First time in Leeds for over four years, which is about par for the course over the last decade or more. Time for a rare outing of With Goth On Our Side? Have they ever played that live? Here’s what happened, in the words of the folks who were there.
ERic t’viking
C’mon then, I couldn’t get to Leeds, so I’d like hear all about it…
16 December 2016
Idiots and pigeons
Lovely to meet Hendrix Tattoo (top bloke). Fantastic to hear Sealclubbing (one of my favourites). I feel I must state thst i am aware that it is inevitable, whilst situated front and centre, to avoid the jostling and a fair few drunken men occasionally treading on your heels. It’s been slowly progressing, from a beer tipped down the shorts pre-gig, a punch to the back of the head at Cambridge, Drumstickgate, a punch to the side of the head at Lincoln(venience). Tonight though really took the (half man half) biscuit.. A man saw fit to pin my partner against the stage grab her derriere and then rub her shoulders, this deviant behaviour is not appropriate and in any other environment would result in a court appearance and a few years on a register. Of course I react, and of course this reaction is what is observed by other attendees. Of course it will be labelled inappropriate but it’s just and fair. The sort of man who thinks he can assault a woman like that in a room full of people, and get away with it. Deserves a knock on the bonce and a lenghty swing from the gallows. Sorry to go on about it, fantastic performance, bright lights, bubblewrap, and friendly faces, Nigel bouncing back the love with “right back at ya Jordan.” My Mighty Tritey being held hostage by NB was a bit worrying. But it is all overshadowed by a horrible (expletive deleted). We’re sat here now wondering if it’s worth coming again, because we’re just being associated with the agro. When in reality it’s a successive streak of bad luck coupled with an unwillingness to be assaulted and not reciprocate the aggression. Love you lots everybody.
17 December 2016
twistedkitemike
I’m sure there will be more detail to follow. Might even be from me!
Superb opening line from Nigel, which may be the best “Thought for the Day” that I have heard for some time; “Eddie Howe has never yawned.” Now that he mentions it, I can see it………
The walk-on introduction music was Ennio Morricone andJoan Baez; “La Ballata Di Sacco E Vanzetti II Parte.” Let me start, however, with the set-list: –
Bad Losers
Fred T
Bad Review
Hornbeam
Lilac HQ
Lark D
Sealclubbing
Old Age
Evening Sun
*Foot Up In Europe* chorus
Look Dad
24 Hour GP
Bad Wools
Chatteris
Bane
Shit Arm
1966
JDOG
DPAK
Bob W
*Throwing Rice* Verse & Chorus
Vatican
NSD
Trad Arr Tune
Time Flies By
Trumpton
………………………
Baguette Dilemma
Light Tunnel
AOR
I would not really on my memory, as I am at an age when I inhabit the corridor of dementia, but I think that must be a debut for Baguette? I pass it over to my learned friends.
Very feisty mosh-pit. Some argy-bargy and a little bit of over-excitement.
Lovely to see/hear 24 Hour back on the set. An elongated tale drawing back to some previous renditions, but always a gem. I am always seeing “Lost Olivers” around in the course of everyday life, so here he was again.
Mike………………………..
17 December 2016
GIpton teenager
3 am. Just got back from the Leeds gig (and I live in Leeds!). First time I’ve seen the band in about 30 years. Great time in the moshpit (bit tame though, not like Gang of Four or New Model Army), no blood or bruises, although I did see one person stick his thumb into another bloke’s eye. Not nice. Security and general staff particularly joyless. However has all the fun been sucked out of young people these days?
17 December 2016
Bobby svarc
More crowd trouble then? Thank god the Baby Squad will be out in force at Coventry.
17 December 2016
Loop
We were there briefly for Jimmy’s debut after the sound check but then had to make a retreat. If you ever need help breaking into gigs then I’m ya girl lol
17 December 2016
Evan
@IDIOTS AND PIGEONS That is a horrible thing to have happened to your partner, but you may be surprised to know a reasonably common occurrence. I have just recently become aware, and (sort of) involved with an organisation called Safe Gigs For Women (website: http://www.sgfw.org.uk/ ) who are trying to raise awareness of this issue. They are worth checking out and deserve everyone’s support. That kind of bullshit should not happen at gigs.
In other news, gutted I wasn’t able to attend this show. Looks like a cracking setlist.
17 December 2016
Dr.Prolapse
Sad to hear about the incident, RE:Idiots and Pigeons,hope you and yours are OK.I was one of those in the mosh pit, neither drunk or to over exited and had a typically great and ‘fun’ time but I did niotice a couple of guys looking a bit to serious for a Biscuit gig, bloody hell its not Sham 69 or Skrewdriver they are there to see!!!
Anyway ,overall superb as ever.I always leave a HMHB gig feeling I can face the world again, as well as been jaw droopingly funny Nigels lyrics must have a therapeutic quality ,c’mon lets laugh at this crazy world.As long as they are about I’ll be there.
17 December 2016
Little miss poundbury
@EVAN – Thank you for the info about safe gigging, that’s really interesting and I will be contacting them for sure. As someone who was on the receiving end of some pretty nasty stuff last night that will be very useful to me – cheers for that!
@GIPTON TEENAGER – “has all the fun been sucked out of young people these days?”
Well that all depends what constitutes “fun” doesn’t it?
Can’t say I’d particularly find it that much fun to start trying to grab and grope people, put folk in headlocks, cause injury to people and generally spoil the enjoyment of what are a wonderful band.
It wasn’t much fun getting my wrist bent back so far that it’s now swollen and badly bruised either. And what caused that? Around 50-60 stones worth of man power pushing me against the stage. What you seem to forget is that the people directly at the front don’t have anywhere to be pushed – we don’t have floor space and soft bodies to fall into.
What went on last night went beyond “moshing”.
Some morons use that term as a cover – to some it is merely an excuse to get no less that violent and downright inappropriate.
I’m actually going to write to Geoff and the band too because I’m really concerned about this shit upsetting the band and I want them to know that it’s not all of us who find this acceptable.
I’ve already talked to one of the band members about it before and they literally just have to try and shut it out while they’re playing but they shouldn’t have to see that shit!
Last night the band did not seem relaxed at all and I’m not surprised, it was really upsetting :'( Nigel got soaked with beer and that’s just disrespectful. Shame on the culprits!
I am not naive – I fully expect a bit of jostling, pushing, jumping and over excitement at the front and I’m happy to move with the crowd – I can even accept getting a bit soaked by drink but what I do not expect or accept is being groped on the arse and shoulders by some dirty old man, getting put in a headlock out of nowhere and getting shoved with such force towards the stage that it’s causing me nasty injuries – this was not accidental either. We are talking about fully grown men pushing people and throwing themselves at people!
Funny how the first half was really enjoyable with none of the bullshit – suggesting that it’s the folk that just can’t handle their alcohol who are the perpetrators.
Well I propose that in future we all pay an extra couple of quid on our ticket price and get the band to hire a big cage to sling all the dickheads in and there they can push, grab, shove, grope and grapple to their feeble hearts content – they seem to find that shit fun so I’m sure they’ll all be fine and they’ll all get a taste of what it’s like to be shoved against metal (like those directly at the front of a gig) instead of soft movable bodies – absolute morons!
Setting all of that aside I thought the band were great as ever and they played a few gems. It was good to gear Seal Clubbing and they played a few of my other favourites too 🙂
The sound in the venue wasn’t great though and the band did seem really uneasy towards the end what with all the aggro.
What’s sad is I already know of a couple of people who have been put off attending future gigs because of this behaviour and that’s absolutely heartbreaking!
It’s never gonna stop me attending but I have to say the idiots in the crowd completely ruined last night for me and it’s the first time I can actually say that.
I hate to be so negative about it all but last night people in the crowd took the piss.
The security didn’t do their jobs properly at all.
I’ve seen trouble before and experienced the odd bit of aggro but last night was next level.
Stick them all in a cage next time for certain – perfect solution all round 🙂
Let’s hope Coventry doesn’t go the same way eh?
17 December 2016
Kendo nagasaki
Watching the pit from just behind it was clear that there was some fairly overexuberant behaviour. People need to just lay off the drink and enjoy the band.
@little miss poundbury @idiots and pigeons Really sorry to hear about the really unsavoury and frankly perverted behaviour of some. Something really needs to be done about these people.
It also seems that the bouncers were massively heavy handed which served to further exacerbate the situation.
Now to the band.
Loved the gig, great setlist, fantastic energy, brilliant performance of 24hgp, great to hear the outro from I went to a wedding too.
See you all next time
17 December 2016
Phyllis Triggs
Terrific gig – I’ve been exhausted today!
Was great to meet so many Lyrics Project regulars last night and really enjoyed those excellent post gig beers with Hendrix Tattoo, Exxo, Gipton Teenager and Thorsten. Cheers guys! Thorsten, hope you managed to fix your glasses!
18 December 2016
Bobby svarc
All seating, it’s the future.
18 December 2016
Bad Wool
This was my 1st HMHB gig and while the band was amazing, I have to say I’m surprised we had moshing. Especially seeing as most of the chaps doing it seemed to be at an age where they should have grown out of that sort of thing. I wouldn’t have thought that Nigel and the boys would be too impressed by it either. Who is? Of course, what happened down at the front went beyond moshing into actual criminal behaviour.
@ Pounbury and Pigeons: do you know if security managed to get hold of / eject the miscreant? I’ve been to a few gigs at the uni before and the security there are numpties even by security guard standards. They seemed to get lost in the moshpit while trying to react to the situation.
18 December 2016
Chris The Siteowner
As we’ve now seen trouble at a few recent gigs, I’m wondering if it’s being caused by the same fan(s) of the band following them around, or if it’s just locals and something which has started happening everywhere?
18 December 2016
hendrix-tattoo
Excellent gig and a big hello to the wonderful people I met on friday night in the Egg in the bag serving Fenton which include @Injured Buzzard, Ron Wood from Wizzard and his mate (whose name I forget sorry), @Dr. Desperate and Thorsten, @Mr. Ed and the brilliant @Exxo, @Jitsu-G and Sarah, Andy and the lovely @Phyllis Triggs and my fellow namesake @Gipton Teenager. Also a big hello to Roger, Tony and Karen.
Highlight of the night for me was chatting to Neil after the show, thanking him for playing Sealclubbing and him telling me they stopped playing it after a show in Wrexham a few years ago due to rioting.
Nice to see Geoff again on the stall.
God bless Ken Hancock!
18 December 2016
twistedkitemike
This is a non-judgemental response, but the mosh-area (it is not really a “pit” anymore) has evolved over the last couple of years into a glorified British Bulldog zone.
I go to most gigs, as do a lot of other people. One lovely thing about HMHB gigs is seeing many familiar faces and the gigs have their own dynamic. There are people there to sing, shout, review, mosh or do whatever they do.
The hard-core of HMHB moshers are good natured and want to have a good time. Every gig has a mosh-area and if the front row is the goal-line, the six-yard box is that area. But, unlike other gigs, which are packed at the front and it tends to be a “wave” of frenzy, the six-yard box at a Biscuit gig is left clear.
This means that irregulars or occasionals will take the opportunity of getting near the stage and thinking that they will get a decent view. Alas, once the action starts, they soon realise it was too good to be true.
It is my opinion that the regulars, who turn up and want to mosh, are doing it with the best intentions and it is their way of enjoying the gig. I don’t, but a fragile back has put paid to such youthful (although youthful does not adequately describe a Biscuit pit) exuberance, so I watch from the margins.
There are a couple of more excitable people, but there are a lot of people who either turn up for the mosh-craic, don’t go often and don’t understand the dynamic and a couple who frankly, are just being aggressively mischievous. The factor that pushes the envelope, as the marketing boys say, is beer.
We have now reached a point at which there is a conflict between those at the front and those in the pit, because it has got beyond playful. There have been a couple of incidents where people have moved into the six-yard box unaware of the customary horseplay and have taken offence (aggressively) when they get bumped.
It is not anyone’s fault, it is the way that the situation has developed and as with everything in life, you reach a point of crisis at which boundaries have to be redefined.
The band are not aware of what is going on during the gig. They can’t see because of the lights and are concentrating on delivering tunes. It is not the band’s place to deliver guidelines about audience behaviour, people have to understand that in a civilised society, people should be able to regulate it for themselves. Sorry, that was a stupid thing to say with the benefit of immediate hindsight.
It is getting silly and it is only a matter of time before there is a serious punch-up. Unfortunately, it will be an innocent party that gets caught up in it.
I have a lot of sympathy for the two main groups caught up in this (regular, hardcore moshers and those who want to stand at the front), because they could co-exist quite happily if it were not for the random element that, in my view, is starting to create the “issue”.
Mike…………………
18 December 2016
hendrix-tattoo
@Twistedkitemike, I totally agree…You have hit the nail right on the head.
18 December 2016
Little miss poundbury
@BAD WOOL – One of the culprits got ejected and the other one got moved away.
It is pretty sad and I will never understand why people want to ruin it for others.
The security were pretty lame and I had one guy trying to justify it by saying well don’t stand at the front if you don’t want to get pushed. It’s really not about that though and I did let him know that is all good and well but I’m not talking about getting pushed and jostled, I’m talking about getting fully crushed, kicked and groped and having some man put me in a headlock from out of nowhere – that goes beyond “moshing” in my book.
I really hate to be so negative about it but it did dominate the second half of the gig for me.
I agree that the band can’t be too impressed by it all. As I’ve said, I have spoken to one band member previously and they do just try and shut off from it when they can but how can you shut off from getting soaked with beer?
It just worries me greatly that they might just get fed up with it all.
@TWISTEDKITEMIKE – I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said there to be fair. You’ve got the people who want to stand there at the front and just enjoy the band, this includes a few people who turn up for literally every gig, and then you have the other regular crew who want to “mosh” which is all fine and at most of the gigs I’ve been to the two groups coexist really peacefully. Everyone is going to get the odd push or shove – it’s the nature of the beast.
It’s always a very small handful of people who take it one step too far and it’s always toward the second half of the gig when they have had more beer than they handle.
I’ve only seen trouble at 2 or 3 of the gigs I’ve attended.
At the end of the day that behaviour is beyond acceptable, as I’ve said – I get the dynamics of the “mosh pit” and understand that by taking a place at the front we are going to get bumped and jostled. It’s not what I would personally choose to do but I get that some people seem to enjoy this and it’s pretty harmless and I just happily move with crowd.
Next time however I shall be standing slightly to the side of where the shenanigans occur because I don’t want to risk having another gig spoiled by a couple of bone heads who can’t handle their beer.
I just don’t want it to put the band off because they do notice what goes on – they just shut off from it because they have to.
I still reckon there should be a special cage for the moshers – that way the two groups wouldn’t clash with each other! 😉
@CHRISTHESITEOWNER – I’ve had chats with other fans about it on the the various Facebook groups too and everyone seems to agree that it is always just a few seemingly random people who take it too far. I’m just hoping that Coventry and all the other upcoming gigs are relatively event free and I look forward to actually posting a review that doesn’t consist mainly of negative comments about dodgy crowd members! 🙂
18 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
Unbelievable Jeff.
18 December 2016
EXXO
I was the only person temporarily ejected and security accepted they’d made a mistake – I think after reviewing CCTV at my suggestion, though I’m not totally sure about that.
Great post Mike.
18 December 2016
GIpton teenager
@Twistedkitemike. A fair and balanced assessment. I was caught in a headlock a couple of times (which was a new one on me both literally AND figuratively) What’s that all about?
18 December 2016
EXXO
I didn’t see any headlocks but if it was the Accy Stanley lad in the Santa hat he meant well – he was so luvved up and started the mosh off hugging me and fondling me and telling me ‘you’re my best mate you are’ type stories from past gigs before I’d even clocked who he was. Like people say it’s drink & high spirits and you may or may not be used to this.
18 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
We need a new sponsor for Coventry.
18 December 2016
EXXO
It’s a bright idea from Svarco
To keep the moshpits afloat.
Compulsory MDMA I say.
18 December 2016
CARRIE ANNE
This was a great gig, despite the sound problems where we were standing. It was fantastic to get to chat to so many lovely fans, from this site and further afield. Poor Thorsten not only had to stand next to me and my terrible singing for most of the gig, he got a proper buffeting from the mosh, but seemed to enjoy himself. Even the ale shower provided by @Hendrix-Tattoo (really good to catch up with you again, hope you made your train!) was taken in good humour.
As a serial barrier hugger, I don’t think this one was generally worse than other Biscuit gigs in the last couple of years for ‘overexuberance’.
An excellent rendition of 24 Hour Garage People was my highlight. So happy there is only three weeks to wait until Cov.
18 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
Wine and dine Nigel Shaw
Ask him if he’d be interested in
A deal with Harry Shaw
Whereby everyone gets to the gig
All safe and sound
18 December 2016
EXXO
Anyone else clock the living legend that is Jegsy Dodd in the audience at Friday’s gig? At one point I was trying to explain his cultural significance to the door staff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b5KiyjKFqA
Happy Xmas.
18 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
That’s who did it then, The Beer Bellied Bully Boys From Birkenhead
18 December 2016
dr desperate
While we’re waiting for Roger to provide the journal of record, a few comments on the actual gig: terrible venue, lousy acoustics, bloody brilliant setlist.
‘Baguette Dilemma’ was indeed making its début, @TKM (“Seeing as it’s Christmas” – Nigel), and ‘Sealclubbing’ appearing for the first time since 2012, much to the delight of Hendrix-Tattoo (Postman Tony, Postman Tony, Postman Tony and his black and white…pony). My silent protest in favour of ‘Bubblewrap’ went unheard.
The only omission from the hand-written setlist was ‘Fix It’, for which I’m not altogether sorry. ‘Bad Losers’ may have been included for its mention of Sports Personality Of The Year (q v).
’24HGP’ made a welcome return, with a queue including Lost Oliver, members of the ‘We’re Exactly Where We Want To Be’ Society and a sponsored conga line.
No ‘Clichéd To Be Cynical’, though Nigel wished us a Happy Christmas at the end (having previously spoilt it slightly by telling us he always roots for Henry F. Potter when watching ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’).
No real cover to speak of, thus blowing the Ken Hat, No Cover theory out of the water. We did get an odd verse of Eddy Arnold’s 1949 country hit ‘I’m Throwing Rice (At The Girl That I Love)”, last heard on a Kershaw session in 2004, and the riff from Purple’s ‘Black Night’ from Ken before the encores.
Carl was wearing a ‘3743 BTMS’ t-shirt – anyone? All I can find is a reference to a USAF base near San Antonio (Texas). Idiots & Pigeons took off one of his Triton Three-Eye loafers and offered it up to Nigel, who allowed that they were extremely comfortable.
In guitar news, all three songs in the encore were performed on the Airstream, despite Nigel introducing it with “Never works”. The usual axeswap for ‘Bane’ drew the comment that Neil was the first man in Birkenhead to tune up something something. Damn you, lousy acoustics.
Tony’s Interesting Fact For The Night was that it was Beethoven’s 246th birthday, though this is a matter of slight conjecture, as we can only be certain that he was baptised on 17th Dec 1770. “Doing well, isn’t he? Must be the herbal tea”, joshed Nigel.
Since it’s the elephant in the woodpile, one ought to mention crowd trouble. I entirely agree that we should be zero-tolerant of abuse of women at gigs (contact/donate to SGFW here http://www.sgfw.org.uk/home.html), and that actions which would attract a twelve-week ban if perpetrated on a rugby field are unacceptable. I’m also not keen on being soaked in beer, though I recall being chucked out of the Electric Circus in 1977 for pogoing with an open can of Coke (Eater were playing, so it wasn’t all bad news).
I think @TKM’s concept of a 6-yard box is sound, and as the ‘wave of frenzy’ tends to take place in the second half of the gig, that would seem to be a sensible time to move out into the 18-yard box, so as to avoid wave rage. (My metaphors were drawn from football and surfing.)
As to headlocks, just a thought: did they occur at appropriate moments in RARIFOBW?
A Merry Christmas to all our readers.
On to Coventry!
19 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
Can I buy inflatable helmets anywhere round here?
http://www.moshpitprotection.com
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514Tk8yXehL.jpg
19 December 2016
Phyllis Triggs
Well, this has turned out to be a strange one. Friday’s Leeds gig was the best I’ve been to so far. As this was largely due to the crowd being so up for it, it is somewhat ironic that crowd exuberance was also the reason why the night turned sour for some. What was a terrific gig is now in danger of being overlooked as the focus has shifted onto whatever unpleasantness went on in one section the crowd. It saddens me to think that not everyone had such a good time as I did.
Groping is unacceptable and the bastards musn’t be allowed to get away with it. Sadly women are at risk from this type of behaviour in any crowded environment not just at gigs.
Pushing and shoving is unavoidable at any gig worth going to – certainly if you’re going to brave the area right in front of the stage. Personally, I would love to be in the thick of the action but as I also have a strong instinct for self-preservation I usually find a spot on the edge of the mosh-pit – close enough to draw on its energy but distancing myself enough in order to keep a weather-eye on whats happening around me.
I’ve been to a lot of gigs over last few years and have learnt the importance of choosing the right place to stand. This is different for every gig – it varies depending on the type of music and the nature of the audience. Slaves: well out the way, up on the Balcony, away from the trainer-lobbing teens; The Cult: again, up on the Balcony – had a great view of overweight drunken middle-aged men attempting to crowd-surf – hilarious, but probably not so much fun if you’re caught up in it; Sleaford Mods: on the edge of the mosh-pit – angry, ranty music provokes pretty violent moshing. At one point Jason Williamson peered into the crowd, “There’s not any real trouble out there is there? No-one wants any real trouble -”
Unfortunately some people are out to cause ‘real trouble’ – I like to think that there’s fewer of them at HMHB gigs than there are at other gigs but there are arseholes at every christening party;) If Security are on the ball they should get these people out the door. If they’re not – don’t let it spoil your gig. I know it’s difficult not to retaliate but that just serves to escalate things which is exactly what these arseholes want. Better to move away from them – its not admitting defeat, its merely pragmatic. Life’s too short to get caught up in pointless argy-bargy when you should be having a top night out.
So far, for me, HMHB gigs have been an absolute joy. As @Dr Prolapse posted on here earlier – going to one of their gigs is like taking a tonic. After I saw them for the first time (Holmfirth 2014) I wrote ‘the whole experience went quite some way towards bolstering my faith in humanity. Loved watching the moshers crashing into each other just for the hell of it and everyone just delighting in general silliness. Great atmosphere, great banter, great music. This band should be available on the NHS – they just make you want to laugh and jump up and down!’ This is the type of gig I want to go to. This is the memory I want to bring away with me.
I love going to all kinds of gigs but the best ones, it has to be said, are always the ones with the most energetic crowd. I certainly wouldn’t want the mosh-pit to fall victim to gentrification. In these days where everything’s sanitised, made safe, washed and ready for use, the anarchic scrummage of the moshpit is gloriously refreshing. But everyone’s different and everyone responds to a gig in their own unique way.
In my experience, the magic happens when the crowd lets the music take control – this might involve moshing or pogoing or just standing there swaying with tears running down our cheeks. Surely there’s room for it all?
It would be unacceptable for me to let my gig experience be sullied by twats throwing their weight about – but it would be even worse if that gig experience were to be neutered solely in an attempt to stamp out such twattery.
This isn’t the band’s Altamont, lets not turn it into our Battle of the Beanfield.
19 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
Excellent gig reports, like I was almost there. You’ve all done very well.
19 December 2016
GIpton teenager
With reference to the post by PT above. Yeah, what she says.
19 December 2016
Compton Mofo
Well said Phyllis, couldn’t agree more. I was part of the Accrington contingent, the guy in the Santa hat (not me) was there with his lad whose 21st birthday it was, so definitely a celebration and nothing more sinister intended.
19 December 2016
hendrix-tattoo
After the very excellent posts from the lovely Phyllis and the good Doctor can we now draw a line under the negativity from Fridays Gig and remember what’s most important and that is HMHB “the best F****** band in the world” and look forward to Rogers review.
more Jegsy Dodd featuring a young Ken[2:20] and[6:55]
https://youtu.be/UKfxTzLfBwk
Happy Xmas to you all.
19 December 2016
Peter gandy
@Dr Desperate: First man in Birkenhead to chew biltong.
19 December 2016
BOBBY SVARC
“Gas them kids”……..Yeah righto Jegs.
19 December 2016
dr desperate
Thanks, @ Pete.
19 December 2016
GIpton teenager
@H-Tat. ‘the world’ is not enough
20 December 2016
CARRIE ANNE
Better late than never, Roger’s review off of Gez’s website –
Leeds University, Fri 16th December 2016 (17/12/16)
Roger Green:
Just a few scribbles of stuff that I noted since the last gig. It’s 30+ years since my interest in The Fall peaked and started to dwindle. However, I still drop in to see them every now and again. Karen and I caught them in York the day after the HMHB show in Newcastle. I am pleased to report that they remain as inaccessible as ever. I was a completist until about 1987, so only know bits of their output since then. As such, I couldn’t tell a word that was coming from MES’s microphone, didn’t know any of the songs, could not remember how any of them went, but nevertheless it was all grand stuff, mainly because of Smith’s stage wandering. Dabbling with the keyboards here, turning the guitar down there, and bashing away at the cymbals. Marvellous all round. They/(he) remain(s) in the See Again file.
Another performer of a certain pedigree is John Otway. We saw him in Howden (as close as anywhere gets to a twin with Trumpton. They even have their own fire station.). He is keen to point out that he has had two hit singles and jolly well plays them both. We also have him in the See Again file. And the venue (Shire Hall) may also be in the Visit Again file. The kind of place that would suit the smaller-scale HMHB show. We’ll see.
You see some sights around and about. I gave a knowing smile to myself, when one of the IT guys at work turned up in a Slipknot t-shirt. I put out a message to hastily assemble a choir to sing him a little song. Not enough notice, no one could get there in time, and I’m afraid the moment was lost. Did anyone else catch the appearance of Brian Eno on BBC News Channel’s Hard Talk? He was asked about producing David Bowie’s music. “I didn’t actually produce his music, but I did collaborate with him,” was the reply. I chuckled. Just me? I thought so.
Someone else to see again is Fuzzbox. I’ve only seen them live once before, on the Vindaloo tour in the late eighties with The Nightingales and Ted Chippington, prior to their assault on the charts. Two of the original four are giving it another go. We caught them in Sheffield, at the bottom of a three-band bill. They have a new single out, and we will keep an eye on developments. Less likely to do so with the other two bands who were playing: Bentley Rhythm Ace (I’m afraid we were simply not mad for it) and The Wonder Stuff (typed out set lists).
I only live about twenty miles from Leeds, but feel more and more like a tourist whenever I go there. Passing on the offer of £98 for a pair of shades, I took a ride on the Leeds Eye. That gave a splendid view of the rooftops of the city centre, and provides the closest view I will ever have of the town hall clock. Karen was well impressed by the tiled walls of the library, and I was glad to see Jumbo Records still doing brisk trade (although not from us). However, they need to check their spelling on their gigs board. “Half Man Half Buiscuit”? We were also spectators at a game of giant chess outside the library. Ironic, considering HMHB’s opening song later on.
Plenty of afternoon drinking casualties in evidence as we made our way to the University. I don’t think everyone was going to make it to the clubbing stage. My first ever gig at the University was in February 1984 (The Smiths/The Red Guitars – thanks to Mark from Pontefract for confirmation), but the many different routes into the place mean that I never fail to get lost whenever I go. True to form, Tony, Karen and I went backwards and forwards a couple of times before finding the Students Union entrance. Happy memories as we passed the Riley Smith Hall (HMHB played there once just after they re-formed).
We joined the appropriate queue (there was one for e-tickets and one for “proper” tickets) and met Jordan and Sally, Andrew, Nigel and Jo. When the doors opened we sped to our usual places. I grabbed a few words with Geoff and Zinny on the stall (“please can Sonnenberg play Sweet Life next time they play?”) and copped a Stony Ground t-shirt for Karen. A few other folk turned up. Ed and Jay were around. John was handing out bubblewrap for us all to hold up, being a suggestion to the band for the encore. I think the suggestion, er, fell on stony ground on this occasion, but it’s an idea to work on. Maybe another time, we can follow the same principle and try smuggling Ivan Mauger in. I was also able to compare notes with John on forthcoming John Shuttleworth and Danny Baker shows (so it’s not just me that likes both of them.). Thanks also to Nigel/Exford for filling in a fair few of the gaps in my knowledge of Dukla Prague football club. These army teams, eh.
You’re not allowed to be served a bottle of water with the top on. “Health and safety,” was the explanation I was given. Surely I am more likely to spill water on the electronic equipment at the front of the stage if I do not have a top on my bottle. But I’m sure the venue has done full assessments. Do they perhaps expect attendees to throw bottle tops at the band? You would need a catapult to inflict much damage. I would have thought any risks involved were minimal compared with beer being thrown (as occurred) and some of the ‘tired and emotional’ behaviour that prevailed during the playing of All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit.
HMHB’s label chums Roja were the support act. Britain’s only mariachi band, according to Tony. They have changed their corporate clothing policy. Previously they always wore white shirts and trousers. Tonight they had a more wintry black. Their album Promises I Should Have Kept provided most of the set, but there was “a new single” in there. I hope to hear more from them soon. I managed to obtain a set list which read The End This Old Flame Company Don’t Leave Me Snake Oil Yeah I… The Evil Stands High.
I had a quick chat with Thorsten who had flown in from Germany for this show. Mark from Leeds said Hello. Howie and Daz also showed up. Daz had suffered a nine-hour coach journey caused by motorway closures. Howie had forged ahead with an epic pub crawl, not all of which I would have thought were en route to the venue. Grove, Hop, Tapped, North Bar, Templar, Foleys, Victoria, Veritas, Fenton. I’m really not sure I could have taken in a gig after all that. Not these days.
HMHB walked on stage to an Ennio Morricone tune, sung by Joan Baez. The most noticeable thing was Carl’s t-shirt. “3743 BMTS” obviously means something. Googling exercise pointed towards Basic Military Training Squadrons and Baptist Missionary Training School. We weren’t able to establish anything deeper than that. Maybe we’ll have to leave it hanging there for the time being.
Nigel’s first comment was “Eddie Howe has never yawned.” I have known better sound at these shows. There wasn’t as much interaction as normal, and even then I couldn’t pick up much of what Nigel was saying. Nor could he hear me. I asked a couple of times if he was going to Sincil Bank the following day, to see Lincoln v Tranmere in the National League crunch match. But he heard Tony tell him that it was Beethoven’s 246th birthday. Nigel said that they had some music in the van on the way to the gig. It just said “5th Symphony” on the label, and they didn’t know who it was by.
Nigel wondered about how many times you have to watch It’s A Wonderful Life before you start to take sides with Mr Potter, the bank guy. He also pondered over inappropriate gifts at Christmas. He bought Stations Of The Crass for an elderly aunt. Then he talked about glove puppets. He once got her a crude, hand-crafted Roy North glove puppet. Previously he had got her one of Roy Kinnear in his character as Gerry the janitor in George And Mildred.
I spotted some good miming of the gears by Nigel/Exford during A Lilac Harry Quinn. And there was a great deal of optimism from the guy behind me, who kept shouting for Sisters Of Mercy songs.
It was nice to hear Twenty-Four Hour Garage People get an outing. The crisps were £2.69 and the guy at the counter didn’t say “please”. The crisps were tossed into the metal tray device which separates them, “in more ways than one.” The queue behind Nigel included a sponsored conga, and members of the Happy To Stand And Wait Society, every one of whom wanted a muffin. Lost Oliver was also in the queue, the man who can tell you his precise co-ordinates at any given moment. Oliver was there for some pre-sliced malt loaf, a street map of Bedford, and a bag of salad, washed and prepared to serve, “unlike you”. The I-pad goes down. The employee has been watching Time Commanders, and has to pause The Battle Of Stamford Bridge. He knocks over his mug from Knebworth ’78.
Jordan passed Nigel one of his loafers that he had bought recently. “They’re surprisingly warm,” said Nigel. “There’s an interesting story behind this one, but I’ve forgotten it,” he said immediately before For What Is Chatteris. More sound problems meant I didn’t hear the whole of the line about Neil being the first man in Birkenhead to do something or other. To get in the festive mood, Nigel sang a bit of Sandy Gall’s Coming To Town. Neil and Ken swapped instruments, as usual, for Bane Of Constance.
Great to say Hello to Driver Tony who was pushed in our direction by the mosh pit during Shit Arm Bad Tattoo. It took some time coming, but eventually there was a shout of “What Did God Give Us, Neil?” Neil gave us a bit of the opening bass line of Transmission.
Nigel said Dukla Prague Away Kit was about ringing up a late night radio phone-in and saying “Fuck off to anyone who knows me.” I’m Throwing Rice At The Girl I Love preceded Vatican Broadside. There was also a few chords from Deep Purple’s Black Night.
HMHB played the following:
Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
Bad Review
Stuck Up A Hornbeam
A Lilac Harry Quinn
Lark Descending
Sealclubbing
Old Age Killed My Teenage Bride
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
I Went To A Wedding (just the “Foot Up In Europe” bit)
Look Dad No Tunes
Twenty-Four Hour Garage People
Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
For What Is Chatteris
Bane Of Constance
Shit Arm Bad Tattoo
1966 And All That
Joy Division Oven Gloves
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Vatican Broadside
National Shite Day
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Time Flies By When You’re A Driver Of A Train
Trumpton Riots
And three in the encore:
Baguette Dilemma For The Booker Prize Guy
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Everything’s AOR
Afterwards as we were all shuffling out, we also had a chat with Katharine and Karl, Ian, and Graham and Sarah. I do feel a sense of community at these gatherings. I hope that continues in 2017. Having just discussed with Karen, we think Holmfirth saw the best show of 2016, but we’re open to persuasion. They are all great nights out, and the four arranged for next year are in the diary. I had had a stinking cold all week and was not up to stopping out. I was still suffering when we saw Driver Tony at Leeds station on the Saturday morning. He gave his apologies for the Coventry show, but said he would be at Bilston. We intend to be at both.
20 December 2016
dr desperate
Excellent stuff from Roger, there.
Having read it, I now recall Nigel’s other festive reference:
“You’d better watch out
You’d better take care
Dead newsreaders everywhere
Sandy Gall is coming to town…”
20 December 2016
Mr ed (the bastard in the hat)
After Chatteris, I shouted to ask what “prick barriers” are. (I know I’m not the only one.) All we got was a shrug and some chat about council tax.
I’m changing my name to avoid confusion with Mr Ed.
21 December 2016
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
The consensus in the discussion of the Chatteris lyrics is that it’s an NB57 made-up amalgamation of chicane barriers (used for traffic calming) and a device to keep out pricks
21 December 2016
Phyllis Triggs
Thanks Roger and Dr D – I’d completely missed the Sandy Gall stuff. The sound quality wasn’t good. When someone shouted “Turn it up!” Nigel addressed the sound desk, “They’re saying turn it up” to which some wag responded “Turn it down!” earning themselves an appreciative nod from NB. Lovely exchange – it was all in the timing!
Have also remembered that the Chatteris lyric got jumbled but can’t recall exactly how – did we end up with a first class pool and an indoor cake shop?
21 December 2016
dr desperate
@GWA: I’d go along with device to keep out pricks, but surely spike rather than chicane barriers?
https://www.specifile.co.za/images/productpages/AutoGate-Vehicle-Boom-Barriers220VoltSM.jpg
21 December 2016
mr Ed (the bastard in the hat)
NB led himself astray in the Chatteris lyrics by starting the last verse with “three good chandlers”. We can all agree, I think, that this is too many chandlers. (I cannot understand why Chatteris would need even two chandlers, but of course this is a work of fiction, not the Yellow Pages.)
My ears are no good nowadays, so all gigs are MUCH too loud. In the beast market (but away from the six-yard box), all the sounds were plenty loud enough. The sound guy had already toned things down after some feedback screeching, so he looked a bit helpless at the repeated calls for “turn it up”.
I think NB’s complaint that the caravan guitar “never works” was resolved by plugging it in properly.
21 December 2016
EXXO
NB responded to the very first “we can’t hear you” (from the near end of the bar balcony to his left) with “and we were just talking about you”.
Yes, before that there had been some feedback and the desk man seemed to panic and turned the Bard down too much.
I looked back at my review of their last appearance at the same venue, and note how brilliant I thought the sound was – indeed I remember checking and finding out at the time that they had just before that (2011) installed a state of the art KARA sound system by L’Acoustics (always plenty of money for that sort of thing in universities, but not for actually employing people. Bitter, moi?)
My impression that the person manning the desk was clueless, hapless, or at lest somewhat lacking in hap, is given further grist by Mr. Ed (TBITH)’s vignette of his gesture, in the previous post. Gipton T may be able to tell us how he could better have sorted it out.
Glorious review of a brilliant gig by Roger, and Phyllis’ comments have rightly won many plaudits. One feels the balance has been restored from the total demonisation of the moshing classes that prevailed in this thread for the first 36 hours or so after the gig, when most of us were still recovering and gathering our thoughts.
21 December 2016
hendrix-tattoo
I was thinking of changing my pedant name to a HMHB reference like most of you on here.
But I quite like H-tat (so I don’t know should I or not) Unless, Someone suggest’s a good one I may consider a change.
Excellent posts by Exxo and @P.T and Bastard(my new name for you now Mr.Ed)
I don’t know how you all remember little details like you do, This is what gig reviewing is all about so to jog other people’s memories like myself and the like.
I was also wondering is@G.T now our own very.
Sound man, sound man
(two, one-two)
We’ve got our own sound man
(two, one-two)
21 December 2016
Gipton Teenager
Aw shucks @HT, don’t go changin’ . With you, me and PT, we could start a whole new gang say the “Blank T’s”. Regarding post -gig analysis, after the excellent 6% Abbeydale beer suggested by Exxo (I’m glad I didn’t have that before the gig!), I may have been rather verbose in my criticism of the sound quality. I don’t know how to do all this “text editing and pasting” stuff, so I’ll try to keep it short. I was much more of a “mate of the bloke who does the P.A.” The sound problems were evident during the support. Muffled bass drum, booming acoustic bass guitar (never easy, those) mushy keys, but nice trumpet. When I was gigging the glaciers had just receded from Yorkshire, and there was a new kind of mixing desk (very expensive) which had a ‘seek and destroy’ ability, whereby the engineer could see which frequency was about to “take off”, hit the red button, problem solved. Anyway I have to go to work now, more later perhaps
22 December 2016
Idiots and pigeons
Not demonising the ‘moshpit’ just the folks who use it as an excuse to grope my Mrs, and then the folks who go on to play down the deviancy by stating that the touchy feely chap was ‘just happy’.. It’s much nicer when it’s lively, just not when it’s gropey.. p.s. big thanks to @DR DESPERATE for capturing one of the greatest moments in human history, much appreciated.
22 December 2016
Landlord of the pub that gets the cemetry trade
Great Reviews which have helped jog my slightly hazy memory, undoubtedly a result of eschewing anything less than 5% pre gig. Whilst also watching on from the margins I did carry out due acknowledgement (without breaking stride) – of the slight variation during Trad Arr of “joggers out moshing”. Four years since I’ve see HMHB with last gig at Holmfirth Picturedome in ’12 which completely blew the socks off Leeds Stylus as a venue in my humble opinion.
22 December 2016
hendrix-tattoo
Just read Roger Green’ s brilliant review again.
I also think the Holmfirth Picturedome Gig has been the best one so far.
And then remembering about crashing into him and also drowning @Carrie Anne with cider(soz) after being flung from the Mosh during Shit Arm Bad Tattoo.
So now I have decided(thanks@GT) not to change my pedant name and keep to H-tat.
In the hope when the band plays SABT at future Gigs, Nigel may have one of his ‘Chatteris’ jumble moments and sing “Shit arm, bad tattoo
Ah well you’ve got a shit arm, and that’s a Hendrix tattoo”.
Happy Xmas to you all folks!
22 December 2016
GIpton teenager
That’s the spirit H-tat. You’ve got a name with a story and besides it’s a good name. I mean, I was a teenager once AND I’ve driven through Gipton on several occasions.
22 December 2016
Mr ed (the bastard in the hat)
@I&P #50: Without putting words into anyone else’s mouth, I assumed that discussion of poor behaviour was separate from the groping, which is completely unacceptable; and that any downplaying or excuses or grey areas applied only to the former.
@HT: I agree that you have a good name, worth keeping. I will happily answer to “Bastard”, though you might want to hold back on shouting it across a crowded room.
23 December 2016
hendrix-tattoo
Thanks @Mr.Ed….
24 December 2016
GIpton teenager
@mr ed. A mangled acronym of your new name could be TABITHA. If you kind of squint and look sideways. Happy Christmas to all Biscuiteers, wherever you are.
25 December 2016
usernamenotfound
@IDIOTS AND PIGEONS Bit late to the party but, yeah didn’t see the incident but did see the narky blert get all up in your face after like. He was a proper bell, could tell he was trying to goad you into something for the next 20 minutes as well.
If I remember correctly, @GIPTON TEENAGER you saw someone go for his eye a bit later in the gig. Deplorable behavior all round.
It is getting ridiculous at Half Man gigs recently. I’m all for a few drinks for people to enjoy their night but a lot of it isn’t moshing in my eyes, it’s going way too far. Before you start all of this “If you don’t like it, don’t go in” nonsense, it really says something when the fans at grindcore shows are better behaved in the pit.
31 January 2017