As JC has suggested elsewhere, this was a show I never thought I’d see. However I’ve seen enough reunions by now to have some confidence that it would be worth seeing.
The fact that I’d never seen the band before and the improbability of the reunion given Devoto’s almost total disengagement with rock music in the last 20 years bult up a fair degree of mystique for me at least. But ultimately this wasn’t the quasi-religious experience it might have been although there’s no doubting that it certainly lived up to any reasonable expectations.
At times it was brilliant – the pounding opening ‘The Light Pours Out of Me’, a thrilling ‘Rhythm of Cruelty’ on the back of Devoto’s tribute to deceased guitarist John McGeoch and an awesome ‘Permafrost’ were just some examples.
Other highlights included the opening bars of the familiar riff for ‘Song From Under The Floorboards’ and a version of ‘Shot By Both Sides’ which was closer to the arrangement of the single rather than the album.
Devoto too was something of a revelation, his voice having held up surprisingly well over the best part of thirty years whilst he prowled the stage impishly conducting the band as he went along.
The big worry of course was over the departed McGeoch because frankly Magazine weren’t much cop after his departure. It was a big relief then that his replacement, Noko, filled his position admirably. Whilst he perhaps pretty much stuck to the script, that was no bad choice for this set of shows.
The show was surprising too – I don’t suppose that many people would have expected B-sides ‘The Book’ and ‘20 Years Ago’ to get an airing. But the latter in particular was coruscating before segueing into a wonderful ‘Definitive Gaze’.
The crowd were also up for it big style with some of the material (such as the opener) receiving prolonged applause.
However it wasn’t quite flawless. The two biggest problems were the choice of songs and the venue.
I’m not so much talking about songs being omitted when referring to the setlist – with such a back catalogue to choose from it’s inevitable that particular favourites would be missed out (‘Give Me Everything’, ‘Back To Nature’, ‘About The Weather’ and ‘Feed The Enemy’ would be on my list.)
No, my problem was with some of what was played. Two songs from the frankly mediocre fourth album were exhumed and a consequence was that the first half of the set was very much stop/start in nature. The band would build up momentum only to lose it again with songs like ‘Honeymoon Killers’ (grafted onto ‘Great Beautician In The Sky’) or ‘This Poison’ or ‘I Want to Burn Again’.
I don’t much care for the venue either, because of its layout. I’m sure that they sell tickets for the bar area meaning that the main floor is usually over packed. But having secured a decent vantage point through early arrival that wasn’t so much of an issue last night.
The indifferent sound however was with all elements suffering problems at some stage during proceedings.
Nonetheless I’m glad Magazine reformed and I”m glad I went. The big question I suppose is that given that it has been so successful, will there be demand for more Magazine?
The evening was (eventually) opened by all female four piece Ipso Facto. (£23 in a big venue and they could only put on two bands? That’s piss poor) Ranging from Sleater-Kinney-esque numbers to one song which was akin to Howling Bells, Ipso Facto were enjoyable enough without exciting me enough to go and check them out further.
However on conclusion of their half hour set the evening wasn’t over for half of the band as the singer offered up a duet with Howard (on You Never Knew Me) and backing vocals ( assisted by the keyboardist on a further 2 or 3). And was that both appearing on the shoulders of the crowd during final encore ‘I Love You, You Dummy’? I’m pretty sure it was!
PS Thanks to the two ladies who helped preserve my “spot” on the railings between bands.
Magazine – 20 Years Ago (live) (from ‘Sweetheart Contract’ 12″ single)
Magazine – Shot By Both Sides (live) (from ‘Sweetheart Contract’ 12″ single)
I do wonder if the whole recording of the Russell Club gig (from which these recordings are taken) exists because IMHO it’s far superior to the McGeoch-less ‘Play’ LP.
The Vinyl Villain’s review of the Glasgow and Manchester (Saturday) shows.
I thought half of the fun was down to the fact the band did play some obscure stuff instead of just rolling out the totally expected. I did mention in my own review that I was sad some of own faves were missed out….
I also know how lucky I was to have been at Manchester gig where the sound was way way better…albeit with a lower stage you couldnt see as well as you did in Glasgow.
And yes, it was the Ipso Facto girls on the shoulders of tye blokes down the front.
The question to ask yourself…..if they came back in sat August or September to the Barrowlands would you go??? I would…..
The Bs I could live with – I’ve always liked The Book and 20 Years Ago was great. But the MM&TW songs were just dull. It was only a couple of songs but I felt that they stopped any real momentum bulding up in the first half of the set.
The Pixies were able to shake off the less good material when they reformed (1st time around at least).
Would I go and see them again at the Barras? Like a shot!
Check this out
http://calsoul.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/i-know-the-meaning-of-life-it-doesnt-help-me-a-bit/