I suppose the Mancs have made enough references to their own city in song, which might explain why Biscuit references (edit: + before the latest album) don’t seem to get any closer than New Mills, which is half a world away. Handy for the hills though. Over to you for the reviews.
jitsu_g
Awesome
18 December 2011
Chris p
Epic gig last night, and a cracking venue too, let’s hope for a return leg some day. Round the corner from the train station, so could avoid Manchester’s notorious rip-off parking fees. The lads actually started at around 8-20pm, which was just as well as there was still a queue at the door of the Ritz at 8-10pm. My brothers wimped out up to the balcony but I braved the middle-aged mosh pit once more.
Loads of new album tracks played, including “Fix it…”, “Bad Wools”, “Rita”, “Lyrics”, “Tommy Walsh” and “Enfant”. Cover was a splendid Bee Gees “Tragedy”, Ken did his foot on the monitor bit for “Black Sabbath”, and Nigel’s guitar strap failed him spectacularly before one song. There was a lot of guitar tomfoolery (broken strings, tuning issues, low quality straps), but this added some amusing ameuterish charm to proceedings.
Favourites at the front were Bob Wilson, Restless Legs and Gargoyles, there was no Trumpton Riots but a brilliant Dukla, and a Santa mingled with the revellers at the front. Top night had by all, and great to have a Saturday gig instead of the usual Thursday night shennanigans.
18 December 2011
Diggler
“Putting the funk back into funerals”
Not a review, more a collection of thoughts, reflecting back on last night’s gig at the Ritz.
We squeezed onto the (late running) 17:51 from Greenfield to Manchester Victoria for last night’s gig, my second HMHB live experience. The surreal sight of a crowded train carriage full of party-goers dressed as Santa was light relief compared to pushing past the shoppers in the city centre for a scrooge such as me.
A quick pint in the Britons Protection – beer that is, not one of the 200 whiskies the pub stocks, then a brisk walk round the corner to the venue. As with my first HMHB gig in Holmfirth last December, cold weather, crap, expensive beer and the support came from Lovecraft. Lovecraft seem to have grown to adopt the Arcade Fire look, although the keyboard player on the left looked about 11 years old. I gave them a bit more attention than I did at last year’s gig. I popped over to say hello to Geoff, faithfully manning the merchandise stall and then we took our places on the balcony. Plenty of Dukla Prague Away Shirts on display, although I didn’t spot anyone in a full kit.
Some great banter from Nigel – the line about how Christmas is all about buying pointless presents for people…so he’s got his great uncle a huge Gary Numan poster. The masses also appreciated his “Sandy Gall’s comin’ to town”. “Joy In Leeuwarden” translated to the live experience as I imagined it would do when I first heard it back in September the week 90 Bisodol was released. Plenty more laughs at Nigel’s introduction of “Excavating Rita” as a “true story” before adding “sorry Carl!” the drummer grinned like a cheshire cat before removing his v-neck jumper. An appreciated extended 24 Hour Garage People and a cover of the Bee Gee’s “Tragedy” in between snippets of Joy Division’s “Transmission” and Deep Purple’s “Black Night”. Ken took a bit of time to tune both his and Nigel’s guitars, swapping the strat with the caravan guitar between them. I like the venue, first time i’ve been, but the usual expensive fizzy beer led to me falling asleep on the train and nursing the headache from hell this morning, when I should be out sledging with the Mrs and the boy. I’m not moaning – It was a great gig.
I’m sure i’ve missed loads and most will await Roger’s review. Below is what I caught of the set:
The light at the end of the tunnel
When the evening sun goes down
Joy In Leeuwarden
Running order squabble fest
Shit arm, bad tattoo
Petty sessions
Excavating Rita
Bob Wilson Anchorman
For what is Chatteris
Left Lyrics in the practice room
All I want for Xmas is A DPAK
Tommy Walsh’s Eco House
Look Dad No Tunes
Lark Decending
Vatican Broadside
National Shite Day
L’enfer C’est Les Autres
Restless Legs
Turned Up, Clocked On, Laid Off
Twenty Four Hour Garage People
Rock and Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
Joy Division Oven Gloves
99%
Encore:
Fix it so she dreams of me
Tragedy
Everythings AOR
18 December 2011
Warden Hodges
Missed last night but glad all enjoyed. HMHB do a Merseyside gig every 7 years so here’s to 2012. (1997 Radio Merseyside get-together not included).
18 December 2011
Lotte
Reminded me a bit of my old band, Midland Railway, except HMHB are actually good (when Nigel remembers to plug his lead in). I was right at the front, near to the side, and yes, Nigel does look like Jaap Stam. Did anyone else see the guy with the homemade Joy Division oven gloves?
Best songs? Definitely 24 Hour Garage People, All I Want For Christmas…, National Shite Day, Joy Division Oven Gloves and the Tragedy cover.
18 December 2011
Chris P
One sobering moment from last night…. On staggering out into the sub-zero evening air we were accosted by a queue of scantily clad teenagers eagerly awaiting “club night” at The Ritz. One of the bright young things hailed me over (“still got it” thought I erroneously)…. “what have all you old people been watching in there?” she enquired. When informed of the mighty HMHB and how big they were on the indie charts in the 80s, she dismissed me with a “well I was born in 93”.(at least she didn’t chime out “shit band, old fans”…). Thoroughly defeated I retreated to the station. 26 years,eh, they’ve flown by…..
18 December 2011
Ben
“Cracking Venue”
Eh? £4.20 for a pint, and as the embarrassed barman admitted the prices would change for the ‘club-night’ later (lower!)
Thought it was a bit disappointing as HMHB gigs go. Was Neil sick? (no backing vocals)
Thought the sound was rubbish for the first half dozen songs too. Saw Fleet Foxes here a couple of years ago too and the sound was crap then as well. The layout is better than Manc Academy gigs but won’t be going back to The Ritz at those rip-of prices.
18 December 2011
Chris P
Can’t agree with all your points, Ben. Yep, ale was a rip off but that’s become par for the course these days, we had a few in The Temple and The Font before hand, not too bad at all. The sound was fine up front, and my mates on the balcony were well impressed. Having a balcony gave a decent option for the shorter/faint hearted, and even standing at the back gave a decent view due to the higher stage. It was right next to a main station, it has a cloakroom, and decent bogs too. And the early kick off solved the usual last train traumas. Seasoned followers have seen the boys in far less illustrious surroundings before, so I stand by my “cracking venue” statement, and hope they return there too!
18 December 2011
J Buckley
Shame we had no backing from Neil, I did see him signal at one point near the end [to someone in the crowd] that he couldn’t speak.
18 December 2011
krusty
i want my money back.
lead guy of warm up band (lovecraft) had mental issues.
hmhb
great turnout, lots of old blokes with bald heads
concentrated mainly on newer stuff, not the classics we were all drawn by years ago, trumpton, driver of a train etc etc, hacked 24hr garage people beyond belief (crap) and cant read the crowd. they could have rocked the place to pieces with some older stuff.
no more hmhb gigs for me….
18 December 2011
Lynyrd Cohen
My biggest joy of the night was that they DIDN’T do more old stuff. Hopefully it pissed off the bloke beside me who shouted “Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew” at every possible opportunity then laughed as if he’d just thought up something earth-shatteringly original. If him and his mates want to go out, get pissed and talk loudly throughout the evening, why didn’t they pick anywhere else in Manchester.
Thought the gig was reasonable. The sound was absolutely shocking.
18 December 2011
krusty
” My biggest joy of the night was that they DIDN’T do more old stuff. Hopefully it pissed off the bloke beside me who shouted “Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew” at every possible opportunity then laughed as if he’d just thought up something earth-shatteringly original ”
OLD SCHOOL FANS JUST LIKE 90% OF THE FOLKS WE SPOKE TO
. If him and his mates want to go out, get pissed and talk loudly throughout the evening, why didn’t they pick anywhere else in Manchester.
THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL FAN BASE….ANSWERED IT YOURSELF !!
if you stood on the balconey you would have noticed any hint of the older stuff had the crowds fidgeting…..
18 December 2011
Ben
Krusty, that was your first HMHB gig wasn’t it? Do yourself a favour and go and buy some of their other albums…or don’t if you’re not going to bother again, your choice.
I’m with Lynyrd Cohen, I can’t abide hearing anything off the first two albums, always get the feeling that Nigel only plays FHIFT to satisfy the blood-lust of the masses…
Re other attendees, there was a largish chap near me who seemed to want to let everyone know that he knew ALL the words. Fine, we all sing along, it’s impossible not to, but really, turning round to show people who don’t know you, and don’t particularly want to know you, that you’re well into the group is unnecessary “just watch the band knobhead” my mate muttered.
@ChrisP I don’t think you’re trying to play gig one upmanship, but that was probably the 20-25th time I’ve seen them, and have seen them in about a dozen venues. It’s Manchester, it’s going to have a station, pub nearby etc It doesn’t need to charge MEN, Wembley Stadium prices for an ale.
18 December 2011
krusty
blood-lust of the masses…
i rest my case
18 December 2011
Ben
Yup, I didn’t think you’d get it…..
18 December 2011
krusty
have a look at…
The Lux Familiar Cup 2011
its a list of what people voted best of the lot 😉
18 December 2011
Chris P
Ben – that was my 19th HMHB gig, so I’ve had some fun and games getting back to the ‘Pool from Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Carlisle, Preston et al over the years, so an early gig on a Saturday in the Big Smoke was a pleasant change. Not that I don’t enjoy the away fixtures, but Thursday nights with work the next day always throws up the dilemma of either public transport (missing the encore) or driving (alcohol free), so I revelled in the luxury last night.
As for the new stuff/old stuff debate, I think the balance was about right. The usual crowd was boosted in numbers by nostalgics who haven’t listened to any tunes since 1986. I hope at least some of them will explore the back catalogue as a result, they won’t believe what treasures they are about to discover. As for those who were bored and moaned and chatted loudly except when Dukla and Gargoyles were aired, farewell, you don’t know what you’re missing.
18 December 2011
Ben
Personally I found that Lux Familiar stuff too trainspotterish and childish, so stopped reading and contributing to the site during it, them’s my vagaries.
But as per your suggestion I just looked, of the last 32, only 2 were from the first incarnation of HMHB prior to the hiatus and McIntyre reformation.
Of those two, one of them (DPAK) was played last night, so I still can’t see what you’re on about in terms of “what the old school fans” not getting what they wanted. I’m an old school fan and thought the set list was sound, and par for the course with a HMHB gig.
Shall we leave it there? You’re doing my head in a bit.
18 December 2011
John Burscough
Brilliant gig, equipment malfunctions notwithstanding – I’ve never seen a strap actually give way and drop a guitar bodily onto the stage before. I thought the mix of old and new was about right, even with no Trumptonshire anthems, and all those I spoke to on the front row were pleased to hear their favourites (except the young lad who ‘d been hoping for Fun Day In The Park – thanks for retrieving my glasses during JDOG, BTW). Joy In Leeuwarden was particularly fine.
When Neil came on and was asked what he’d be singing he drew a finger across his throat, which I assumed to mean he was suffering from either laryngitis or homicidal mania.
First time I’d been to The Ritz since 1978 – it hasn’t changed much. The bar prices were always extortionate.
Nice to meet Jitsu, and the lads over from Ireland who left with the set-list, reassuringly un-typed-out.
On the way out I spoke to some (purportedly) Showsec bouncers who were taken in completely by the forged AAA dangling from my lanyard, and the evening was topped off by spotting a Gouranga bridge outside the Britons’ Protection, post-gig. Splendid.
18 December 2011
micky
Anybody got a piccy from last night they wouldn’t mind sharing? I look after Geoff’s new website. Many Thanks
18 December 2011
King Tubbs
Yep the sound was shite and the beer expensive – but what an atmosphere! I thought it was a good mix of old and new – we really don’t want them to turn into a greatest hits band, do we? Best part of the night were the stunned faces at the beginning of Tragedy..
18 December 2011
Sinclair C5
I’m the guy with mental issues from the support band Lovecraft. It’s all an act, what else would it be?
Half Man Half Biscuit are wonderful people (the most down to earth we’ve ever met) and great performers to boot. They’ve just released a new album – of course they’re going to play a lot of stuff from it. They’ve got better and wittier over the years, and grown musically in spades. If you’re paying money to see them just enjoy it! The people on here moaning don’t realise that they’re exactly the kind of thing HMHB really don’t like about music fans. Next you’ll be telling me you’ve got nothing but total respect for Annie Lennox.
18 December 2011
Stan
Actually, I thought the guitar strap giving way just after NB57 bemoaning his low status in life (key ring comprising only of his door and his bike) was a slice of fried gold.
19 December 2011
Simon
Sinclair – to be fair, it was only one person moaning (as far as the setlist was concerned anyway). Opinions evidently differ about the venue but the sound was fine where I was stood and I didn’t visit the bar so no complaints here.
Speaking as someone old enough to have been around in the 80s, I totally agree that they’ve consistently improved over the years and for what it’s worth I think the Lux Familiar results bear that out (6 of the last 8 from 2002 or later).
Particularly delighted to hear the live debuts of Joy in Leeuwarden, Bad Wools and Fix It, three of my favourites from the album.
19 December 2011
Simon
Just to add to Diggler’s setlist, I think We Built This Village was also played.
19 December 2011
Charles Exford
Well, the “top, top players” thing seems to be spreading outwards from the Redknapp family and infecting all the other pundits and post-match interviewees faster than you can say ‘find me a tax evasion lawyer’. I always say you can’t fight linguistic change, so why not join them? So ….
THIS WAS A TOP, TOP GIG. WITH SOME BIG, BIG PERFORMANCES.
I can’t believe I so nearly missed top, top, live debuts for three more new songs, including a stunning first stage version of ‘Joy in Leeuwarden’ that few suspected could rock a mosh pit like that, as well as a first performance of ‘Rock and Roll is Full of Bad Wools’ that was worth the £18 door-tax on its own; all-in-all there were seven songs off the brilliant new album; a rare outing for the life-defirming nihilism of ‘The Best Things in Life’ (surely enough on its own to satisfy any of the audience still stuck in 1985-86?); the best version of the Bee Gees’ ‘Tragedy’ you will ever hear on this planet; a 24-hour Garage People that some punters near me considered “the best ever”, and was certainly one of “the most different-from-the-last-version ever”. More of that later.
I nearly missed it because we’ve been scrimping and saving a lot lately for a big football trip to South America in January & February which has been a bit of a dream for Mrs. Exford. Then along came some big vet’s bills last week and a poorly pup. Mrs E. Seemed happy for me to go off to Manchester alone, but I said I’d only do it if I made a few quid on the horses and/or the footy on Friday-Saturday. No luck with the gee-gees but two bets stood out on Saturday’s online football coupons: Norwich to beat Everton draw-no-bet at 9-2 and Grant Holt 1st goalscorer at 12-1; by the time Everton equalised I’d made the necessary arrangements, and had purchased a four-pack (too much Oranjeboom, naturally) for the train that (the projectistas told me) cost 51 pence less than one single pint would have cost at the venue.
Poetically, in the way only Merseyside’s fates can construe, the ticket was even purchased from an Evertonian in the queue outside the venue who didn’t seem to enjoy being told about the source of the funds. Someone was going along the queue giving out those kind of flyers that promote all-the-crap-gigs-and-club-nights- in-town-for-the-next-six-months sort of thing, but the problem was nobody would take the flyers ‘cos the big name splashed on the front was … Coldplay live at the Etihad. This caused a huge litter pile-up and indeed a fire hazard where the smokers were huddled outside the gig, and was a pity ‘cos other top, top acts featured inside the flyer included a LIPA group, the Wombats, who will doubtless never die. Most, of course, were just as much crock of shit as Coldplay.
Enough of such ephemera – let’s get with what is eternal. I got inside and down the front just in time for that most traditional of opening Biscuit salvoes, The Light at the End of The Tunnel. Great actual sound quality tonight, but very low PA volume, especially early on (actually these two things may be connected). A few of the regular moshers around, and a few more than usual of nerdy stand-still-at-the-front narks being snide to the moshers with their heels and elbows. Not many DPAS around, and even that great stalwart Taylo seemed to have had eschewed the usual garb for a seasonal santa suit.
Between numbers, we learned that Ken’s dad was the first man in Wallasey to kill someone or something (because I hadn’t heard of the persona in question, I’m guessing it could have been an entity in well-known a video game? And he (Ken’s dad) had got “something-or-other finger” that I guess video games might give you?); Tanveer Singh and David Guest were spotted in the audience (separately); Nigel spoke of the joys of giving people useless Christmas presents like a Minah Bird for his mother in law (“as competition”) or a Gary Numan poster for a 94-year-old great uncle (“he’ll love it”). I assume the latter will get some bubblewrap as well.
As for the new songs, ‘Joy in Leeuwarden’ appeared early in the gig and was, as I have mentioned, thoroughly uplifting. Quite literally so as at least 20 of us bounced and chanted along to the chorus with almost Crispy Ambulance-style fervour. ‘Excavating Rita’ came a little later and was introduced as “a song about putting the fun back into funerals …. true story”, with a nod to Carl. Having seen (on Youtube) how difficult the sound quality was on this song’s only previous appearance last June in London,it was a delight to see this wonderful tune so perfectly rendered. Off the new album we also saw 3 more regular names on the team-sheet: ‘Tommy Walsh’, ‘L’enfer’ and ‘Left Lyrics’, all exquisitely rendered as we have come to expect. The latter of course featured Ken, foot up on the monitor, revelling in the Black Sabbath moment. I’ve been threatened with a Sabbath tribute act at an event that I should attend on New Year’s Eve, so Ken, may I just say you’ve made the prospect more palatable, and life over the next fortnight thus seems nore liveable. Then came the majestic ‘Bad Wools’, and the only lyrical variation in the seven new songs performed, as Nigel told us that “Curry Night were there to play, David Gray and David Gray”. Like a John Peel show without dead air and wrong-speed moments, a Biscuits gig without such one-offs would be, errm, not-quite-as-utterly-perfect. The final new song performed was ‘Fix it So She Dreams of Me’, another simply brilliant tune that deserved its lofty billing as first song in the encore.
Between songs, while Ken fiddled with his tuning ad infinitum and Nigel took the piss, there was the usual Joy Divison/New Order riff-fest from Neil. Even if Neil hadn’t been poorly and lost his voice he wouldn’t have been arsed to name-that-tune for Nigel’s Deep Purple-riff-type interludes, but the frontman couldn’t resist the spotter’s badge when Neil played the bassline from ‘Junkyard’ by The Birthday Party.
After all these years of Nigel ripping the piss out of Ken for his endless tuning between songs, the latter’s skills finally came in handy when the frontman’s guitar strap broke before the start of the encores, taking with it the top E string as the instrument bounced off the monitor and along the stage. While we waited for Ken’s magic machine to revive the substitute (caravan) guitar, we were told that “we’re not really a Grumbleweeds tribute band you know …actually, if we were a tribute act, we’d probably be one for the Saints. In fact we’d probably do their first album in its entirety, cos it’s the only thing we all know. Most under-rated album ever.” So then we had the encore. With no tinsel, no ‘Cynical to be Clichéd’. Expectations confounded, as ever – all good.
I don’t really know where this review is going, and i’m getting as tired as you probably are reading it, but I do want to remember the joy that was 24HGP last night, and I can’t seem to read the scribbled notes that I jotted on the back of my ticket on the way home, so I must confess I have consulted Youtube for this one. I meant it just to jog my memory on a couple of lines, but I got carried away ended up with all of this, some from memory, some from somebody’s Youtube clip:
“I only came down for a tube of Pringles, sour cream and onions – it turns out there’s no such flavour as Sour Cream and Chives. That’s my research for you.”
“£1.94 is his counter-attack ….” (counter, geddit).
“You’re holding the line up though.”
“Two things: it’s not a line, it’s a queue; and they’re actually all English language students so I’m doing you a favour really. They’ve all come down here to practise on you. Lord alone knows who told them about it.”
“I’ve given them some advice so during the next 25 mins you’re going to be asked for:
• 11 boxes of Golden Grahams
• a tin of sardines in brine
• a tin of mackerel in tomato sauce
• that DVD of Jethro the Cornish Comedian
• a bag of coal
• a bag of kindling
• a bag of peat briquettes
• tinned mackerels in sardines
• the eponymously titled debut album by Suicide – you know the one with Frankie Teardrop on it
• a sachet of optimism
…and a Solero, you great big nincompoop.”
“Now he’s getting really annoyed all hot and bothered so his jumper comes off to reveal a t-shirt which just says ‘Mum and Dad went to the Congo.’ And his personalised word search gets thrust aside:
Donnington – Scorpions – Happiness – Hazel – Realisation – is in fact a bloke – bitterness… -THIS.
So now he’s really really annoyed and his iPod goes down
(Meatloaf …some more soft rock …. audio book featuring Bilbo Baggins)”
So there you go, HMHB in all their pomp, once again satisfying the lust of these masses for originality in gig-time.
Happy Xmas one and all.
19 December 2011
andyplc
Ken’s Dad was the first man in Wallasey to Kill Bowser and thus suffered from SNES Thumb.
19 December 2011
John Burscough
Chris, isn’t Harpurhey closer to the city than New Mills? (Come to think of it, isn’t the Lesser Free Trade Hall?)
Excellent review, Mr E. I felt a bit sorry for the bloke behind me in the queue outside who seemed to be trying to give a crash course in Biscuit references to a (?new) girlfriend.
19 December 2011
Chris The Siteowner
John, you are of course completely correct, and I shouldn’t just refer to Stuart’s map without thinking!
19 December 2011
Chris The Siteowner
19 December 2011
Ben
Exo, it’s Ranvir Singh, BBC North West Tonight hotly; Dave Guest is a reporter and occasional co-anchor on same programme.
19 December 2011
John Burscough
Bowser: Mario’s archnemesis (also known as King Koopa).
19 December 2011
Paul F
Maybe it’s just me, but I thought the “Sorry Carl”, after claiming that Excavating Rita was a true story, was more about him interrupting the drummer counting them in than a suggestion that Carl was that insane betterware salesman/necrophiliac.
19 December 2011
TAYLO
Sadly it wasn’t me in the Santa Suit but Biscuit stalwart Alex. We were on the balcony as it was my Daughters first Biscuit gig and she’s only 14. I like The Ritz as a venue (I have no choice, been there three times this week…Adam Ant and New Model Army if you’re wondering).
Enjoyable gig and no one would have guessed that cover version.
19 December 2011
Charles Exford
All due apologies to Taylo, Alex, Carl, Nigel, Ranvir, Dave (Nigel said something like “we’re still getting used to Roger too”, in reference to NW Tonight, but that’s probably wrong as well) and Bowser. It is most irregular for my unintended factual errors and sheer general ingnorance to outweigh my mere typoes by such a large ratio.
My visits to the right (left?) side of the Pennines are so rarely overnight stays these days and even when I’m there, there’s not usually access to a telly at North West Tonight time of day. Must try to keep up with that sort of thing on Youtube or something.
Nice Honved shirt that, by the way, Jitsu.
19 December 2011
John Burscough
Nero fiddles while Roger Johnson…
No, doesn’t work, does it?
19 December 2011
Kendo Nagasaki
All in attendance loved the evening. As ever would have loved to have heard some godcore but alas this seems unlikely ever to happen. Highlights included lots of new songs, a wonderful airstream guitar and a fantastic version of 24hr. Less good was the extortionate price of ale (£18 for 4 red stripes) a man who was literally the most sweat laden person i have ever seen jumping around like a frog on amphetamines and the threat of bad attitudes spilling over into actual violence towards the front. All in all well worth the visit, cant wait for next time the biscuit are close enough for me to justify my attendance to my long suffering partner.
19 December 2011
Paul F
Kendo – I assume you are talking about the guy in the black v-necked t-shirt who was already drenched before the first bars of The Light at the End of the Tunnel?
19 December 2011
Charles Exford
I hope he means him. He’s the one who immediately (ahem) SPRANG to mind for me as well as I read Kendo’s comment, and desperately tried to convince myself I was more sinned against than sinning in that mosh.
19 December 2011
harry powell
the worst thing about the night was the person with a shitty arse who kept dropping it for the first hour. show some respect next time or the preacherman’ll come a visitin’
no need for bad bowels
19 December 2011
probe
Rock and Roll is full of bad bowels
19 December 2011
Diggler
I recognised him from the Holmfirth gig last December. Very much in the thick of the mosh pit, facing the punters rather than the band.
19 December 2011
Dave Wiggins
Ben, still applauding your post #15 above. I laughed.
19 December 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Reliably comprehensive review from Roger Green now posted on Gez’s website.
20 December 2011
Dave Wiggins
Spats on the board; fighting at gigs. Guys, what’s happening to us? We never used to be like this. I’m off to the Angelic Upstarts site instead. Kill a Mod, Kill a Mod……..
20 December 2011
New York Skiffler
The funniest thing I heard all night was when I was walking back to Oxford Road station – one guy saying to his mate – “I’d never heard that line about “I can put a tablecloth up to my face and pretend that I’m Kendo Nagasaki” before”! WTF?
20 December 2011
Dave Wiggins
Just realised that I meant – of course – The Exploited. Punk own-goal there. Nor is this a ‘board’, by definition. I had best start afresh……..
20 December 2011
Diggler
Dave – On a flight to Edinburgh last year I found myself 3 rows away fro
The Exploited, who were either to or from a gig. When offered alcoholic drinks for free, the doyens of the Oi scene politely declined, opting instead for a nice cup of tea.
20 December 2011
Kendo Nagasaki
yes paul f the very same. his relentless moshing caused several incedents of sweat transfer onto other unsuspecting fans. He did claim someone had spilled a beer on him but i dont buy that excuse
21 December 2011
renny
is there any chance of an mp3 download of the show happening ?
21 December 2011
Chris The Siteowner
22 December 2011
Duchess of Westminster
Tragedy is fantastic. Thanks.
22 December 2011
probe
Kedgeree, LOL
22 December 2011
Bad Bowels
Apologies
I could well be the “bad bowels” referred to on feed 40. On a recent stint of bodybuilding ( he’s on the roids john) and have been consuming some horrendous shakes which make my bowls curdle like an age old eel in a de-commisioned fridge.
But I’m probably not gonna get it looked at… suck it up harry potter. 🙂
23 December 2011
frog on amphetamine
Kendo, apolgise for any unwanted sweat transfer but i did get a beershower half way through the 2nd song honesty! so it was probably 50% sweat 50% beer by the end of the night! although i do love a good mosh maybe drinking since dinner time (damn that early train) was not the best preparation for the gig and no doubt contributed to my overexuberance! enjoyed the gig thoroughly from what i can remenber! thought the sound was poor though, but the mix of old and new stuff was about right in my opinion, roll on the next one !
23 December 2011
Charles Exford
Ahoy there Frog,
Good to hear from you (especially because it means Bad Bowels won’t be remembered by posterity as the bottom line on this great gig).
I’ve been meaning to post for a few days now that I for one thoroughly enjoyed your contribution to the night. Now that you mention it, yes, I do remember your beer shower too, and indeed your preciseness as to its timing should allay any doubt (which may be lingering in the minds of those who are cynical at Christmas) that you are indeed the Frog himself.
I remember picking you off the deck a couple times, and I’m sure you’d have done the same for me had I been in your (prone) position.
As one who is oft prone to such sweaty exuberance meself I can’t sympathise with those who seem to resent our enjoyment or the inevitability of some sweat or beer transfer and the odd jostle, should they choose to encroach within the mosh zone (which I always think of as a sort of 5-a-side ‘D’ sized area where standing still should be considered a health hazard and kicking out resentfully at moshers who brush into your backside is a penalty offence).
Anyway, tell me – would you call your t-shirt black or very dark navy?
23 December 2011
John Burscough
I thought it was the colour of priests’ socks: very, very, very, very, very, very, very dark blue.
23 December 2011
Kendo Nagasaki
Alright frog.
fantastic to hear from you pal. Absolutely no resentment towards you for the moshing just seemed like an interesting point to bring up!! i was in the pit rocking it with you. i think they call the colour “midnight blue” cant wait to see you all again next time they come up north!!
24 December 2011
frog on amphetamine
very very dark navy pre beer shower a couple of shades darker after that , And cheers charles and kendo for sympathsing with my moist predicament on the evening, and thanks for risking a soaking and retrieving me from the floor on several occasions,! i love it though , cant just stand there and nod my head its one of the rare occasions a 40 + male can truly express himself with unrstrained verve and vigure , i couldnt walk again properly until thursday and i got my voice back this morning 🙂 and i do agree charles there should be some sort dedicated moshing zone with maybe a neutral zone just aft or in the actual ‘d’ area for occasional moshers ( you know ,the we only bounce to the old stuff gang) as people should accept the transfer of body fluids as a direct side effect of being in the moshing zone and not be so put out, one guy was getting particulary aggresive which is not cricket at all, as of all the gigs you could go to if your not smiling all the way through one of these your past hope ! hopefully see you at the next one chaps, ill be the sweatie one at tthe front bouncing about like a frog with a big smile on my face !
24 December 2011
SwaledaleHenry
Can’t agree more. A shit gig in a shit venue. The band though were wonderful. A classic mixture of old and new. Roll on Glasto 2015
27 December 2011
SwaledaleHenry
SORRY… my wife just told me I wasn’t there?
27 December 2011
Slipper Biro
Two weeks late with a three line review, shoddy I know.
Thank you Mrs Biro for making me go “otherwise you’ll be miserable all Christmas”, it was an excellent early evening December treat. Many,many highlights that I’ve spent the afternoon reprising via YouTube. Best I’ve seen them since Holmfirth some time ago.
The young Biros asked me if they played (their favourite) ‘The Referee’s Alphabet’, to which I replied “no but they did play ’24 Hour Garage People'”. I have tried to explain this movable feast to them, how the price of Pringles changes etc. but they are still unmoved. It occurred to me that a site such of this should have a section tracking the (ever upwards) price of Pringles, or even the entire order each time the song is played.
PS A chance was missed with the Ranvir Singh and Dave Guest shout outs for Nigel to bemoan the fact that an invitation to collaborate on stage had been turned down by North West Tonight weatherwoman Eno!!!
2 January 2012
Nicky Cream
Missed them my home town of Cardiff coz I was Ill, the drive up to Mancs brought closure LOL
Was a great gig, and yeh, bar prices were daft.
“treachery!!” I don’t suppose anyone recorded their cover of Tragedy, id love to get to hear it again, would be really great full if you could get in touch, ta
See yall at Bilston
Nicky
xxx
3 January 2012
Nicky Cream
Thanks for the upload CHRIS THE SITEOWNER, missed the link
3 January 2012
andy
you lucky bstards. I live in Auckland. New Zealand, just up from the South Pole and haven’t seen the Biscuits since 1999 or so. Music is good here but local knowledge of Sting singing on the roof of the Barbican is justabout nil. And don’t ask me about Hattie Jacques again..
6 January 2012
drab olive
2012 gigs anybody heard owt
3 February 2012