Re: Art Rock Lives!.....

["Paul Vallis" <paulvallis@ho...com>]

Great night.

Nick W attended 2 gigs on the same night and also seemed to have imbibed at 
least 2 gigs worth of pop judging by the number of times he ended up 
polishing Fiddlers' floor with various bits of his outfit.
Spent 5 minutes in the hallowed area backstage well after everything had 
calmed down, drinking JD out of a plastic cup, chatting mainly with Ruth 
(and Tim from Forest Giants, Ruth's current band), who seemed to enjoy her 
first outing with the Aeroplanes in what must be over 15 years?  I don't 
think she was looking forward to it, as the rehearsal evidently hadn't gone 
too well, but she did enjoy it (apart from the aborted Weightless, as she 
was on stage when they decided to start it and she didn't know it at all).  
Woytek mentioned something about having played football earlier.  Next time 
I looked at him he was asleep.
I think having John Langley there makes all the difference - he really 
drives them and with that kind of backbone in the band it gives everyone a 
bit of confidence and that extra lift.  Both Ruth and, er, the other bass 
player are very "musical" players, adding melody as well as laying down the 
rhythm.  It was the first time Hazel had seen the band since she left in 
1992, and she had forgotten the energy and the buzz that they create.  Maybe 
she'll do it next year?  Assuming there will be a next year?  Who knows.....
I remember the first time I saw Joff do that banjo intro to And Stones at a 
gig at the Folk House a few years ago, and thought it was brilliant.  Nice 
to see it back, after missing it last year.
Tree Full of Starlings worked much better last year with the Larder sisters 
on backing vocals.  Low point of the set for me this year.  Where was Raise 
The Roof High?
Note to anyone thinking of going to the bookies this afternoon: The 
favourite doesn't always win.  Indeed sometimes its a 100-1 outsider.  
They've opened up with Broken & Mended virtually every time I've seen them 
in the past 10 years or so (exception being a Glastonbury show on the 2nd 
stage early afternoon a few years back).  Action Painting?  I'm not sure 
I've EVER seen them play it, let alone open with it!
The first band weren't Fuzz Against Junk, they were just backing the singer, 
whose name escapes me, which is a shame as I thought that, although a couple 
of songs didn't work for me, when they were good they were really good.
I got the last copy of Lit (number 13, bizarrely enough), and might have 
missed out completely if it hadn't been Billy (bass player from first band 
and a friend of mine) selling them.  However I don't think they had them all 
at the gig - some were held back, so others may yet get the chance to buy 
it.
Good to meet everyone again.  Did anyone meet Lisa in the end?  I approached 
one young lady who fitted the description right down to being with a big 
bloke with not much hair.  She said no, but it was the 2nd time someone had 
asked her!  Who got in first?
PV1

From: "Paul Vearncombe" <vearn@wo...co.uk>
Reply-To: blueplanes@st...net
To: <blueplanes@st...net>
Subject: Re: [Blueplanes] Art Rock Lives!.....
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 12:43:30 -0000

Another apocalyptic Aeroplanes gig!  Good attendance from us lot - a brace 
of Pauls, a couple of Phils and a pair of Nicks.  Neville pinched the set 
list and even Nick Walters managed to get across town after seeing the Fall 
in time to enter the death zone.  Good showing from the band too - Gerard, 
Wojtek, Rodney, Jof, Max Noble, John Langley, Ruth Cochrane and...that other 
bassist...  Nice to see Hazel Winter in the audience as well.  They gave us 
a strange mixture of old favourites - ...And Stones, Yr Own World - and 
unusual choices - Lover and Confidante, Up in a Down World, Arriving.  They 
made a right hash of Treefull of Starlings, but it turned out well in the 
end.  All rounded off with Breaking in my Heart, which gave that bastard 
Hendry an excuse to kick the bejasus out of me in the mosh pit.
Now it's time I played Gerard's new album LIT2, which I bought at the gig.  
Blimey.  Must be Christmas.
PV2
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Drdaeve@ao...com
  To: blueplanes@st...net
  Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 11:47 AM
  Subject: [Blueplanes] Art Rock Lives!.....


  Hey Friendsloversplanes!

  Great version of Weightless!

  Firstly, it is always awesome to be in the presence of genius.

  Was the crowd maybe a little larger than last year? No apparent 'Fall 
effect'...did NW do the right thing I wonder? He'll let us know, for 
sure....
  missed all the supporting artists - would have been interested to hear 
Rage against Fuzz again, they were very interesting at the Cube, no...?
  Just saw jet-powered Blue Aeroplanes breaking the sound barrier over and 
over and over and again and again and again. I'm no good with titles and 
order but they started with Action Painting and (Cowardice & 
Caprice?)....'those were our first two singles, and they were both NME 
single of the week'...Right On Gerard! And hey, who would do a better job of 
sorting out the Third World d'you reckon - Bono or Gerard?
  2 from Rodney - Streamers and Fun. Merry Xmas! Fantastic natch.

  Jof on guitar & electric banjo - the banjo intro and all to 'And 
Stones....', just fabulous.
  John Langley is a wonderful drummer.

  Nothing from Rough Music, & only 'Broken and Mended' from Life Model

  Unplugged World View Blue

  We were making crow noises at the end of Cardboard Box, trying to make it 
turn into 'My Hurrivcane' - got to be worth a try
  Was that 'Gunning the Works' - 'Wojtek's favourite song' in the encore?

  Is that Ruth Cochrane cool or what....?

  Thunder. Thunder & Lightning!

  peace & love sisters and brothers!

  DrDx


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