MAn @ 100 Club

[Michael Heatley]

This isn't so much a review, merely a plea.

If you get the chance to catch the current Man in the next week you owe it to yourself to do so.

They have gone back to basics, returned many classics to the set and are functioning as a team - you would hardly have believed this was gig two.

The first gig at Wrexham attracted 13 - thirteen - paying customers, so all those who wish to can have a laff at this point. But if I tell you Nigel Cross came past me after a thunderous 'Spunk Rock', raised his eyebrows and said one word - 'Crikey!' - you might just believe this is a show worth seeing. The attendance was reasonable if not overflowing, but they were not allowed off stage till 11.30, which must have been heartening.

I repeat: if you get the chance to catch the current Man in the next week you owe it to yourself to do so. I'll be back @ Southend... 

[Jules]

Thanks Michael. Interesting to hear how the classics are coming back. Phil was definitely keen on supporting this approach during the last tour. Hebden Bridge tonight. Can't wait.

[Rob W]

Ok, I shouldn't take the bait, but hey ho....Michael, it's not about whether how good or otherwise, Man is. It's what was said, and how it was said which has alienated me and certainly some others.

Jeez, just remembered, Man playing at my nearest venue tonight, Hebden Bridge. I should be buzzing..... Oh well, at least I'm seeing the Lancashire Hotpots next week. Yep, the Lancashire Hotpots....

[Dave Bardsley]

Yeah.  Can't argue with the Heatleymeister.

It's fair to admit I went there with some (lots of) reservations fearing a chain of Kangaroos, Popemobiles etc.  What I got was The Price, Mad on Her, Women, Man with X-Ray Eyes, Mad on Her, C'Mon, Spunk Rock, Many are Called (In no particular order and, probably, with some omissions)  All strong songs from the back catalogue plus 3 or 4 new songs of KON (with which I am unfamiliar, but none of which caused me to wince).  There was never any doubt about there being an encore but when they struck up Bananas I was completely gobsmacked - a brave choice - then the inevitable Romain followed by a quite blistering Do It/Conflict of Interest.

With Phil in the band the keyboards are now more prominent, both in volume and solos.  But the guitars are still there (although I felt James Beck was a bit low in the sound mix).  Ace is Ace and those bass lines drive and lift the songs.  However I did miss the high register vocals that are above the range of current members - a small point.

Look, things move on.  It's not the Man you saw a year or so ago but it is still, definitely, a Man band.  Not a tribute band.  If you are not inclined to go to their gigs because of recent events I urge you to count to ten, recognise that what's done is done and not to cut off your nose to spite your face.  C'Mon, Do It...   

And then look forward to George and Bob's band, hopefull, later in the year.

And now the screen is dancing...

[Michael Heatley]

This is to Rob - Dave's woken up  Hi Dave!

I have come to the conclusion that, for me, Man is like supporting a lower-division (or non-League!) football team Rob - you continue to look out for those who move on, but you still wear the scarf.

All I know is that while I will always remember the 100 Club as the venue for Deke's last Man gig, I will also have fond memories of last night.

[Rob W]

Hi Michael,

I appreciate your post, thank you.  But what he said in that post, and how he said it, is more than moving on.

13 people at Wrexham was 13 too many. My final word.

[Pete T]

What I got was... Mad on Her... Mad on Her...

So good, they played it twice..

[Dave Bardsley]

What I got was... Mad on Her... Mad on Her...

So good, they played it twice..

Picky...

And, in my defence, Rob's initial posting happened while I was writing my comments; so I was not aware of his post and my comments were not a response to it and should not be read as such.

[Mark Davies]

3 about to hit the road to Hebden Bridge shortly. Only another 11 needed to break the record

[Pete T]

..for me, Man is like supporting a lower-division (or non-League!) football team Rob - you continue to look out for those who move on, but you still wear the scarf.

Well said Michael, a good analagy, but I think the managers chosen the wrong team, I going to watch the rugby now..

[Nick Nation]

...and I never got there in the end. I blame pain. Had a knee op a few weeks ago and although still sore, have been mobile-ish. The show must go on, etc. Unfortunately something went ping as I was walking to the station. Suppose I was rushing a bit. Hospital given me a handful of heavy duty pain killers which errrm...well don't try this at home, kids.

I would like to see this version of the band and was contemplating an attempt at Southend tonight, but I'd have to return by 9.30 to get the last train from London so it's probably not on. I know suffering is good for the soul, so at least I'm soulful. Oww, wince, albeit in a cotton wool cocodamol kind of way. I'll have a banana. 

[Dave Bardsley]

Well said Michael, a good analagy, but I think the managers chosen the wrong team, I going to watch the rugby now..

I don't think you should ever judge a team, either positively or negatively, until you have seen it performing.  Just a thought...

[Nick Nation]

I don't think you should ever judge a team, either positively or negatively, until you have seen it performing.  Just a thought...

Agreed Dave, whatever your thoughts about events over the last year. It may well be that having seen them you still come to the same conclusion...however, at least you will have reached that conclusion from a full picture.

....and sometimes I wish I could convey what it is I'm trying to say a bit better.   

[Pete T]

I don't think you should ever judge a team, either positively or negatively, until you have seen it performing.  Just a thought...

Quite right, and I have heard some of the output of this lineup, via Dime, and wasn't as impressed as some of you. OK, not as good as being there, but sufficiently good to form an opinion. There are still some songs in the set that I'd be quite happy to never hear again. Mad on her and X-ray eyes, plus the stuff from KON, leaves a little over 58% of the gig worth listening too.. It's unlikely that I'll ever see them again (unless George and Bob re-join), and that's sad, because like most of you, the Man band has been one HUGE part of my life.

[HSamuel]

OK, not as good as being there, but sufficiently good to form an opinion.
[/quote]
Being there doesn't necessarily improves things.  I had heard those German shows on Dime but hoped the live experience would be more of a spectacle.  However after attending a MANFA gig in June I was distinctly underwhelmed.  I find it ironic that Martin has been saying  'this is a progressive band', implying that they would be concentrating on the new material, only for them to wheel out the old favourites again a few months later.  Or am I just being cynical?