A
quick warm-up to the forthcoming weekend's “Shiiine On” shenanigans came in
this short-notice gig; I'd been eyeing up another Ride gig since their splendid
return at Field Day 2 years ago but hadn't made it happen, however the late
cancellation of Rachel's governor's meeting freed me up for this one. So, 2 years
on from sell-out reunion gigs and festival headline slots, and with a new album
in tow in the shape of "Weather Diaries", pitching somewhere between
the post-shoegaze sonics of "Going Blank Again" and the troubled
embryonic Britpop of "Tarantula" but still a fine listen, what shape
would Ride be in "live"?
A
swift drive down an inky M4 saw me parking up and hitting the venue partway
through support Ulrika Spacek, a young 5-piece who were hammering through a
sludgy blues riff for all it was worth... to the extent that the same riff
kicked off the next number! Subsequent songs were of a more laze-rock/ slacker
persuasion, giving the impression that they wouldn't have been out of place on
an early 90's Dinosaur Jr. support slot! Alright, I suppose, but some way short
of fellow 90's post-grunge acolytes Yuck or Pity Sex (not to mention the
excellent Nothing) in terms of tuneage.
As
they concluded, I took a look around... it certainly seems as though the dust
has now settled on the initial furore of the Ride reunion and its’ now back to
“business as usual”. This was definitely not the sold-out in 30 minutes
Roundhouse of 2 years ago; there was plenty of room to swing an average sized
anaconda in here, and although it filled up by showtime, I was still able to hit
the loo shortly before lights and return to my exact same spot, 2 rows back
from the dry-ice saturated stage!
Ride
themselves kept us waiting until 9, before coming on to their own instrumental "Integration
Tape" track as intro music. Main vocalist Mark Gardener pressed a floor
switch on one of two impressive banks of effects pedals either size of his mic
set-up, then led the band into "Lannoy Point", the opener and most
undulatingly melodic track on the new album. "A better sense to start
again..." prophetic lyrics indeed! The slashing Britpop riff of
"Charm Assault" followed, sounding superb, particularly the
discordant middle 8 break, before the soaring psych-guitar and impressive barrage
of tumbling drums heralded tonight’s first oldie "Seagull", Gardener
and Andy Bell's smooth intertwining choral harmonies also a feature here.
"Loz is running on Duracells, definitely!" remarked a wide-eyed Gardener
in tribute to his hard-working drummer.
In
all fairness, the same could be said for them all tonight; the Ride boys all
put in a pretty fair shift, and as a consequence sounded superb; well practised,
tough, tight and road-tested. Also, the bonhomie and camaraderie evidenced by
Gardener's comment to his drummer was evident throughout; none of the petty
acrimony that led to their original split here tonight, thankfully. This looked
and sounded like a band starting again... oldies notwithstanding! A well-planned
set too, with new material interspersed with old, and given equal emphasis as a
result. Old Level 3 dancefloor fave "Taste" provided the first
singalong of the night to the triumphant hook, and new single
"Pulsar" featured Bell's growling bass underpinning an almost jolly
marching beat. "Like A Daydream" was a huge highlight, with its
driving beat and descending verse, and whilst I'd have liked more wall-of-noise
to flesh out "Dreams Burn Down", the clarity of the chiming guitar
and death-march drumbeat was a delight.
The
penultimate "Vapour Trail" was stately and majestic, prompting
another singalong, and set closer "Drive Blind" gave us a lengthy
mid-song Bob Mould-esque feedback fest, with Gardener, clearly having a ball up
there, conducting the crowd playfully before its denouement. Great stuff, and
encores of the excellent, lengthy and libidinous groove of "Leave Them All
Behind" and the inevitable yet gloriously headlong rush of "Chelsea
Girl" concluded a 2 hour set demonstrating Ride are in great form!
Look mum, there I am! Bottom left corner, glasses, arms aloft...
Chatted
with fellow punters before hitting the road after a splendid evening, a great
warm-up for “Shiiine On” thanks to a rejuvenated Ride. Note to the organisers;
on this form Ride would slay “Shiiine On” - get them as 2018 headliners!
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