Venue:
The White Hotel, Salford
Date: 19/05/2023
When it was announced that Martin Bramah would be fronting an ex-Fall line up along with the Hanley brothers, Si Wolstencroft & Pete Greenway, I was pretty excited. I’m a big fan of The Fall, but only discovered them around the time of Reformation Post TLC & as such only ever got to see the last two lineups. I would loved to have seen all different eras & this (along with seeing Brix & The Extricated a few times) is as close as you can get.
The recently released debut album is great, so as soon as tickets went on sale I snapped them up straight away to see them live. The venue was a little bit ropey (it’s an old garage in the middle of an industrial estate), but aesthetics aside the sound was fantastic & it suited the BIG solid sound the band pump out. Pete Greenway had pulled out of the tour, but the stand in guitarist did a great job & the rest of the band were really on form.
The band opened up with a brand new song, quite impressive seeing as the album was only released a few week ago, so it seems like they may be a 2 albums a year band like their previous one which is great news. The album was played in full along with another new one & then a cover of Wet Legs Ur Mum which segued into Uphill by CAN.
The standout track for me on the album is Turning Of The Years and this was the case live too, it was truly fantastic. I am now weighing up whether to see them again later this week when they return & suspect I will if work permits.
The audience:
Old bald guys for the main part. I heard someone say that I bet no taxis are running in Bury tonight….. harsh but fair
It made me think..
Steve Hanley is a superb bass player. Any band with him in it needs 2 drummers to match his playing.
a video from YouTube of the 2nd track taken by someone else (stood about 3 people in front of me based on the view) :
I had a ticket for the gig at London’s Garage last Thursday but couldn’t go as I started to feel ill late in the afternoon. I knew it might well be a cracking night and was gutted when I read the initial reports on Twitter, although felt pleased for all who did go. It’s a great album, I’d say better than quite a few Fall albums actually, which is obviously controversial! Magic Sound is probably my favourite track but really they are all good. I hope they tour again and that I stay healthy next time.
Very sorry to hear that Nick L, I hope that you are feeling a lot better now.
I am hoping they will tour again soon too, it sounds like they are well on the way with a 2nd album so fingers crossed.
Thanks, yes a quick recovery in the end which just made missing the gig even more annoying!
I agree with you, Nick. The last few Fall albums were not worth hearing once, let alone more than once. Not wishing to speak ill of the dead, but I last saw them at the Cambridge Junction in 2011(ish) and MES was just… irritating.
I gave up listening well before Hanley left. My loss, I know.
I’d go and see this lot, though.
Agree with you @seanioio
Was a very good gig, without damning them with faint praise, pretty much as expected. Thought the Can cover closed the gig fantastically. An “intimate” erm, dilapidated venue! I could only see one drummer from my vantage point on the right hand side but I did get a good view of the aforementioned Hanley S. Why he isn’t held in higher regard as one of the best bassists, I don’t really know.
Great stuff, I am glad you enjoyed it too. The venue was very odd wasn’t it? Not one I would rush back to on the comfort front, but sound wise it was pretty good.
100% agree with Steve Hanley, he is never present in those conversations about great bass players but for my money is one of the best. He really drove the sound on Friday.
I have only ever seen him before with Brix & The Extricated, but House Of All are definitely more of my thing so it was great to watch.
Good description of Hanley S that. He does indeed drive the sound and is eminently watchable.
I can concur from the Wolverhampton gig that they are a mighty fine live proposition with Hanley and the rhythm section endlessly convincing. I do love a band who play literally every song they have.
Bought the album at the gig and finally got round to playing it. Rather strangely I’m finding it very Fall-like.