| Author | Message | ||
     spencer roberts Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Well, haven't seen them since 97 at the Forum in London, until last night in Birmingham. Probably one of the best gigs I have ever been to. Their set was immaculately played, as well as the old stuff, the new stuff really has helped create an energy that re-formations sometimes lack in their repetoire and by God they delivered! Not much more to say than THANK YOU, you should have been there! PS I had a chat with Adele before the gig, and if any of you haven't heard Dave Graney, her former group, then see what you can lay your hands on, Like, Forster and McLennan and Cave for that matter., he is truly a one off OZZY maverick, well worth the checkout. Spence | ||
| Nigel Wheatley Member Username: Nigel_wheatley Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
They say you should never meet your heroes, but on Friday night at the Academy I did just that. After witnessing another stupendous Go-Betweens performance, with some persistence and a lot of luck, I found myself back in the dressing room sharing a beer with Robert, Grant, Adele, and Glenn. And what charming, friendly, company they all were. Especially faced with a gibbering, sycophant like me. Robert came across as a sort of big, jolly, Uncle. Whilst Grant was a bit more laid back, but equally gracious. Anyway, back to the gig. Grant seemed happy to let Robert take centre stage and the majority of the vocals. And he was on top form, really enjoying himself.'Draining the pool for you' was worth the ticket price alone. He also spent some time explaining what key the next song would be played in, and mocking his own guitar playing. Three encores, two of which Robert and Grant played acoustic numbers before being joined by Adele and Glenn again. I can't remember which songs were played when, it all seemed to fly by so quickly. But they have such an enormous, quality, back catalogue, to choose from, does it really matter ? Although Grant has assured me that he would love to play, and will, at the right opportunity, 'River of money'. All in all, a great night. | ||
| Mark Raychell Member Username: Mark_raychell Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2005 |
This gig reminded me how good the Go-Betweens were, and indeed still are. I particularly enjoyed Robert's 'Draining the Pool For You' and Grant's 'Boundary Rider'. It's nice to be able to enjoy the old stuff and the new material in equal measure. Nice also to see the band 'up for it' again. Only problem is - no more UK gigs in the near future! | ||
| Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2004 |
Good Effort Nigel So what is your secret? | ||
| William Member Username: Weesam Post Number: 7 Registered: 05-2005 |
Dave Graney - I watched him at the Big Backyard in Sydney - he wore a crush velvet suit. His suit left a bigger impression than his songs... | ||
| Nigel Wheatley Member Username: Nigel_wheatley Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2005 |
No secret Matt, just my natural charm. Seriously, if they hadn't been so short of time, and getting back to London for the Jonathan Ross radio show, Robert would have probably come out and signed a few things after the show, and that would have been it. But as it was, I was led backstage and spent about thirty minutes in their dressing room. I was just lucky. | ||
| Matt Ellis Member Username: Matt_ellis Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2004 |
I had heard reports that Robert had offered to sign things at the Brighton Gig (which I attended but had to dash back to London). So I hung around in Birmingham hopeing for this to happen. I was amongst about 20 hangers on when was "jogged on" by security. Unfortunately, they led me through a back enterance so I was too disorientated to find New Street Station from that point! Dare I ask led backstage by whom Nigel? :-) | ||
| nickt Member Username: Nickt Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hello all, This is my first post as a newbie, despite being "educated" about the band at uni in the mid 80s. Saw them for the first time at the B'ham show (not counting working at the tower ballroom in hull, in the coffee shop, in the early 80s when they apparently supported Orange Juice). I cannot say how much I was absolutely blown away by the live show. It could have been an anti-climax after all these years but it far exceeded my expectations. My wife (a recent convert to the band) enjoyed it even more than seeing her beloved Mercury Rev a couple of months back. Sorry to be so "gushing" but it really was a great night. Just makes me even more frustrated at the lack of interest in such a great band. | ||
| Nigel Wheatley Member Username: Nigel_wheatley Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2005 |
Matt, there was a group of four people, who already had passes ( one of whom was Adrian Goldberg, a television and radio presenter. I think he used to be on Watchdog. He was there just as a Go-bees fan though.) Talking to them was a woman who it transpired was the group's record company executive/chaperone. She told me she had expected Robert and Grant to come back out and went off to see where they were, she came back, carried on talking to these four people and then took us all backstage. We waited outside the dressing room for about ten minutes, and then went in. I have to say I was well chuffed. I too, nearly got moved on by security, and I suppose if there had been a lot of people there it wouldn't have happened. |