Leeds Irish Centre 29/1/07

[Pete]

A few weeks ago I told myself I didn't want to go to the gig and think "Oh Paul is a legend so can get away with playing any rubbish."

I went with a friend who's a big Status Quo and Queen fan. He needs binoculars when he goes to see Quo. He was surprised when I said there wouldn't be a barrier and loads of security stopping you from getting close.
So, we had a few beers in deepest dark Castleford and got the train...apart from for some reason the 6.34pm train no longer runs so we had to wait a while. 1 train an hour to Leeds-what a joke.

Finally got to Leeds at 7.30pm and on to the Irish Centre which is a fair walk, about 30mins away. Watched the support. Apart from it wasn't your usual support band, they had magicians and what have you. Oh come to think of it there was a support band, can't remember what they were called, they were a 3 piece from Peckham playing early Dylan type music. Easy listening, not a bad band at all.

Then onto the real gig, a lot of reggae (Paul's idea?) being played, I really liked it but again I have no idea what the reggae songs were called. The gig started at about 9.30pm. I was hoping to tape it but I couldn't find my sisters digital voice recorder (oh she's found it now-thats no use! I bought it off her for £35 so it will be put to use in the future). I like about 60-70% of TGTBATQ songs. They played the album in full and in order, then a brief break followed by a reggae song (no idea what it was called, no lyrics) and the very strange Mr Whippy. Standouts for me: 80's life, Kingdom Of Doom, Herculean, Nature Springs.

Right, let me get this straight: Those people who say it's a Damon Albarn solo project, they re wrong. Yes he is a big part of the band....Strummer was a big part of The Clash.....but he wasn't THE Clash. Take away Simon/Tony/Paul and it wouldn't sound as good. When Albarn was playing piano Paul kept going into the middle of the stage (and assuming front man pose), he seemed to be enjoying it but looked fcuked after 2 songs. And I love Simon's guitar playing...I hated the verve but it's a very unique sound he has there.

I waited outside for about 30mins before Paul and Damon came out. Got their autographs though there was a few people waiting so it was basically a case of pass your ticket and get it signed, not much chance for a chat. There was some cnut who got 10 different CD's/Vinyl records signed by Paul, hmm I wonder where they might be going...A few strange things-someone getting Damon to sign a Noel Gallagher poster (think he was taking the mick), and someone who said "I love YOUR album Damon." See my above point that it's a collaboration not a solo project. Damon lost his hat outside when signing autographs, my mate picked it up. And handed it back to him "cheers mate" Damon said. My mate thought the band would be surrounded by security.

And to answer my 1st question? He's still a legend and apart from 2 or 3 songs which I don't like, TGTBATQ are great. They play small venues, none of this mega arena rubbish, it's not music for dancing to but it's something new, they could quite easily have been one of these boring indie bands (reference No1: The Kooks) but they aren't. In other words they are "digging the new"


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[2-J]

Great review, thanks!
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[lebovinDmers]

It seems to have been a great gig ...
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[Pete]

Your right it was agreat gig...I counted at least 50 people all recording/taking pictures on their camera phones so hopefully something will turn up.

Now what the heck was that reggae song near the end???

Just to add-they had 3 soundmen. One on the stage, one at the back of the lower level, and one at the front of the upper level. Seems quite a lot???
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[2-J]

The 'reggae song' might be Back In The Day, I think? People have been reporting that that has been played on previous dates, anyway.
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[cobley]

[2-J]

People would have known Guns Of Brixton. And why would they do an instrumental of it, anyway? If they had done, it would have turned into a singalong.
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[Pete]

Cobley-It was certainly not Guns of Brixton. It might have been back in the day (never heard that song-is it a Blur track???), Damon played/blew into a minature keyboard throughout the song, very strange.

Like I said, about 50 people at different stages were filming the gig....yet none of them post on here, none of them post on Strummernews. There was no Gig ad in the Yorkshire Evening Post, there's been no review in the Yorkshire Evening Post....hell did this gig take place or have I imagined it?
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[Pete]

Just seen you've put the setlist on goodbadqueen.net-nice one I was going to ask you to do that.

There's a question mark after Mr Whippy-it was definitely 100% played. Damon introduced the song by saying "we're going to sing a song in Syrian now," the song started then the rapper came on, started singing and then asked everyone to do peace signs. Then when he'd sang all his lyrics he left.

One last bit to change-Mr Whippy was definitely the last song, not the ragge (Back in the day???) song.
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[JackS]

[2-J]

According to what we've heard, the encore has invariably been Back In The Day / Herculean, apart from Guns Of Brixton the first night was also included.
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[Orange]

Hello fellas! I was at the Leeds gig so will give you my account...
Got there bout 7.10, the Irish Centre was lie a slightly upmarket working mens club which turned out to be good as there were no barriers at all, my brother and I were right up against the stage. Saw Paul Simonon and Tony Allen walk to the bar right behind us. Twas an ace night.
By the time the compere came on the place had filled up completely. Compere was a comedian who was ace. Then wattle and daub came on one on stilts he other juggling various things. The one on stilts swallowed a ballon sword......they sort of bombed a bit really people started losing interest, they took too long and seemed to feel quite awkward, they were good jugglers though. Compere came back on cracked everyone up, then the two jugglers came on again better than the last time. Indigo Moss(?) came on they were pretty damn good actually, basically a three piece a guitar a lute and a banjo singing sort of folky blue grass stuff.

Main event: They all arrived swung straght into History Song which was brilliant, we were right in front of Paul, at one point later on his bass was actualy over my head. After History song someone in the audience shouted Damon you're a f***ing genius, to which he grinned....both he and Paul were mesmerising to watch, it made me realise what a great frontman Albarn is he is always so into it and enjoying himself. Two middle-aged Clash punks were behind me shouting go on my son to Paul who was laughed. It was al god but the highlight was probably 3 Changes, I can understand why it has less energy on the album as it fits in better, but in the live show it felt like they were building up to it all the way through......they did have to restart it though but only after about a second, and there was no strop. During behind the sun Damon leaned into the crowd and shaked a few hands. For some reason Simon Tong had Damon's guitar and didn't play his green one....I dunno why. Neither did Albarn play guitar at all, just the piano, which seemed to lead to a slightly different arrangement to behind the sun more like the John Peel one.
Special mention to the strings who were awesome on everything, especially Herculean and Natures Springs. Speaking of which they played straight across the Bunting Song and Natures Springs with a really fluid transition...twas tingly. In fact during the Bunting song (I think, one with no drums) I spied Tony Allen and Jason Cox(?) (Extra keyboardist who was also ace and is really quite essential, and also got very into it) having a sly fag and a chat. GBQ the song was awsome too, i think Damon seemed quite pleased with audience reaction as participation of the handclap variety had begun spontaneously within 3 changes and GBQ......they all seemed to really appreciate it. The obligatory (Everyone could see it on the setlist) encore started and was ace. To clear things up it was back in the day with Damon on melodica, only realised what it was when the bass came in....it was remarkable to watch because it was like a jam and all members were really into it. They finished with Mr. Whippy with Eslaam Jawaad coming out to a massive reception, he was fantastic too seemed to appreciate the love....and made us do peace signs. At the end Jason Cox(?) Came to the front and stuck his thumbs up and said alright?Chheers! then Tony Allen was about to leave but the people were calling and he turned back and shook hands with everyone at the front including me and my brother, as I screamed to him that he was a f***ing legend.....ahem......I'm sure he appreciated it.......all in all an ace night, my brother who'd not heard anything by them and who initially refferred to simonon as the twat in the hat had a great night and came out with great admiration for Paul...so.....sorry if this is long and rambling, thought seen as no one else posted I would....oh there was also an NME photographer who looked like Ray Lamontagne who barged passed everyone....watch out for him the lemon.....anyways thanks hope this is well.......byess
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