A fine time to be visiting Wales, after a week in which the Grand Slam was won and NB10 revealed his decent attempt at the language. How was the performance?
Cronkite reporting in. No comments yet? I suppose that rather than driving home, I could have stayed and sampled the nightlife of Cardiff, which is obviously what everyone else has done!
Why would you want to miss all the fun of motorway closures and a joyful detour around the Wiltshire countryside, eh? If I never see another cone……..
Nigel was a not a well boy. The gig had been in jeopardy throughout the morning, but suitably dosed-up and putting on a brave face, he manged to get through it, concentrating primarily on the lead vocals, but coming in with his guitar when needed.
The banter was a little curtailed, but he couldn’t really help himself. Despite the sore throat, there was plenty of discourse. Predictably, but in a nice way, we were treated to “Men of Harlech” as the walk-on tune. The Pelican joke made another appearance and once again, Nigel’s disdain for people who have their wheelie bins professionally cleaned was made clear. I didn’t get why Nigel is not keen on rocking chairs, but he isn’t. And, sandpaper.
Someone has got a copy of “Godcore” out of the cupboard and after last night’s nugget (Moshpits), we were treating another lesser-spotted Godcore classic. Goodness knows when it was last played?
Anyway, here is the order of play, with due care and attention this evening: –
Bob W 27 Yards Shit Arm Squabblefest Bat Walk Light Tunnel Look Dad Umberstone Lark Bane DPAK Terminus Joyce Left Lyrics Friday Night And The Gates Are Low Trad Arr Tune JDOG Every Time a Bell Rings Vatican AOR Trumpton ……………………….. Colombia What Do I Get? NSD
A very proficient cover of The Buzzcocks classic, which went down very well.
“And that’s the way it is.”
Another fine evening. Roll on, Cambridge. I’d better have a rummage in the drawers (Missus) and find the old ITFC “Guentchev 9” shirt.
Mike……………………
23 March 2019
50+Fan
Well a disappointing night for me, Must be getting old. Tried to enjoy after a wait of 30? Years to see HMHB, wasn’t the band, they were on top form although the set list wasn’t to my taste except terminus. Venue too packed and didn’t really enjoy being covered in a pint and barged around. Left after Left Lyrics and in bed by 10.45, oh well, you live and learn.
23 March 2019
EXXO
Thanks Walt, much appreciated. Sheesh, the GHMHBSLC tells us that Friday Night was being exposed to stage lighting for the first time in eighteen years and one day. Perhaps the Lads are preparing for a 25th anniversary of Godcore tour next year?
I make it only 15 songs the same on both nights.
23 March 2019
hendrix-tattoo
Great Goat Major pie Great Brains dark Great people old and new Great to see no Elephant in the room Great Crooner Nigel Great ‘Your my guitar hero’ Neil Oh! and Karl Great Bass drumming Carl Great setlist Great Moshing Great Night
And a Great What do I get, oh-oh, what do I get? What do I get, oh-oh, what do I get?
23 March 2019
Ian A
50plus too. Two weeks ago i fell into a train and have a large haematoma on stomach. First time out since then and still fragile i was nervous when i saw how packed it was. However by embracing the margins managed not to be pushed. Hmhb on Great form and packed clubs must be a good problem to have. Next time principality stadium!
23 March 2019
2nd time around
Superb night, loved the set list. Wondered why Nige was guitar less for most of the night. Realise now, fair play to him for soldiering on, whole band sounded on top form. Only minor quibble was no Knobheads On Quiz Shows. Other than that, can’t fault them.
23 March 2019
Rod E
Enjoyable evening, well worth the journey from West Wales. Last saw HMHB at the now closed point in Cardiff a decade ago. No encore of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and help me Rhondda this time but imho they did a great set. The venue seems good, not too hot even when busy and a good atmosphere. Enjoyed the support too. Good to hear some banter about Magnus Pyke though surprised Nigel didn’t know when he died. Poor Magnus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Pyke Hoping to leave it less than a decade before seeing hmhb live again.
Roger Green: This is the fourth time I’ve seen HMHB in Cardiff. This is the first time they have played twice at a venue in the city. Karl’s second gig with the band was in Cardiff when he was temping, with Ken having gone off sick. I’ve never known a temp to perm deal take so long. (Karl had also covered at Frome, the night before.) At that show Nigel went solo with a version of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. I remember him rummaging through his notes to check the spelling for me. Which brings us to his appearance on BBC Radio Cymru where he appeared with Neil. A different Neil. This particular Neil is Nigel’s Welsh language teacher. They were being interviewed on his learning the language, and music in general. By and large I didn’t understand a word, although I did pick up references to one or two Welsh bands, as well as a couple of namechecks of John Peel. The interview was punctuated by excerpts from The Trumpton Riots, Every Time A Bell Rings, National Shite Day and Descent Of The Stiperstones. Pirx The Purist goes straight to the top of the class for translating the interview and dropping an English version on the Lyrics Project site.
Capel Curig also got a mention on the radio a few days before this show. The town got half a month’s rain in the space of twenty-four hours. There was no mention of any bottlenecks, but I would have thought that would have been enough to cause tailbacks at the very least. There was also a Brexit-related Tweet to the album where that song belongs. Theresa May had talked about many people wanting the latest stage of the process to be over. And she added “I am on your side.” To which someone had replied “Not sure this re-write of Bridge Over Troubled Water really scans.” That, in turn, prompted a response from the former England cricketer Mike Selvey. “Trouble Over Bridgwater as Half Man Half Biscuit had it. And a lot of other places besides.”
Being the second leg of a double-header, we were in Exeter the night before this show. Karen, Tony and I got on the train at Exeter St David’s, changed at Bristol Temple Meads, and duly arrived at Cardiff Central. Nice mocha at Temple Meads while we were waiting, by the way. Tony gave me his copy of The Guardian, and we scoured a copy of Metro, but there was no mention of HMHB’s show. As per usual. There was a nice, pleasant article about Norwegian black metal in The Guardian though.
First Biscuiteer sighting was while Karen was out and about gathering supplies in the afternoon. She met Lee who had taken the long haul from Rotherham. We had a tough afternoon watching Countdown and getting ready for a relatively early start. Doors were opening at 7 o’clock. Plenty of time to prepare for The Flux Capacitors, who were opening the show an hour later.
Karen, Tony and I were at the head of the queue and were joined soon enough by Phill from Portsmouth, and Ian who was heading back to Belfast the day after the show. We all stood watching as a number of warning signs were stuck on the windows. I assume the venue has had a problem in the past. “No Crowd Surfing” we were warned. And more to the point, “Crowd Surfers Will Be Ejected Immediately.” We looked round at each other and I think we all agreed that our collective crowd-surfing days lie in the past. Tony suggested another notice. “If You Have The Energy To Crowd Surf, You Are Probably At The Wrong Gig”.
When inside the venue, I went to the merch stall. Michael from The Flux Capacitors was there. They had a monopoly in the market. As on the Thursday in Exeter, there was no Probe Plus presence. So I invested in a book of Hazel’s poetry. Spreadsheet Roger wondered about how much brass HMHB might have lost there. But that’s too much like being at work.
The Flux Capacitors had a couple of HMHB reference points in their set. Michael began their first song with the intro from The Trumpton Riots, as lifted from To Be A Pilgrim. And Hazel plonked the Black Sabbath-bam-a-lam lyric into one of her songs. They have also nailed their on-stage banter. “Hazel, why don’t you sing a song about suicide?” Looking forward to seeing them again some time. Who knows where. Who knows when. Their set list was the same as the night before. Melt Hair Dr Dr Swim Fairy T Satan Carcass
The interval provided a chance to say Hello. John was there again. Postman Tony had missed Exeter but there was there tonight, dressed appropriately for the Buzzcocks cover version. Ian and Mariana, Huddersfield Graham, Howie and Daz had all made the journey from Exeter. It was a bit of a squash. If this wasn’t a sell-out then it must have come close. Ideal conditions for crowd-surfing really.
The walk-on music was Men Of Harlech. Nigel was again in a long-sleeved shirt, with the rest of the band in a range of t-shirts. Neil was in a Stranglers t-shirt. Karl’s was worded thus. “I’m the same age that my father was when I first thought he was OLD.” And Carl had a picture of Marty Feldman on his. And it was noted that he changed into a Flux Capacitors number between the main set and the encore. Michael was keen to get a photo of that.
The most obvious thing to note was that Nigel sang most of the songs without his guitar. In gigs gone by, this has happened a few times, but I don’t remember it ever being the policy for more than one or two songs. Was he trying to be Chuck D, perhaps, as he paraded round the stage? It gave him more scope to avoid the photographer who was trying to take a picture of him from the moat. There was certainly a touch of Mark E Smith when his foot caught a wire which brought down the microphone placed against Karl’s amp. And his style had me thinking. Mike in one hand, and elbow of the other arm resting on the stand? Didn’t Tom O’Connor used to do that? There was more than usual jumping off the drum riser.
One other feature of his guitarless performance was an increased use of international sign language, with him having his hands free. I noticed an interesting impersonation of “Bollocko” at the end of Renfield’s Afoot. Karen spotted that he mimed keeping wicket for the Quakers, and in We Built This Village, he mimed bowling when he came to the line about a cricketing farce. The lyrics in Twenty-Seven Yards Of Dental Floss were slightly mixed up. “Would you like to go the zoo? She said Been Yesterday.”
Nigel was winding the mike lead around his arm, and said “Look! I’m turning into a crooner.” Tony replied “Next stop the rocking chair,” to which Nigel responded interestingly “I’m not sure why this is, but I’m terrified of rocking chairs. Them and sandpaper.” Just as interestingly, he also said that he had had a tin of sardines while sitting in the van earlier.
Nigel had a carrier bag with him. He was asked “Is that the merch?” Nigel replied that the band crisps were in it, being helpful to explain that it was “band” crisps, rather than “banned” crisps. On a food theme a shout of “Super White Army” was met by Nigel with “Super white barm cakes. My favourite snack.”
Nigel talked to me about jet-washing his wheelie bin. He is clearly not impressed by the middle-class couple down the road, who pay to have it done. Later he returned to the subject when introducing Ode To Joyce. “This is about a woman who has never jet-washed a wheelie bin in her life.”
He also asked one and all about the massive T on the wall at the back of the hall. “Is that for ‘Tramshed’ or is it Tennent’s Lager?”
Tony asked Nigel “What about playing the guitar?” Nigel replied “Good point” before putting it on for Look Dad No Tunes. There was a request for Westminster Bridge. Nigel said he wanted to record the noise a bin lorry makes when it is reversing, and use this is in a song. He did this in Upon Westminster Bridge.
An old joke was given an airing. Karl went to a Malaysian restaurant and had Pelican. It was lovely but the bill was massive. There was a conversation between Nigel and Tony, continuing on a theme which had started in Exeter the night before, regarding Quatermass. This moved on to WH Auden’s involvement in the film Night Mail. We also established that Magnus Pyke had died on a busy news day in 1992.
The line in Joy Division Oven Gloves about checking out the Quantocks had Nigel pointing in all directions of the compass. There was a shout for “John MacNamara”. Yes, I wouldn’t mind hearing The Announcement some time. I also made a note that I could have done without the rotating lights at the back of the back of the stage. But that’s probably just me.
We had maybe expected a little more Welsh from Nigel. This was limited to a couple of lines from Mochyn Du before they played Vatican Broadside.
In reply to a shout of “Gerry Gow”, Nigel replied with an excerpt from an adapted Twelve Days Of Christmas, from his card-collecting days. “Three Gerry Gows, Two Alan Birchenalls, and a Stiff Little Fingers LP.” He noted that Suspect Device by Stiff Little Fingers is probably the best ever opening song on an album (Inflammable Material). And by the way, when checking the spelling of Birchenall, we spotted that Alan was awarded an MBE for his charity work, and that he was given the Freedom Of Leicester in 2009 alongside Engelbert Humperdinck and Sue Townsend. There should also be an award for his kiss with Tony Currie. That will be made into a statue one day.
Apparently Nigel wasn’t feeling too great, which perhaps explains the length of the show. 85 minutes from start to end. Normally they hang around for longer than that.
Here’s how the evening went. Thanks to Neil for handing over his list. If I’d known in advance that Nigel’s guitar playing was going to be so intermittent, I would have marked the songs where he was strapped in. Shoddy. Happy to be told otherwise, but I think the only ones where the guitar was played were Look Dad No Tunes, Lark Descending, Every Time A Bell Rings, Everything’s AOR and Vatican Broadside.
Bob Wilson Anchor Man Twenty-Seven Yards Of Dental Floss Shit Arm Bad Tattoo Running Order Squabble Fest Renfield’s Afoot The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train Look Dad No Tunes Harsh Times In Umberstone Covert Lark Descending The Bane Of Constance All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit Terminus Ode To Joyce Left Lyrics In Practice Room Friday Night And The Gates Are Low We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune Joy Division Oven Gloves Every Time A Bell Rings Vatican Broadside Everything’s AOR The Trumpton Riots
And in the encore What Made Colombia Famous What Do I Get? National Shite Day
Neil’s set list took some auditing. There were a lot of crossings-out and additions to the original version. Going through it in order, “Geraldine” was originally scheduled to be second, and was replaced by Twenty-Seven Yards. Pancake Day was written between Renfield and The Light At The End Of The Tunnel, but was crossed out. Three songs were down to appear between Look Dad and Bane Of Constance (Twenty-Seven Yards, Moshpits and Man of CS) but they were crossed out and Geraldine and Lark were written instead. Sunshine was crossed out, having originally been written in between Terminus and Joyce. Bad Wools, showing immediately after Joyce, was also crossed out. Lark D was also crossed out, having been written between We Built This Village and Joy Division Oven Gloves. And Trumpton Riots, as at Exeter, had not appeared at all on the original sheet.
Thanks to Ian for making sure we were all supplied with water throughout these two nights. Much appreciated. Afterwards there was a brief Hello with Lee. Nigel had spotted his Standard Liege scarf during the show. I also saw Mike in what may have been an Ipswich shirt. Representing the Under 21s?
Saturday morning and we were on the train heading northwards. Back home in time for El Classicoal, Pontefract Collieries v Frickley Athletic. And counting down the sleeps to the Cambridge gig.
24 March 2019
brumbiscuit
I can add little to the above, except to say thanks to Nigel for braving his ailment and giving his best.
Oh, and although I found the Welsh tat shop, I disappointingly couldn’t see the obscene bottle holder. Mind you, I’d had a few by then and we were on the way to try to find The Borough – and failed.
24 March 2019
Alice van der meer
Horror of horrors, someone might have actually bought the thing. I can’t imagine you’d want to serve the in-laws wine from it.
24 March 2019
EXXO
Thanks Doc & Roger & Karen – now we feel like we were all there – indeed we know more about matters arising than most who were there – and all is right with the world.
Whereas I had been a little disconcerted by early posts in this thread, when more than one punter had somehow felt the need to come on here and declare that they were of typical HMHB audience age. Had the gig been accidentally booked in a youth club, I wondered? No, it sounds average enough.
I’m getting old too. This morning I went out and read DEFRA’s guidelines on ice cream chimes to a vendor who was ten minutes too early and at least ten decibels too loud. Having said that, I still hope to have beer poured over me while being barged around at a HMHB gig on my 75th bithday, or therabouts.
24 March 2019
John Anderson
Very much enjoyed Roger Green’s reviews as ever. Glad he got back for Pontefract Collieries v Frickley Athletic aka El Classicoal. The same day I was at Haringey Borough v Enfield Town which is known as the A10 derby or El Traffic-Cone.
25 March 2019
Twistedkitemike
Another excellent review from Roger and his team.
I can confirm that I was indeed sporting a classic Ipswich Town shirt, a re-working of the 1981 UEFA Cup Final shirt. Happy days, as we descend painfully to the third tier. Won’t be long before an away match on a wet January Wednesday evening at Pontefract Collieries. Especially if the latter are snapped up by the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, or something equally unlikely.
Mike…………….
26 March 2019
Bobby Svarc
04-05-2008 Relegation to the 3rd tier for the first time in our history. 04-05-2016 Champions of England etc for the first time in our history. Dreams do come true Mike.
27 March 2019
dr desperate
A toe that looks like Inter’s end on derby day. Hi-Vis, ripped where my Dukla Prague enamel badge was nearly torn off. Black satin tour jacket, ripped where the sleeve was forcibly detached. Sternum, bruised when that manic bloke grabbed me by the chest to dance. Triple-A, crushed, ditto. Pride, dented when I landed flat on my back.
Now that’s more like it! On to Cambridge!
28 March 2019
Bobby Svarc
Sounds terrible. I might get a gun for Bilston.
28 March 2019
EXXO
KoHV – did you hear your mention in a brief review of this gig on Gideon Coe at 11.15 last night, followed by what might just have been the first ever 6Music play of NSD?
29 March 2019
biscuitgas
2 greats gigs in row, but if i had a gun at my head i preferred the Exeter gig over cardiff, as i found the sound quality better, and i do like the small venue and having the friday off was a added bonus 🙂
29 March 2019
mister tubbs
@Dr.Desperate – It’s usually a lot more civilised on the right-hand side of the stage – Rarely any bother, other than the occasional stray lump flying in from the “bouncing up and down” section. That said, anyone sporting a satin black tour jacket with detachable sleeves is maybe pushing their luck a bit! Are they on general sale yet – just asking for an imaginary friend?
30 March 2019
GORDON BURNS
Bad luck Dr.D. you usually manage to surf the edge of the mob quite well. I didn’t see that skuffle, was trying not to be part of another loon’s celebrations over on Karl’s side of the stage. Not crowd surfing, but showsec did have to push him back over to the right side of the barrier a few times.
30 March 2019
words that begin with K-N-O
Been to lots of HMHB gigs, especially in the last 4 years … brought my 16 year old daughter to Tramshed for her first Biscuit experience – got tickets for 2 more this year for her. Not the best I’ve ever been to – kinda of spoiled for me by handbags in the mosh (King of Hi Vis taking no shit!) – protective Dad syndrome it appears, as she loved it —- tear in my eye post gig as we reeled off our favourite tunes (mine – AOR, hers – Joy division oven gloves (of course) So – pleased to say we are both looking forward to Devil’s Cavern and then, her introduction to Robin 2 – can’t wait!
Twistedkitemike
Cronkite reporting in. No comments yet? I suppose that rather than driving home, I could have stayed and sampled the nightlife of Cardiff, which is obviously what everyone else has done!
Why would you want to miss all the fun of motorway closures and a joyful detour around the Wiltshire countryside, eh? If I never see another cone……..
Nigel was a not a well boy. The gig had been in jeopardy throughout the morning, but suitably dosed-up and putting on a brave face, he manged to get through it, concentrating primarily on the lead vocals, but coming in with his guitar when needed.
The banter was a little curtailed, but he couldn’t really help himself. Despite the sore throat, there was plenty of discourse. Predictably, but in a nice way, we were treated to “Men of Harlech” as the walk-on tune. The Pelican joke made another appearance and once again, Nigel’s disdain for people who have their wheelie bins professionally cleaned was made clear. I didn’t get why Nigel is not keen on rocking chairs, but he isn’t. And, sandpaper.
Someone has got a copy of “Godcore” out of the cupboard and after last night’s nugget (Moshpits), we were treating another lesser-spotted Godcore classic. Goodness knows when it was last played?
Anyway, here is the order of play, with due care and attention this evening: –
Bob W
27 Yards
Shit Arm
Squabblefest
Bat Walk
Light Tunnel
Look Dad
Umberstone
Lark
Bane
DPAK
Terminus
Joyce
Left Lyrics
Friday Night And The Gates Are Low
Trad Arr Tune
JDOG
Every Time a Bell Rings
Vatican
AOR
Trumpton
………………………..
Colombia
What Do I Get?
NSD
A very proficient cover of The Buzzcocks classic, which went down very well.
“And that’s the way it is.”
Another fine evening. Roll on, Cambridge. I’d better have a rummage in the drawers (Missus) and find the old ITFC “Guentchev 9” shirt.
Mike……………………
23 March 2019
50+Fan
Well a disappointing night for me, Must be getting old. Tried to enjoy after a wait of 30? Years to see HMHB, wasn’t the band, they were on top form although the set list wasn’t to my taste except terminus. Venue too packed and didn’t really enjoy being covered in a pint and barged around. Left after Left Lyrics and in bed by 10.45, oh well, you live and learn.
23 March 2019
EXXO
Thanks Walt, much appreciated. Sheesh, the GHMHBSLC tells us that Friday Night was being exposed to stage lighting for the first time in eighteen years and one day. Perhaps the Lads are preparing for a 25th anniversary of Godcore tour next year?
I make it only 15 songs the same on both nights.
23 March 2019
hendrix-tattoo
Great Goat Major pie
Great Brains dark
Great people old and new
Great to see no Elephant in the room
Great Crooner Nigel
Great ‘Your my guitar hero’ Neil Oh! and Karl
Great Bass drumming Carl
Great setlist
Great Moshing
Great Night
And a Great What do I get, oh-oh, what do I get?
What do I get, oh-oh, what do I get?
23 March 2019
Ian A
50plus too. Two weeks ago i fell into a train and have a large haematoma on stomach. First time out since then and still fragile i was nervous when i saw how packed it was. However by embracing the margins managed not to be pushed. Hmhb on Great form and packed clubs must be a good problem to have. Next time principality stadium!
23 March 2019
2nd time around
Superb night, loved the set list. Wondered why Nige was guitar less for most of the night. Realise now, fair play to him for soldiering on, whole band sounded on top form. Only minor quibble was no Knobheads On Quiz Shows. Other than that, can’t fault them.
23 March 2019
Rod E
Enjoyable evening, well worth the journey from West Wales.
Last saw HMHB at the now closed point in Cardiff a decade ago. No encore of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and help me Rhondda this time but imho they did a great set. The venue seems good, not too hot even when busy and a good atmosphere. Enjoyed the support too. Good to hear some banter about Magnus Pyke though surprised Nigel didn’t know when he died. Poor Magnus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Pyke
Hoping to leave it less than a decade before seeing hmhb live again.
23 March 2019
carrie ANNE
More top-notch reporting from Mr Roger Green. Taken as ever from from Gez’s site here.
Tramshed, Cardiff, Fri 22nd Mar 2019
Roger Green:
This is the fourth time I’ve seen HMHB in Cardiff. This is the first time they have played twice at a venue in the city. Karl’s second gig with the band was in Cardiff when he was temping, with Ken having gone off sick. I’ve never known a temp to perm deal take so long. (Karl had also covered at Frome, the night before.) At that show Nigel went solo with a version of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. I remember him rummaging through his notes to check the spelling for me. Which brings us to his appearance on BBC Radio Cymru where he appeared with Neil. A different Neil. This particular Neil is Nigel’s Welsh language teacher. They were being interviewed on his learning the language, and music in general. By and large I didn’t understand a word, although I did pick up references to one or two Welsh bands, as well as a couple of namechecks of John Peel. The interview was punctuated by excerpts from The Trumpton Riots, Every Time A Bell Rings, National Shite Day and Descent Of The Stiperstones. Pirx The Purist goes straight to the top of the class for translating the interview and dropping an English version on the Lyrics Project site.
Capel Curig also got a mention on the radio a few days before this show. The town got half a month’s rain in the space of twenty-four hours. There was no mention of any bottlenecks, but I would have thought that would have been enough to cause tailbacks at the very least. There was also a Brexit-related Tweet to the album where that song belongs. Theresa May had talked about many people wanting the latest stage of the process to be over. And she added “I am on your side.” To which someone had replied “Not sure this re-write of Bridge Over Troubled Water really scans.” That, in turn, prompted a response from the former England cricketer Mike Selvey. “Trouble Over Bridgwater as Half Man Half Biscuit had it. And a lot of other places besides.”
Being the second leg of a double-header, we were in Exeter the night before this show. Karen, Tony and I got on the train at Exeter St David’s, changed at Bristol Temple Meads, and duly arrived at Cardiff Central. Nice mocha at Temple Meads while we were waiting, by the way. Tony gave me his copy of The Guardian, and we scoured a copy of Metro, but there was no mention of HMHB’s show. As per usual. There was a nice, pleasant article about Norwegian black metal in The Guardian though.
First Biscuiteer sighting was while Karen was out and about gathering supplies in the afternoon. She met Lee who had taken the long haul from Rotherham. We had a tough afternoon watching Countdown and getting ready for a relatively early start. Doors were opening at 7 o’clock. Plenty of time to prepare for The Flux Capacitors, who were opening the show an hour later.
Karen, Tony and I were at the head of the queue and were joined soon enough by Phill from Portsmouth, and Ian who was heading back to Belfast the day after the show. We all stood watching as a number of warning signs were stuck on the windows. I assume the venue has had a problem in the past. “No Crowd Surfing” we were warned. And more to the point, “Crowd Surfers Will Be Ejected Immediately.” We looked round at each other and I think we all agreed that our collective crowd-surfing days lie in the past. Tony suggested another notice. “If You Have The Energy To Crowd Surf, You Are Probably At The Wrong Gig”.
When inside the venue, I went to the merch stall. Michael from The Flux Capacitors was there. They had a monopoly in the market. As on the Thursday in Exeter, there was no Probe Plus presence. So I invested in a book of Hazel’s poetry. Spreadsheet Roger wondered about how much brass HMHB might have lost there. But that’s too much like being at work.
The Flux Capacitors had a couple of HMHB reference points in their set. Michael began their first song with the intro from The Trumpton Riots, as lifted from To Be A Pilgrim. And Hazel plonked the Black Sabbath-bam-a-lam lyric into one of her songs. They have also nailed their on-stage banter. “Hazel, why don’t you sing a song about suicide?” Looking forward to seeing them again some time. Who knows where. Who knows when. Their set list was the same as the night before.
Melt
Hair
Dr Dr
Swim
Fairy T
Satan
Carcass
The interval provided a chance to say Hello. John was there again. Postman Tony had missed Exeter but there was there tonight, dressed appropriately for the Buzzcocks cover version. Ian and Mariana, Huddersfield Graham, Howie and Daz had all made the journey from Exeter. It was a bit of a squash. If this wasn’t a sell-out then it must have come close. Ideal conditions for crowd-surfing really.
The walk-on music was Men Of Harlech. Nigel was again in a long-sleeved shirt, with the rest of the band in a range of t-shirts. Neil was in a Stranglers t-shirt. Karl’s was worded thus. “I’m the same age that my father was when I first thought he was OLD.” And Carl had a picture of Marty Feldman on his. And it was noted that he changed into a Flux Capacitors number between the main set and the encore. Michael was keen to get a photo of that.
The most obvious thing to note was that Nigel sang most of the songs without his guitar. In gigs gone by, this has happened a few times, but I don’t remember it ever being the policy for more than one or two songs. Was he trying to be Chuck D, perhaps, as he paraded round the stage? It gave him more scope to avoid the photographer who was trying to take a picture of him from the moat. There was certainly a touch of Mark E Smith when his foot caught a wire which brought down the microphone placed against Karl’s amp. And his style had me thinking. Mike in one hand, and elbow of the other arm resting on the stand? Didn’t Tom O’Connor used to do that? There was more than usual jumping off the drum riser.
One other feature of his guitarless performance was an increased use of international sign language, with him having his hands free. I noticed an interesting impersonation of “Bollocko” at the end of Renfield’s Afoot. Karen spotted that he mimed keeping wicket for the Quakers, and in We Built This Village, he mimed bowling when he came to the line about a cricketing farce. The lyrics in Twenty-Seven Yards Of Dental Floss were slightly mixed up. “Would you like to go the zoo? She said Been Yesterday.”
Nigel was winding the mike lead around his arm, and said “Look! I’m turning into a crooner.” Tony replied “Next stop the rocking chair,” to which Nigel responded interestingly “I’m not sure why this is, but I’m terrified of rocking chairs. Them and sandpaper.” Just as interestingly, he also said that he had had a tin of sardines while sitting in the van earlier.
Nigel had a carrier bag with him. He was asked “Is that the merch?” Nigel replied that the band crisps were in it, being helpful to explain that it was “band” crisps, rather than “banned” crisps. On a food theme a shout of “Super White Army” was met by Nigel with “Super white barm cakes. My favourite snack.”
Nigel talked to me about jet-washing his wheelie bin. He is clearly not impressed by the middle-class couple down the road, who pay to have it done. Later he returned to the subject when introducing Ode To Joyce. “This is about a woman who has never jet-washed a wheelie bin in her life.”
He also asked one and all about the massive T on the wall at the back of the hall. “Is that for ‘Tramshed’ or is it Tennent’s Lager?”
Tony asked Nigel “What about playing the guitar?” Nigel replied “Good point” before putting it on for Look Dad No Tunes. There was a request for Westminster Bridge. Nigel said he wanted to record the noise a bin lorry makes when it is reversing, and use this is in a song. He did this in Upon Westminster Bridge.
An old joke was given an airing. Karl went to a Malaysian restaurant and had Pelican. It was lovely but the bill was massive. There was a conversation between Nigel and Tony, continuing on a theme which had started in Exeter the night before, regarding Quatermass. This moved on to WH Auden’s involvement in the film Night Mail. We also established that Magnus Pyke had died on a busy news day in 1992.
The line in Joy Division Oven Gloves about checking out the Quantocks had Nigel pointing in all directions of the compass. There was a shout for “John MacNamara”. Yes, I wouldn’t mind hearing The Announcement some time. I also made a note that I could have done without the rotating lights at the back of the back of the stage. But that’s probably just me.
We had maybe expected a little more Welsh from Nigel. This was limited to a couple of lines from Mochyn Du before they played Vatican Broadside.
In reply to a shout of “Gerry Gow”, Nigel replied with an excerpt from an adapted Twelve Days Of Christmas, from his card-collecting days. “Three Gerry Gows, Two Alan Birchenalls, and a Stiff Little Fingers LP.” He noted that Suspect Device by Stiff Little Fingers is probably the best ever opening song on an album (Inflammable Material). And by the way, when checking the spelling of Birchenall, we spotted that Alan was awarded an MBE for his charity work, and that he was given the Freedom Of Leicester in 2009 alongside Engelbert Humperdinck and Sue Townsend. There should also be an award for his kiss with Tony Currie. That will be made into a statue one day.
Apparently Nigel wasn’t feeling too great, which perhaps explains the length of the show. 85 minutes from start to end. Normally they hang around for longer than that.
Here’s how the evening went. Thanks to Neil for handing over his list. If I’d known in advance that Nigel’s guitar playing was going to be so intermittent, I would have marked the songs where he was strapped in. Shoddy. Happy to be told otherwise, but I think the only ones where the guitar was played were Look Dad No Tunes, Lark Descending, Every Time A Bell Rings, Everything’s AOR and Vatican Broadside.
Bob Wilson Anchor Man
Twenty-Seven Yards Of Dental Floss
Shit Arm Bad Tattoo
Running Order Squabble Fest
Renfield’s Afoot
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Look Dad No Tunes
Harsh Times In Umberstone Covert
Lark Descending
The Bane Of Constance
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Terminus
Ode To Joyce
Left Lyrics In Practice Room
Friday Night And The Gates Are Low
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Every Time A Bell Rings
Vatican Broadside
Everything’s AOR
The Trumpton Riots
And in the encore
What Made Colombia Famous
What Do I Get?
National Shite Day
Neil’s set list took some auditing. There were a lot of crossings-out and additions to the original version. Going through it in order, “Geraldine” was originally scheduled to be second, and was replaced by Twenty-Seven Yards. Pancake Day was written between Renfield and The Light At The End Of The Tunnel, but was crossed out. Three songs were down to appear between Look Dad and Bane Of Constance (Twenty-Seven Yards, Moshpits and Man of CS) but they were crossed out and Geraldine and Lark were written instead. Sunshine was crossed out, having originally been written in between Terminus and Joyce. Bad Wools, showing immediately after Joyce, was also crossed out. Lark D was also crossed out, having been written between We Built This Village and Joy Division Oven Gloves. And Trumpton Riots, as at Exeter, had not appeared at all on the original sheet.
Thanks to Ian for making sure we were all supplied with water throughout these two nights. Much appreciated. Afterwards there was a brief Hello with Lee. Nigel had spotted his Standard Liege scarf during the show. I also saw Mike in what may have been an Ipswich shirt. Representing the Under 21s?
Saturday morning and we were on the train heading northwards. Back home in time for El Classicoal, Pontefract Collieries v Frickley Athletic. And counting down the sleeps to the Cambridge gig.
24 March 2019
brumbiscuit
I can add little to the above, except to say thanks to Nigel for braving his ailment and giving his best.
Oh, and although I found the Welsh tat shop, I disappointingly couldn’t see the obscene bottle holder. Mind you, I’d had a few by then and we were on the way to try to find The Borough – and failed.
24 March 2019
Alice van der meer
Horror of horrors, someone might have actually bought the thing. I can’t imagine you’d want to serve the in-laws wine from it.
24 March 2019
EXXO
Thanks Doc & Roger & Karen – now we feel like we were all there – indeed we know more about matters arising than most who were there – and all is right with the world.
Whereas I had been a little disconcerted by early posts in this thread, when more than one punter had somehow felt the need to come on here and declare that they were of typical HMHB audience age. Had the gig been accidentally booked in a youth club, I wondered? No, it sounds average enough.
I’m getting old too. This morning I went out and read DEFRA’s guidelines on ice cream chimes to a vendor who was ten minutes too early and at least ten decibels too loud. Having said that, I still hope to have beer poured over me while being barged around at a HMHB gig on my 75th bithday, or therabouts.
24 March 2019
John Anderson
Very much enjoyed Roger Green’s reviews as ever. Glad he got back for Pontefract Collieries v Frickley Athletic aka El Classicoal. The same day I was at Haringey Borough v Enfield Town which is known as the A10 derby or El Traffic-Cone.
25 March 2019
Twistedkitemike
Another excellent review from Roger and his team.
I can confirm that I was indeed sporting a classic Ipswich Town shirt, a re-working of the 1981 UEFA Cup Final shirt. Happy days, as we descend painfully to the third tier. Won’t be long before an away match on a wet January Wednesday evening at Pontefract Collieries. Especially if the latter are snapped up by the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, or something equally unlikely.
Mike…………….
26 March 2019
Bobby Svarc
04-05-2008 Relegation to the 3rd tier for the first time in our history.
04-05-2016 Champions of England etc for the first time in our history.
Dreams do come true Mike.
27 March 2019
dr desperate
A toe that looks like Inter’s end on derby day.
Hi-Vis, ripped where my Dukla Prague enamel badge was nearly torn off.
Black satin tour jacket, ripped where the sleeve was forcibly detached.
Sternum, bruised when that manic bloke grabbed me by the chest to dance.
Triple-A, crushed, ditto.
Pride, dented when I landed flat on my back.
Now that’s more like it!
On to Cambridge!
28 March 2019
Bobby Svarc
Sounds terrible. I might get a gun for Bilston.
28 March 2019
EXXO
KoHV – did you hear your mention in a brief review of this gig on Gideon Coe at 11.15 last night, followed by what might just have been the first ever 6Music play of NSD?
29 March 2019
biscuitgas
2 greats gigs in row, but if i had a gun at my head i preferred the Exeter gig over cardiff, as i found the sound quality better, and i do like the small venue and having the friday off was a added bonus 🙂
29 March 2019
mister tubbs
@Dr.Desperate – It’s usually a lot more civilised on the right-hand side of the stage – Rarely any bother, other than the occasional stray lump flying in from the “bouncing up and down” section. That said, anyone sporting a satin black tour jacket with detachable sleeves is maybe pushing their luck a bit! Are they on general sale yet – just asking for an imaginary friend?
30 March 2019
GORDON BURNS
Bad luck Dr.D. you usually manage to surf the edge of the mob quite well. I didn’t see that skuffle, was trying not to be part of another loon’s celebrations over on Karl’s side of the stage. Not crowd surfing, but showsec did have to push him back over to the right side of the barrier a few times.
30 March 2019
words that begin with K-N-O
Been to lots of HMHB gigs, especially in the last 4 years … brought my 16 year old daughter to Tramshed for her first Biscuit experience – got tickets for 2 more this year for her.
Not the best I’ve ever been to – kinda of spoiled for me by handbags in the mosh (King of Hi Vis taking no shit!) – protective Dad syndrome it appears, as she loved it —- tear in my eye post gig as we reeled off our favourite tunes (mine – AOR, hers – Joy division oven gloves (of course)
So – pleased to say we are both looking forward to Devil’s Cavern and then, her introduction to Robin 2 – can’t wait!
8 May 2019