Friday, June 22, 2007
Meltdown Round up
Now I know I still have one gig to go (Lost Ladies of Folk) but I’ve decided to do my full Meltdown review now, partly because I’m at lunch and a bit bored.
Anyway, Jarvis has been selected to curate Meltdown this year and like Patti Smith in 2005, he’s really jumped onto the series with full enthusiasm and involvement, and picked a real eclectic cross section of music. We’ve deliberately chosen to go to things we haven’t seen before and wouldn’t normally, so sorry Iggy and the Stooges and Jarvis himself, but we’ve seen you both already and will be seeing Jarvis again next month.
First up was Motorhead. What? Us at a Motorhead concert, whatever next? Well, yes. But I argue that it’s good to try everything, and it’s nice to be able to do it at a non-crowded mosh pit type venue, where I can have a seat and run off to the Members Bar if necessary. They were exactly what you would have thought – loud, rocking, huge drum solo spot. What was a surprise was starting the encore with a stripped down acoustic blues number, which was really great and a total shock. Middle aged men playing air guitar and head banging from the boxes was a sight!
Next up, the Forest of No Return, contemporary singers singing the classic Disney song book. This was a bit patchy, when it was good it was great but when it was not good it was a bit poor. And it started an hour late which was especially annoying as behind us a couple of smug middle class parents decided that this would be an ideal show to bring their two under 5s to. The kids were tired and bored and talked and kicked the back of the seats in front until the parents got a lot of filthy looks from everyone in our row (well, me and the two women next to me). They didn't return from the interval. Anyway, the bad bits were Shane MacGowan from the Pogues doing ‘Zip a dee do dah’, slurring his words and barely able to stand. Nick Cave, who threw his all into ‘Hi diddle dee dee’ but had not really rehearsed and had to read the lyrics so struggled with the pacing at times. Ed Harcourt disappointed with a dull ‘Drip drip drop little april showers’.
BUT on the good side, as already blogged, Pete Doherty came on playing guitar doing ‘Chim chim cheree’ and as much as I wanted to hate him he was astonishingly good. Fenella Fielding was bonkers doing ‘Feed the birds, tuppence a bag’. But there was only one person who was ever going to steal the show. We thought she'd pulled out when she didn't come on at the appointed time in the programme and the band leader looked like he was having to change the set quickly. Then suddenly I saw a shadow in the wings wearing strange headgear. Out came a little raised stage and a big wind machine was placed in front of it, and I recognised the intro music. I whispered to Ian, 'Oh my God, it's her, they must have changed the running order'. The band launched into 'Trust in me' from Jungle Book, and out she came, wearing a black corset, glittered leggings, high heels, a purple hat that surrounded her face like a plate, and a huge billowing cape which was fluttering behind her in the wind(machine). "Trust in me" she purred, slinking her body like a seductive snake. She stole the show, no-one could follow that so the interval was called. Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Grace Jones! Incredible.
Roisin Murphy gamely tried to match it in the second half with ‘He’s a Tramp’ but she was never going to be anything more than second best in the diva vamp stakes.
Monday was Sunn0))) who were loud and went on a good 20 minutes too long for my patience levels. Mac enjoyed it but I still think my hearing hasn’t returned to normal.
Devo on Tuesday. Are they not men? Are they not a lot older than I was expecting? A great night, though, and if they can still have this much fun then I hope I can do the same in 15-20 years time. It has been something like 19 years since they last played here, I’m glad I was there to see it.
Last night there was an evening of the classic John Barry film scores, attended by Barry himself . A great relaxing evening after the hectic previous 5 shows, and what a great track record of soundtracks he has written (although I thought the ‘Dances with Wolves’ bit was a bit dull, much like the film).
So thank you Jarvis, it was great and I hope you had as much fun organising it was we had watching it. Tell me South Bank centre, who’s next year? Can I curate it, please?
Anyway, Jarvis has been selected to curate Meltdown this year and like Patti Smith in 2005, he’s really jumped onto the series with full enthusiasm and involvement, and picked a real eclectic cross section of music. We’ve deliberately chosen to go to things we haven’t seen before and wouldn’t normally, so sorry Iggy and the Stooges and Jarvis himself, but we’ve seen you both already and will be seeing Jarvis again next month.
First up was Motorhead. What? Us at a Motorhead concert, whatever next? Well, yes. But I argue that it’s good to try everything, and it’s nice to be able to do it at a non-crowded mosh pit type venue, where I can have a seat and run off to the Members Bar if necessary. They were exactly what you would have thought – loud, rocking, huge drum solo spot. What was a surprise was starting the encore with a stripped down acoustic blues number, which was really great and a total shock. Middle aged men playing air guitar and head banging from the boxes was a sight!
Next up, the Forest of No Return, contemporary singers singing the classic Disney song book. This was a bit patchy, when it was good it was great but when it was not good it was a bit poor. And it started an hour late which was especially annoying as behind us a couple of smug middle class parents decided that this would be an ideal show to bring their two under 5s to. The kids were tired and bored and talked and kicked the back of the seats in front until the parents got a lot of filthy looks from everyone in our row (well, me and the two women next to me). They didn't return from the interval. Anyway, the bad bits were Shane MacGowan from the Pogues doing ‘Zip a dee do dah’, slurring his words and barely able to stand. Nick Cave, who threw his all into ‘Hi diddle dee dee’ but had not really rehearsed and had to read the lyrics so struggled with the pacing at times. Ed Harcourt disappointed with a dull ‘Drip drip drop little april showers’.
BUT on the good side, as already blogged, Pete Doherty came on playing guitar doing ‘Chim chim cheree’ and as much as I wanted to hate him he was astonishingly good. Fenella Fielding was bonkers doing ‘Feed the birds, tuppence a bag’. But there was only one person who was ever going to steal the show. We thought she'd pulled out when she didn't come on at the appointed time in the programme and the band leader looked like he was having to change the set quickly. Then suddenly I saw a shadow in the wings wearing strange headgear. Out came a little raised stage and a big wind machine was placed in front of it, and I recognised the intro music. I whispered to Ian, 'Oh my God, it's her, they must have changed the running order'. The band launched into 'Trust in me' from Jungle Book, and out she came, wearing a black corset, glittered leggings, high heels, a purple hat that surrounded her face like a plate, and a huge billowing cape which was fluttering behind her in the wind(machine). "Trust in me" she purred, slinking her body like a seductive snake. She stole the show, no-one could follow that so the interval was called. Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Grace Jones! Incredible.
Roisin Murphy gamely tried to match it in the second half with ‘He’s a Tramp’ but she was never going to be anything more than second best in the diva vamp stakes.
Monday was Sunn0))) who were loud and went on a good 20 minutes too long for my patience levels. Mac enjoyed it but I still think my hearing hasn’t returned to normal.
Devo on Tuesday. Are they not men? Are they not a lot older than I was expecting? A great night, though, and if they can still have this much fun then I hope I can do the same in 15-20 years time. It has been something like 19 years since they last played here, I’m glad I was there to see it.
Last night there was an evening of the classic John Barry film scores, attended by Barry himself . A great relaxing evening after the hectic previous 5 shows, and what a great track record of soundtracks he has written (although I thought the ‘Dances with Wolves’ bit was a bit dull, much like the film).
So thank you Jarvis, it was great and I hope you had as much fun organising it was we had watching it. Tell me South Bank centre, who’s next year? Can I curate it, please?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Meltdown update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljN3RmEOVQE
Pete does Chim Chim Cheree. Not bad at all, frankly.
ps, if anyone can explain to me how I can actually get the clip itself into the blog instead of just a link I would be most grateful
Edited with videoclip, thanks Mac.
Pete does Chim Chim Cheree. Not bad at all, frankly.
ps, if anyone can explain to me how I can actually get the clip itself into the blog instead of just a link I would be most grateful
Edited with videoclip, thanks Mac.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Meltdown 2007
Yes, after a two year gap whilst Festival Hall has been refurbished, but Meltdown is back and curated this year by none other than Jarvis Cocker. What a fine eclectic mix of acts he has lined up for us, he’s got a tough battle to beat Patti Smith for the title of ‘Best Meltdown I have Attended’ but there’s definitely potential there.
We have tickets for Motorhead (!), Sunn 0))), John Barry doing his film soundtracks, Devo, something under the name of ‘Lost Ladies of Folk’, I’m sure we’ll see the free Turntable café psychedelic tribute to Roky Erikson, and this Sunday there are a host of singers doing classic Disney songs. Jarvis will be doing ‘I wanna be like you’ from the Jungle Book, Nick Cave, Brian Ferry, Grace Jones are all also performing and so will be Pete Doherty, possibly singing ‘Chim Chiminee’. Tune in on Monday for a review.
Ps we have just booked two more Arcade Fire shows for November, which will mean I have seen them 7 times this year by the end of the year, and Mac will have seen them a massive 11 times!
We have tickets for Motorhead (!), Sunn 0))), John Barry doing his film soundtracks, Devo, something under the name of ‘Lost Ladies of Folk’, I’m sure we’ll see the free Turntable café psychedelic tribute to Roky Erikson, and this Sunday there are a host of singers doing classic Disney songs. Jarvis will be doing ‘I wanna be like you’ from the Jungle Book, Nick Cave, Brian Ferry, Grace Jones are all also performing and so will be Pete Doherty, possibly singing ‘Chim Chiminee’. Tune in on Monday for a review.
Ps we have just booked two more Arcade Fire shows for November, which will mean I have seen them 7 times this year by the end of the year, and Mac will have seen them a massive 11 times!
