Quietly, this venue is working its way up the list of frequent HMHB gig venues, with this being the sixth visit by the band in 15 seasons. Last time out saw a few rarities played, such as Eno Collaboration – who knew what this night would bring? Here are the live reports.
Inter’s end on derby day
The youth contingent leading the charge. What in all hell were they doing in lemon town spa on a Friday night? Wasted youth.
17 March 2023
Chris The Siteowner
I think there were more ultra-rarities tonight than we’ve heard in a single set for years. Looking forward to seeing the running order!
17 March 2023
Woodnoggin
Perhaps having February off gave the band time to practise some more unusual numbers.
18 March 2023
Lord leominster
You certainly get your money’s worth at a Biscuit gig. Two hours of quality tuneage with only one short break. I had always assumed that the extended last note of Knobheads was an editing trick, but Nigel belted it out just like on the L.P.
It was good to meet you, Chris, albeit briefly.
18 March 2023
CHedgzoy
Delighted that ‘Capel Curig’ had a rare outing. Cracking gig, Humdrum Express were worthy openers too, I seem to recall one of their songs namechecking Sean Dyche, the first song about an Everton manager since ‘Koeman feel the noise.’
18 March 2023
Quantocks checker outer
Great evening! To be able to shout along ‘Cresta! What the…’ etc. in real time to the band doing it live was tremendous. Also I thought the musical and lyrical pinnacle of humanity’s endeavours that is Oblong of Dreams was absolutely massive done live. It’s just popped into my head that I was wondering whether the mighty Quo’s ‘Caroline’ was done in some way as an antidote / riposte to the almost inevitable appearance of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ at every single gathering of more than two people which herd lunacy the band surely are not keen on, quite correctly of course.
18 March 2023
Ferencváros fan
Leftfield but excellent setlist. Two great covers (and I was never into Quo). Another personal fave, Knobheads, heard live for the first time. Brilliant to hear Jim Reeves too. I think Karl did clock my shouted compliment at the end of the track. Company in the Fizzy Moon and restaurant beforehand as brilliant as ever. Met some new faces too, which is another huge plus. Dragged along a couple of mates, Rich and Andy, who live close by. Andy was a first-timer. Great to see him having a fab time, just like everyone else I spoke to. Massive thanks to the band and fellow fans for another great occasion. It’s the sense of belonging, isn’t it?
18 March 2023
Bloke out walking the dog
Utterly splendid! Great to meet up with old friends and make a few new ones.
18 March 2023
TwistedKiteMike
A very fine evening was had by all. The venue was packed early doors, with local favourite The Humdrum Express offering support. I had only ever seen Ian (Passey) playing solo, but the addition of a band was a welcome alternative.
It’s a nice venue, albeit a touch worrying if there was ever a fire evacuation, but that’s just based on trying to get out at the end!
The second in a run of four gigs south of Birmingham, so an early arrival home to wake up dogs and people at what I considered to be a civilized time. This was not their view, it has to be said!
Plenty of comments for Roger to get his pen into (happy Tombola Birthday, old bean). Here is the hymn list for the evening, which was not necessarily a random juke-box, but there were a few unusual items in the mosh-pit area: –
Westward Ho!
Vitas G
Light Tunnel
Buried Morning
Batwalk
Capel Curig
Suffolk Ditch
Jim Reeves
Gwatkin
King Hi Vis
Knobheads
Urge for Offal
Dean F
Cover: Magazine; The Light Pours out of Me
Busy Little Market Town
DPAK
Chatteris
NSD
Trad Arr Tune
Vatican
Midnight Mass
Oblong
When I Look at my Baby
Trumpton
JDOG
……………………………………..
Bell Rings
Cover: Quo; Caroline
AOR
There was a debate at the end of the evening with Karen sure that Urge of Offal had never been played and three insistent old blokes certain that it had been. Luckily, dementia has not seeped too far in as yet and it had been run out on two occasions in the past. It is a relief to still have some recall.
And so on to my home town. Don’t go back very often, but I will for this!
Mike………………………
18 March 2023
BOBBY svarc
Bloody rubbish, glad I dint goo.
18 March 2023
Schoon
Who cares about the gig, it’s Exxo’s fantasy league that’s important.
The one time I don’t pick Westward Ho! as opener! !!
I thought they’d never played it but that fantastic new website says they have.
(Er, as does our spreadsheet here – CtSO)
18 March 2023
The harbinger of nothing
Blimey, what a setlist!
18 March 2023
EXXO
Thanks for the setlist Mike. Great stuff.
@QCO. Interesting theory, but they played ‘Caroline’ a few times in the nineties, maybe very early noughties too. I remember it at Matlock Bath for certain, Duchess and Manchester also I think.
18 March 2023
JD O’GLOVES
Great night out and sweat a few pounds off in the heat of The Assembly Room. Really enjoyed Humdrum Express, set the scene perfectly. Fantastic set-list from the boys and enjoyed belting out Westward Ho! as their opener and what was that Magazine cover half way through? Brilliant. Bought the T shirt, enjoyed the gig (and the pre-gig Guinness in Fifteen with the diddle de dee music!)
18 March 2023
Gav
tremendous gig, glad I went despite feeling like shite and the train strike issues on return journey today . Has the Van Halen backdrop been used by HMHB before? I was hoping for a cover of “Jump” although a bit tricky without a keyboard
18 March 2023
Third rate les
Magic.
Always love that venue, and what a setlist.
Waded into the quite entertaining mosh pit late on with my burberry fez and Jeff Dreadnought. She In Signal Red stood at the back and enjoyed an unusually good view from the steps.
A few fluffed lines from Nigel and quite a bit of retuning needed, perhaps because it was quite hot (“well it’s not Ronnie Scott’s”). But tons of energy and a really good crowd. Oblong of Dreams was the highlight for me – felt like a real privilege to watch.
Good curry beforehand too.
First gig in a while and great to be back.
18 March 2023
Bad loser
My second time watching the lads at this venue. Was half way back, rather than at the front, last time so didn’t realise it was going to be so awful trying to get out. It was hot too. Plenty of sweat running down the walls at the end but none dripping onto your head as happened watching the band in the early days. The sound was very good though and I haven’t suffered for being next to the speakers.
The was a very enthusiastic, but well behaved, moshpit throughout. Nice to hear some rarities: not that my FBL chances have been improved by their inclusion. A strong showing in the cup: I await the results with some hope.
The journey home was accompanied by a Status Quo double CD inspired by another great cover. Looking forward to the double-header.
18 March 2023
warden Hodges
Sounds a corker. Missed it but The Flying Scotsman on the Bury East Lancs was good fun yesterday too and even passed Rammy Ramsbottom Utd FCs ground.
18 March 2023
Bad loser
Forgot to mention The Humdrum Expressed. Enjoyed seeing Ian perform solo at Birmingham but even better with the band. Must investigate them properly.
18 March 2023
Hendrix-tattoo
Cresta! What the fuck were we drinking?
Cresta! What the fuck were we drinking?
Cresta! What the fuck were we drinking?
Chanting this back at the band was worth the admission fee alone.
The best gig of the year so far for me (But I always say that)
And the band seemed to enjoy themselves also.
Humdrum Express were brilliant, Ian with the band were great.
Great to meet up once again with fellow Biscuiteers and like George pointed out it’s the sense of belonging.
God bless you all.
Roll on Stowmarket…
18 March 2023
TRANSIT FULL OF keith
Looks like it was a good one with lots of rarities. I expect I’ve lost the FBL top spot after that, though joker on Dean Friedman might keep me within shouting distance.
18 March 2023
Quantocks checker outer
Thanks @Exxo I didn’t know the band had a history of occasionally throwing in some Quo. Always challenging received orthodoxies. As I think somebody, somewhere once observed – irk the purists.
18 March 2023
Age Old Eel
At the back, with my latest love. Started with trying to explain to her why Westward Ho! was so rare and exciting. (Including explaining the exclamation mark). Downhill from there in male-female relations.
Uphill in loving the band. First half was Nigel looking proper angry and exploring lost songs. No really angry, started to worry me during Suffolk Ditch. Second half was back to normal fare.
And then the Quo. Hilarious and wonderful.
My latest loved it, despite having a bit of a hot flush towards the end.
Which means I’ll have to take her to see Fenne Lily in Leeds. No big loss.
Might need to lose her for the next Biscuit. Missing the pit
18 March 2023
Jim IN THE ANTIPODES
Wonderful gig – my second in 3 years – wow, it’s getting addictive….
Great night with @bloke out walking the dog, and John (he of leather jacket fame), saying hello to new friends, and a brief post gig hello with CtSO.
Did NOT expect Gwatkin, UFO inter alia, but thrilled they were there. My one massive letdown was what I thought was going to be ‘27 yards of dental floss’ became an actual Quo song. Then again, how about that Magazine cover?
Also good to see some younger faces among the old fat blokes
Just brilliant.
18 March 2023
Ask me to prestatyn
Bet the Thomas James hotel hadn’t been as busy as that for ages.
Celebrated post gig by asking for Jump by Van Halen on the TJ karaoke. Was politely declined.
My suede desert boots are going to need to be replaced following some sturdy pit action.
Cresta was an obvious highlight.
On a serious note it felt pretty overcrowded and a tad unsafe in there.
Roll on Llangollen – any chance of getting Euros Childs to support NB?
19 March 2023
Bad loser
The beauty of hearing ‘Rarities’ played at gigs, and seeing the enthusiatic response on here, is that it leads to my giving the track a few plays and figuring out why it isn’t already in my extensive playlist.
For some reason ‘Urge For Offal’ was a track that never really stood out for me. I’m now busy catching up on the plays it should’ve had over the last 8 years. Wonderful stuff.
19 March 2023
parsfan
I’ve added the Leamington Spa setlist to biscuitgigs (ta Mike). The stats just sort themselves out.
I’ve also made my first correction – the gig at the Assembly in 2014 was also in Leamington Spa, not the one in Worthing (thanks Karen – you passed the test).
I’d just like to echo what everyone else said – another great night from the lads and great company from the usual suspects and a few random encounters.
I wasn’t expecting to have dinner in a shed or cut my pizza with a pair of scissors but you have to expect the unexpected. Part of the conversation was the best opening song on an album (any, not HMHB specifically). There wasn’t lot of agreement with Busy Little Market Town but that didn’t stop them playing it, along with Trumpton, Vitas Gerulaitis, Irk The Purists, Light At The End Of The Tunnel, Westward Ho! and Buried In The Morning. Is that a record of opening tracks in the one gig?
Finally, is one of you Automorph on YouTube? I’d like to post links to your vids on biscuitgigs and thought I’d get permission first.
That said, I might just do it anyway. Let’s face it, what are you going to do? It’s not as though you know where I live.
19 March 2023
Automorph
@Parsfan Yes, feel free to post links, no worries. Not that you need my permission anyway, as noted. And am I even that same Automorph from YouTube?
Cue multiple comments riffing on a Spartacus theme.
20 March 2023
BOBBY svarc
Brilliant write up by Roger Green, thank you (below – CtSO). There’s absolutely no need to attend gigs when you can ‘read all abart it’ in the comfort of your own home. Excellent.
20 March 2023
Hendrix-tattoo
Hear, hear I’ll second that, Bobby…
20 March 2023
Chris The Siteowner
@Parsfan – not sure they did Irk…
20 March 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Roger Green’s review, originally published on Gez’s site and reproduced with thanks to both Roger and Gez.
First time at this venue since April 2018. Of course we’ve had the pandemic, but the place has also changed hands since the days when the cover photo of Urge For Offal was taken there.
I finished John Anderson’s splendid A Great Face For Radio, during which I learned that in the early days of the Olympics they used to have competitions for shooting real pigeons. My, how times have moved on. Every now and then, John pops his head in at these shows. The book is worth a trawl round on the internet, or perhaps just ask him if he’s got any copies left.
Dandelion Radio is an internet station which aims to Keep It Peel. To the extent that they run a Festive Fifty every year. HMHB had three entries in 2022’s chart. Grafting Haddock In The George was at 16, Big Man Up Front was at 15, and the band’s highest entry came with Midnight Mass Murder at 11. I expected Oblong Of Dreams to also score highly, but it wasn’t there at all. That’s democracy for you. It’s a long time since Dickie Davies Eyes and The Trumpton Riots were HMHB’s first entries in this chart, in 1986. Dandelion Radio have been keeping the tradition going since John’s death in 2004. It’s testament to the strength of the band’s songs that they have made many appearances down the years, with the highest entry being Every Time A Bell Rings at 2, in 2018.
We had two whole nights out in the gap since the London show! One was at Cast in Doncaster for Graham Fellows’ film Father Earth, telling the story of his trips to Orkney, to purchase an old church, with the intention of turning it into a recording studio. We also went out for a curry one night. Hectic schedule.
I see the BBC Sport website now has an “Editor’s Recommendations” section, where you can watch disputed offsides, foot-in-touch tries and one-hand catches. Grand stuff, and a nod to the HMHB EP?
We’re still not back in the habit of gig-going. Early to bed still seems a better option. An exception was seeing Blowdown, a play about the demise of Ferrybridge Power Station, just down the road from us. No pits, no power stations. It’s grim up north. All praise to Red Ladder Theatre Company for telling the story. So that’s actually three nights out
As I write this, there is a handful of HMHB gigs in the diary. Stowmarket, Cambridge, Hull. Edinburgh, Llangollen, Bristol and Holmfirth. With Wolverhampton also being added recently, for later in 2023. These things sell faster than ever before, and you’re already too late for some of them. Best get moving. The Llangollen one seems a bit complicated. It’s part of a larger festival.
Dickie Davies RIP. I nabbed this line off the web. “His most unlikely claim to fame came when the indie band Half Man Half Biscuit paid their own tribute to him in the 1986 song Dickie Davies Eyes.” Actually, is that true? Dickie is mentioned in one line, which gives the song its title. But is it a tribute? Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.
Radio Four’s Word Of Mouth ran a feature on What Makes A Good Band Name. On the website I saw mention of Half Man Half Biscuit (“very high on the list” according to Bob Stanley from the programme) but I can’t tell you much more about the whys and wherefores of it. I’m sure it will be available to hear somewhere.
Had a conversation with Andrew about Venn diagrams. That’s how interesting life can be. We examined the possibility of a diagram linking HMHB shows and train strikes. He’ll make a better job of it than me.
Another couple of copies of Mickey Bates’s Leicester City fanzine Bentley’s Roof landed. You need to be a supporter of the team to get the most out of it, but there are always gems in there. This time, in one issue there’s an article headed The Spirit Of Radio dealing with the pre-Five Live days of sports coverage. Radio Two, 1500 on Long Wave radio. Them were the days. And in the other, there is a piece devoted to the career of Bobby Svarc. Mickey tells us this, about the end of Bobby’s time at Colchester: “With Svarc refusing new terms at the Essex club, it wasn’t long before he followed (Jim) Smith for a third time, he joined Blackburn for £25,000, a move that later would be immortalise in song by the indie band Half Man Half Biscuit.” Poke around on the web and you’ll find the fanzine.
While shuffling some papers around at home, I came across a copy of Back Beat fanzine from the Nineties, featuring an article on HMHB, mentioning in particular the release of Four Lads Who Shook The Wirral… “It’s good to see that Nigel and the boys have lost none of their wit and perception over the years, as well as picking up the ability to play a few chords. The songs are the usual collection of keenly observed vignettes, and unlike what mostly passes for satire these days, manage to hit the target every time. Oh, and you can mosh to them.” Four Skinny Indie Kids and Ready Steady Goa are mentioned as highlights, but the prize for best song was given to Turn A Blind Eye. The article is credited to Tez, clearly a wise and astute individual, particularly when considering the article’s closing line… “These Biscuits will never go stale.” After twenty-five years, I would have my doubts that this Leeds-based fanzine is still on the go. It was based in Studentland. The editorial team may well have moved on.
On 6 Music, Radcliffe And Maconie mentioned The Goombay Dance Band. And that was the day after I had been listening to Alan Brazil on the Talk Sport breakfast show. It felt right to then re-visit Our Tune. Every day is a Biscuit day. Likewise, there was a question on University Challenge, asking for the name of the computer program which beat the chess world champion Gary Kasparov. Karen and I both shouted out “Deep Blue!” Just another example of how the band’s songs add to your general knowledge. Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess was overdue a hearing.
In other media news, Karen got in touch with Radcliffe And Maconie on 6 Music, to arrange what I believe is called a “birthday shout out” when I hit sixty the week before this show. As if that wasn’t enough, I now get free prescriptions and there’s the added bonus of bowel checks.
I was having a look around on the internet and came across Peter Ross’s Big Issue article from a few years back, where he investigated us lot. “These Biscuiteers make even the most obsessive Dylan fans, the Bobcats of legend, look like mere dilettantes.” I’m not arguing with that. And reading this feature made me wonder about Half Man Half Bike Kit. Are they still going round and about, keeping up with developments? They were mentioned recently on Chris’s site.
We tuned into Gregory Keith on the internet, fronting his programme Into The Music. He was listening to Knobheads On Quiz Shows. He didn’t seem to know what a knobhead is, but that goes to show how things get lost in translation across the Atlantic. Gregory was well impressed with the “guitar tone”, but he wished there was more “lift” in the vocals. Are you taking note, Nigel?
On gig day, Karen was behind the wheel, for the drive to Andrew’s. We had Cammell Laird Social Club in the CD player. That ensured a good singalong as we hurtled down the A1. And we had the added bonus of Karen spotting a Soft Verges sign on the way. Andrew took over for the second leg to Leamington. This time we had The Smiths. Could have been far worse than that. He also told us of the time he saw The Go-Betweens supporting Orange Juice. Wish I’d been there. We regaled each other with tales of losing keys and mobile phones. But I couldn’t match him when it came to damaging his back while getting into a British Aerospace Jetstream at his local museum. Never heard that reason for a personal injury.
The first Biscuiteer spotted was Phil as we were checking in to the Premier Inn. Later we bumped into Gomez, taking a photo outside The Assembly. And John chatted with us as we took lunch at Bill’s restaurant (chicken shawarma for Karen, and eggs benedict with chips for me). And we caught up with Huddersfield Graham when we got back to the hotel.
There wasn’t much to consider in the Paper Review. The Coventry Telegraph was devoid of anything relating to tonight’s show (although they pointed out that roads were being closed, with it being pothole-repairing season). The Courier got close. There was a picture of The Beat, who were due at The Assembly the following night. In other media news, our gig preparation was livened up when Steve Lamacq played The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train as part of his National Anthem feature.
Outside the venue, we met Tony, Andrew and Phil. There was an interesting note from Phil. Seemingly, Leamington was the home of Sam Lockhart, the first man to train elephants in the UK. Inside, I got talking to Finn and Matt, two fine chaps from Derby, who had already found their way to the bar, and seemed convinced that I was Jeff Dreadnought. I couldn’t believe how rarely they got to these gigs. You live on a main train line, lads. You need to get to more of these shows. George joined in on the conversation. There was debate over George’s shirt. Surely it was Ferencvaros, not Fenerbahce!
I exchanged greetings with Steve, who was in a I Used To Think That It Matters t-shirt. And then there was Ian, Elizabeth and Paul. Paul and I reminisced about the time when we saw HMHB in a school field in Brampton, Cumbria in 2006. Happy days. While there I had talked to Andy Kershaw (who introduced the band on stage). At the end of the evening, I had an uncertain walk in the pitch black, back to the next village, where I was staying. That was a grand night out.
Just before The Humdrum Express arrived on stage, I caught up with Arthur and Linda, who were there from Yorkshire, making their HMHB debut. Postman Tony also said Hello. And I exchanged waves with Mike and Graham Le Taxi.
Normally, The Humdrum Express is just Ian on his own. This evening, it was the full band with him. All well and good. John Chiedozie was mentioned, having seemingly written a letter to “Mr Express” in which he mentioned Postman Tony. Brian tapped me on the shoulder and said “I could be wrong, but I think Chiedozie used to play for Crystal Palace.”
Ian took off his jacket to reveal a West Bromwich And District Sunday Methodist Table Tennis League (Runners-Up) t-shirt. He also had a cardboard cut-out of Sally Gunnell, adapted from his album cover. Thanks to Ian for organising a chorus of Last Of The Summer Wine. Growing old. That’s me.
Here’s what The Humdrum Express played:
Chip Sticks
When Peter Shilton Tweets
Online Beer Club
Denim In The Dugout
Brave Boy
Secret Troll
One Man’s Tat (Is Another Man’s Treasure)
E-Petition
One or two more attire spottings. There was a guy in a Barnstoneworth shirt, and someone else in a Primark FM number. There is a brand of clothing evolving from HMHB lyrics.
The evening took place in front of a Van Halen backdrop. Neil’s handiwork apparently. Six years to the day since the band played in Worthing, here they were in Leamington. Carl had a skull and crossbones on his bass drum. Maybe a St Pauli reference? And Karl had a badge on his guitar strap, a design based on the front cover of Hawkwind’s Space Ritual album. It went nicely with his Captain Lockheed And The Starfighters t-shirt. Karen’s googling skills to the rescue again.
It was around then that Howie turned up, with news of his pre-gig pub crawl with Gomez. The Boiler Room, Woodman, Fizzy Moon, then back to The Boiler Room. Didn’t sound too bad, but I don’t know the area so can’t really comment.
When the lights go down and the music is turned up, you expect the band to walk on nearly straightaway. Not so tonight. A handful of tunes were played (Link Ray’s The Rumble, I Fought The Law by The Clash, Turn Turn Turn by The Byrds and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths) all of which looked like they were going to be the one. But the band finally appeared during De Profundis (Out Of The Depth Of Sorrow) by Dead Can Dance.
Tony pointed out quite correctly that “we haven’t had this for a while” as the band played the first song, Westward Ho!. That same comment could have been applied to a few songs tonight. Nigel had seen Caroline Lucas earlier at Norton Canes. She was filling in a betting slip, and asked him, “Are you doing that one about me?”
“Anyone here from Coventry?” asked Nigel. “Do you know John? I’ve got a mate there called John.” Nigel saw a punter sitting on the shoulders of a fellow fan. “You should have brought some step ladders,” he said.
In Renfield’s Afoot, the note about booking was in capital letters. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. And don’t bring a police torch. There was an old line about origami. The local group had folded. “You won’t be laughing if I turn you into a yacht.”
The Unfortunate Gwatkin was written by a guy (possibly called Gary Bastow) who lives on a house boat between Beckenham and Penge. I noticed Nigel pointed at Karl during the line “Gwatkin as is no longer represents Gwatkin as was.” And at the end of this song, Nigel added “True story.”
When Nigel requested “More of Karl’s guitar in the monitor, please,” the response from Karl was “less of Nigel’s vocal, please.” There was plenty of Rossi and Parfitt stuff going on between the two of them. There was also much tuning up. Even Carl got involved, adjusting his cymbals. “Well, it’s not Ronnie Scott’s” noted Nigel.
“Birkenhead is like Beirut without the sunshine,” said Nigel in conversation with someone from the crowd. There were a couple of fans in from those parts, one from Ackers Road, who was recognised as a WEBB – Woodchurch Estate Boot Boy. Later, he asked, “Anybody put their bins out on a Tuesday evening, ready for collection on the Wednesday?” Not much response… “I’m surprised there’s not more,” he added. “It makes you feel smug the day after. Especially if you also get it jet-washed”.
Nigel mentioned that the Anarchist Society had been advertising for a treasurer, a secretary and a chair for two years, but have had no luck because… no one wants to recognise the hierarchy. And his wife had recently been to the West Indies. Jamaica? No, The Bahamas and St.Kitts.
Following The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman, Nigel added “To be fair, Lydia is a wonderful song.” There were many “that’s one of ours” in response to song requests, but we got a “We’ll do that one someday” following a request for M-6-ster.
Nigel had trouble spotting The King of Hi-Vis in the crowd. A number of gentlemen were feeling the heat at the front, going topless. I didn’t feel too bad myself, but a flow of air never goes amiss.
Ahead of Joy Division Oven Gloves, Nigel thanked everyone for coming along, and hoped that the band wouldn’t mess it up with this final song. I hadn’t noticed on the many times they have played this song previously, but Neil veers into the bass riff of Joy Division’s Digital.
Before the three-song encore Nigel said it would be good to hear The Jesus And Mary Chain doing a cover of Help Me Rhonda. The list of songs from the evening was:
Westward Ho! – Massive Letdown
Outbreak Of Vitas Gerulaitis
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train)
I’m Getting Buried In The Morning
Renfield’s Afoot
Bottleneck At Capel Curig
In A Suffolk Ditch
I Love You Because (You Look Like Jim Reeves)
The Unfortunate Gwatkin
King Of Hi-Vis
Knobheads On Quiz Shows
Urge For Offal
The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman
The Light Pours Out Of Me
Busy Little Market Town
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
For What Is Chatteris
National Shite Day
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Vatican Broadside
Midnight Mass Murder
Oblong Of Dreams
When I Look At My Baby
The Trumpton Riots
Joy Division Oven Gloves
And in the encore
Every Time A Bell Rings
Caroline
Everything’s AOR
We don’t always get two cover versions (Magazine and Status Quo), and even less likely is a 100 per cent match with the original set list. Thanks to Karl for handing his over. No additions, deletions or swapping around.
Afterwards, I said Hello to Drew, and then I was involved in a photo-shoot with other folk. I bought one of the new Humdrum Express t-shirts from Lorraine on the stall. And then we all negotiated the stairs back down to street level. Next stop, Stowmarket. Oh, and on the Saturday, Karen noticed that Haverfordwest gave Airbus a pasting in the Welsh League. Wonder if Awkward Sean was there? And did the away fans turn up in numbers?
20 March 2023
IDIOT SAUL
Excellent review, as ever. Thanks Roger.
Dublin band Fontaines D.C’s ‘Jackie Down the Line’ was No.1 in Dandelion Radio’s Festive Fifty for 2022. They were also at No.5 with ‘I Love You’. I suspect that someone has been listening to Rock and Roll Is Full of Bad Wools.
20 March 2023
Mummer
Rarities aplenty in Leamington. Another fantastic night with the biscuits. New generation of fans with my son, the one with the long hair, in what he says is a very polite mosh pit. Onwards to Cambridge then hopefully Hull. Mind you we were already half way to Hull when the pre Christmas gig was cancelled. Thems the vagaries. See youse on a Saturday night for a change
21 March 2023
parsfan
I’ve added links to Automorph’s 11 YouTube videos to the Leamington Spa setlist.
Anyone any more?
21 March 2023
Automorph
If you want all my dirty dozen @Parsfan , there’s also JDOG in the same place on YouTube
21 March 2023
EXXO
Blimey, it’s just sunk in that you mean 12 songs from the same gig, ie 42% plus of the gig! What a treat! Combined with Roger’s report, as Mick says, it’s like being there! Thanks to both (but so sorry Mick to hear you couldn’t be there in the end).
Upon realising the availability of these delights just now, the second video I went for personally was ‘In a Suffolk Ditch,’ to relish the venom with which the “hessian sack” and “Nicholas Witchell” lines were delivered. And sure enough, delightfully venomous aplomb. Thank you.
But first of all I went straight to ‘Gwatkin,’ a particular favourite song that I’ve only seen live 3 times, to see what added delights await. I cannot recommend a perusal of this video highly enough. Thank you Automporph for bringing us:
* Cathedral shit and vicar juice, or even the other way around.
*Nelson Burt is of particular interest to the local historian, “if you want to look that one up.”
*In Congolesi Unsworth, the singers dad writes all the tunes.
*After Scott Verplank there is also Domingo Hospital, who did not get back to me.
* Some fabulous yelps and howls in the outro.
*When Nigel points to Karl, it does not seem to me, as Roger suggests, with reference to the line about Gwatkin as is, not as was, but simply to say “now it’s his guitar bit and I can have a breather and try to remember what’s next.” That’s not a criticism of Roger’s amazing feats of scribery of course.
*There is more awaiting investigation – for example the Borehamwood trio’s adjective is not “experimental,” but I can’t quite make it out yet.
I just wanted to thank Roger as ever for recording so many things that others would not. Like the Dandelion Radio thing, for example – how come no ‘Oblong’ towards the top of their Festive Fifty for 2022? I wondered that too, and some time in January I was going through every record they played last year and wondering if they have a rule that the track (as Peel sort of did) that the track must have been played on their shows at least once, which is maybe why it wasn’t number one? Which “in a decently ordered society” of course it would have been. I meant to have a rant about it on here in January (with stats about HMHB’s previous performances in Festive Fifties), but then I forgot. So thanks for that Roger
By the way, at least 24 other Biscuiteers are met or cited in your report, Roger – is this a record? What a sense of community. And what great news to read about the healthy moshpit, the youth policy paying off it seems, and someone even mentioning the sweat dripping down the walls. Nice. Also good news about the free prescriptions Roger. Somehow, if I knew this, I had never fully absorbed that that legislation would some day apply to me. Just three more Biscuit gigs for me then until it does. I will be at them all with any luck.
22 March 2023
BAD LOSER
Thanks for your videos Automorph. I’d discovered them last night and cast some of them to my TV. Excellent quality too.
22 March 2023
EXXO
Of course there are four. And I doubt I’ll be in Edinburgh, but anyway…
Latest variation from the videos:
“mowed his lawn until a flick got switched…”
22 March 2023
Lux inferior
Adding my thanks to Automorph for the superb videos. These are invaluable for those of us unable to get to many gigs.
There’s actually a thirteenth song from Leamington on You Tube – Phil from Portsmouth has uploaded the entire encore, so ETABR is also available. Just before ETABR, NB also gives us the first couple of lines of ‘You Trip Me Up’ by The Jesus and Mary Chain (the second best band in the world, imho). About time the lads performed another JAMC cover.
22 March 2023
parsfan
I’ve added Phil from Portsmouth’s encores to Friday’s setlist.
Is he someone on here? Ideally I’d like to split it into the separate songs, but without hosting the actual files (yet) I’d have to repost them. I don’t really want to do that without asking first. Full credit would be given with links back to your channel.
22 March 2023
Phyllis Triggs
Thanks @Parsfan. I watched this along with Automorph’s footage last night. The cottage where I’m staying has a massive telly – brilliant to see the band on the big screen. I particularly enjoyed Phil from Portsmouth’s recording as he’d captured the interstitials – the chaotic choreography between band and audience that makes a Biscuit gig a Biscuit gig: Shouts of “Honved! Honved!”, amongst random queries; “Nigel, did you have the profiteroles?”, acknowledgements: “Awright Tone”, and sung requests, “God Gave Us Life… God Gave Us Life…” Great to see the moshpit action too. There’s so much more to a gig than the setlist. Footage like this is invaluable to those who weren’t there. Thank you 🙂
22 March 2023
Hendrix-tattoo
“Awright Lou”
23 March 2023
dr desperate
Things I can’t help thinking:
1. that “Did You Have The Profiteroles?” would be a suitably impenetrable strapline for future readers of the Lembo setlist on Parsfan’s Data Retrieval System;
2. that if the band had hustled a bit more to get on stage then the walk-on music might have been ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ by The Byrds, fulfilling my FBL ‘Folk’ forecast;
3. that if I’d been listening a bit more closely I might have heard Nigel’s invitation to join him onstage for ‘KoH-V’ (as I later discovered on FB).
Still, it’s not all about me (it is).
23 March 2023
EXXO
Obviously I wasn’t there, but it seems unlikely that the Dead Can Dance track was part of some general playlist of which any could have been the walk-on. It doesn’t fit. It is (I nearly wrote “ambient” after which I would have written “for want of a better word) an atmosphere song, a stage-setter. It is actually yet another opening song in a gig of so many opening (and closing) songs. Sounds to me like the other songs were ‘DJ’ choices and Dead Can Dance was the choice of walk-on.
But it is of course all about you and about everyone. The best thing of all about that video sequence is when NB rightly acknowledges at the end that “you’ve been brilliant.” That is a rare thing and I’m well jealous not to have been part of it.
23 March 2023
dr desperate
Yes, that makes sense. One day I’ll find that Flipping FBL Folk Forecast, folks.
(Incidentally, @PF, checking out Phil from Portsmouth’s previous YouTube posts, I suspect he’s actually Phill from Fareham, a fellow traveller to Hull and back for the postponed gig in December. I’ll pass on your request for permission to split his vid.)
23 March 2023
Ferencváros fan
The loudmouth at the beginning of the JDOG vid is me.
23 March 2023
EXXO
Now there’s a surprise. I’m hoping (but obviously not expecting) that you won’t be shouting for the Honvéd on the 15th, as by my calculations Ferencváros v. the squaddies will just be ending as the band take the stage and I’ll be hoping for our first result against you in 4 years (the last time we played you in April, in fact).
23 March 2023
Ferencváros Fan
Despite the league standings, @Exxo, I’ll take nothing for granted on 15/4. We’re currently on a losing run, which included being dumped out of the Europa League the night before the gig. Safe to say I didn’t let it affect my mood at Lembo. Having to miss the double-header, but am booked for Hull, where I trust I’ll be in good voice once again.
23 March 2023
dr desperate
@Parsfan:
Phil(l) from Portsmouth (Fareham) replies: “I rarely post anything on the Lyrics Project but I do enjoy reading it. Yes, happy for Parsfan to do his magic”.
So, go do that voodoo that you do so well!
23 March 2023