David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
Registered: 09-2003
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Mostly Autumn (a review)
Every time somebody rolls their eyes at me for (persistently) telling them that Mostly Autumn is the best band to come along for three decades, I want to forcibly drag them to a gig like last night's and say Look! Listen! Isn't this the best gig you've ever seen?
Trillians in Newcastle is the most badly-designed, worstest-sounding, airless, smokey hole it had ever been my misfortune to enter yet somehow these seven musicians crammed onto a stage smaller than my desk deliver a faultless performance of such beauty, warmth, and power that they rise above the inadequacies of the venue and oh help I've forgotten where this sentence was going. Mostly Autumn live are just Very, Very Good, ok? Not only do they have some of the best songs ever recorded, they create an incredible live experience that really deserves a bigger audience than a two-thirds-filled pub, and the only thing holding them back is their grevious error of being born in the wrong decade...
How many times have I seen this band now? Seventeen times in the last four years, I think. And even after all that, and with no new album to promote, they can still surprise me with a set that includes about half-a-dozen songs I can't remember hearing live before. Plus most of the "classics". All crammed into just under 110 minutes (a fairly short set by their standards).
I'm not going to give a full set list, I can't even give any specific highlights, because it was just all good from beginning to end. And even though they (inevitably) missed some songs I would love to hear, I wouldn't change a thing.
The band has progressed massively over the years I've been following them and their act (as witnessed at last year's York Opera House concert, available on DVD, plug, plug) is finely polished and professional. But they still come across as warm, human, and close to their fans, as seen in occasions such as Heather's embarrassed ad libs when Bryan and Liam ran off stage for a mid-set toilet break, or their (only jokingly nervous?) banter about ticket sales for the upcoming theatre shows. I hope they don't lose that sense of intimacy with their fans when they become superstars and move into bigger venues. Because it's a special thing, and it makes the horribleness of the venue and the too-loud sound system all worth while...
Ok, this review has babbled far too much already so I think I'll have to stop here. *sigh*.
--- Vision or Imagination is a Representation of what Eternally Exists
- William Blake
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8/4/2004, 8:52
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unchained
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
David,
How did Andrew do last night? Did you completely forget at times that there was someone different on the bongos? He seemed to slot straight in at Bilston.
Bob
--- in the end we will send you home Deaf - Jon Lord
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8/4/2004, 8:58
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Rahul
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
Hi David,
I enjoyed the band too, though perhaps not to the same level that you did, but unfortunately, my girlfriend got bored mid-way through!
This coming from the same lass who had a great time seeing Glenn Hughes!
If I was going to pick before hand which artist she would prefer, I certainly wouldn't have guessed it would have been Glenn!
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8/4/2004, 9:46
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David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
quote: unchained wrote:
David,
How did Andrew do last night? Did you completely forget at times that there was someone different on the bongos? He seemed to slot straight in at Bilston.
Bob
I agree -- he fitted in seamlessly. He did nothing to convince me he is better than Jonathan, but he's just as good. Though I did miss Jonathan's crashing crescendos in some songs.
--- Vision or Imagination is a Representation of what Eternally Exists
- William Blake
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8/4/2004, 10:00
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David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
quote: Rahul wrote:
unfortunately, my girlfriend got bored mid-way through!
Are you both going to the Opera House? Because in that venue I would expect to see a lot more of their laid-back and acoustic songs, with a potentially much higher boredom factor
--- Vision or Imagination is a Representation of what Eternally Exists
- William Blake
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8/4/2004, 10:02
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unchained
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
quote: Rahul wrote:
but unfortunately, my girlfriend got bored mid-way through!
This coming from the same lass who had a great time seeing Glenn Hughes!
Sounds like her taste in music is as suspect as her taste in men!!!!!!!!
Bob
PS. Good luck for your lot tonight Rahul.
--- in the end we will send you home Deaf - Jon Lord
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8/4/2004, 10:23
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bonny
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
You enjoyed it then David.
You say it was about two thirds capacitity ...... does anyone know how ticket sales are doing for V shows ?
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8/4/2004, 10:31
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Rahul
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
quote: unchained wrote:
Sounds like her taste in music is as suspect as her taste in men!!!!!!!!
Bob
PS. Good luck for your lot tonight Rahul.
You can't make up for that cheeky comment just by wishing my football team good luck!
But thanks anyway. I've got a bad feeling about this away tie. Just hope we can do 'em back at ours!
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8/4/2004, 10:57
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unchained
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
quote: Rahul wrote:
I've got a bad feeling about this away tie. Just hope we can do 'em back at ours!
I shouldn't worry to much, if this week has proved anything; it's that the first leg is just a rehearsal for an upset in the second.
Bob
--- in the end we will send you home Deaf - Jon Lord
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8/4/2004, 11:00
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Rahul
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Re: Mostly Autumn (a review)
quote: David Meadows wrote:
Are you both going to the Opera House?
I'm not going to invite her!
I'm taking her to Deep Purple though. If she gets bored at that gig, she will be putting our relationship into serious jeopardy!
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8/4/2004, 11:00
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