Aye, what a lovely coincidence this coming the day after my birthday. Mr Eldritch and myself trekked to Derby (only my third visit), nicely navigated Mark.
Four bands for £4 was such a bargain that we felt safe enough to miss first band Hope Valley (I think) watching the first half of England's rugby performance v S Effrica (me laughing, Mark crying).
First band up, when we got to the nicely ceiling-moulded upstairs gig room, were
Wander Phantom. They looked like a cross between Alice in Chains and My Chemical Toilet, and had the twin bass idea of notorious shitehawks Ned's Atomic Dustbin (though no guitar). So I should really have hated them, but their sub-Scratch Acid/Jesus Lizard chops combined with the singer's Bowie impression actually worked (I still can't see how). Lyrics when audible did seem a bit sixth form (says Percy Bysse Shelley here), but they weren't audible too often, so that was fine. Yeah I've heard far worse, a decent, if a bit po-faced, start.
Next up were Notorious Hi-Fi Killers who I have heard of, but never heard before last night. They're cunts, I didn't like them.
So, after that annoying interlude, on to Lords. I've already said before how much I love Lords and think they should headline more often, so this was a chance to see if I was right. I can see the flaws and strengths from this ridge. Musically, they were great, doing something different, fun and new with swamp-blues-rock, which I thought'd be a pretty much played out musical furrow (nice mixed metaphor). Nice to hear them play a slightly longer set than usual (would've been longer with less support-wise I suppose, but it was a party night and Elvis looked knackered so maybe this was their limit time-wise). The new songs sound just as fruggable as ones from the first album, and they seemed (as they always do) to be loving sharing their musical DNA with each other on the stage there. They are one of my favourite bands at the moment, not favourite local bands, but favourite full stop. So no problems then. Well, as Chris Lord has said on the blog here before, no-one comes out to see them when they headline. And this was kinda borne out last night, I mean it was their 100th show, so you'd expect a big turnout. Well, it was a small venue, but it wasn't full by any means maybe 150 tops there. Now this didn't bother me, but it doesn't auger well for them getting the success they deserve (and they do fucking deserve it [no comebacks] 'cos they're fucking great). M and I had a long discussion as to why that is, and I'm still none the wiser really, maybe wrong place wrong time wrong genre, who knows. Maybe they don't mind. I just think it's a shame they probably won't reach a wider audience for their considerable talents.
The game's not square. Neither are Lords, they're more rhomboid. And great (excuse multiple tautologies).
Grindewald: Mr Eldritch's diary and pictures here (see the middle picture for the very cheesiest of cheesy pics of Chris Elvis and LadywhosenameImissed. Cheeeeese!)
Hey up
Yep, I am sad enough to trawl the net the day after a gig!
What narked you about the Hi-Fi Killers?
Posted by: chris | September 15, 2007 at 04:58 PM
'They're cunts' ?!!??? I believe I am justified in typing 'ROFL', or even 'PML'!! The drummer and bassist of TNH-FK seemed fine. It was Lenny Jimi and his SG-shagging, wasn't it? He did have a lovely Marshall though.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | September 15, 2007 at 08:32 PM
NHFK reminded me of John Lydon crouching on the Winterland Ballroom floor drawling "ever feel like you've been conned" or something like it. I had a feeling the intention was to be ironic, but it just felt like the audience was being laughed at. Almost certainly not true, but that's how it felt, something Hoxton "we're it" about them maybe.
That and me being a miserable old bastard too I suppose.
Posted by: Gilbert | September 16, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Yeah, there was something of the Nathan Barleys about them.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | September 16, 2007 at 01:33 PM
That's a shame - the Hi Fi Killers are ace folks, long time friends and (in my opinion anyway) a shit-hot band. Have a listen to the Myspace page they have and 'Falling Upside Down' if it's still up there. John the gtr player is usually having a bit of a laugh with his comments, I laughed out loud at his miming blowing his head off at the end of the set...
anyway lads - thanks for braving Derby!
Posted by: chris | September 16, 2007 at 03:31 PM
PS - Lady is our 4th member Lucinda who does cello and backing vocals on both rekkids... - www.myspace.com/mybeautifulfelix is her band of which Elv and me are members.
Posted by: chris | September 16, 2007 at 03:37 PM
He's not wrong, y'know - that track is pretty good! We may be facing our age, here, Gilb! John does need to shag the axe less, though, IMHO. Unless the chicks go for that kind of thing, of course, in which case shag away.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | September 16, 2007 at 08:11 PM
Well they do sound a lot better there than they did on Friday. All their namechecks make sense too (Stooges, MC5, Om).
Can't get over the fact they really irritated me in the flesh though, man I was testy!
I'm sure they're lovely and respect their mums though.
They may also be victims of my "be less fucking nice to people" policy. It's a work in progress.
Posted by: Gilbert | September 17, 2007 at 08:44 AM
...and I'm going to be SOOOOOOOO fawning over Nomeansno after Saturday night's gig I'm sure, I needed some editorial balance.
Posted by: Gilbert | September 17, 2007 at 08:46 AM
You need some ears mate! (joke)
Posted by: chris | September 17, 2007 at 02:06 PM
PPPPS - what are your respective correctly spelt names? (boss kitty, palmereldritch that is)
Posted by: chris | September 17, 2007 at 03:21 PM
How am I supposed to retain my air of anonymity if people keep asking me what my name is! ;-)
Palmer Eldritch from this 'ere book > http://www.philipkdick.com/covers/palmer2.jpg
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | September 17, 2007 at 03:25 PM
OK, consider your thanks on the LP officially removed!
Posted by: chris | September 17, 2007 at 04:14 PM
The NMN dig has been noted and will be used against you.
My full name is adrian boss_kitty (underscore not hyphen all lower case - it's a Welsh thing)
Palmer's real name is Lance Atter ;-)
Posted by: Gilbert | September 17, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Thanks Gilb - if 'And thanks to Lance Atter' appears on the sleeve notes I won't know whether to laugh or cry! Not that he'll chance across the recording, of course. To busy listening to the voices.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | September 17, 2007 at 09:59 PM
And I love that 'cheesy' photo!
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | September 17, 2007 at 10:01 PM