| Author | Message | ||
     Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 167 Registered: 11-2004 |
I'd be interested to hear anybodies feedback who attended the gig at Bush Hall on Friday. Here's mine: I had very mixed feelings before the gig started. I've attended many gigs but never a tribute gig before - I suppose they are a rarity. I worried that some of the bands would put their own stamp on Grant's songs to the extent that I disliked them, or conversely, would some bands try to stick too rigidly to the original recordings but not pull it off? I resolved not to take things so seriously and to enjoy the night. Overall I enjoyed the gig - a mixed bag of sets which was to be expected. For me, the main point of the evening was that the room was full of great talent and a plenty of love and respect, and a celebration of Grant's music. Of the 6 bands (playing no more than 4 songs each), some bands played more of their own songs than they did Grant's which I felt didn't work. There were also several of Robert song's included during the night. To get 6 bands on and off the stage in such a short space of time, all with a good sound, was fantastic. My highlights: Brisbane's 'Bill Botting And The Two Drink Minimums' (love the name!) - the singer was clad in beach wear! (presumably straight from warmer climes) and they clearly were huge Go-Betweens fans. I also loved Wymeswold's 'The Wave Pictures' - strangely I discovered them randomly online only a few months ago but I had no knowledge of their connection or appreciation of The Go-Betweens. Their set was delivered very powerfully. Grant's songs were played with a more rocky edge, and with more guitar solo, but it worked brilliantly. I'm now looking forward to The Wave Pictures own gig in London in June. The headliner was Gerry Love (Bassist of Teenage Fanclub) appearing on Vocals and Guitar along with a backing band of fellow Scots dubbed 'The Friends from Glasgow'. They played a wonderful set and it was fitting that Love is from the band that supported The Go-Betweens on their final overseas tour. My enjoyment of the event was greatly diminished by the compare Comedian Stewart Lee. His stand up was given a lot of airtime. Did we need stand up comedy as part of the evening? I was not familiar with his style but I found Lee's delivery snide, sarcastic with a school bully's air. His material he had an uncanny knack of belittling things that I am connected to! Some examples of his set were when he professed a chance insight into Grant's songwriting in the 1980's...but I think most of us discover that this is merely a vehicle for one of one of Lee's gags. Ho Hum - it may have been nice to hear a real insight or two. Lee also told us that Grant had found some liner notes written by Lee (for some album or other by somebody) and found them disagreeable - various reasons given by Lee including that Grant thought him a 'racist'. I also remember Lee saying 'I'm probably the last person Grant would want to be at this gig'. I'm a laid back sort of guy but for me Lee's set over complicated a great night and I struggled hard (so damn hard) to find much humour in his patter - although he was very witty. I'd love to hear others view of his set. Maybe from people more in the know than me. | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 58 Registered: 05-2005 |
I wasn't there but a few things I can add 1 Stewart Lee wrote the liner notes for one of the reissues of Send Me A Lullaby. I may eventually get around to reading them. 2 Francis Macdonald of Teenage Fanclub wrote a brief, well-measured appreciation in The (Glasgow) Herald when Grant died (available on request). 3 The Wave Pictures have been the UK's best band for about the last 10 years 4 Bill Botting is a member of Allo Darlin' whose claims to Go-Betweens fame are a song called/about Tallulah and a great cover of Dive For Your Memory. A great, great band if they'd ditch the ukulele. | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 144 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thanks, I have to check out The Wave Pictures. Last year I discovered one of their collaborations with Stanley Brinks, the "Gin" album, which is great. http://shop.fikarecordings.com/album/gin Did not Pete Astor also play some Grant songs? Maybe that was on another venue? | ||
| Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 168 Registered: 11-2004 |
Yes Pete Astor played - he played Boundary Rider / an original (sorry don't know the title) / Right Here |