| Author | Message | ||
     Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 54 Registered: 11-2004 |
An event not to be missed! MEDIA RELEASE Warm Nights Late July 1995: a film installation for a modern room Pestorius Sweeney House Wednesday 3 August, 2005 at 7pm Talking to Pig City author Andrew Stafford in advance of the show which is the subject of Warm Nights Late July 1995, the Go-Betweens’ Robert Forster spoke of “innovation,” “twists and turns” and “primitive rock and roll”. He also spoke of “experimenting” and of “the commercial and poppy coming from same place as the six-minute dirge.” Discussing a batch of nine new songs he was developing with the Warm Nights, a short-lived trio consisting of himself (guitar, vocals), Adele Pickvance (bass, vocals), and Glenn Thompson (drums, guitar, vocals), Forster was also reiterating a credo that has underpinned his work for over a quarter of a century, and which is only today gaining broader recognition. What was especially interesting about the Warm Nights was just how they enabled us to better appreciate what it is musically that defines the Go-Betweens. It may seem strange that this group, which did not include Grant McLennan, could tell us something important about the foundations of the band he formed with Forster in late 1977. But it is precisely at those beginnings that we must look, for the Go-Betweens started out as a trio, and many who witnessed the Warm Nights were struck by just how much they recalled the early years of the Go-Betweens, especially in the way they embraced the physicality of electric rhythm-guitar playing from ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll, through to John Fogarty and Lou Reed. Even the slightly funky bass playing of Adele Pickvance was reminiscent of McLennan’s distinctive ‘walking’ bass on the group’s early records. It therefore came as little surprise to some that the ‘reunion’ of the Go-Betweens found solid form in what was, in effect, the addition of McLennan to the Warm Nights line-up. The sound is unmistakably there on the Go-Betweens' recent single ‘In the City,’ its repetitive groove and Forster’s phrasing also nodding to the group’s early kinship with the Talking Heads. Regrettably, much of this seems to have been lost on those who adhere to the belief that the essence of the Go-Betweens is more than the Forster/McLennan alliance. To some extent this misconception is explained by the fact that the Warm Nights never entered the recording studio, played infrequently, and on the rare occasion that they did perform, the situation was invariably unorthodox, not widely publicised, and perhaps even confusing at times. For example, there was an intimate show, sans PA, in the small Fortitude Valley fashion boutique ‘Scrabble’ that was more unplugged than the MTV model could ever have hoped for. Then there was the almost heavy ‘swamp rock’ groove in the finest tradition of Creedence Clearwater Revival for a show in the subterranean white cube of the David Pestorius Gallery. Warm Nights Late July 1995 is the film of that show, its unedited single-shot take echoing the ‘no tricks’ simplicity of the group, while also beautifully capturing a rare communion between performers and audience. A decade on, the premier screening of Warm Nights Late July 1995 will be held at the Pestorius Sweeney House on Wednesday 3 August at 7pm. For those genuinely interested in history, this is a ‘must see’. Admission free, however, bookings are essential (07) 3272 4870. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2005 |
I've seen Robert Forster during the Warm Night Tour in Belgium (Liège). I must say that this gig was one of the best I've seen and I've never missed a tour since Spring Hill Fair (apart the last one...). The three piece band was awesome and untill today I remember as they played the song 'Fortress'. A great moment. Excuse my english | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2004 |
What a fantastic performance by Warm Nights. It's such a rare sight seeing Forster do guitar solos that last longer than 1/2 a bar. 'Snake Skin Lady' always sounded better live. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 16 Registered: 04-2005 |
I would love to see this. I went to a RF gig in Glasgow (13th Note) during this time, which was simply stunning. And somewhat bizarrely had free entrance too. We were in the pub really early in the evening and got to witness the soundcheck also. It was during this evening that my pal Dave came up with his 'the campest hetrosexual performer alive' quote which I have used on several occasions (cheers Dave). 'When She Sang About Angels' was a newie and brilliant. Dave also got into a protacted discussion with Adele about Bury FC after the gig I remember. And Robert was very chatty, witty and charming signing t-shirts. I agree with Trou that the 3 piece was awesome (some great CCR style 'chooglin' with the big Gretsch) and I kinda miss Robert playing and recording solo to be honest. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 29 Registered: 05-2005 |
A mate of mine was at that show and told me at the time how brilliant it was. I saw the show in Dublin the night before or after Glasgow. Also a great gig. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 63 Registered: 11-2004 |
http://www.davidpestorius.com/images/warmnights400.jpg Check out this photo of Forster taken at the show mentioned above and you can at least see the CCR influence! A bandana around his neck would have clenched the whole John Fogerty look, but you can't have it all. The screening of the Warm Nights in concert reminded me of just how electric Forster's music can be at times. I understand your sentiments, Andrew and I too miss his solo performances, especially when he played in Warm Nights. | ||
| M. Mark Burgess Member Username: Fortysomething Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2005 |
Any chance of a video release? | ||
| david pestorius Member Username: David_pestorius Post Number: 1 Registered: 08-2005 |
The film 'Warm Nights Late July 1995' was produced in consultation with Robert Forster and with the joint intention of celebrating the tenth anniversary of a group that, in a way, made possible the 'reunion' of The Go-Betweens. For a number of reasons we felt it important that the film should be experienced as a large-scale projection in a modern architectural context. To do this would serve to itterate the original situation (a classic 'white cube' gallery space), as well as certain parallels with the 'less is more' philosophy of modern art and architecture, not to mention the self-reflexive nature of the Warm Nights' music (think, for example, of songs like 'I Can Do' and 'Crying Love'). While I would not rule out releasing the film as a DVD package at some point in the future, it is important, I think, not to confuse the very deliberate 'amateurism' of the Warm Nights film with the sort of high production values that characterise professional live-show DVDs. | ||
| frank webb Member Username: Frank Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2005 |
This is something I would love to see as well.I remember the band very fondly from this period. It's fantastic that this line-up has been documented/recorded. Robert, Glenn and Adele together for over 10 years already ... doesn't seem like it. | ||
| david pestorius Member Username: David_pestorius Post Number: 2 Registered: 08-2005 |
You can be fairly confident that those who consult this website will be alerted to the release of the Warm Nights film on DVD, should that ever actually happen. In the meantime, here is another film still of the 'expanded group' in early May 1996:— http://www.davidpestorius.com/images/Forster_McLennan400.jpg The film from which this still derives is of one of the two 'warm up' shows (held in a small club in Fortitude Valley known as The Legion Club), in advance the now famous Paris show that was held a little later the same month. |