It’s nearly 9 years after the previous visit to Brum, the City of a Thousand Trades, Second City, the Venice of the North and the Workshop of the World. And although nobody has a definitive list of all Biscuit gigs ever, I can’t find a record of one in Birmingham before that – so it could be only the second visit ever. Anyway, what was it like?
BOBBY SVARC
“What a fucking shithole” (c) Geoff Davies, O2 Academy, Brum, 2013.
16 September 2022
Chris The Siteowner
This link shows the band did indeed play in Brum a long time ago. Thirty-six years apparently.
16 September 2022
Brumbiscuit
The last Brum gig was possibly in another O2 venue that used to be the Night Out chicken-in-a-basket venue along the Queensway. Might not have been as far back as 2013, although time flies.
One of gigs nearer to me, but I shan’t be attending, sadly. Have fun boys and girls…
16 September 2022
Brumbiscuit
And, no, there was a gig in 1995 at a pub called the Hibernian in Selly Oak in Brum. My first HMHB gig, as it happens…
16 September 2022
BOBBY SVARC
Yep, HMHB supported Rudimental that night,
16 September 2022
Tony monopoly
What a peculiar setlist.
I might be displaying my ignorance but what was the last but one song, assume it was a cover.
How did that big bald geezer get on the stage? I was chatting to him in the Big Bull and he was smashed then.
17 September 2022
Woodnoggin
Not being at the gig, I’m intrigued to find out what constitutes a peculiar setlist. The last several gigs have featured the same core of songs.
17 September 2022
TwistedKiteMike
I’m not sure it was a particularly peculiar setlist (an unusual order I service, I agree), but there were a couple of gems exhumed from the archives. Also, I think (please confirm or correct me), a debut for URC.
Interesting venue for sure, seen better days and possibly in the flightpath of HS2. However, the sound was excellent. Yes, the penultimate song was a cover.
Anyway, here you are. Chew on this: –
Fred T
Alehouse Futsal
Suffolk Ditch
Driver of a Train
Bane
Buried in the Morning
Bob W
Renfield
Awkward Sean
Lark A
Trad Arr Tune
Terminus
Chatteris
Bogus Official
Floreat
Dead Men
Vatican
AOR
DPAK
Barbarellas (The Prefects) – cover
Oblong
Bell Rings
Midnight Mass Murder
Bob Todd
Trumpton
NSD
Persian Rug Sale at the URC
JDOG
………………………………….
Broadstairs (Broad Street!)
Song From Under the Floorboards (Magazine) – cover
Light Tunnel
Roll on to Blackpool.
Mike…………………………
17 September 2022
Golden biscuit winner
That was perfect. Nigel on form and the sound was brilliant.
17 September 2022
Woodnoggin
Persian Rug Sale? That’s good news in terms of my FBL points and I’d been hoping to see them play it live sometime.
17 September 2022
The moth
The venue has clearly seen better days, and Digbeth was being torn up outside to build a new tram line, but as a first-time HMHB gig attendee I was in a very happy place. Great night.
17 September 2022
Ken’s long back
Unusual set list but excellent to hear DMDNST and Lark Ascending. The crowd seemed to suddenly go from timid to exuberant. There were some big units in that mosh pit! Someone should consider sponsoring it…
17 September 2022
Graham MCLENNAN
Agreed Brum is a bit of a shithole but great venue for my sons first HMHB gig.Eclectic and outstanding set list as usual and we’ll worth the schlep up from London. See you all in Hull and then in Camden with the next generation of devotees
17 September 2022
TRANSIT FULL OF keith
Looks like it was a good night, roll on Naar’ch for me. I had Alehouse on my list but left it on the bench at the last minute, that’s becoming a habit.
17 September 2022
Jim Broom
First HMHB gig,
I enjoyed it but ….
sound quality was poor – could only get the lyrics to songs I knew – the rest were unintelligible . Enjoyed the sound of loud guitars instead . ( Bass was too loud )
I like the venue – been there before and it will be a shame if it goes .
17 September 2022
guest informant
Karl also gave us a chunk of Behind the Wall of Sleep from the first Black Sabbath album. Saying ‘Sabbath came from here’ is the new ‘We’ve got more miles of canals than Venice’.
17 September 2022
quality janitor
Another great gig. Noticed the moshpit and its fringes drawing a crowd of wide-ranging ages, which is good to see. The band almost all clad in black, which I hadn’t expected.
Particularly pleased to hear Broadstairs changed to Broad Street, though I have docked myself points for not knowing the Prefects track. Yet another local band that passed me by. I thought they were singing Barbarella’s, which was a night club in the 70s and 80s that was a focal point of the Birmingham new romantic thing, where Duran Duran performed with one Stephen Duffy on vocals.
The wiki page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarella%27s doesn’t mention it but he also wrote a track called Barbarella’s, that was originally a criminally-neglected B-side until it resurfaced a few years later in a different guise on The Devils’ glorious Dark Circles album, which is him and Nick Rhodes recording the early DD stuff that never had been.
17 September 2022
quality janitor
… and minus one more for saying 80s, when it never made it that far.
17 September 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Agree with those who said the sound was dire, although it appears that was not the case for all, so it may have been down to where you were. Even the between-song chat was largely unintelligible to me, from about a third of the way back, in the centre, where you expect the sound to be at its best.
17 September 2022
quality janitor
It was awfully muddy and boomy to me when just under the low ceiling of the balcony, about 1/3 of the way back from the stage. Shifting outwards towards the middle of the room helped, but I still (as I often do anyway) struggled with any words or lyrics I wasn’t expecting.
What did NB say right at the end when he wished everyone a good weekend? Likely something to do with Monday but couldn’t grasp it.
17 September 2022
GOlden biscuit winner
#jim broom “Drum’s quite good, the bass is too loud
And i can’t hear the words”
17 September 2022
Bad loser
A long time since I’ve been to Birmingham and I’d be grateful not to be given reason to return anytime soon. The delays on the M6 were to be expected but not being able to find a way to the parking space I’d booked because of the tram work was very annoying. The quote attributed to Geoff at the top of the thread was on my mind as I walked round.
Actually quite liked the venue once inside which was unexpected from the outside. I’m inclined to agree with comments about the sound quality. I, too, got to the stage where I relied on knowing the songs. I couldn’t hear in my right ear by the end and left without being able to identify the second cover.
First time I’ve seen The Humdrum Express and he was entertaining. The guy behind me who shouted ‘Play something decent’ was, I think, being genuinely abusive and I’ve no idea where he was coming from. I’d hate to see what he made of Sonnerberg or The West Wickhams.
Enjoyed the setlist despite scoring no points apart from the easy ones for songs dropped from the Castleton list. A season hovering above the drop zone for me I think. Any chance of a booby prize for having your opening song pick close the evening?
17 September 2022
The moth
Enjoyed The Humdrum Express as well, although from where I was (near the mixing desk) he was having to compete with loud chatter from the bar. But judging by a track on his latest album, he’s well used to it.
17 September 2022
quality janitor
@GBW #21
The sound of the suburbs I guess
17 September 2022
Laure
Maybe I’m easily pleased but the combination of a gig in my vicinity, seeing Chris for the first time in years and meeting King of High-Vis more than compensated for any between-song muffledness. Guitars sounded great, too. Also enjoyed ‘She’s in Broad Street’!
17 September 2022
SYNTHETIC SUPPORTER
Thank christ for the comments on here ! – i’m not going deaf then…
the only ‘between songs chat’ i heard was Nigel asking what somebody was drinking, and did i hear right that he’s never tried vodka?
shame about the sound as it’s a stonking venue where i went to my best ever non-HMHB gig (Stiff Little Fingers in ’79).
Shame to hear the comments about old Brum – you think it’s bad now, you shudda seen it before ! despite the disruption for the new tram-line (that’ll bring about a major transport improvement) as i walked along looking at some of the grand old buildings with beautiful brickwork and neon lights it seemed a bostin’ improvement on what was there prior to 15 years ago….
17 September 2022
Age old EEl
Gotta say The Humdrum Express was brilliant.
I was standing just next to that irritating guy and yes he was irritating.
Just very pissed.
He missed half of the gig though because his mates dragged him out.
Schadenfreude?
One day they will play Hornbeam again, or Tommy Walsh.
Persian rug though. So there’s that.
Great as always, on the whole.
And Brum is cooler than you think x
17 September 2022
Age old eEl
I mean, I could go on, but I’ll spare you.
And Fred T is the best opening track. Why didn’t we think of this before?
17 September 2022
Golden biscuit winner
#SYNTHETIC SUPPORTER “never tasted vodka” – a joke as vodka is, erm, tasteless
17 September 2022
auto_pilot
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=737401
Enjoyable show but would echo the comments on the sound mix. I’ve seen numerous shows in that room and it can sound terrific.
17 September 2022
synthetic supporter
@ GOLDEN BISCUIT WINNER
aaaah ‘tasted’…. still, even if i’d heard it right as a non-vodka drinker the comment would prob. have gone right over my head…..
but thanx for the clarification, i’m glad i sorted one of the between songs banter…..
17 September 2022
dr desperate
“Vodka tonic. No ice, no tonic.” (Emma Thompson, ‘Johnny English Strikes Again’.)
“A large VAT please Dave, and put it on the slate.” (George Cole, ‘Minder’.)
17 September 2022
Sloppy
Cracking set list, shame about the sound quality. A couple of ‘rows’ behind the pit pretty central and all was a bit muddy. They need to stick to performing in caves
18 September 2022
cycledelic fuzz
Hoping the sound will be better for my first Biscuit outing to Naaarwidge in Nov. Bad Loser your abusive chum reminds me of Chuck Prophet Green on Red having trouble with a guitar part, asked Jim Dickinson at the controls for advice, the reply was ….”play something decent”. Context is everything. SS, I also saw SLF in 79 supprting TRB at Hammy Odeon, same tour I think, they were great then. The Premier Inn Norwich seemed a little steep at 90 quid, maybe phony biscuit mania hasn’t bitten the dust in Norfolk? (sorry)
18 September 2022
Coxius
Haven’t seen them live for probs 25 years and I was pissed then. Great night. Barberellas was the icing on the cake. Can’t wait for my next gig
18 September 2022
FERENCVáROS FAN
The roadworks around the venue were the only negative for me, and, being local, I knew all about them beforehand. Other than this, it was a fantastic day, and another great gig. Thought the setlist worked very well, and no issues with the sound from where I was, tucked away at the side of the front row. Very good support outfit. When I heard that shout behind me to play something decent, at the end of the thoroughly decent track ‘Third Choice Keeper,’ I had to shout back ‘they just did.’
Loved the pub chat beforehand, with a few of the usual suspects. Thanks, all. Excellent also to have met Karl on Digbeth High St before the gig, and to have had the opportunity to exchange a few words with him. My friend Phil has just emailed to say he had a fantastic time at what was his first Biscuit gig. It clearly won’t be his last one. I’m also back in Birmingham on Thursday. Bev has been moaning that she hasn’t seen the Bull yet, so we’ll see it then, along with the Library and the pub (Welly ofc).
I can’t make Blackpool or Norwich, so it will be Hull next up for me. Cheers for now.
18 September 2022
Year without a summer
First time I’ve seen the lads – agree that the bass was too loud, the vocals not clear enough. I moved forward from the back (I lurk at the back a lot owing to height and age) to underneath the balcony and this was slightly better. I was quite surprised that the turnout was so large but (apart from Blur or Nine Inch Nails) I struggle to imagine acts I like having a substantial following. Nice to hear the ‘hits’ live.
In terms of inter song conversation, Nigel was talking about Neville Southall being a favourite footballer, and about Tom Finney also being a good plumber. During one song he told a story about someone hiding a message of love to a minor celebrity in a Lowestoft A-Z. So it exactly met my expectations of an HMHB gig.
19 September 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Roger Green’s review, originally published on Gez’s site and reproduced with acknowledgement.
I don’t claim perfection in my record-keeping, but this would appear to be HMHB’s first appearance in Birmingham since October 2013, when they played at The O2 Academy. Quite some gap. I know there was that little interruption to proceedings with the pandemic, but it is an awfully long time between drinks. That show had the added bonus of having Tony’s morris-dancing side Beorma Morris performing outside beforehand. The support band that night, as on many of these evenings was Roja. Whatever happened to them? Can’t remember the size of The Academy, but Tony gave an assurance that this place is bigger. A HMHB song came to mind when he said that.
At the end of August Karen and I raised a metaphoric glass to John Peel on what would have been his 83rd birthday. Without him, I might never have got to hear HMHB. Not with those blinking Radio One playlists. Forever a great man.
One evening we were watching a collection of 70s videos on TV. Mull Of Kintyre came on. We wondered about this song, and how it mirrors HMHB’s Oblong Of Dreams. Paul McCartney is quoted as follows: “I certainly loved Scotland enough, so I came up with a song about where we were living: an area called Mull Of Kintyre. It was a love song really, about how I enjoyed being there and imagining I was travelling away and wanting to get back there.” We wouldn’t be surprised if Nigel said something similar about the HMHB song. Karen spotted an online review of Panic Shack, a band from Cardiff, who were headlining a festival at Bodega in Nottingham. They were described as a band “whose music has been described as The Go-Go’s meets Half Man Half Biscuit”. In that case, they could be worth seeking out. But for the time being, we are reserving judgement. One evening we were surfing the TV channels. That’s TV were showing The Kenny Everett Show. Gordon Giltrap appeared. Had to wrack my brain to remember where he gets a mention in the HMHB files. These days these things don’t come so easy. Malayan Jelutong? No. Floreat Inertia, of course. Right album, though. The power of recall was put to the test, as the song was played tonight.
One of my regular insomnia sessions was spent (as oft before) listening to Dotun Adebayo on Five Live. With his guest presenters, and folk calling in, he was discussing songs that would be good to hear at The Queen’s funeral. A lot of gospel stuff was suggested. Not my strong point, but I liked one of them, called Take My Hand Sweet Lord. And there was a lot of charty stuff. Simply The Best of course. In the dead of night my mind was not properly churning through the HMHB collection. Is there anything in there that would suit? I’ll have Dukla Prague at mine. Have a word with the vicar when the time comes…
Gig going has not quite got going. We’ve got a few more musical appointments in the last third of the year. A re-working of Shakers at Wakefield Theatre was as near as we got since the Castleton show. That, and seeing Doug Stanhope in Sheffield. I will try my best to follow Doug’s rule for life. He suggested Radical Apathy. It’s the way to go.
We had originally booked train tickets to travel to the gig. Then a strike was announced. At which point Andrew kindly offered to drive us to Birmingham. Then the strike was cancelled. We stuck with Plan B. I gazed idly out of the window as Karen drove us to his house. We left her car on the drive and Andrew took over. A46, M69 and M6 and a break for coffee at Corley North services. Another one to tick off the list. Immense debts of gratitude to Karen for driving on the first leg of the journey, and to Andrew for getting us into the city. The logistics of getting us into the twenty-four hour car park would have caused me to melt down, but Andrew’s logical mind got us through all the blips and blaps. There was some fine music played along the way. We had Shatner’s Thirteen O’Clock for the first leg. And Andrew had put a fine collection together. Babylon’s Burning, Are Everything, Alternative Ulster, Blitzkrieg Bop and Holiday In Cambodia among others. Much talk among the fanbase of canal walks and pub crawls ahead of the gig. We settled for a toddle to locate the venue and a baguette from Greggs. While we were out, I bought a Birmingham Mail, hoping the HMHB show might get a mention. Not a peep. Although there was plenty on West Brom’s “malaise” and their failure to get any signings during the transfer window. We retraced our steps back to The Institute, and paused outside the church of St Martins In The Bullring. We looked and looked again. It’s true about gargoyles looking like Bob Todd. Proof was there to be seen.
When we got to the venue, Huddersfield Graham was already waiting outside. He was hoping to be able to swap his balcony seat for one in the rough house. It turned out that he was successful. Seems that this place used to be Digbeth Town Hall and/or an Institute of some kind. Hence the venue’s name. Obvs. From the stage during the gig Nigel told us all that when hangings had taken place, the bodies would be taken down to the basement here, to be dissected. Lovely. Internet research also told me that they had wrestling on back in the day, Mick McManus and all that lot. And Tony said he had seen many bands there. Fairport Convention. Hawkwind. Black Sabbath. As we were surveying the scene, he reckoned the folk on the balcony reminded him of Statler and Waldorf.
Plenty of faces old and new inside the venue. Met Dave. And Steffo introduced himself (previously known as “Ian’s mate” at the Shrewsbury gig last year). Also loitering were Chris, Nigel and Jo, Graham Le Taxi, Postman Tony, George, Steve and John. Phil and I need to communicate better over wardrobe choices. Both of us were wearing the same design Humdrum Express t-shirt. Tony had done some grand evangelical work. Kate his neighbour, and various other of his associates were milling around. Rose, his son Joel’s girlfriend, and Mandolin Phil from the Beorma Morris side.
“Good Evening, Each,” announced The Humdrum Express as he took to the stage. “I’m sure you are all aware of the recent passing of Mrs McCluskey from Grange Hill. In recognition, please can we have a minute’s applause after each song.”
Some fine all-round entertainment from Ian. “My son came home from school in tears. He had done a spelling test and had got the word “Armageddon” wrong. I told him don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world.”
“Anyone here remember Lockdown?” asked Ian, ahead of Staying Inn, his song about opening a pub in your back garden. “I can’t believe I’ve got this far without doing a song about football,” he said, before playing Third Choice Keeper. He was still sore about West Brom’s defeat to Birmingham City (“The Blue Noses” according to Ian) earlier in the week
Brave Boy is about a fear of needles. Someone else will have to tell you the big word that Ian used. He also said that a Humdrum Express song, Leopard Print Onesie, had made it into a chart of The One Hundred Best Songs By Bands From The West Midlands. Tony asked what number it had achieved. “Never mind what number,” replied Ian. “It’s there.” And we had his best line, “Bags For Life should get cheaper as you get older.”
Isn’t it grand to see such a close link between performer and audience? “Can anyone give me a lift back to Kidderminster?” asked Ian to one and all. “And are there any prospective employers who can give me a job?”. This was fine stuff from The Humdrum Express. Forward Defensive is available on the website. And all the other releases. Get them all. And the t-shirts.
The following songs were played:
Lookalike Bond
Manscape Monday
Double Edged Swords
Staying Inn
Third Choice Keeper
Brave Boy
Leopard Print Onesie
End Of Part One
Denim In The Dugout
In the interval, there were more Hellos. I had a word with Howie who was going to the Chester v Pontefract Collieries FA Cup tie the day after this gig. Look out for the winners of this tie appearing in the Final at Wembley next May. Tshirt of the Night award goes to Andy, for his L’Enfer C’Est Les Autres number.
I had seen a note posted somewhere or other, saying that HMHB would be on stage at 9 o’clock. And another, where they would be on as early at 8.30. They split the difference and arrived at 8.45. There was a Birmingham theme to the walk-on music, being Daybreaker by Electric Light Orchestra. It’s not one that I know. But they were a favourite of Nigel’s in the pre-punk days. I’m guessing it was his choice. Mind you, that is probably the case at every show where the CD player is working.
“Good evening, got your Club Card with you?” was Nigel’s opening line. He played his caravan guitar for the opening song, Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus. But then he laid it to rest for the duration, opting for more conventional weaponry, or for some of the songs, none at all. Karl also has a new guitar. Hopefully this will be ready for deployment at Blackpool.
I noted a brief conversation between Tony, shouting to Nigel, together with the response. Tony: “Welcome to Birmingham.” Nigel: “Thank you. One of my favourites.” (A cynic asks… Would Nigel say that everywhere?)
Nigel the showman put his foot on one of the amps. Copying The Clash? Not quite. He was tying his shoelace. The first of many requests from the crowd led to an oft-repeated response: “Yeah, that’s one of ours.” There was even a request for “John Ganley Stance” after the variation-on-a-theme at Castleton. Nigel spotted glasses of water (or was it?) being handed out by security staff. “Bespoke service,” he commented. “Actually, is that vodka? I’ve never tasted vodka, myself.”
Patrons going on the batwalk were advised to wear “an extra layer”. Neil’s vocal solo at the beginning of Awkward Sean was Oh! Mr Porter. He slightly, but only slightly, changed the original words. There was a heckle requesting that Nigel do the Skippy joke. Nigel wasn’t going to be caught out. “I knew that joke in 1972. I say ‘I don’t know’, and you make the Skippy noise Tchk Tchk Tchk as if tutting.” He said the Dad in Skippy was played by Ed Devereaux. Graham Le Taxi pointed out that Ed didn’t play Skippy’s Dad. He was in fact Sonny’s Dad. Nigel confirmed that that was the case. He continued the theme in the following song, Lark Descending… “My hands are stained with Skippy milk” and also “signing in to my chalet as Ed Devereaux”. And as usual in that song, we had Nigel sticking his plectrum to his forehead in the “I could have just got a job on the bins” section.
Andy Roxburgh has bought the house next door to Nigel’s sister, after having lived in the Philippines and worked as Technical Director with the Asian Football Confederation. And he owns the skeleton of Jon Pertwee.
Nigel said he was going to turn his foot pedal off, because he wanted to sound like Newton Faulkner. He forgot the lyric during For What Is Chatteris and had to get a reminder from the audience about the “game reserve short of pheasants” line.
Tony shouted out that Neville Southall was sixty-four on this day. “One of my five favourite players ever,” replied Nigel. “Best goalkeeper in the world in his day.” There was (I understand) a Black Sabbath interlude, performed by Carl and Karl. I can’t claim to be an expert on their stuff, but I’ll work on it.
Nigel said “That’s a Public Information song” after Bogus Official. He spotted Matt Baker in the crowd. With Julia Bradbury. “Any time this year with that wheelbarrow, Julia.” Later on, Nigel also reminded Julia about the Henry Hoover.
I had hoped for a Nightingales cover at this show. The Prefects were an adequate second place. “That’s one of yours,” said Nigel to the crowd in general, at the end of Barbarellas. There was a false start to Every Time A Bell Rings. Karl thought Neil was playing in the wrong key. ‘Appen.
Carol Klein was spotted in the crowd. “She believes that if you thumb backwards through an A to Z of Lowestoft, then the devil will appear.” Nigel read a limerick. It started “There once was a man from Japan / whose verses never would scan…” I couldn’t pick all of it up, but the last line was something about “fitting in as many syllables as he can.” Someone else will remember it all.
Persian Rug Sale At The URC was described as “a newish one”. Ahead of Joy Division Oven Gloves, Nigel thanked us all for coming out. “I hope it’s not raining.” On the line in the song, he pointed towards The Quantocks. Not sure how accurately though.
The first song in the encore was introduced as “a slightly local one apparently”. Sure enough, Neil and Karl sang along. “She’s In Broad Street.” The moshing was particularly lively during the Magazine cover version. Nigel bade us a traditional farewell at the end of the night. “Have a great weekend. Weatherwise or otherwise.”
The evening ran as follows:
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
Alehouse Futsal
In A Suffolk Ditch
Time Flies By When You’re A Driver Of A Train
The Bane Of Constance
I’m Getting Buried In The Morning
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Renfield’s Afoot
Awkward Sean
Lark Descending
We Built This Village On A Trad. Arr. Tune
Terminus
For What Is Chatteris?
Bogus Official
Floreat Inertia
Dead Men Don’t Need Season Tickets
Song To The Siren / Vatican Broadside
Everything’s AOR
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Barbarellas
Oblong Of Dreams
Every Time A Bell Rings
Midnight Mass Murder
Ninety-Nine Per Cent Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd
The Trumpton Riots
National Shite Day
Persian Rug Sale At The URC
Joy Division Oven Gloves
And in the encore we had:
She’s In Broadstairs
A Song From Under The Floorboards
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Thanks to Karl for the set list. There were a few amendments along the way. For example, Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus was originally scheduled well down the running order. And The Trumpton Riots and National Shite Day swapped places. But it all came together in the end. Best gig of the year? Don’t I say that every time?
A few Hellos and Goodbyes on the way back out onto the street. There was Brian and his daughter Gaby. I nodded in Mike’s direction. One of them nods where you are not sure that the other person has seen you. And there was a real celebrity there. Hocky from Biteback, who supported HMHB at Leeds Uni earlier in the year. In fact, there was another celeb. Apparently, James from The Nightingales was also present. Going to try and see them on tour when they play later in the year.
Back into Andrew’s car on the Saturday morning. Another excellent soundtrack. He located the original version of A Song From Under The Floorboards. We also had Jilted John, Leader Of The Pack, I Wish I Was A Spaceman, Psycho and One Chord Wonders. The soundtrack was just me tapping on the keyboard as Karen drove us back into Yorkshire. Immense thanks to both chauffeurs.
19 September 2022
Chris The Siteowner
– First ever outing for Persian Rug Sale;
– Just the 4th outing ever for Alehouse Futsal, and the first time for 27 gigs;
– Just the 5th outing ever for Bogus Official, and the first time for 60 gigs;
– Just the 10th outing ever for Dead Men, and the first time for 33 gigs;
– 137th consecutive gig for JDOG;
– 56th consecutive gig for NSD;
– 29th consecutive gig for DPAK, Renfield’s Afoot and Trumpton (Bilston in February 2018 really was a bit of an odd one!);
– 28th consecutive gig for Bell Rings and Terminus (played ever since released)
19 September 2022
John anderson
Re Roger’s excellent (as ever) review, I remember the limerick as:
There was an old man from Japan
Whose limericks just wouldn’t scan
When asked “why is this so?
He said “I don’t know
But I think it’s probably because I try to fit as many words into the last line as I possibly can”.
19 September 2022
Coops
Bit sad to see the comments about Brum being a shithole, I mean yes, it used to be but it’s a fantastic, vibrant, multicultural and welcoming city these days. Okay so Digbeth is in a bit of a state with the tram works but a short stroll up the High Street would have taken you to the bars and shops of The Custard Factory. And a stroll from the city centre up through Victoria and Centenery Squares would get you to Brindley Place, past the Library and of course, the magnificent Bull featured in the Commonwealth Games ceremony.
I’m not even an actual Brummie (Black Country me, like The Humdrum Express), but I still get very defensive when I see it being slagged off!
See you in Blackpool, another place that gets it’s unfair share of denigration.
19 September 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Every time I’ve been to Brum in recent years I’ve been more impressed. It’s a really nice city centre nowadays.
19 September 2022
GORDON BURNS
First time in Birmingham since my days working for Lucas, “Prince of Darkness” as a youngster in the 80’s. So there is much more to it than dark back streets and noisy old factories: wonderful pubs like The Wellington and The Old Crown; the huge Bull Ring complex; shiny new buildings; trams (more coming soon). I’ll be heading for The Wellington next time I’m in Brum.
Impressions of the O2 Institute…
Funny old building on Digbeth High Street. Very friendly showsec and cloakroom staff. Looking up from the pit, I half expected to see Statler and Waldorf peering over the balcony. Sound was pretty good where I was (front & centre), couldn’t really understand why people were yelling “turn the XXX up” instructions – maybe there were pockets of acoustic cancellation?
Support (a last minute call from the bench) was perfect. So nice when an audience embraces the support act and a connection is made. One plonker yelled “play something decent” and Ian asked hm to repeat it – bit of a shame really as eveyone else was on-board. I gladly handed over my tenner for the recent album and was pleased to hear several songs from it, “Staying Inn” delivered as a poem.
Shazam picked out the HMHB intro music for me. It sounded like ELO, but I didn’t recognise “Daybreaker”.
Not much to add to the previous reviews, except that this punter was hugely pleased to hear/see his personal favourite “Floreat Inertia”. Just love Neil’s bass playing on that.
Quite lively down the front. Maybe I’ll go back to embracing the margins next time out. Fortunately my shirt came out of the machine clean. Were those behind me really drinking snakebite & black?
To Blackpool…
20 September 2022
EXXO
@Roger – really enjoyed the review, as ever. You really got the ‘vibe’ of Paz’s act across there nicely, and ta for passing on some of his gags.
@Parsfan, do you get the feeling we’re witnessing a foretelling of future lyrics here or what?
Andy Roxburgh has bought the house next door to Nigel’s sister, after having lived in the Philippines and worked as Technical Director with the Asian Football Confederation. And he owns the skeleton of Jon Pertwee.
@Coops. It will be interesting to see how much the name of Blackpool is blackened.
20 September 2022
dr desperate
CtSO and I foregathered in the early afternoon for a spot of Vietnamese street food in the Bullring, where we immediately spotted a couple, he clad in Dukla Prague – it turned out they were over from Norn Iron, their first Biscuits gig since Blackpool in 2007. We wished them well.
On from there to see the Bull in Centenary Square, where we ran across Ferencváros Fan and his mate Philip – a school reunion for three of us. Next, back to one of FF’s excellent pub suggestions, The Wellington, featuring multiple TV screens in place of blackboards but otherwise extremely CAMRA Man-friendly. “A pint of 1, one of 2, two of 4, two of 16 and a Sam’s Brown Ale, please, Barbara.”
Rudy’s didn’t fail us for pizza, then on to The Old (1368, in part) Crown, to join Not At All Awkward Sean.
Inside the venue looked splendid, sparkling all the usual suspects, as well as the lovely Laure, let off for the night by UEFA. I almost missed Jitsu_G, unusually sited on the barrier.
Unfortunately it soon became apparent that the sound was as lousy as it had been at the Academy in 2013 – it was all that I could do to hear The Humdrum Express’s call-out for a doctor to confirm the long word in ‘Brave Boy’ that means ‘fear of needles’ (trypanophobia).
The band came on to local heroes ELO, after which Nigel spent a minute or two untangling the Airstream from several yards of lilac cable, with a look on his face that cried out, “I’ll never forget you, the packer of the leads”.
Tremendous setlist, with several long-unplayed favourites (see above) as well as one never-played. The acoustic shortcomings led the two women standing next to me (Kerry and Eleanor, if I heard them aright) to call out to the sound man to turn up the vocals, then, in desperation, to ask me to relay the lyrics to them by singing in their direction. That’s only the second time I’ve been asked to sing louder (thank you, Glenn Tilbrook).
I similarly missed much of the stage banter, including Nigel’s response to my suggestion of Sir Tom Finney as one of the top five footballers. I think he smiled when I shouted for ‘John Ganley’, so perhaps he could hear us better than we could hear him, or perhaps it was trapped wind.
Moshing: moderate at first, becoming good later.
Two excellent covers, with a scattering of snippets.
Thanks to the Showsecs for handing out glasses of neat vodka to those in need.
All in all an excellent gig, the best of the year so far, let down only by Institutional acoustics. Get a grip, O2!
After-match lagers were taken in the Ladbrooke Hotel, carriages at 1, after which we dispersed to our several Next Bits Of Fun (Eliza Carthy, Carmina Burana, Chester City, etc.)
On to Blackpool!
20 September 2022
Chris The Siteowner
If you were in the Ladbrooke Hotel after hours, Dr D, who was that lookee-likee sitting with us at Hennessey’s Bar? I think we should be told.
20 September 2022
dr desperate
Yeah, that’s what I meant, Hennessey’s Bar. Strange place, with the rest of the clientele singing and dancing to Sounds of the Sixties.
20 September 2022
FERENCVáROS FAN
@Dr D: yes you certainly came up trumps with the choice of Rudy’s, thanks. Nigel did indeed endorse your Tom Finney call, and went on to comment that he was also a very good plumber. I was on the wrong side of town to take advantage of his plumbing expertise, unlike another Preston exile who posts on here occasionally, and who grew up near you (it’s in the public domain so I’m not giving away any secrets!).
While I’m here, I don’t think it’s been mentioned that there was a shout for Bob Todd. Nigel looked up, paused, and, instead of saying ‘that’s one of ours,’ he replied words to the effect ‘you want us to play that? Oh, all right then,’ before launching into the song. No mention of it being moved around the setlist. Seems like the person in the crowd fluked it. Great moment, and well done that man.
20 September 2022
Hendrix-tattoo
It was a young Adam Faith look- a-like behind the bar who I think maybe was in charge of the music being played…
20 September 2022
quality janitor
@Dr D #45 – ah, so that was you I was standing to the left of then.
Would’ve known had I got to the Welly earlier. Apologies to the nice chap I approached to ask if he was part of the meet-up.
Clearly I need to do some more reading to grasp the reason for John rather than Len Ganley.
22 September 2022
brumbiscuit
John Ganley hails from the Devil’s Arse gig. A very boisterous fellow, not afraid of voicing his opinions and wishes, eventually got through to Nigel and screamed out a request for John Ganley. Nigel, being the sporting chap he is, duly obliged with the first half of the song, asking if John was Len’s brother in the process.
At my first HMHB gig in ’95 at teh Hibernian pub in Selly Oak, Birmingham, we managed to get a chorus of Len Ganley going in the audience, but the band wouldn’t oblige us with a rendition.
22 September 2022
quality janitor
Cheers BB
I was at the Hib too, which was also my first HMHB gig. Don’t remember the crowd chorus (though alcohol had been involved) but do recall NB saying he wasn’t Jaap Stam.
There had been a night out to Wolverhampton a few years previously, however upon arrival at (what I hitherto had thought was) the venue a burly chap announced ‘there ain’t no ‘alf man ‘n’ ‘alf biscuit ‘ere mate’. This being pre t’interweb days I never knew if it was a no-show by the band, a late cancellation or just me getting it all wrong.
22 September 2022
dr desperate
Any time this year with that wheelbarrow, Julia.
https://theoutdoorguide.co.uk/come-outside-with-sprout/meeting-julia-bradbury/
25 September 2022