hear people say WWJD – as in ‘what would Jesus do’ but I ask myself WWPRD – What would Pussy Riot do?”

Bob the Chiropodist

As you will no doubt know, whenever we go to a conference, Boy-Lee and I like to try and fit in a gig. This time round the course was Foot Mobilisation Techniques with Enthused Aussie Ted Jedynak and the gig was with the Mighty LCD Soundsystem. The last time I was at Alexandra Palace was to see the Stone Roses in 1989 – a gig so bad, that when the NME said it was ‘a triumph’ I decided not to buy it again (and after the awful Spike Island Roses gig the year after, I vowed never to see them again).

The sound quality at Ally Pally was fantastic – as were the visuals. It fits 10,000 people in and this was there 2nd night there…..they’ve disbanded and got back together (apparently on the advice of David Bowie) since I first saw them and have a new LP out. What I love about them is what I loved about New Order – Guitar and bass led tunes side by side with out and out electronic dance tunes – there was a deep bass boom that shook your chest – loved it! Most of my favourite LP ‘Sound of Silver’ was played with ‘All my friends‘ ending the evening on a real high – being in the middle of 10,000 people jumpng up and down with arms in the air was just fantastic. I hope they can keep coming back every now and again and pull off this kind of thing til they’re old and grey…..

Before the gig we’d been moaning about how much more money per head is spent on public transport in London compared to Yorkshire….but when the free bus service was outside to take us to the tube….we didn’t complain then…….much…

Bob the Chiropodist