Gig Blogged #22 - Melt-Banana @ Nottingham Trent University

Melt-Banana @ Sub Bar, Nottingham Trent University, Monday November 14th 2005

Before I start dribbling, I must thank George for getting the tickets and Mr. Damn-You for organising another stupendous event. I knew this was going to be a great gig. Not only because it was Melt-Banana, my personal favourite band in the world at the moment, but because Gilbert was making a big effort to convince us that it would be crap. "The venue’s rubbish. The band will have a bad night. Designer Babies are supporting...." And so on.
First of all the venue was downstairs at Trent Uni – not upstairs as Gilb feared - this being the venue for the infamous Lightning Bolt / Jackie O Motherfucker gig attended by the two Gs where Jackie O wrecked the power. The Sub proved itself a nice little bar, with a nice little gig room to one side.
	Secondly, Designer Babies appeared to have lost their lead screecher and as a consequence were nowhere near as awful as in previous encounters. Still wouldn’t buy anything by them or go to see them headline, however. Main chap is now the guitarist, who doesn’t wear hosiery on his head any more but does still pretend to be American. There are enough genuine Americans around without people role-playing Captain Beefheart’s long-lost, weedy nephew, thank you very much. And electro-box girl - ten out of ten for making your own theremin (or finding a cheap Tandy equivalent) but use it more! Drummer was quite impressive, although it was all a bit self-consciously stream-of-consciousness – if you see what I mean.
	Impatient to help the ‘Babies vacate the stage were the Phil Collins 3 (click link at your own risk), all the way from Brighton. There are a lot of bands in Brighton, obviously, so to stand out you have to do something a bit different. Like call your band the Phil Collins 3 when there are five of you, and dress as parrots. Two bass players do not a good sound make, however, especially if they and the rest of the band are thraping an enthusiastic, fuzzy hell out of their instruments while the lead parrot shouts about greenfly eating someone’s dog. Still, I was entertained by them and their enthusiasm was certainly infectious. And, crucially, they didn’t overstay their welcome.
	I hope you realise that I really mean what I am about to say - anyone who has not heard or seen Melt-Banana are not fully human. I’m not judging you and it’s not meant as a cooler-than-thou insult, so don’t take it personally. It’s just a fact. The band go beyond any mere superlatives I could trot out here – suffice to say that this was not merely a great gig but inspiring and, indeed, life-affirming. Yes, I am fully aware of what I sound like but until you have been to see this band you can’t really understand what I’m talking about. We should all feel very lucky that there are still musicians around who can not only make you stand open-mouthed in wonder and amazement at their technical skill but also produce the sort of happiness previously thought possible only via sex, drink, drugs or the sight of your favourite football team continually winning every trophy imaginable.
	With Yasuko, Rika, Agata and yet another drummer quietly setting up their kit after the Brighton parrots had left the stage, the audience seemed, once again, to be blissfully unaware of what was about to unleash itself upon them. Your merry gigging trio, however, were fizzing with anticipation (I would say we had been since George got the tickets several weeks ago). The set was not much changed from the last time we saw them two years or so ago – a new cover (Devo’s Uncontrollable Urge) notwithstanding – but all this was of no consequence when faced with the full-on, refined-and-honed-razor-sharp mania careering around the room.
	Kicking off with Shield For Your Eyes, A Beast In The Well On Your Hand, Agata’s guitar suddenly cut out after the first verse. Any disappointment was soon dissipated by Rika’s bass thunderings and Yasuko’s knife-hot yelps which suddenly took the spotlight. After some frantic pedal-plugging the guitar roared back into life, not letting up again for a moment.
	I took fifty photos – God knows how, as I was frantically headbanging and stamping throughout. Glorious! I had a rest during the ‘short songs’ section. They did eleven and it took longer for Yasuko to announce each song than it did for the band to play them.
	Now, I fancy that I know how to make an electric guitar produce a lot of odd sounds but Agata’s playing just blew me away. At the end, with the other band members remaining absolutely immobile on stage, he played the Outro For Cell-Scape – which myself and Gilb had previously thought was done on a keyboard or a computer. No – it’s on a Gibson SG, through God-knows-what pedals (I saw a Whammy and a Boss Chorus but there were at least a dozen boxes at his feet – and an iPod on its own little ‘bed’) running into – yes – a Sunn amp and Marshall cab. Just simply mind-bending. I felt as if my brain had been run through a spiritual spin-cycle.
	I’m going to stop now – my cup runneth over, as you can probably tell. If you get the chance of seeing this band (and they’re in Cardiff tonight and Leeds tomorrow, apparently) then YOU MUST GO. If you think you know / care about / love music, then YOU MUST GO. Why are you still reading this rubbish? GO AND GET A TICKET !! NOW !!! I can confidently say that your life will never be the same again – now how many bands can you say that about?

UPDATE - George informs that Mr. Damn-You has confirmed the nationality of the lead Designer Baby - he is Canadian. So a measure of apology is in order from yours truly.

UPDATE - Gilbert The Illusionator dresses for work in tribute to Agata (note the lack of footwear)

UPDATE - There's a review of the 'Banana London Garage gig in 2001 on drownedinsound. Sounds like the chap liked it. No others, though - if you've come here from my bit of shameless plugging then welcome!

UPDATE - Slight report on the Birmingham gig here. Written by a yoof, but never mind.

UPDATE - Thoughts and pics from the Bristol gig here (scroll down a bit).

UPDATE - Best Support Band Name goes to this lot playing on the bill with MxBx in Hull.

UPDATE - Review of Glasgow gig here. Sample quote - "They sound exactly like Melt Banana".

UPDATE - Someone slightly younger than me with their take on the Nottingham gig.

UPDATE - The Stockton-on-Tees gig was a 'Sunday Sonic Meltdown' according to the Beeb.

UPDATE - Ignore the rambling diary, this page has a scan of one of the piccies Yasuko hands out during gigs.

UPDATE - This is majorly good fan site - great pics and he linked to frolix_8 as well! Many thanks, Dave.

UPDATE - The Designer Babies' site now has more pics and video from the gig, here and here.

UPDATE - Below are the rest of my photos from the gig - click for full joy...