The Manband Forum
General Category => Live Reviews - with spoilers => Topic started by: Jules on October 02, 2011, 07:59:22 PM
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Having followed the band avidly since 1972, and attended as many gigs as I could since those halcyon days, it shouldn't come as any surprise to learn that I attended this year's only UK gig in Leamington last night and thoroughly enjoyed the event.
With Deke expected to guest for a few numbers as an added incentive this was a night not to be missed by the faithful. That said, I'd have gone even if Deke hadn't been appearing.
A fuller review and photos will appear on the Archive in due course, but overall comments and highlights are as follows:
Top marks for The Assembly as a venue. A good sized and well appointed hall, which the audience made a decent dent in but didn't fill (numbers were in the low hundreds according to my rough headcount. Quote from Michael "What? Who stands at the back and counts the heads?" I do. Especially the tall people. The PA was powerful enough and well balanced. A special mention for the drum sound, because that was the best I've heard for years. The lighting was excellent, best since the Albert Hall. The bar was large, decent value, but being limited to Coke as I was the designated driver again, I didn't exactly test the range on offer.
As anticipated the set was split into sections:
Prior to Deke arriving on stage we heard:
The Price (with some particularly muscular and agile guitar playing from James)
Mad On Her
Speak
Steal The World (these two being my second and third favourites from Kingdom Of Noise, after Shadow Of The Hand)
Stuck Behind The Popemobile
The Man With X Ray Eyes (I enjoyed this enormously, with good interplay from Phil throughout)
Deke arrived for:
The Ride And The View (marvellous all round, and much appreciated by forum member with diminutive Japanese wife)
7171551
Daughter Of The Fireplace
C'mon (superb middle section from Phil, although I'm still not convinced about the vocals)
Many Are Called But Few Get Up
A brief intermission before we heard:
Romain
Spunk Rock (with bizarre navigation failure somewhere in the middle)
Then a longer break before we heard:
Bananas
Conflict Of Interest (Do It)
Plenty of fun had on stage, and in the audience too which is what it's all about really. No broken strings to report. Just under two and a half hours from start to finish.
There were a few rough edges here and there - which I'll expand on in the more detailed review later - but then I don't love the band because they're perfect, I love them because they're not perfect.
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Thanks Jules.
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Thanks Jules - a great summary and good to see you again btw. I enjoyed the gig enormously, as did the gathered. Pete. P.S. Michael - yes it really is 1953 ha ha!
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nice one Jules we had a band on at the football club so we couldnt come.After the gig we had a few freinds back for drinks and we blasted out Diamonds and coal,The Price,Bananas etc.Look forward to Morriston in December :)
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Thanks for the review. Expecting some video too...
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Thanks for the review. Expecting some video too...
There were one or two personal video cameras in evidence. You never know what might turn up on YouTube.
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Leamington review now available here (http://www.manband.co.uk/live/01oct11.htm).
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Thanks Tim, looking forward to the pics.
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..is it me, or do these reviews gloss over the first half of the set in a couple of lines, and only become exciting when Deke takes over? Sorry guys, you're not convincing me..
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thanks again Tim :)
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Leamington review now available here (http://www.manband.co.uk/live/01oct11.htm).
Thanks Tim, a good read and I'm also looking forward to seeing the photes.
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Thanks Tim, a good read and I'm also looking forward to seeing the photes.
There are some truly excellent pics on the way... not mine, though. Should be sorted by the end of the week.
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Photos, courtesy of Syd Wall, now online. And rather good they are too.
Enjoy (http://www.manband.co.uk/gallery/index.htm). Or not, as the case may be.
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Photos, courtesy of Syd Wall, now online. And rather good they are too.
Thanks Tim and Syd, particularly liked shot 10 - James concentrating with Deke looking on in the blueness, his head precisely located between guitar neck and mic stand, seemingly back lit and angled to perfection.
They must have spent quite a while framing that one up.
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Thanks Tim and Syd, particularly liked shot 10 - James concentrating with Deke looking on in the blueness, his head precisely located between guitar neck and mic stand, seemingly back lit and angled to perfection.
They must have spent quite a while framing that one up.
Number 3 also took some time to set up while Deke had that purple death ray implant put in his forehead.
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Excellent photos, particularly considering that most of the lighting on Saturday seemed to come from the back - impressive quality. Thanks!
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Great photos, thanks. Deke looks surprisingly well !
How great to see Deke, Martin and Phil together on stage.
I don't like the other three...
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Enjoy. Or not, as the case may be.
Without wanting to seem contraversial, provocative or even plain daft, surely the last photo caption should begin with the indefinite article?
No offence intended to your excellent site Tim W I assure you.
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Enjoy. Or not, as the case may be.
Without wanting to seem contraversial, provocative or even plain daft, surely the last photo caption should begin with the indefinite article?
Very good MD, very good.
But if you're going to be such a friggin' sm*rt*rse, you could spell "contraversial" correctly!
;D ;D ;D (3 of 'em just in case you're thinking of sending the heavies round)
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Yes, nice one Mr D.
I don't like the other three...
I'm trying to be balanced (although I don't know why I bother) but I admire Josh as he is a Man fan and a good song writer. I admire James as he is a Micky fan and I admire Rene for his overall technique - other than the way 'C'Mon' has been re-interpreted rhythmically.
However I wonder if this line up was formed without them ever having played together?
It's now been nearly three years with ths line up, which as far as I can recall makes it the second longest behind the Jones/Leonard/Weathers/Ace line up of the early 80s.
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But if you're going to be such a friggin' sm*rt*rse, you could spell "contraversial" correctly!
Sorry Rob, I was in a rush. As soon as I clicked on post I saw it and I thought if there is going to another smartarse who'll spot it on a Sunday morning....
;D ;D ;D ;D (4 in lieu of a smite)
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But if you're going to be such a friggin' sm*rt*rse, you could spell "contraversial" correctly!
Damn! You know how sometimes you only think of a suitable(ish) retort after the event...?
Rob, don't be so controry. 8)
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Would that be CONtroversy or conTROVersy?
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Would that be CONtroversy or conTROVersy?
NEWcastle or newCASTLE?
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It's now been nearly three years with ths line up, which as far as I can recall makes it the second longest behind the Jones/Leonard/Weathers/Ace line up of the early 80s.
Aah - but how many gigs did the Jones/Leonard/Weathers/Ace line up do, and how many have the current line up done? It's that activity/productivity conundrum again...
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NEWcastle or newCASTLE?
newcassell. as in newcassell resorves, the boinking of.
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how many gigs did the Jones/Leonard/Weathers/Ace line up do, and how many have the current line up done? It's that activity/productivity conundrum again...
QUALity, or qualITY?
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QUALity, or qualITY?
Qua, the essence of being. Could be useful in chess, more useful in Scrabble.
Did anybody notice whether the forthcoming box set/ Deke book was mentioned on stage at any point?
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Gutted not to be included in Gavin's hit list of Martin "Spawn of the Devil" Ace publicists. Must try harder. So in that spirit...
Photos from Leamington Spa now up on my website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/markdav/index.htm (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/markdav/index.htm).
Apologies that they look piss poor compared to Syd Wall's magnificent efforts. Again, must try harder.
P.S. Enjoyed the gig greatly.
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I'm sure there's 99 great pics there, had a look, but got fed up of seeing the "new kids on the block", and stopped looking after the first few.. Doesn't do it for me..
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Photos from Leamington Spa now up on my website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/markdav/index.htm (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/markdav/index.htm).
Not at all piss poor Mark, a very welcome set. Great to see Deke so obviously enjoying James' playing too.
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Great to see Deke so obviously enjoying James' playing too.
Yes, that's the impression I got as well.
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well done Mark :)
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Hey, Mark. Got to agree with you. The photo's.......piss poor.
No they weren't and you know it. Irrespective of whichever side of the wall you fall (name the Deke song that comes from) in the great MA debate (and i'm gutted not to be included in Pete T's gang of two, though that would make it three), nevertheless, great photos. And there does seem to be a fair sprinkling of punters.
I see on one of the photo's, our Jules was being extremely rude, turning his back on the artistes. Could Jules be a closet number 4?
;D
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One of the highlights was the clear enjoyment Deke had through this event.
His rapport with James was worth the entry fee on its own - there seemed to be a flow of empathy and joy between them.
Superb.
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Thanks for the review. Expecting some video too...
There were one or two personal video cameras in evidence. You never know what might turn up on YouTube.
Took lots of video but sadly its not good enough for you tube - might try and assemble a montage though
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Gutted not to be included in Gavin's hit list of Martin "Spawn of the Devil" Ace publicists. Must try harder. So in that spirit...
Photos from Leamington Spa now up on my website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/markdav/index.htm (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/markdav/index.htm).
Apologies that they look piss poor compared to Syd Wall's magnificent efforts. Again, must try harder.
P.S. Enjoyed the gig greatly.
Didnt realise the height difference between the wife and I - so thanks for pic 14!! :o
Photo 63 deserves an award for capturing a great moment - thanks
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Hey, Mark. Got to agree with you. The photo's.......piss poor.
No they weren't and you know it. Irrespective of whichever side of the wall you fall (name the Deke song that comes from)
No idea, but I did take a copy of Map of India to the gig for Deke to sign....sadly failed ;-(
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I see on one of the photo's, our Jules was being extremely rude, turning his back on the artistes. Could Jules be a closet number 4?
So I was! That must have been about two songs in. I'd had enough by then. ;)
If I'm a closet anything, can I be a closet number 6?
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You're not a number, you are a human cupboard.
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At the risk of being repetitive - some excellent photos here Mark, thanks. Good memories. (And to the sceptics amongst you a fair portion of the audience was to the rear and side of these photos - I must have been somewhere to the right and behind the camera most of the time because even my back is not shown!)
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Good memories.
The discussion about Stacia is on another thread ::)
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Review and gallery now available on the Archive (http://www.manband-archive.com).
You'll find them in the Concerts section.
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Enjoyable reading Jules.
A few years? I make it "since 1975!!!"
Well worth the trip on the 1st. I wish it had not been such a long gap, I missed a lot.
Helen
Review and gallery now available on the Archive (http://www.manband-archive.com).
You'll find them in the Concerts section.
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Dissapointed Jules. No nnention of house prices, nunnber of Estate agents, or interest rates in Building Societies..
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I think a great review. Plenty of light and shade (of which I've never known the precise meaning, but I think I get the gist).
A nice tip of the hat to Gav inviting those who want an unbiased view to b*gg*r off elsewhere. A possible pop at all who did not attend as being not of the 'faithful' perhaps? Ok, Pete has a point. A little like an estate agents report, but not too dissimilar to previous gig reviews in days of yore. Mind you, I draw the line at reading about Jules and Marie's "mooch". What you two get up to in your private lives....noubt to do with me. Mind you, a few lessons wouldn't go amiss....!
And to confirm that this won't necessarily be the most critically acclaimed review, a skilful reference to why Man "hardly ever play in Belgium anymore". That was a beauty.
So no, may sound I'm having a reverse pop, but nope, each of us to our own, and Jules did lay down the rules of his report. Taken in spirit, and although I still would keep my bedroom door firmly closed and locked, a thoroughly good read.
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....and although I still would keep my bedroom door firmly closed and locked.....
We are eternally grateful for that ;)
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....and although I still would keep my bedroom door firmly closed and locked.....
We are eternally grateful for that ;)
Allan. I aim to please.
(providing the bedroom door is locked of course)
You know what I meant, you cheeky boy, you..... :)
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Dissapointed Jules. No nnention of house prices, nunnber of Estate agents, or interest rates in Building Societies..
We did have a look. Scary.
;)
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We did have a look. Scary.
;)
Depends where you live now Jules.
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Hello Helen! Will be in touch, last week has been challenging...
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True. Too true. We also checked out the house prices last time we were in the home counties, which must have been three or four years ago now. I've only recently been able to come off the sedatives.
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Oooooohhh blaaaaaast Jules you ain't quoite got the 'aaaang of them quote boxes 'ave yew boy. Oi reckon it's them sedatives. Besoides, you could boy a 95 bedroom mansion for £50 if yew be prepared to live on Dartmoor. Provoided yew don't moind the sownd of howling wolves.
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Oooooohhh blaaaaaast Jules you ain't quoite got the 'aaaang of them quote boxes 'ave yew boy. Oi reckon it's them sedatives. Besoides, you could boy a 95 bedroom mansion for £50 if yew be prepared to live on Dartmoor. Provoided yew don't moind the sownd of howling wolves.
Blimey, you don't need Dartmoor for that. You can live on Ashurst Grove, Radcliffe if you want and have the same thing.
I used to be a werewolf, but I'm alright noooooouuuuuuwwwwww
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Jules you ain't quoite got the 'aaaang of them quote boxes 'ave yew boy.
Trickier than I thought ;D