When I look at the many psycho fan websites dedicated to the smiths memory I learn that this gig is only the 5th or 6th they had played, and this was the first time that "pretty girls make graves " was ever performed.....so how long in the rehearsal room one wonders?
The playing is faultless and Mr Morriseys vocals are pitch perfect - even the falsetto bits that normal people can only attempt in the shower. So its a actually a nice reminder of good old human falibility when despite Mo's previous call for "decorum decorum" the machine breaks down in the enchore of "hand in glove" , the stage invasion results in a yelp from Morrisey and Jonny Marrs guitar getting unplugged, the rhythm section ,stranded, slip into extended disco mix mode until normal service is resumed. Hand in glove - The Smiths (live) I also learn that I wasnt the only one there that night with cassette recorder in sweaty hand, and that this set has been available as a bootleg for sometime, either that or someone stole a copy of my tape.....Alan?
If not? then mine is better than anything by those guys at the back of the room, its a great recording and it brings back heaps of memories ...the the gladioli, Westfield colledge, the homo-erotic bonding, the stage invasions , the ULU, the quiffs, the un buttoned shirts, where IS fingerprint man now? Full set from Dingwalls, 30.08.83 (32 MB)
Another cool t-shirt, another punch in the face. I think this one (the punch not the t-shirt)put me off taping shows for good, I cant find any that post date this gig ; its safe to say this is the first half of the set not the end...and it definitely was the last and only time I went to that Bay63 dump.
I cant really remember what happened but Im pretty sure my attacker was a "hometaping is killing music" vigilante cos the assult was accompanied by shouting about stealing the bands music. While technically I was commiting copyright infringement I never had any intention of selling the recordings so I felt a bit miffed (and bloodied and bruised).
Primemover is based on one of those classic primeval 2 chord sludge riffs that should be easy to reproduce by the below-average guitarist, but isnt, in fact the band takes half the song to get the groove right themselves...
In memory of the Falcon......where one night I had my first exposure to Silverfish or parts thereof....they werent playing , we were all there for the awesome splendour of the majestic Sperm Wails. There was a lot of Lurching going on and half way through a song - in a surge of the alcohol- induced-arsewholeness that Im well known for I threw ChrisP (Silverfish Bass) into the Drum kit he wasnt too happy about it and to reinforce the point Stuart (Silverfish Drummer) punched me in the face. But as always at the Falcon all was forgotten as the night wore on and no grudges were borne.
These tracks are from a compiliation Video that Kieth gave me (and a friend of a friend gave Kieth) , its got heaps of cool bands on it (mainly playing in and around Camden) but theres bugger all info..a stcker on the tape just says "Silverfish -Windsor" - not sure if thats the Arms, Castle, Barabara or what.
The band was a force of nature live and nothing compares to Lelslie belting out their anthem T.F.A, I never think the records did them justice in capturing the sheer animalistic energy , boy did those chaps rock.
The T-shirt was a classic too, Cindy still wears hers now and again - and always finds she gets approached and congratulated by trendy feminista or wrinkled fish fans even in Oz. ha ha - just remembered that article in the sunday times magazine...
Ahhh the "going out song", you know , one of the 2 or 3 singles that neve make it back into the box, but remain leant up against the speaker- often with no sleeve or just the white inner one. The songs you play when youre crimping your hair and putting your bots on. The last thing you hear as you drain your glass or wipe the mirror prior to heading out on friday nite. How does that translate to itunes..eh?
Anyway Doppelganger by Hull band the Luddites was one of my staple "going out songs" for a long while, theres something about the big build up , then after 2 minutes or so the guy sings - the lyrics (sort of cool and oblique but not too pseudy) , the simple chugging/scything guitar sounds, awesome.
"The Light bulb shatters, with the strength of your cry, of your cry. What the hell is this place were in, ive never been here, before today...."
I always think of this band/single as epitomising how I feel about punk rocks potential : a little chunk of plastic left by a band no-one ever heard of, no-one ever saw and who never went anywhere but still theres a couple of minutes of magic that captures a feeling/time/emotion eternally for the people who connect with it.
I'm only aware of the one show they did in London, at the Bridgehouse on 6th June 1984... The Luddites - Doppleganger
The internet tells me that the drummer went on to play on 13 Beautiful South Albums...Im not sure which image is worse: that of an ex housemartin labouring over the lyrics to 130+ Beautiful South songs or some sad fuck who actually owns the full set.
It would be easy to say they went downhill after David Baker left, but of course its not true- they made some classic records before Grasshopper mutated totally into Mickey Mouse and they disappeared up their own behind with the double impro lp.
The first I heard of them was in a Melody Maker live review, they played at the Mean fiddler before anyone knew who they were and the write up talked about this band who were playing this new kind of music that no rock band had played before. Then there was an interview where Davd Baker spoke of trying to make his vocals sound like Richard Harris in the Camelot musical. Of course you cant trust what you read in the musc press but I bought the ( blue vinyl ) product and both turned out to be close to the truth.
This clip has David Baker, stuffed animals - including a smoking lion but alas none of the Finsbury Park bumble bees and is from one of those daft music shows were they booked out a venue, recorded the band then had them mime (maybe the vocals are live?) to an empty house...great idea team.
This bunch were from Leeds and with their drum machine and doomy grave-digger schtick (later to be known as Goth) its hard to believe the sisters of mercy didnt borrow a lot from them. I remember the singers looked a bit odd: a "big boned" guy with a beard and a skinny biker chick - but the dual vocals were brilliant - and this is an awesome set with all their hits from Colchester Uni (supporting Danse Society) . I loved Crow Baby and I got my brother to paint a copy of the cover art onto an old tee-shirt which I fixed to the back of my leather jacket....(another one to file under "dik: fashion atrocities"...)
March Violets - Crow Baby What the heck happened to this band? : they became the original Crack whores of Prostituting your art!!! Check this out as an lesson in just how how low you can take a good brand : Saturday Superstore ......
Colchester University (19th Nov 1983) Side1: Walk Into The Sun 1-2 I Love You Grooving In Green Crow Baby So Hot Kill If You Like
Imagine a time when there is no internet, little or no non-MOR radio, two music papers and a nation of 52 miliion people. John Peel was on at 10pm for 2 hours 3 nights a week and Everyone one under the age of 25 listened and/or taped each program. So most people in the UK had a copy of Red Pony on a cassette, and , when the Triffids' session (with the definitive version of "Field of Glass") aired they were home and dry. I often wonder about the bands that Peel didnt like....they simply would not ever progress outside their hometown/bedrooms.
Triffids, Jacksons Lane Community Centre, 1984
Anyway at this time I had no intention/desire to even visit australia let alone move there, my sister had come back from her travels downunder with a neanderthal sheep shearing fiancee and all the music previously had been carefully "filed" in the RawCK bucket. But it was hard to resist the romantic notion of treeless plains and lonesome roads when walking up Shoot-up hill in a sleety Cricklewood November, and there was something about that singers voice that grabbed you by the curlies. Of course that singer died , broke and forgotten , most australian bands are still playing Rawck and the reality of Australiana aint so pretty up close.
This show was an old church in Islington? (sly google..okay: Archway) and the acoustics and vibe were perfect for an awesome band at their best.....
Side1: Lonesome Hobo, Bright Lights Big City, Property Is Condemned, My Baby thinks Shes a Train, Wrong Turn, Jesus Calling, Red Pony, Beautiful Waste, Raining Pleasure, Monkey on my Bike (sic), Field of Glass Side2: Field of Glass (cont), I Cant Help Falling In Love With You, Branded for Life, Dont Miss Your Water.
