Massive Attack v Adam Curtis Manchester International Festival 7 July 2013
This was a very different sort of performance. Adam Curtis is a film and documentary maker, whose work explores politics and philosophy. For this event, commissioned by the Manchester International Festival, he has worked with Bristol trip hop legends Massive Attack to produce an experience which explores power and politics and their impact on all of us. Adam calls the performance “a Gilm” – “a new way of integrating a gig with a film that has a powerful overall narrative and emotional individual stories. The show will be a bit of a total experience. You will be surrounded by all kinds of images and sounds. But it is also about ideas. It tells a story about how a new system of power has risen up in the modern world to manage and control us. A rigid and static system that has found in those images and sounds a way of enveloping us in a thin two-dimensional version of the past.” David came up from London especially for the event, and we drove down from home via Leeds, where we picked up Laura who had been attending a friend’s birthday barbecue celebrations. The venue for the event was the Mayfield Depot, Manchester, which is a disused and somewhat spooky old building, right next to Piccadilly station. We arrived at the venue at 8.15pm and waited in anticipation for the start which came at 9pm prompt, at which time, we were all directed along with 1,500 others into a dark space completely surrounded by giant screens on three sides. The screens then showed Curtis’ new documentary Everything Is Going According to Plan, while Massive Attack played at the end of the room, from behind a translucent screen. The film took us through a story of how politics, the advent of computers and the proliferation of data, war and the financial crisis have all set out to control and plan our destiny and how ultimately “The Plan” has failed. This was achieved through a mash-up of news images and some quite bizarre selections of scenes from Bambi, Mary Poppins, and Jane Fonda’s work-out video (? :)). Massive Attack’s soundtrack ranged from their own doomy, deep bass-laden soundscapes which rocked and vibrated the very foundations of the space, to a series of quite off-the-wall covers performed by guest vocalists and long-time collaborators Elizabeth Frazer (formerly of the Cocteau Twins) and reggae singer Horace Andy. These covers included Nirvana’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night, Burt Bacharach’s The Look of Love and Baby Its You, The Archie’s Sugar Sugar and Barbra Streisand’s My Colouring Book. The highlight for me was Elisabeth Frazer’s performances of The Look of Love, and My Colouring Book; the latter is one of my favourite songs. Elizabeth stood centre stage behind a screen; a giant image of her own face projecting over her, softly wringing the emotion out of each word, in that haunting etherial voice. Rarely have I heard and seen such a passionate and authentic performance of a song. She was simply stunning; it was worth attending the event for her performance of My Colouring Book alone. The “gilm” concluded with an upbeat message, reaffirming that we were in control of our own destiny and that we could change the world. The final slogan displayed on the screens told us to “Now Find Your Own Way Home”. We were directed out of the building in a quite different direction to the one in which we entered; guided only by one extremely bright searchlight. As we passed through the derelict building, we were watched over by a guard with an alsatian dog; the dog barked loudly at us. All quite strange. Did it work? Yes in part. It was certainly a unique and impressive experience. I felt that some of the images were a little too bizarre, and some a little too obvious, as were some of the slogans. But I’m pleased I attended, and I am delighted that I had the opportunity to witness Elizabeth Fraser’s haunting performance; it is some 30 years since I last saw her perform in the Cocteau Twins.
“This is the room that I sleep in and walk in; And weep in and hide in; That nobody, nobody’s seen; Oh, colour it lonely, please” (My Colouring Book; Ebb and Kander, 1962).
Posts Tagged ‘pop’
8 Jul
Massive Attack v Adam Curtis Manchester International Festival 7 July 2013
7 Jul
Glastonbury Festival 2013
Glastonbury Festival 2013
I’ve already reported my thoughts on the Rolling Stones and Portishead sets at Glastonbury 2013, but I would also like to briefly reflect on my overall impressions of this year festival. We are just getting used to going to festivals again, having taken a long break from the days when we used to attend most of the festivals that took place in the UK throughout the 70s and early 80s. We have been to one day events in the years since then, but I really couldn’t face the prospect of camping and staying in a field for several days. Until 2010, that is, when Marie, David, Laura and I decided to take the plunge and go to Glastonbury. To my surprise and delight, we all enjoyed every minute of the experience, and we returned on 2011 and again this year in 2013. Glastonbury 2011 tested our faith, with a lot of rain and mud, and made me think twice about going this year. We hired a campervan in 2010 and 2011, but this year, partly as a result of the van getting stuck in the mud and having to get towed out by a tractor (which still gives me nightmares), we decided to try camping for real, in a tent (!) this time. So we bought a nice family size tent, and all the essentials: airbeds, stove, and even a blow-up sofa. We drove down on the Wednesday, arriving during the evening to get a spot in the campsite. Thursday was spent resting after the long drive, and moving all of all our stuff (we took far too much) from the car to the tent. Laura and David met some friends and left us for much of the time, joining us for the Stones and Portishead. We just took it easy, wandered around the massive site taking in the atmosphere, and caught a few bands along the way. 
Highlights of the acts that we did see were: Beady Eye on the Other Stage on Friday, Liam showing off his old familiar swagger, Bill Bragg rousing us all to think a little on the Saturday morning on the Pyramid stage, Elvis Costello singing all those hits on Saturday afternoon, Rufus Wainwright alone with a grand piano singing sweetly on the Pyramid on the Sunday afternoon, and Primal Scream, who seemed a little lost and didn’t quite get the crowd going before the Stones. There were a lot more acts that I had planned to see, but there are so many stages and so many things to do it just wasn’t possible to do so. And the weather was great. There was a little rain on the Thursday, which produced a small amount of the obligatory mud. However that mud soon dried up and the rest of the weekend from Friday to Sunday was sunny and hot. So we juts took things easy, rested some, walked around the site a little and caught a few bands. My main objective was to see the Stones, and that was achieved. Anything else was a bonus. We left later on Sunday, driving home before the crowds started. The vibe at Glastonbury is great; very friendly with people of all ages. We certainly didn’t feel out of place at all. So my faith and interest in festivals remains renewed, and we look forward to Glastonbury 2014 (hope we can get tickets 🙂 ). I think one festival a year of this type is probably enough for me now, and probably all I can cope with if I am honest with myself. I returned stiff and tired and have only just got over the whole thing. However, there are lots of other festival types and one day events that we intend to visit over the Summer, starting with Massive Attack vs Adam Curtis as part of the Manchester International Festival tonight and The Stones in Hyde Park next Saturday.
6 Jul
Bula Quo! Durham Gala Cinema 5 July 2013
Bula Quo! Durham Gala Cinema 5 July 2013
When I was a kid in the 60s I remember going to see Cliff in Summer Holiday, the Beatles in Help! and Dave Clark in Catch Us if You Can. They were all good clean fun, with great songs and some good humour from my pop group heroes. Then in the 70s I saw Woodstock, Slade in Flame, and Tommy. Again, all great in their own way. And last night I went to see Status Quo star in their movie, Bula Quo. Now I love Status Quo. I don’t care if people think they are naff, can only play three chords, etc. I know how awesome they were in the 70s, and how they can still rock today. But I have to say this film isn’t great (sorry Francis and Rick). Sure its a bit of fun, but with a bit more thought and some more good songs, it could have been a lot better. The plot goes something like this. Quo are playing a few gigs in Fiji. Francis and Rick slip away from the rest of the band and witness a russian roulette game, that turns into a murder. They film it, but the gangster behind it all is also one of the sponsors of their gig. 
They get chased around the island, along with some press people, their manager and an intern who is working with them called (of course) Caroline. It turns out the gangsters are also trading in human organs (?) and selling the left-overs in a restaurant (?!). Lots of chasing and stunts. The bad guys kidnap Caroline and our two heroes go to rescue her and end up playing russian roulette themselves. They escape of course. Oh and they play Living on as Island and a few other songs. I enjoyed it, along with the 5 (I kid you not :)) other people who were in the audience. But hey Cliff was much better in Summer Holiday. And there were more people there to see him too. How times changes. Roll on the Bula Quo tour, and the gig at Newcastle Arena in December. Hope I win the holiday in Fiji.
5 Jul
Elton John Durham County Cricket Club 2006
Elton John Durham County Cricket Club 2006
Laura and I went to this large open air concert which took place in Chester-le-Street at the Cricket Ground which is the home of Durham County Cricket Club. We bought two tickets for a low price on eBay, as I recall. Support came from The Stories. This was another great gig by Elton, and very much a greatest hit set. 
Setlist: Bennie And The Jets; Philadelphia Freedom; Believe; Daniel; Rocket Man; I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues; Turn The Lights Out When You Leave; They Call Her The Cat; The One; Take Me To The Pilot; Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding; Tiny Dancer; I Want Love; Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word; Sacrifice; Are You Ready For Love; I’m Still Standing; The Bitch Is Back; Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting); Crocodile Rock; Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me; Your Song. I am almost through writing about Elton John, just one more concert to report on.
4 Jul
Elton John Newcastle Arena 2004
Elton John Newcastle Arena 2004
It was 2004 and Elton John released a new album: Peachtree Road. This was his 28th studio album, and Elton went out on the road to promote it, calling at Newcastle Arena iton 7 December 2004. I went along to the gig with Laura, and we had good seats quite close to the front. Tickets were again quite expensive at £50 which was becoming the norm for an Elton John gig. 
The first part of the set featured several tracks form the Peachtree Road album: Weight of the World; Porch Swing in Tupelo; Answer in the Sky; Turn the Lights Out When You Leave; My Elusive Drug; They Call Her the Cat; Freaks in Love; All That I’m Allowed (I’m Thankful); and I Can’t Keep This from You. Then Elton played a set of favourites: Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word; Daniel; Rocket Man; I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues; Tiny Dancer; Are You Ready for Love; Philadelphia Freedom; Border Song; Levon; Burn Down the Mission; Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me; I’m Still Standing; The Bitch Is Back; Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!); Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting; Your Song.
3 Jul
Portishead Glastonbury 2013
Portishead Glastonbury 2013
Aside from the Stones performance, the other highlight of Glastonbury 2013 for us was Portishead’s awesome performance on the Other Stage on Friday night. Competing for a crowd with the Artic Monkeys, Portishead succeeded in drawing a big crowd. Their performance was simply perfection in itself. The sound was crisp, clear and loud; the visuals were subtle and impressive, mixing 60s psych with visual reverb and subdued dark black and white images, and Beth’s singing was note perfect, moving, passionate and intense. Roads is my favourite track and last Friday their performance of the song was stunning. The set was a mix of favourites, just the right length, and as usual there was no encore. From the moment the large letter P appeared in the centre of the screen to the end of the last song We Carry On the crowd were just transfixed. This was the third time I have seen this band, and it was easily the best. A classic performance. Setlist: Silence; Mysterons; The Rip; Sour Times; Magic Doors; Wandering Star; Machine Gun; Over; Glory Box; Chase the Tear; Cowboys; Threads; Roads; We Carry On.
2 Jul
The Rolling Stones Glastonbury Festival 2013
The Rolling Stones Glastonbury Festival 2013
We are still recovering from this year’s Glastonbury festival. The weather at the weekend was super, and Marie, David, Laura and I had a great time at the festival. For me the highlight was, without a doubt, the first appearance of the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury. I so wanted them to live up to the occasion, and by and large, they did. Their set had a few small changes from the gig that I attended at the O2 London last November. Anticipation for this gig was high, and the expectation of the festival crowd was pretty high. The Stones came on stage just after 9.30pm on Saturday night, opening with Jumping Jack Flash. Jagger was a bundle of energy strutting about the stage; Keith was Mr Cool chugging out those familiar riffs. We were sitting on a viewing platform towards the back, and the sound was clear but it just wasn’t loud enough. It did improve as the set progressed, but didn’t reach full volume. I heard later that some of the speakers near the rear of the field weren’t working. Nevertheless, this was a great opener and the crowd was completely up for it. The field was rammed; I’ve never see a place so full; I wonder how many people were watching Chase and Status on the Other Stage. Next up was It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, followed by Ronnie’s electric sitar signalling the start of Paint It Black. This song has become one of my favourites. The screens showed black and white images of the band; very sixtiesish. Wonderful; it just doesn’t get any better. Then we were into Gimme Shelter; Jagger trading lines with Lisa Fischer who did an excellent job. The next song was a surprise. Mick explained how he had spent Friday night visiting Shangri La and watching the Artic Monkeys (yeah right, Mick, sure you did) and then met a “Glastonbury Girl”, which was the title of the next song. Actually it was a reworked version of their 1968 song Factory Girl, with the lyrics changed to match (“offered her my luxury yurt” ! :)). A nice touch which went down well with the crowd, and although a little tacky was a pretty good song. Wild Horses followed and then a new track Doom and Gloom, which I’m sort of getting to like now. Then Jagger introduced Mick Taylor for Can’t You Hear Me Knocking. Don’t get me wrong, this was an excellent Stones performance, but it was around this point that I began to wonder what some of the crowd were making of it. Sure Stones fans would love it, but I sensed the majority of the crowd didn’t know (or care) who Mick Taylor is, and had never heard these songs. Still the crowd reaction remained strong and positive. Anyway next up was Honky Tonk Women which everyone sand along to. By this point I realised that we weren’t going to get any special guest; but hey who cares, this was Glasto and the Stones. Then Keith got his turn to lead on a couple of songs which were You Got the Silver and Happy. Mick returned for Miss You, and was joined by Mick Taylor for Midnight Rambler. This one took me back to Knebworth in 1976 (but, again, I would guess the majority of the crowd didn’t know it). Then we got another surprise. Mick announced that they were going to play a track from Their Satanic Majesties and the band launched into 2000 Light Years from Home. This was, apparently, the first time the Stones have played this for more than 20 years. The screens showed some great psychedelic liquid lens effects. Amazing. We were on the home run now. Sympathy for the Devil was next, and at this point the metallic phoenix perched on the top of the pyramid stage started to flex its wing and rise from its slumber. Start Me Up, Tumbling Dice and Brown Sugar completed the main set. For the encore, the band returned to play You Can’t Always Get What You Want, accompanied by the same choir as at the O2 gig. Satisfaction was the very last song with everyone singing along and Jagger being the ultimate showman. Excellent. The Stones nailed it and showed why they remain at the top of their game some 50 years after they started classic british rock. Was it good? Yes of course. I can think of only two areas that could have been improved. First the sound and the volume at the back of the field wasn’t as good as it might have been. And second I thought for a Glasto crowd a few more hits would have really slayed everyone. But then you really can’t always get what you want. David and I will see them again at their second Hyde Park gig on 13th July. I can’t wait.
1 Jul
Elton John Raby Castle 2000
Elton John Raby Castle 2000
From the Raby Castle website: “Home to Lord Barnard’s family since 1626, Raby is one of the finest medieval Castles in England. Built by the mighty Nevill family in the 14th Century, Raby remained in the Nevill family until 1569 when after the failure of the Rising of the North, the Castle and its lands were forfeited to the Crown. In 1626, Sir Henry Vane the Elder purchased Raby and the Castle has remained in the Vane family ever since.” 
This was a solo concert with Elton and piano in the grounds of Raby Castle, Durham, as part of a tour of stately homes. It had been some 10 years since I last saw Elton in concert. I went with Marie and we really enjoyed it. We had seats close to the front, and a great view. The weather wasn’t too good with a little rain as I recall. The tickets were expensive at £50 each, which seemed a lot at the time. Setlist: Your Song, The Greatest Discovery, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Daniel, Harmony, Honky Cat, Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom, Sacrifice, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Burning Down The Mission, Blue Eyes, Empty Garden, Crocodile Rock. Encore: Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me, The Circle of Life, Benny and the Jets, Candle in the Wind.
29 Jun
Elton John Newcastle City Hall 1986
Elton John Newcastle City Hall 1986
Elton was back at the City Hall in 1986. The tour was to promote his latest album, Ice on Fire, and started in the autumn of 1985 and continued until October 1986. Elton ended 1986 with a series of concerts in Australia at which he was accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The UK performances were staged in a mix of arenas (he played nine nights at Wembley arena) and small and intimate venues including Newcastle City Hall, Manchester Apollo and Edinburgh Playhouse. He played several nights at each venue, including three at Newcastle. The entire tour lasted for eighty-six shows and covered eleven continent. 
Setlist: Highlander; Tonight; One Horse Town; Better Off Dead; Rocket Man;
Honky Cat; Burn Down the Mission; Someone Saved My Life Tonight; The Bitch Is Back; A Song for You; Blue Eyes; I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues; Restless; Passengers; Bennie and the Jets; Sad Songs (Say So Much); Shoot Down the Moon; This Town; Nikita; I’m Still Standing; Your Song; Wrap Her Up; Candle in the Wind; Can I Get a Witness
28 Jun
Elton John Wembley Stadium Summer of 84 concert
Elton John Wembley Stadium Summer of 84 concert
This was the second time Elton had headlined at Wembley Stadium, fronting a line-up which also featured Big Country, Kool and The Gang, Wang Chung and Nik Kershaw. Big Country stepped in at the last minute as replacement for Paul Young who was unwell. I went with my mate Dave, we were both fans of Big Country at the time and we were pleased to see that they were added to the bill. The rest of the acts were ok, standout memories for me are Nik Kershaw and Wouldn’t It Be Nice (the superlative song The Riddle was to follow later that year), Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung, and Kool and the Gang’s set which was also a highlight. 
Elton was on top form that day, and the concert was a big success for him; particularly considering his less than successful previous appearance at Wembley Stadium 9 years before. I have two programmes from that day, one was produced for the concert itself, the other is Elton John’s own tour programme for the European tour, of which this concert was part. I was back at Wembley Stadium the following year for Live Aid, and Elton was again on the bill. 
Elton John setlist that day: Tiny Dancer; Hercules; Rocket Man; Daniel; Restless; Candle in the Wind; The Bitch Is Back; Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me; Sad Songs (Say So Much); Bennie and the Jets; Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word; Philadelphia Freedom; Blue Eyes; I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues; Kiss the Bride; One More Arrow; Too Low for Zero; I’m Still Standing; Your Song; Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; Crocodile Rock; Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On / I Saw Her Standing There / Twist and Shout.
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