i-want-more

I can't remember a worse time

On Friday night I went to a wet and windy City to meet up with DC and his lovely missus M post-honeymoon. I have skipped mentioning their wedding (which occurred a few weeks back) on this blog. It was fun, is all you need to know. We discussed getting chatted up by strip club barmen (him), the merits of the most recent MGMT album (me), the dearth of decent British TV (him) and being heartbroken about Charlie Brooker's marriage (me).

Last week brought the news that Pulp will be reforming for some gigs this year. At this point, I'm going to admit that I never bothered with seeing them live the first time around. So I won't be going to them play next year.

Going to see reformed bands is always a gamble.

Jane's Addiction
I don't know what possessed me, to be honest. I saw them twice in the height of their indie fame in the early 1990s at small venues, and they gave absolutely blinding performances on both occasions. Quite why I didn't leave well enough alone is anybody's guess. I saw them at the Hammersmith Apollo/Odeon/Carling Apollo/Horlicks Odeon or whatever it was called that week: an error in itself. These two things should tell you how bad the gig was. Firstly, a cover of 'Wild Thing'. Secondly, Dave Navarro's Louis Vuitton guitar strap. As a final insult, the merchandise stall had Jane's Addiction knickers on sale. I will neither forget nor forgive this.

Mudhoney
Worth it, if nothing else, for the breakdown in the middle of 'In 'n' Out of Grace'. They weren't bad. Neither were they brilliant.

Iggy and the Stooges
Admittedly, I had never seen them in the 1970s (bit difficult, what with their classic Scala gig happening around the same time as my being born). But they were superb. I'm pleased I made the effort to see them before the sad demise of Rock Action. *Takes hat off, bows head, observes a minute's silence*

The Pixies
I first saw them in 1990, I think (around the same time as Bossanova). They were a bit of a shambles, albeit a charming one. My friends up on the balcony noticed that the set list had loads of songs crossed off it. I came away feeling a bit let down. Not so at their comeback at Brixton Academy, which was awesome. The only false note was sounded by the support act: a magic act by the drummer, David Lovering. But hey, you can't have everything; where would you put it?

My Bloody Valentine
Loud, disorientating and amazing, first time. Loud (but less painful, owing to earplugs), disorientating and amazing, second time.

And that's all. Any advance on that, readers?

Labels: reformed bands

posted by deafdisco @ 1:43 pm