Weekends are good we can walk the South Downs as a family. But kick off the weekend with a sold-out, ultra-rare south coast visit from Half Man Half Biscuit and they’ll be even better. What say you?
Weekends are good we can walk the South Downs as a family. But kick off the weekend with a sold-out, ultra-rare south coast visit from Half Man Half Biscuit and they’ll be even better. What say you?
twistedkitemike
Once again, for the completists and those remotely interested, the set-list was as follows: –
Fred
Bob Todd
Evening Sun
Left Lyrics
Lilac HQ
Leeuwarden
Floreat
DPAK
Light Tunnel
Look Dad
Bob W
Vatican
NSD
Irk
Fix It
Squabfest
Petty
Chatteris
JDOG
Time Flies By
Encs
Dean F
Under The Floorboards
Trumpton
Good sound, a fine venue and a good evening had by all.
Mike……………………………….
19 October 2013
Rubber Faced Irritant
@mike You’ve summed it up perfectly.
I’m still chuckling at the latest incarnation of Pete Wylie’s band: Fat Wah!.
19 October 2013
Third Rate Les
I agree with Mike. Magic. I love that venue and every gig I’ve been to there was a cracker. Went throwing stones on the beach after too with Jeff Dreadnought and Her In Signal Red (she even brought some of her ammonite collection).
Quite a retro setlist, and quite a dancey one too – there was a big and extremely good-natured mosh pit going all the way through which I kept getting hauled back into. As well as the “Fat Wah”, he got the giggles from declaring the cocaine “free trade”, and he announced that Ken is the first man in Wallasey to eat Quinoa, and that he himself is the only man in the whole of the Wirral who pronounces it properly (I have to say he’s one up on me in that respect). There were quite a few others, but for some reason the only one that sticks in my mind is the pointlessly trivial observation that it was “Simply Red, Patti Smith” in that order.
Quite good having an early start, even if it was a desperate stretch to get there in time, and only thanks to an emergency taxi intervention, as it left time for a drink after.
19 October 2013
warden hodges
Did anyone take in Macca at Covent Garden on their way down?
19 October 2013
Gav
Criminally, this was my first HMHB since 2011 so I was looking forward to it immensely. NB on top form announcing before one song “this is a song I wrote whilst waiting to meet Nick Cave for lunch in Harry Ramsden’s” then doing a great Cave impression (could “Mr Cave is window cleaner now” finally get a proper release on next album.?). Later on he did a great little ditty to the tune of Eddy Grant’s ‘Electric Avenue” which I won’t spoil for you all. Set was a bit too heavy on early material for my liking, but a great gig nonetheless and decent cover of Magazine’s “song from under the floorboards”
19 October 2013
CHARLES EXFORD
When I’m travelling, there’s a tasty salad I sometimes get from those M&S outlets they have in stations and airports. I’ve doubtless had it on the way to or from at least one HMHB gig before now. But it’s only when I read a gig review that mentions ‘quinoa’ that I look it up and realise that’s what I’ve been eating. You live and learn.
Not often that you eat something, then hear it mentioned by your favourite band, then find out what it is, then find out how it’s pronounced and where it comes from.
I love this place, you’re all my best mates you are, etc etc hic.
20 October 2013
Lurking like LEn
this was only my third ever HMHB gig
first was late 80s, i got to hear 4 songs and then had to run to get a tube to last train home cos it was a school night, and i didnt actually live that near london ( i think it was at the mean fiddler)
another was towards the end of the 90s, again in london – i found out at that gig i was an album down at the time cos there was one or 2 songs i didnt recognise
so actually this was a big deal for me, especially cos tickets had sold out for a few weeks before and i thought i had blown it
– i got a return by harassing the venue on the day before
SO firstly ive got to say that the gig made me realise how much my enjoyment of HMHB has been enhanced by this site
of course theres minutiae in the lyrics i know i would never have discovered without it, and that adds new dimensions
but also at the gig, each opening line put an even bigger smile on my face as i had been browsing the ‘best opening lines’ section
i mean its great at a gig hearing the opening chords and first lines of a bands next song anyway – somehow it was made even better when appreciating ‘yeah that is a corker of an opener’
so basically i gotta thank Chris the Siteowner and all the regulars and iregulars that contribute to this site as youre all part of HMHB folklore to me now
the next thing i gotta say is i had somehow forgotten how much i like the drums in HMHB!
is that weird?
i wonder if anyone else feels this way – see i had got into HMHB through C86 album that had I Hate Nerys Hughes on it
and it had great drums on it and in the early years i had always appreciated the drums
im not a drum aficionado so i dont know if theyre really any good and its something id actually forgotten about over the years
till this gig when i was right getting into the drums – im not just that every note (note, or beat?) was album version spot on
(except, rather disappointingly not quite getting it right in NSD ‘cue drum roll’)
but yeah – to me it seems the drumming is generally just another great thing about HMHB
Well for the gig itself all i can say is theres not many things closer to 15 mins of heaven than:
Bob Wilson followed by Vatican Broadside, some banter then straight into National Shite Day
anyhow… obviously it was all great
yet another observation i gotta share though is the ironic? ‘jazz hands’ wave during JD Oven Gloves
it was reminiscent of earlier in the gig when NB57 did a hand gestural to ‘Sturmey Archer Campagnolo’ ( it was like a couple of thumb gear clicks followed by a sideways derailier hand shift) and i wondered if the JDOG hands had a similar history
anyway i may have been unashamedly singing my heart along all night
But as i know im not one of the touring HMHB casuals meant im ashamed to say i didnt unselfconsciously join in with that one
so thats my rambling impressions of the gig… a great night
oh and before the gig, never seen the bar so deep at this venue
20 October 2013
mr noisy
A much better sound system here than the previous night and a much more pleasant venue. Mosh pit a bit livelier but many of the audience seemed bemused by HMHB and to me Nigel seemed ill at ease throughout, which may explain why this was the the earliest starting and shortest HMHB set I can remember (87 minutes).
21 October 2013
Rubber Faced Irritant
I’m still hoping Roger was present and will provide one of his unimpeachable accounts of all that was said and done. But in case not, I feel an urge to share my recollection of Nigel pointing to an audience member and saying “Didn’t I see you at Washbrooks Farm Museum?” Before adding that they only visited to see if Cyril Washbrook was there. I may have got this a bit wrong as extensive research reveals that Cyril was a Lancashire cricketer who died in 1999. He did make his England debut in 1937 so I’m guessing he turned out with Hedley Verity. When the day comes that I am ensconced in a retirement home I plan to eschew the bubble wrap and compile a list of characters who were mentioned in HMHB gig banter but didn’t make it on to record.
@Mr Noisy – i think you are being a little harsh. Pleasantly bemused adequately sums up my emotions when watching HMHB. Not much in life moves me more than this. And I put down any uncomfortableness and relative brevity to the stifling heat – NB57 was perspiring profusely and noticeable blowing after the more upbeat numbers.
22 October 2013
nigel, no not that one (nx3TO)
Roger’s review is up on Gez’s site.
As it’s as comprehensive as ever, there’s little for me to add;only my 3rd viewing live but 2nd in my (adopted) home-town.
A decent venue with good sound but not great sight-lines.
I enjoyed the set even though it was missing a ‘spoken-word’ number.
I may make it up to the smoke next year for my 4th appearance and 2nd at SBE
22 October 2013
toastkid
For me, the second time, the first being Manchester circa 2006. Great gig: Concorde2’s corridor-like design means it’s always crowded down the front (great for the bands), and great for fans who want to mosh. The rest have to keep their distance. Usually i would mosh but was a bit tired and emotional, having come from a mass redundancy drinking session (i escaped the cut, this time).
Loved Nigel’s banter, much more this time than i remember from Manchester. Good singing along. After the gig, back to the pub. It still hurts.
22 October 2013
Petro
I’d assumed the early start and finish times were due to the Concorde having a second, probably more lucrative, event booked in for later that night. Nigel did look a bit stressed to start with but I wouldn’t have said the audience was bemused. (Then again, I was at the front on the moshing fringes.)
Great to see them so far south, anyway, and especially great to hear Bob Wilson – Anchorman (a personal favourite). As a local, I also liked ‘We ended up on a bench in Stanmer Park, eating baguettes’.
22 October 2013
NOT ROGER (BUT GRAHAM) GREEN(E)
See where I’m going here?
No?
BRIGHTON ROCK
Concorde 2, Brighton, Fri 18th October 2013 (20/10/13)
Roger Green:
I am sure this is predictable behaviour for a small town boy from the North, but when the train pulled into Croydon, I heard The Sound Of The Suburbs in my head. I am sure somebody will tell me that Croydon is not technically a suburb at all. And The Members probably weren’t from there. I can only report things as they happen.
When I got to Brighton, as usual with unfamiliar places, I suddenly turned into a lost tourist. I like to do a bit of reconnaissance, and suss out the location of the venue in advance, to avoid last minute sprinting (something which has never come easily). I had gone in totally the wrong direction, and was put right by a very pleasant and helpful PCSO. There was a low media profile for the gig. I didn’t spot any posters at the venue or around town. But there was a splendid description in The Argus. “English Rock Band” was the rather generic term used. I also need to mention The Regency. Splendid fish and chips, after which Tony and I took the long walk to the show.
Security weren’t in a rush to open the doors. That gave us a chance to observe some beach volleyball practice across the road. There wasn’t an awful lot else going on at that end of town. We also admired the Steve Ovett statue. Free Man of the city, apparently. When we eventually got in we found quite a decent pub/bar set-up. The music room was quite empty when we arrived, so we were able to take up our usual vantage points straightaway. I found myself standing next to Renny, who was at his first HMHB show since he saw them at Glastonbury in 1986. Imagine that. Twenty-seven years between HMHB gigs! Life shouldn’t have to be that hard.
Once again Roja were supporting. I think it was more or less the same set as the night before. Maybe I should start writing theirs down as well. Good luck to them with the CD, as it gets thrown into the jungle of the market place. No doubt the Probe Plus marketing machine will see them through OK.
I didn’t have a clue with HMHB’s walk-on music. Tony reckoned it was Forty Miles Of Bad Road by Duane Eddy. Nigel’s opening comment “…And you get a free Parker Pen with every quote” was from one of those Michael Parkinson insurance/pension adverts. Someone in the crowd was vocal about letting Nigel know that they were from Ellesmere Port. “How come you aren’t luminous?” he asked. “Ellesmere Port,” he continued, “the place where no one can hear you scream.” I was asked if I had been to the Washbrook Museum. Don’t know it, never heard of it. Nigel said they only went, to see if there was any connection to Cyril Washbrook. Anyway, it was closed, so they ended up eating baguettes in the park. Nigel said he had written Left Lyrics that afternoon, while waiting for Nick Cave to turn up at Harry Ramsdens. There was a shout for California Uber Alles, which prompted Neil to play the opening of Holidays In Cambodia, with Nigel putting him right. He then went on to say that his daughter had a friend called Caroline Brown. Whenever her name was mentioned, he would say the line about Governor Brown, except with her name inserted. I suppose with things like that, you have to be with Nigel at the time, to fully appreciate it. Sadly she is married now, so it just doesn’t work anymore. The transformer in Dukla Prague was “Quite expensive in those days. Quite expensive today.” The pandas at Edinburgh zoo are merely Hale And Pace in disguise. While Ken was dealing with a problem with his guitar, Nigel turned to him and said “It’s a good job I’ve got all these anecdotes.” Ken was the first man in Wallasey to eat Quinoa. Nigel was the first man to pronounce it correctly. There was a thundering drum solo from Carl in Irk The Purists. Took me back to, er, Cozy Powell. “Fix It” was written in Dorothy Perkins. “Running Order” is another true story. Quinoa is also the name of Pete Wylie’s “over enthusiastic new outfit.” Following a request, the opening bars of Climie Fisher were played, but Nigel said it wasn’t as good as the Pointless theme, which got another play. It struck me just how iconic is the opening bass riff of Time Flies By. Maybe it’s just me.
Here is the list:
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
99% Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Left Lyrics In The Practice Room
A Lilac Harry Quinn
Joy In Leeuwarden
Floreat Inertia
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Look Dad No Tunes
Bob Wilson Anchor Man
Vatican Broadside
National Shite Day
Irk The Purists
Fix It So She Thinks Of Me
Running Order Squabble Fest
Petty Sessions
For What Is Chatteris
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Time Flies By When You’re The Driver Of A Train
In the encore there was:
The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman
A Song From Under The Floorboards
The Trumpton Riots
And everyone went home happy. Renny said he was priveleged, and would be making an effort to get to the Shephers Bush show in March. Tony, Howie, Daz and I retired to The Pump Room in town to quaff ale and make plans for getting to Northampton next month. Hallelujah.
23 October 2013
Bob Gant
Did anyone notice whilst in Brighton that the buses are named after famous people that have lived there? I saw one called Frankie Howard but was hoping that Fred Titmus had lived there at some time. But then I’d have been hanging around the bus station all day. My first HMHB gig for a long time, due to geographic circumstances and a failed effort in 2006 when my plane was delayed. If anybody saw me crawling around the floor during TBSODF, I lost my football scarf (don’t ask, long story). I eventually found it at the feet of a bemused looking lady. Some good singalongs included in the set as usual, and to my eternal shame I didn’t know every song word for word like the bloke in front of me. I’ve been away too long.
25 October 2013
spencer thw
This was my first HMHB gig and I’ve been looking for a full set list for a while. My memory might not be great but the order of the songs looks wrong and definitely missing a few numbers. I swear they played Venus in flares, Uffington Wassail and Hedley Verityesque . Spoke to the mate I went with who said they played ordinary to Enchede. Still the best gig of theirs I’ve been to.
31 May 2016
EXXO
Wasn’t there but the list certainly looks 4-5 songs short of the customary 27-28
31 May 2016
EXXO
Oh but then someone up there in comment number 8 says it was a short gig at only 87 minutes so there you go, 23 songs looks about right.
31 May 2016
EXXO
And now that I finish reading the thread (backwards) I see that HMHB’s second most faithful and reliable follower and reviewer agrees on the setlist entirely with their most consistent, so well, it’s starting to look abit more gospel than the gospels.
(please do combine the comments IYCBA Chris)
31 May 2016
Brumbiscuit
Off on a tangent, the spreadsheet of songs performed at gigs told me that PragVec at the Melkveg had never been played, yet I was sure I’d heard it either in Cambridge or the Kentish Town Forum. The evidence suggests strongly otherwise. Wishful thinking I suppose…
31 May 2016