Whilst honeymooning in Los Angeles, we got wind of this one thanks to an advert in LA Weekly - an Idlewild acoustic set and signing sesh? We're up for that! So we'd seen Idlewild 5 days earlier in San Francisco? So what!
So after a day at La Brea Tar Pits and Venice Beach, we drove down to the further-away-than-you'd-think Long Beach, eventually finding Fingerprints after a couple of detours. Mooched in the racks, then took a good spot between the soul vinyl, right from the stage which was set up at the back of the shop. We had one acoustic number from Inara George, which wasn't to our liking, before Roddy Woomble (who insisted on playing with sunglasses on, under fluorescent light - what a rock star!) joined her for an incongruous yet absorbing version of Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat".
Rod was then joined by the 2 Idlewild guitarists for a 5 song set, which as at their Bristol acoustic set earlier this year, emphasised the quality of their songwriting, particularly opener "You Held The World In Your Arms", haunting without the bullish guitar noise, and closer "Love Steals Us From Loneliness", epic and touching in this stripped-back form.
We then got stuff signed, pix taken and got to hang out briefly, and got a tip from drummer Colin about another LA show on Wednesday. Why not? Another nice footnote was that Rachel and I went for a splendid Italian meal just down the road from the record shop, and whilst dining, Idlewild's guitarist and bass player came in and both said, "hey". Familiar faces, I suppose, on this trip!
So after a day at La Brea Tar Pits and Venice Beach, we drove down to the further-away-than-you'd-think Long Beach, eventually finding Fingerprints after a couple of detours. Mooched in the racks, then took a good spot between the soul vinyl, right from the stage which was set up at the back of the shop. We had one acoustic number from Inara George, which wasn't to our liking, before Roddy Woomble (who insisted on playing with sunglasses on, under fluorescent light - what a rock star!) joined her for an incongruous yet absorbing version of Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat".
Rod was then joined by the 2 Idlewild guitarists for a 5 song set, which as at their Bristol acoustic set earlier this year, emphasised the quality of their songwriting, particularly opener "You Held The World In Your Arms", haunting without the bullish guitar noise, and closer "Love Steals Us From Loneliness", epic and touching in this stripped-back form.
We then got stuff signed, pix taken and got to hang out briefly, and got a tip from drummer Colin about another LA show on Wednesday. Why not? Another nice footnote was that Rachel and I went for a splendid Italian meal just down the road from the record shop, and whilst dining, Idlewild's guitarist and bass player came in and both said, "hey". Familiar faces, I suppose, on this trip!
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