Leadmill, Sheffield gig – 4th October 2024
We need to make the most of gigs at the moment, they’re few and far between. There was quite the scramble for tickets, especially at the last minute. How was it for those who got in?
We need to make the most of gigs at the moment, they’re few and far between. There was quite the scramble for tickets, especially at the last minute. How was it for those who got in?
✉ Letters Sent (72)
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(1 year ago by Injured Buzzard)
Woodnoggin
Fantastic! I never thought they’d play Slipping the Escort, so that was a real treat. Bringing in a keyboard player opens up the possibility of Stiperstones perhaps… I”d love to hear that one.
4 October 2024
Uncle joe
Did they really play San Antonio Foam Party?!
5 October 2024
dic aberdaron
ben savage
ben savage
he’s like a steel wall
Speaks like a dance hall
ben savage
ben savage
anything goes where no-one knows your name
well in again, ben
5 October 2024
Mark
Brilliant gig but I’m a bit worried about Nigel. We both thought he looked a bit under the weather.
5 October 2024
Chris The Siteowner
Irish Niall and I happened to be standing by the stage door, and collared NB10 for a few words. He seemed pretty normal and definitely in good spirits!
5 October 2024
Mark
Thanks Chris, that’s good to hear
5 October 2024
Scoff
@Uncle Joe – yes. Unless I also hallucinated it!
5 October 2024
Uncle joe
Cheers Scoff, can’t believe I missed the moment of a lifetime.😔
Hope it blew away those who attended.
Anyone know if it’s ever been played live before? I didn’t believe so and guess it almost certainly never will again.
5 October 2024
Woodnoggin
They last played San Antonio Foam Party in Castleton, August 2022.
What was Nigel saying about Debenhams closing early? I couldn’t make sense of it because Debenhams hasn’t been open in Sheffield city centre for years.
5 October 2024
dic aberdaron
deffo a first
also great to hear problem chimp and oblong with added keyboard augmentation..
5 October 2024
Sloppy
Definitely enjoying the addition of the 5th Biscuit. Good to hear Slipping live
Hope they can convince Ben to return for Cardiff (or Ulverston, whichever the next one is 😵💫)
5 October 2024
Chris The Siteowner
Avoiding to the set list chart (qv), San Antonio has been played once every four gigs since its release. Although not so much in recent years.
5 October 2024
IN MY BEDROOM IN NANTWICH
Another fantastic gig last night, seems like an age since my last one in Cov. Great to see Escort get an airing, along with 2 of my favourites, Surging and San Antonio Foam Party. Tremendous.
5 October 2024
Stringy bob
They were awesome. All that needs to be said
5 October 2024
Mel Wood
Woodnoggin, I think Nigel expressed surprise that Debenham’s was shut at 6pm (he was sitting outside with a Five Guys, listening to Soft Parade’s debut album)…
He did say it ‘was closed’ rather that ‘it was closing’ If it has closed down permanently, that would explain it I suppose!
5 October 2024
Incapability brown (teg)
Well the Half Mandolin Half Biscuit session in Sheffield this afternoon was a blast. Thanks to everyone who came along. We had a full house! Lovely to see some familiar faces, and some new ones too. We were having so much fun I forgot to ask anybody to film any of it this time, but I’m hoping somebody else did. I’m also reliably informed there will be a review coming soon. Thanks all. Top HMHB weekend!
5 October 2024
Pop-tart mark
@Woodnoggin, yes I think you’ve been airshipped. All Debenhams closed in 2021 and NB was sort of trying to play daft.
By the way, I know Mel wasnt suggesting he did, but there’s no way NB woyld ever say “a Five Guys” like the marketing wet dream. He just said he got chips from Five Guys.
5 October 2024
dr DEsperate
Soft Machine, not Soft Parade (a Doors album). I shouted for ‘Joy of a Toy’, but it went unheard.
(Incidentally, did anybody not know that ‘Matching Mole’, the band that Wyatt formed after leaving (or being fired from) Soft Machine, was a pun on Machine Molle, the French translation of the first band’s name?
Thought not.)
5 October 2024
POP-TART
The sort of people who know that Amlwch is the most northerly town in Anglesey (not quite instantly, but by scanning a mental map within about half a second) and whose French is also pretty decent are the sort who probably also knew this.
5 October 2024
dr DEsperate
My suggestion of Rhosneigr was 17 miles out – the bloke behind me who went for Holyhead was closer.
(There is, of course, a town in Wales mentioned in an HMHB song which is slightly more northerly.)
6 October 2024
POP-TART MARK
Nah. Your mental map is wonky. Amlwch is the most northerly town in Wales by a few miles.
6 October 2024
dr DEsperate
You’re right. The other place is the most northerly village in Wales.
6 October 2024
POP-TART MARK
That would be Bull Bay, although the denizens of Cemaes may have concocted some sort of specialist definition that (in their eyes) disqualifies the former.
6 October 2024
dr DEsperate
I believe they have.
https://cemaes.wales/
6 October 2024
POP-TART MARK
In the gig thread the debate still rages on
The most northerly village in Ynys Môn
6 October 2024
Mel Wood
Dr Desperate – of course, Soft Machine not Soft Parade…
My head is a soft and often malfunctioning machine I think!
6 October 2024
Cream cheese and chives
A grand trip as always. Explaining HMHB to the uninitiated is a difficult task but I wish the feeling in The Leadmill could be bottled and shared. As much as the music, I always find the atmosphere hugely uplifting. For two hours all is well with the world.
Very nice to meet more of the participants from here and put faces to names while putting the world to rights. Thank you to the highly visible tour guide for organising food and outstanding drinking venues. A moment I particularly enjoyed came in the restaurant when the woman came over to our table and announced that she was coming to watch us later. Being mistaken for the band. My life is all downhill from here.
@Dr Desperate I can heartily recommend the restaurant in Urmston though suggest it might score even more highly if visited on a night that doesn’t follow an 8 pinter and a 1a.m chicken burger from Mighty Bites.
6 October 2024
EXXO
Roger Green’s evergreen reportage is copied here as ever with great respect and thanks to both the reviewer and to Gez from hmhb.co.uk
(BTW – Roger mentions that he didn’t catch the answer to Nigel’s Wales question – I think we’ve covered that above)
The Leadmill, Sheffield, Fri 4th Oct 2024 (06/10/24)
Roger Green:
You are almost certainly better than me at navigating the internet. Head for Jim Rosenthal’s X account and you will find a photo of him with Bob Wilson. Surely prompted by the song? Ta, as ever, to Karen for spotting this.
I read that Brenda Blethyn is leaving the ITV show Vera after fourteen years. Thinking about the line in We Built This Village, I wonder if that is a hint as to the manner of her departure?
Also on the BBC, you might be able to trawl back and find an article on Restless Legs Syndrome, featuring comments by a Dr X. Apparently up to one in ten people suffer from the syndrome. “Although its name indicates that it only affects the legs, RLS can affect the arms, head and other parts of the body too.” Is that you? You might need to get it checked out. Or at the very least, read the article. And stretch…
Yet more from the BBC… The band gets regular mentions by Radcliffe and Maconie on their early morning shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Including one where a correspondent had mentioned Junior Kickstart. Stuart Maconie talked about the line in Footprints. A few minutes later they played Womack And Womack’s Footsteps. Would have been nice to then lead into the HMHB song. But you know how it works…
Colin Murray introduced Pat Nevin as the Dictionary Corner guest on Countdown. “Of Chelsea. Everton and Scotland.” You might say he was best known as a Chelsea player with 193 appearances, but according to my Google research he played for Tranmere Rovers exactly the same number of times. Incidentally, he also turned out for Clyde, Kilmarnock and Motherwell. Must ask members of HMHB and/or Crapsons for thoughts on how he is remembered at Prenton Park.
With Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess in mind, there was some news regarding Ernie Shackleton. “Wreck hunters have found the ship on which the famous polar explorer made his final voyage… The vessel, called Quest, has been located on the seafloor off the coast of Newfoundland… Shackleton suffered a fatal heart attack on board on 5 January 1922 while trying to reach the Antarctic… Although Quest continued in service until it sank in 1962, the earlier link with the explorer gives it great historic significance.”
It was interesting to read Captain Beefheart – The Biography by Mike Barnes. “The extraordinary story of a counterculture legend” as the blurb on the back puts it. I couldn’t say that I am all that knowledgeable about their music, but when it is John Peel’s favourite band (“There was none finer. Not even The Fall.”) then it is worth investigation. The original copyright is dated 2000, so it may take some tracking down. My copy will already be out on loan when you read this. I can understand why Captain Beefheart might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there are a couple of bits in the book that make you believe that they get the seal of approval from HMHB… On Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica album, the song Moonlight On Vermont vocalist Don Van Vliet “sings a tongue-in-cheek version of the old gospel hymn Old Time Religion.” There is also reference to a Howlin’ Wolf song I Asked Her For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline). No final demand though…
Where else but on commentaries…? On the Tour De France TV coverage, we heard Ned Boulting say that Tadej Pogacar won the race “with aplomb”. Ned was absolutely right. And the Keeping Two Chevrons Apart theory stands firm.
On 25 October it will be twenty years since John Peel died. I’ve still got great memories of this incomparable presenter. And I remember vividly where I was when I heard the news. I’ll be raising a glass on the day.
I noted the comment from Biggit, who had travelled from Auckland to see the show in Coventry. I thought my mates in that city were the only people in NZ who had heard of HMHB. They live in the suburb with the splendid name of Birkenhead. The Chills remain the only band that I have seen in both hemispheres, having caught them in their home land, as well as a couple of times in my home land – both in Leeds, at The Brudenell and the much-missed Duchess. It’s unlikely that HMHB’s travels will ever take them so far away. Nor will there be another chance to see The Chills since the passing of their front man Martin Phillips.
Three weeks before this Sheffield gig, Karen and I were in Leeds for the unveiling of a blue plaque at the site of the aforementioned Duchess. This was HMHB’s venue of choice in the 1990s, and they played there in its final week of business in 2000. Nirvana had played there before the gods that made the gods were born. And Oasis were there in 1993, playing in front of (reportedly) two paying customers. Things have changed a bit nowadays, with those rocketing prices that people are paying to see them.
There were cancellations and delays on the trains on the way to the Leadmill. The Coroner’s Footnote had become real. There was “one under” somewhere near Grantham, meaning that our train going to Sheffield was packed full.
We arrived in the end. A swift paper review drew a blank. The Sheffield Star and Metro were both silent. Mind you, the evening was sold out, so there was no need for the publicity. A hearty lasagne for lunch at Bella Italia was followed by a hearty lie-down and a walk to The Leadmill. There were a few other early arrivals – Tony, Andrew, Phill and Lorna (who won the Alan Whicker Memorial Award for travelling furthest, having flown in from Boston, Massachusetts earlier in the day. Niall’s effort from Ireland gets a round of applause, but was a distant second.) Also outside were Karl, Mo, Nigel, Neil, Denise (off for some pre-gig grub), Andy (back from a European train tour – no stories of “one under”). And I exchanged nods with Alex and Lynn.
The doors opened prompt at seven o’clock. There was some tidy music on the PA… Alternative Ulster, Electricity, Blue Monday, A Town Called Malice, Enola Gay, Close To Me, This Charming Man, Heart Of Glass.
We had a lot more Hellos inside the venue. Gilly and Daisy, Brian, John, Chris, Exford, Postman Tony, Steve (reporting that he took 38,000 steps when recently climbing the Stiperstones), Nigel and Jo (expressing an early interest in the newly formed Goole Vikings Rugby League team), and Lee (his first gig for a while). We saw Michael and Peter from Indignation Meeting. Blatant advertising here. They are appearing at Jumbo Records in Leeds, flogging their new long player, on Saturday 16 November. Be there. Unless you have the excuse of living in New Hampshire.
I can’t remember any other covers band supporting HMHB. Tonight being an exception. We Are Not Devo did a grand job. I wasn’t familiar with much of their set – only really knowing the band’s singles. But they were true to Devo’s sound. I would have liked to have heard The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise, but you can’t have everything. I managed to obtain their set list which showed they played the following…
Uncontrollable
Red Eye
Gates Of Steel
Girl U Want
Beautiful World
Freedom Of Choice
Satisfaction
Secret Agent Man
Penetration
Gut Feeling
Whip It
Jocko Homo
Be Stiff
Come Back Jonee
In the interval I exchanged nods with Paul, and I spoke with Niall who kindly handed me a set list from the recent Half Arsed Half Biscuit gig in Limerick. He said he might try to arrange a future HAHB show in Dublin or Belfast. Might be a bit easier for folk who would be crossing the Irish Sea to see them. The set list (below) is worth a “compare and contrast” with the songs that HMHB play. I’m sure more of the newer songs will filter through eventually.
I Was A Teenage Armchair Honved Fan
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Renfield’s Afoot
Left Lyrics In The Practice Room
Ninety-Nine Per Cent Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
For What Is Chatteris
Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman
Outbreak Of Vitas Gerulaitis
When I Look At My Baby
The Unfortunate Gwatkin
Petty Sessions
Restless Legs
King Of Hi-Vis
Joy In Leeuwarden
Vatican Broadside
Every Time A Bell Rings
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
National Shite Day
Midnight Mass Murder
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Everything’s AOR
And in their encore…
Dickie Davies Eyes
Irk The Purists
Oblong Of Dreams
The Trumpton Riots
Wish I’d been there.
HMHB were on stage at near enough nine o’clock. Abba provided the walk on music – The Way Old Friends Do. That’s not a song that I would have recognised. Thanks to Karen for having the program on her phone which enables you to identify these things.
Nigel explained the band’s route to the gig: M53, M56, A57. He corrected himself when telling the tale, they actually have equipment in the van, not “gear”. It may have been in answer to a question from the floor – he said “I’ve got a Tesco Clubcard. Highlight of my week when I use it.” There was not much new to report from Renfield’s Afoot. “BOOKING ESSENTIAL” was in capital letters. And there was a rule of Strictly No Dogs. “In case they climb up the trees and scare the bats, “explained Nigel.
Tony shouted “They never repealed the Press Gang Act. June Tabor told me that.” Nigel replied, “The best part of that story is the second bit.” On the relevant line in The Light At The End Of The Tunnel, Nigel pointed towards New Mills. I couldn’t say with what degree of accuracy. He had only found out the other day that the name of the vegetable is “Brussels Sprouts”. He had always thought it was “Brussel Sprouts”.
Nigel talked about some of the bands which had come out of Sheffield, giving particular mention to Clock DVA. The only celebrity spot of the evening was “Sophie Raworth, ladies and gentlemen. Did you get that skip? Remember, you need to get rid of his things as well”. During Lark Descending, he did the usual trick of sticking his plectrum to his forehead.
One bit I couldn’t quite follow was when Nigel asked, “What is the most northerly town in Wales?” Somebody else will have to help out there. In Hedley Verityesque, Karl played the guitar behind his neck. Nigel followed suit. “I just got a cricked neck,” he said. One question Nigel has asked previously… “Which is the furthest west? Bristol. Liverpool or Edinburgh?… It’s Edinburgh.”
“This is a Soft Machine number,” he said, ahead of All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit.” Nigel also mentioned Soft Machine a bit later. He was listening to them while eating his chips from Five Guys outside Debenhams. He found it “a bit weird” that Debenhams were closed at six o’clock in town.
Ben Savage, introduced as having a name you’d kill for, guested on trumpet for Big Man Up Front, and then played keyboard for most of the rest of the gig. “My back is playing up,” noted Nigel. The Voltarol Years continue? There was a snippet of The Velvet Underground’s Pale Blue Eyes. Orange Juice (“Consolation Prize”) was also covered.
Nigel mentioned that in the film In Bruges, there is a seven-second burst of The Trumpton Riots. (He got that wrong though; see comments below – CtSO) I hope the band got a royalty cheque for that. And a book was recommended – The Wager by David Grann.
A few lines from Morningtown Ride preceded For What Is Chatteris. Midnight Mass Murder is “a true story”. There was a request for A Lilac Harry Quinn. Nigel mentioned that they had played that one in the soundcheck. I need to look back through my records, but common consent (from Tony and John) was that this was a live debut for Slipping The Escort.
The woman behind me took a photo of Ben’s t-shirt. She explained the meaning. I couldn’t hear her properly in the heat of the battle, so asked her to write it down. The t-shirt’s motif was Spring Grain – a play on words based on The Go Betweens’ Spring Rain. Karl’s t-shirt in the encore mentioned The Warlocks. Weren’t they something to do with The Time Machine?
Nigel’s favourite piece of football commentary is “A quality goal by a quality player”, referring to Sheffield United’s Tony Currie. Barry Bannon was mentioned, to balance things up, but was greeted with booing from the floor. Nigel turned to Neil and said that he should’ve gone with the anecdote about Rotherham United’s old ground, Millmoor instead.
Not much else to report. The band played these songs…
She’s In Broadstairs
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Awkward Sean
Renfield’s Afoot
The Light At The End Of A Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
I’m Getting Buried In The Morning
Terminus
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Surging Out Of Convalescence
Lark Descending
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
Hedley Verityesque
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Consolation Prize
Persian Rug Sale At The URC
Time Flies By When You’re A Driver Of A Train
National Shite Day
Big Man Up Front
Took Problem Chimp To The Ideal Home Show
San Antonio Form Party
Vatican Broadside
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Morningtown Ride / For What Is Chatteris
Midnight Mass Murder
Slipping The Escort
Oblong Of Dreams
The Trumpton Riots
Joy Division Oven Gloves
And in the encore…
Every Time A Bell Rings
Shot By Both Sides
Everything’s AOR
Fred Titmus must have been brought off the bench at the last minute, as it was not included on Karl’s setlist.
That seems to be it for this year. There was a lot of Swap Shop activity with last minute comings and goings for tickets for this one. I hope everyone got sorted out in the end. Things pick up again in 2025, with Cardiff (7 March), Ulverston (16 May), Castleton (25 July) and Glasgow (19 September). They are all on Fridays. I suggest you move quick with booking tickets, as always. I’m sure there will be other shows perhaps later in the year, but these may well all go.That said, the whole process of buying tickets seems to be getting more and more complicated. Fortunately, Karen is tuned into the whys and wherefores – downloading apps etc. I fear that one day I won’t get into a show simply through not knowing which buttons to press. I always thought music was an inclusive part of life, not so sure now. I also have sympathy with Cream Cheese And Chives who put a note on Chris’s site… “You reach a point when getting through a gig without a leak is impossible.” I have every sympathy. My only tip is to wait until after the gig before you hit the sauce. We did that later, along with Tony, Lorna, Andrew and Phill.
The only thing remaining was on Saturday, when Half Mandolin Half Biscuit were playing at Shakespeare’s pub on the other side of the city centre. This performance featured Teg, Trevor, Will, Dave, Ian and Katey (wearing her own Energy Dome). The Bastard In The Hat had put in his apologies. The folky performance emphasises the strength of the songs. A pattern has emerged over the last few years. If Half Man Half Biscuit’s next Sheffield gig is on a Friday, then it’s quite likely that Half Mandolin Half Biscuit will be playing on the Saturday afternoon.
They split their performance into four sets. It was interesting to see that they also bolted Morningtown Ride onto the beginning of For What Is Chatteris (as had happened the night before). They played these…
Irk The Purists
Lord Hereford’s Knob
Even Men With Steel Hearts
Restless Legs
Evening Of Swing Has Been Cancelled
What Made Columbia Famous
Petty Sessions
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Uffington Wassail
…
Morningtown Ride / For What Is Chatteris
RSVP
Mate Of The Bloke
1966 And All That
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
…
Gubba Lookalikes
Bad Review
Adam Boyle Has Cast Lad Rock Aside
Ode To Joyce
Paintball’s Coming Home
Running Order Squabble Fest
Twenty-Four Hour Garage People
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Look Dad No Tunes
…
Paradise Lost
Everything’s AOR
Worried Man Blues
Vatican Broadside
Give Us Bubblewrap
With Goth On Our Side
Midnight Mass Murder
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Bottleneck At Capel Curig
L’Enfer C’Est Les Autres
San Antonio Foam Party
The Trumpton Riots
Moody Chops
Depressed Beyond Tablets
Joy Division Oven Gloves
A fantastic afternoon’s entertainment with lovely people, and the raffle made £100 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Karen won one of the HMHB related prizes – a pair of slippers and a packet of biros.
And so, it was farewell to the other Biscuiteers who were in attendance: Steve, Richard, John, Exxo, Postman Tony and Brian. We’ll be seeing everyone in the new year in Cardiff. From there, it was off to the station for the train home. Hail Fellow, Well Met to the guy on the train who spotted my motorway junction t-shirt and quoted “Ninety-Nine Per Cent Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd” and “Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus” to me.
6 October 2024
Chris The Siteowner
Lovely stuff, thanks Roger. Superb gig and day out. Great to briefly chat to Nigel (who walked the whole way through the audience during the support act without seemingly being recognised, thanks solely to wearing a bobble hat), as well as to Neil (who couldn’t get in the stage door, in Spinal Tap stylee) and Carl (who watched almost all of the support act before going backstage, which seemed very rock’n’roll indeed).
My journey home on the Saturday was broken in that London to allow me to watch my team get soundly thrashed by the Hammers, but rescued by finding myself sitting on the train back home to Ipswich next to Mick Mills, no less. That’s former England football captain Michael Dennis Mills MBE, not that bloke out of REM on Stipe Records. He was an absolute gent.
6 October 2024
Worried Man
Re Tribute band support acts, see also Sisters of Murphy, Holmfirth Picturedrome, couldn’t give you a year, but it’ll be a scarily long time ago
6 October 2024
Karl
If I may be permitted to offer one correction to Roger’s account of Friday’s proceedings, the t-shirt to which he refers wasn’t of The Warlocks, with whom I’m entirely unfamiliar. It was in fact Warlockhunt, a bass/bass/drums ‘bewitched doom misery’ trio fronted by an old friend of mine. Somewhat niche, I realise!
6 October 2024
'Young' Savage
Sticking with t-shirts, mine was Robert Forster’s Spring Grain Museli. Best served with banana, apparently. Thanks all for the kind words, was an honour!
6 October 2024
Mike
Excellent from Roger as always, was particularly looking forward to going through the setlist from that one as I’m ashamed to say there was a track played I didn’t immediately recognise and it’s been bugging me ever since. Problem solved, it was “Lark Descending”. Shameful I know.
On the point regarding long-distance attendance I was one of those scrambling for a last minute ticket, very helpfully sorted out by Chris. My girlfriend arrived from Minsk and attended via stops in Krakow and Dundee. To say she had come over specifically for the gig would be pushing it slightly as it was actually her first HMHB concert. But worth a mention I think. Various attendees could confirm her origins as the tall blonde stood by the mixing desk proved irresistible to several and conversations were struck up at frequent intervals.
I have to admit I didn’t enjoy the gig quite as much as Coventry which I maintain was the pinnacle of the gigs I’ve attended. Nothing really to do with the band other than them playing a couple of tracks I don’t really care for compared to the blistering set of crowdpleasers that was the Coventry show; The venue at Coventry was definitely a bit less cramped and sweaty and for those of us who like to hang around at the back the sound and view were also better. Loving the Crapsons probably had a bit to do with it too!
Anyway, thanks again to Chris and Anthony for selling us the ticket.
7 October 2024
Scoff
Whilst I’ll never be a candidate for longest-distance attendance, Friday was my 3rd HMHB gig. The 2nd being Holmfirth in June and the 1st being Reading Festival 1990. Making it somewhere in the region of 33 3/4 years (12,355 days apparently!) between 1st and 2nd gigs…
7 October 2024
Sloppy
Another cracking write up Roger.
My memory is shocking so it’s always a good reminder!
Shame I had to scoot off early and missed ‘Mandolin’ Saturday. Hopefully catch them next time.
Several people asked me about the Birkenhead tee.
Got mine from here viralstyle.com in Tampa.
Can only assume there’s a town of the same name in Florida…perhaps that can be the Geography quiz for Cardiff.
….off now to see what’s cropped up on YouTube…
7 October 2024
Wobs
Excellent review as ever from Roger. I am amazed at his consistency.
Was an awesome night, and just wish I could make it to more. They need to return to Hull! Work on Ouse Bridge should be finished by next year, so they’ll have no excuse.
I love the fact that Half Mandolin Half Biscuit exist, but I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll never have the opportunity to see them.
Saw Mike at the end, but could hardly speak, as I needed some fresh air from moshing and shouting.
7 October 2024
Johnny Kwango
A few videos from Sheffield:
(a) DPAK + OJ (Consolation Prize)
https://youtu.be/ksLKEJ19gsQ?si=XOpemHSC1v2acQla
(b) Problem Chimp
https://youtu.be/AKIguDx65js?si=YGrO2-h4KUL9KXgV
(c) Shot By Both Sides
https://youtu.be/kMFlZb6QST0?si=b4WT1celH03A5Wsm
Any issues let me know – ta.
7 October 2024
dr DEsperate
Excellent, @JK, I make that about a minute of full-band OJ.
I don’t think FBLers will have gained geo-alphabetically, but it obiously makes a difference to the churn ratio.
(Sympathy to any newcomers seeing this post on their first visit to the site.)
7 October 2024
Exxo
Great stuff. Thank you
When you put up the Not Devo and ‘Shot by Both Sides’ vids on Saturday, I was actually going to ask if you had ‘Consolation Prize.’
56 seconds. Hmm
I feel a bit like ee’re being toyed with, like that defender on Tony Currie before he chipped “poor, mesmerised Mervyn Day.”
7 October 2024
IRISH NIALL
As ever Rogers reviews have the capacity to transfer the reader right back to a moment.
My journey by train from Manchester Airport via Piccadilly had none of the drama of Rogers I’m glad to say. On a fine tee shirt weather day on both sides of the Pennines tracking my trip on google maps was a journey through #HMHB references as the track wound it’s way south of New Mills, north of Eyam and straight through The Peaks.
Journey back on Saturday was a bit hellish. (raging I couldn’t hang about for Half Mandolin Half Biscuit -who’s set looks terrific by the way. Duly noted for next time Sheffield gets a visit)
Maybe a little delicate on the morning after the night before, there was barely standing room as an earlier train was cancelled. A bunch of young lads headed to Liverpool, high spirited and on the lash already at 11am didn’t help in truth. They meant no harm either. Just turned the dial up on the general unpleasantness a notch or two.
But the gig the night before was top class as ever. She’s in Broadstairs was just on fire and they kept the energy at those levels. The Way Old Friends Do was supposed to be the walk on tune 12 months previously in Wolverhampton but my lot The Hitchers scuppered that by finishing with Mama Mia.
I would very much hope HMHB were handsomely rewarded for the use of Trumpton Riots in In Bruges. It’s an inexact science without a “going rate” and I’ve very limited experience. But The Hitchers had a song in a movie called Rat back in the day and it was one of the very few paydays of our entire existence. On the other hand in much more recent years we’d a far bigger budget movie production get in touch looking to use one of ours in a scene and they genuinely thought we’d just sign it away for free. The recording wasn’t even ours to give. The dope who sourced it grabbed it from an RTE session we’d done and had now made the whole shebang a Mexican standoff with a broke national broadcaster who make whatever money to do emptying the pockets of productions that licence their content. Try telling them it’ll be great exposure.
Anyway it was great to catch up with those of you I did and I evidently missed a few of you about the place. We’ll do it again in the Spring all going well. Can’t see myself making Cardiff but I said that with Newcastle and made it. But I’m all signed up for Ulverston and Castleton. We’ll see what else fortune brings.
Finally on HAHBs set -of the 220ish songs in the canon I’d say we can make a commendable stab at about 45 and we played 30. I think we probably make gentler tilts of the wheel with sets than the real thing owing to sheer infrequency of our playing them. But I think we added 4 or 5 spanning Creative Hub and Voltorol for this one and dropped A Country Practice, Paintball and 24HRGP (the latter two of which I did in the earlier evening set). So we will indeed hopefully add more. We’ve nothing off TLP (have played Squabblefest back in the fog) or Godcore. Sims (HAHB bassist) tells me he’s picking up a Rickenbacker any day now so I’ll be giving him some homework -Floreat Inertia for starters I think. Other recommendations and suggestions very welcome.
7 October 2024
Johnny kwango
WAND’s temporary name change atop Rhiannon’s set list (wot she did give to me) did make me smile:
https://ibb.co/D5CZGTw
7 October 2024
Cheryl
The 7 second clip of Trumpton Riots makes itself known in the film ‘Seven Psychopaths’ rather than ‘In Bruges’. I remember seeing it at the cinema one rainy afternoon and almost jumped out of my seat when I heard it. The band all get name checked (yes, I hung around until the final credits rolled). Martin McDonagh (partner to Phoebe Waller-Bridge) directed both as well as Banshees of Inisheran. HMHB don’t appear on the released soundtrack to the film so unlikely they’ll be retiring to Hebden Bridge anytime soon (thankfully)….
7 October 2024
EXXO
I’m actually a bit embarrassed that I blurted out that question at the gig (“what did that pay?”) and l wouldn’t have expected any other answer had I though on for a millisec (“dunno.” [shrug])
7 October 2024
Johnny kwango
@Niall re #40
How about adding in some more songs from the “never played live this century” list:
https://biscuitgigs.co.uk/songsUnplayed
Just been listening to a few of those that I haven’t listened to in a fair while (and I am quite unlikely to ever hear the vast majority live as performed by HMHB themselves).
Admittedly, at time of writing, this list is yet to be updated and so includes an impostor (which I very much enjoyed hearing on Friday).
7 October 2024
Irish niall
@Cheryl (“The 7 second clip of Trumpton Riots makes itself known in the film ‘Seven Psychopaths’ rather than ‘In Bruges’.”) – Good spot Cheryl.
@JK: There’s a few candidates in there for sure and some we have played including Honved, LHknob, Goth, Referees Alphabet. Was gonna do Tour Jacket in the acoustic set on Culture Night but chickened out. 😊
7 October 2024
Sloppy
Currently watching In Bruges poised for that seven seconds
7 October 2024
Chris The Siteowner
Thanks Cheryl for pointing that out. I’ve been very confused, wondering how I’d missed a Biscuit clip in a film I’ve seen more than once, and how I didn’t know there were two movies using HMHB music. Now we know. The explanation was obvious really.
The original discussion about the use of Trumpton Riots in ‘Seven Psychopaths’ can be found at comment no.20 in the chat here. Oddly, a few comments later, the prospect of a song being used in “In Bruges” is suggested…
7 October 2024
parsfan
Sheffield vids and setlist now on the Date Retrieval System, it now has links to videos of 200 different songs (though a good chunk of those are covers).
More to come from Friday I’m told, but at some point tomorrow I’ll add Johnny’s four new ones from Holmfirth.
7 October 2024
parsfan
Thanks to Johnny and Phil for what we have so far (sorry, got lost in an edit).
7 October 2024
No chips allowed
The boys get a nice write up in the Rotherham Advertiser for their Leadmill gig.
8 October 2024
Anthony Power
The Docs rendition of MMM in a catholic alter/choir boy stylee was absolutely great..
8 October 2024
woodnoggin
While the Rotherham Advertiser piece is not a Bad Review, you might still be tempted to ask “was he even there?” It lists Man of Constant Sorrow as one of the highlights – a song that wasn’t played at the gig!
8 October 2024
POP-TART MARK
Yeah, suspicious that. And those boiler suits could have looked orange in the light of someone’s you tube footage, but not to anyone in the room. FAO South Yorkshire Police & surrounding divisions – if this man is of interest regarding any crime that took place between 7.30 & 11pm last Friday, his alibi is not worth the webpage it’s written on!!
8 October 2024
Nooboah
Superb night, lads on top form as always. Enjoyed Holmfirth more but that had as much to do with the crowd as anything else, dunno why we seem to always attract the drunk nobs at gigs in Sheffield.
On to the caves, doubt we’ll do Cardiff but live in hope.
8 October 2024
Uncle Joe
Did anyone get any footage of San Antonio Foam Party? And if so, please can they stick it on here?
8 October 2024
THE MASTER OF THE STRAT
@Woodnoggin, I think we now know the answer to your pre-gig question “Anyone planning on bringing COVID this time?” – despite my Joy Division Face Mask™ I have succumbed. I didn’t see another mask in The Leadmill, so I’m imagining it was a bit of an Event.
Saturday was lovely, thanks to everyone who came and helped us exceed critical mass. And remember the words.
@Niall, sad to have missed you, would have loved to hear more/all about your workshop. Another time, I hope. Has that Ricky arrived yet?
8 October 2024
dr DEsperate
Just a couple of addenda to Roger’s Exemplary:
Nigel mentioned that he was having trouble with his Fleetwood Mac, Wirral rhyming slang for “back”;
he said it was early Ultravox! fans who would have died for the name Ben Savage, a pronouncement we marked by singing our own snippet of ‘Young Savage’.
(I once had a patient called Savage who named her baby Jack. Ever after I thought of him as ‘The Man of Bronze’.)
Thanks to @AP for his appreciation of my ‘Songs of Praise’- style rendition of ‘Midnight Mass Murder’ at the Half Mandolin session. I too won a prize in the raffle, a can of ‘Sunshine’ beer. Postie Tony took home a hi-vis jacket, which I reckon makes him now my subject.
Kudos to @Pop-Tart Mark for his ‘Ynys Môn’ Couplet of the Week above, narrowly beating @Exxo’s:
“Ooh, ooh, what’s the brew?
It’s a Tiramisu” (Stout, on sale at Shakespeare’s).
9 October 2024
No chips allowed
@Pop-tart M and Woodnoggin, I can’t believe that you would suggest a member, (and I use the term loosely), of our great national institution, the press, would fabricate a story or, even worse, lie to sell newspapers. Shame on you all, for God’s sake gentlemen, don’t you realise this is England. We play cricket here with a straight bat, don’t you know.
9 October 2024
parsfan
Kudos to @Pop-Tart Mark for his ‘Ynys Môn’ Couplet of the Week above, narrowly beating @Exxo’s:
“Ooh, ooh, what’s the brew?
It’s a Tiramisu” (Stout, on sale at Shakespeare’s).
Well! Let’s hope you haven’t instigated a rivalry, competition even. That would be…interesting.
9 October 2024
EXXO
No danger of that, Paul. Except to say, “on Ynys Môn,” surely?
9 October 2024
parsfan
FIIK, I was quoting the luminous doctor.
9 October 2024
embrace the margin
Those notDevo boiler suits were clearly bright yellow and indeed pretty much identical to the one I remember my mum wearing to the polling station for the 1987 general election (though she did not accessorise with a black belt). She did not vote accordingly I suspect.
10 October 2024
parsfan
Someone was asking for San Antonio Foam Party from last week.
Phil From Pompey has it on YouTube (after Problem Chimp) and it’s just been added to the Data Retrieval System. Currently top of the pile here.
11 October 2024
dr DEsperate
No season ticket involved, but Ron Ely, who played Tarzan (q v) and Doc Savage, Man of Bronze passed away last month.
I always thought the Doc’s first name was Jack, as the lady I mentioned in post 57 above named her baby; it was in fact Clark, as I did mine.
24 October 2024
MULDOON LIVES!
Clark Savage Junior indeed.
24 October 2024
Tall Taff
@Karl – The Warlocks was the name briefly used before Garcia, Lesh et al decided to call themselves The Grateful Dead. They also did at least one tour of smaller venues in the 1980s under that name.
I still have the T-Shirt that my then paramour [who lived in Delaware] got from one of those shows. I’ll try and remember to wear when I next get to see a show [probably Castleton].
12 November 2024
GORDON BURNS
This just in from Tegwen Roberts, one of the Half Mandolin Half Biscuit ensemble:
https://bsky.app/profile/industrialteg.bsky.social/post/3layvijbxkk2u
15 November 2024
EXXO
Great stuff (you’d raise even more though if you had the raffle in one of the later breaks, when further folks arrived. Build up to it, keep plugging it. Just sayin.’)
16 November 2024
EXXO
NB’s whole awareness-raising around the occidentality of Edinburgh came in handy the other day for viewers of ‘Pointless,’ who realised immediately that every city in Scotland lies to the west of Birmingham. But they probably still chose the likes of Truro or St. Asaph.
22 January 2025
ALEX
Looks like we’ve seen our last gig at The Leadmill. Everyone is probably aware how the venue has been under threat under its new ownership. Well, it survives but a friend was there last night and tells me that a newly erected wall has reduced the capacity by the main stage to just 300.
7 April 2025
Scoff
>Looks like we’ve seen our last gig at The Leadmill. Everyone is probably aware how the venue has been under threat under its new ownership. Well, it survives but a friend was there last night and tells me that a newly erected wall has reduced the capacity by the main stage to just 300.
Sad news about the Leadmill. Its not my favourite local venue, but I’ve been to some top quality gigs there over the years – and club nights back when I was a student in the early 90s.
7 April 2025
Injured Buzzard
Finally got round to uploading concert footage from the last year. Managed to get almost the whole gig at the Leadmill. Shame it looks like it’ll be the last time there.
https://youtu.be/Huhi55mBw3Q?si=8-dcjA1Kjj4Gp3wP
1 June 2025