Venue:
Birmingham Symphony Hall
Date: 16/02/2015
Graham Gouldman keeps the flame flickering for one of the smartest bands these islands have ever produced, far more appropriate heirs to The Beatles than the oft referenced ELO. Yes, some will carp art the absence of the other 3, particularly Eric Stewart who carried on the show with Goldman after Godley & Creme left but long term 10CCers Rick Fenn & Paul Burgess are there to add a stamp of authenticity.
The first half sees the band playing “Sheet Music” in its entirety, beautifully rendered, immaculately played. Full of terrific songs that age beautifully, “Old Wild Men” was a standout, as was the appearance of Kevin Godley on the screen behind them. That’s followed by a second half of hits that demonstrate the breadth and brilliance of 10CC as a songwriter’s collective as much as production whizzkids. Once upon a time, some dismissed them as too clever by half – a typically British attack – but while there is no denying 10CC’s intelligence, it’s the warmth and the wit that really strikes a chord.
Long may Goldman keep this show on the road.
The audience:
How did we all get so old? Enthusiastic, listened properly, very few cameraphones praise the Lord. But why didn’t these people buy Gouldman’s “Love & Work” in huge numbers?
It made me think..
10CC are right up there at the pinnacle of British pop music. Also, bands should work harder at sticking together. Good ones are so much more than the sum of their parts.
pavelboy says
I went to see them at the Liverpool Philharmonic on Sunday and they were tremendous but like Mr Mole states, how did we all get so old ! . Having said that two young lads in front of me, mid 20s at best were rocking away
Vincent says
Love the first 4 10cc albums – not too fussed afterwards, though they had a few moments (NOT “dreadlock holiday”). Saw them in 1976 on the “How Dare You” tour, which was fabulous – when you think it was the original 10cc line up doing the cream of the first albums to an audience of pop kids as well as rock fans in the know, it really was a poppier british Steely Dan. Not aware if there is any video or audio from that tour, but it may well burst my memory bubble, I suppose. BTW, the best attitude to anyone who says “too clever by half” is to cherish your inner clever, as it’s about undermining competence and wit. Not everyone can be the “Anti-Nowhere League”.
Twang says
I was going to make the same point – 10cc have far more in common with Steely Dan that The Beatles for me.
count jim moriarty says
Always a favourite band of mine, from the first time I heard Donna back in the day (when I was bloody 12 years old FFS!). All the early stuff, especially the magnificent How Dare You, still get lots of plays here.
Clearly there was a delicate balance within the band, shown up after the split, when the two halves went in opposite directions. IMHO, the Godley & Creme material stands up better today than the post split 10cc material, which tends towards blandness at times. And Dreadlock Holiday wouldn’t get past the PC police today!
Tiggerlion says
I’ve just damned Father John Misty as ‘too clever by half’ on another thread. To be fair, I did reach the conclusion his album is really very good.
You don’t get many musical japesters these days. 10cc were very funny. Donna still makes me laugh. The notion of being so hopelessly in love that the object of your desire makes you sit down or stand up gets me every time.
I saw that tour, Vincent, at the Liverpool Empire. They had sofas and big red phones and everything.
Vincent says
As if by magic, this bootleg of that show has come up on SugarMegs: http://ia801504.us.archive.org/25/items/10cc1976-02-27LiverpoolEmpireTheatreUK/10cc1976-02-27LiverpoolEmpireTheatreUK.wma?cnt=0
Vincent says
I remember the red phone, but not the sofa – and someone missing a cue in “second sitting for the last supper” so they had to play the bridge again – all done effortlessly in a flash display of being able to play and do something constructive with a mistake. Definitely should’ve tried to snog Jackie Brett afterwards – but the 15-year old me was far too (ironically) “tongue-tied”.
retropath2 says
Talking of Kevin Godley, I see Lol Creme is in the Trevor Horn band tour later in the year, with Anne Dudley and Seal. Seems worth punt?
pencilsqueezer says
Ah 10cc. If only they had put their collective noses to the creative grindstone they could have been as innovative as Hotlegs. Alas it was not to be.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Ruddy Neanderthals, the lot of ’em.
itfc1959 says
Good band, 10CC, and criminally underrated by the serious music press at the time. Or rather, it took the serious music press a long time to get on board (although the NME were gobsmacked by “I’m Not In Love” in their singles column).
The problem I had with 10CC was that the clever-cleverness tended to take over when it was better served as being secondary to the music. OOAA, of course.