[kj] Return the Gift

[Graeme Rowland]

Saved from the Carling Experience by Gang of Four
Entertainment! You have to be really into a band to
put up with Carling mentality. I can put up with the
ultra-slow barstaff, and overpriced horrible booze,
although those who complain have legitimate cause.
Carling is without a doubt the foulest concoction ever
to be marketed in the name of lager at higher than cut
price supermaret levels. What really got to me after
Infrasound had plodded through their workmanlike
retro-eighties homage, was the terminally wretched
soft muzak crap that got played through the PA. How do
bands manage to sound worse than the Stone Roses? I
asked the T-shirt seller why such horrible music was
being played - surely Gang of Four can't have chosen
it?

Indeed it seemed the Carling Academy had been looping
the same turgid soundtrack of commodified youth safety
all day. Luckily I was saved from a psychotic fit by
the distracting arrival of some Wire fan friends, and
about ten minutes later Gang of Four were back to
deliver the kind of music What We All Want, ie. the
genuine article, no flabby copies or young
flounderings in the past.

The crowd heckled them a lot and Andy Gill seemed lost
for a response, beyond taking the piss out of Brummies
and pointing to various people he recognised from
other gigs and asking them, "You're not from here are
you?" I think they weren't pleased to be ordered to
"Dance you old bastards" when the static crowd looked
older... it was only when they kicked into "Return the
Gift" about halfway through that the dancing started.

This was a smaller gig than Manchester or Leeds, and
the band were perhaps disappointed in the relatively
low turn out. They dropped "We Live As We Dream Alone"
from the set, although I sang the chorus at the end in
the hope that they might come back a second time to
play it.

Spotted one Killing Joke T-shirt: Wardance sleeve. The
guy wearing it had seen them in Wolverhampton and was
going to the first night at the Empire, and seemed as
bemused as many other fans at the news they are to
support Motley Crue. Went for a drink with Wire fans
Paul Rabjohn and Mark Bursa afterwards. Paul spoke of
how he found Killing Joke frightening when he saw them
play Birmingham in 1980.

We were quite amused to be handed a flyer reqesting a
demo competition to find a new singer for INXS. Mark
suggested I give it a go. Er, maybe not...

Paul said, "Give my regards to Tommy Lee!"

Zounds were playing a pub the next day - anyone seen
them of late? Cheaper than the "service charge" on a
U2 ticket, and I'd imagine millions more fun. 

Can't Cheat Karma, Bono Pox


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"What one thinks of as extremes seldom are" :: BC Gilbert


	
	
		
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