One
of my last gigs before lockdown bit in March 2020 was a properly intriguing
one, the debut “warm-up” gig from EXTC, the post-TC&I project from former
XTC drummer Terry Chambers, following his return to these shores from “Down
Under” a couple of years ago. XTC, of course, were Swindon New Wave legends
back in the 70’s, initially playing an itchy, agitated brand of propulsive and
hypertensive New Wave, then smoothing the rough edges off and evolving into
quirkily melodic and quintessentially English pop storytellers. Long gone now,
but Chambers, following his recent brief TC&I liaison with fellow original
XTC man Colin Moulding, has clearly rediscovered his love of playing, and has gathered
a band together to continue bringing XTC classics to the faithful. As vocalist
Steve Tilling actually said during this gig, “we really want to make a go of
this,” so no surprise that they announced some immediate post-lockdown shows,
one of which was a return to the scene of their last Swindon triumph. So,
despite finding out about it only last week, I was still well up for that!
Trundled
up the hill and secured the last parking spot in the car park opposite the Vic,
then mooched around and chatted with a few folks before heading in for the
first set at 8.30. Quite a crowd for this one in this old pub back room; a
venerable one too, I felt quite young! “Had your jabs, have you? All deloused and
everything?” joked Tilling as he led the now-4 piece band onstage, bursting
into the angular opener “This Is Pop”, eliciting the first of many singalongs
this evening. “Good to be out! We’re going to start another plague tonight!”
quipped the jovial Tilling before an early languid, meandering “Language In Our
Lungs” and deliciously slow, swayalong “Towers Of London” double.
“Languid”
actually seemed the by-word for the early part of this first set, in fact, with
slower, more melodic material to the fore, although Tilling, wide-eyed,
shoulder-length crinkle-haired and harlequin-trousered, remained a riveting
frontman throughout, deftly walking the line between the centre-of-attention
frontman and XTC fan, never trying to ape either Moulding’s or Partridge’s
vocal styles, just letting the material shine. That said, a couple of (very) deep
cuts dragged a little, the very (overly?) proficient band overplaying a little
and veering too close to prog overload for my liking…
However,
“No Thugs In Our House” brought us right back, a brilliantly bouncy
observational little number and followed by equally excellent first set closers
“Ball And Chain” and “Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead”, at which point it dawned on
me that listening to this material, so parochial and provincial in mood and subject
matter, in the Vic on a Thursday night seemed just about the most SWINDON thing
it was possible to do!
Took
a breather outside mid-set, chatting with a fellow punter who’d travelled down
with his posse from Bromsgrove! Now that’s dedication for you – I pretty much
have to take my handbrake off and freewheel down the hill afterwards, and I’m
home, me…! Set 2 opened with some punter heckling, “who’s on drums?”, Tilling
deadpanning, “oh just some old bloke,” in reply. “Sgt. Rock”, “Earn Enough For
Us” and the splendidly groovy “Mayor Of Simpleton” again got this devoted crowd
singing along, and the lovely, pastoral “Grass” (“about getting fruity in a
field – probably Coate Water!”) diffused the mood before an unexpected but
welcome “Respectable Street”. Thankfully, “Generals And Majors” was given the
full-on, propulsive bass treatment, along with a Tilling-led crowd singalong
false climax, before the band kicked in again for a speeded-up denouement. The
off-kilter rhythm of “Making Plans For Nigel” allegedly finished the set,
although Tilling announced, “we’re not going to do that going off and coming
back on again thing!” and powered into the ticking, quiet-loud (well, louder…)
“Senses Working Overtime”. At this point they did go off, inevitably returning
for closer and set highlight, the brilliantly herky-jerky coming-of-age tale
“Life Begins At The Hop”. It certainly does; the only way to see out a great 2
hours of nostalgia for now.
Half
a list and a handshake from Mr. Tilling later, I let the handbrake off and
trundled home (!), bidding safe travels to my Bromsgrove buddy on the way back
to the car. And you know what, on this form, I don’t blame him one bit for
making that journey to hear Terry, Steve and the boys once again do full
justice to XTC’s fine canon of work!
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