My
gig companions of Sunday’s Gregor Barnett show (gig. 1,231) now become my hosts
for this one! An infrequent “live” outing these days for Si and Matt Hall, the former
driving forces behind my favourite Swindon band since XTC, the glorious blue-collar
popcore/ alt-rock noise that was Raze*Rebuild. Si’s happily in a new
relationship now, but also suffering from lactic acid build-up in his hands,
affecting his guitar grip (old age, it doesn’t come alone…!). Nonetheless, he
promised to tough it out for an intended full hour acoustic performance up at the
Beehive, where I last saw the boys play on an emotionally fraught Swindon Shuffle
final day (gig 1,190), after visiting my now happily fully recovered brother in
ICU.
Logan
fancied it too, and after permission was sought and granted for his attendance
in this pub venue (thanks Jase!), we drove over after his Thursday swim session,
parking behind the cinema and wandering up the increasingly steep hill for 8.30,
greeting Mr. Dust, loitering outside. Things were running late so we popped inside
for a drink and to catch opening duet Julesbury, a female singer/ guitarist
(presumably Jules!) and her partner, who turned out to be Logan’s old guitar
teacher James! Their set was very hushed, introspective and traditionally
folky, sounding almost baroque and medieval at times, as if they were playing madrigals
and not songs! “Jack Daniels” (“a romance song, not an ode to Jack”! insisted
Jules) and “Brave Man” (a darker, more reflective octave shredder dedicated to
her dad) were notable numbers in a loop pedal-augmented, highly proficiently
played if slightly overlong set. Okay, but not my stuff really.
We
grabbed refills and pork scratchings (!) and bagsied a couple of stools in front
of the “stage” for the Hall brothers’ set. “Let me know if it’s too loud,”
requested Si, “it’s not supposed to be endurance gigging!” Easing into their
mammoth 15-song set with “Rhythm and Rhyme”, Si concentrated on the rhythm parts
with his new guitar (“it looks like an electric but plays like an acoustic – it’s
blowing my mind!” he commented later) and sensibly let Matt display his talents
with his undulating, intricate riffery on his self-made instrument. Good thing
too, as even by the second number “Face For Radio” (tongue-in-cheek dedicated
to his brother!), Si was shaking his hand during and between numbers to
alleviate his issues, continuing to do so throughout. Nonetheless, he and Matt
soldiered on manfully; good on ‘em!
The
slow burner “Kat I’m Sorry” saw Si, trying to keep restrained due to the intimate
nature of the setting, nonetheless give full rein to his usual stentorian roar
in the strident, Buffalo Tom-esque chorus; as he later said, you can take the
boy out of the punk band, but…! A couple of more alt-countrified newies
(including “Slow Burn”, a grungy ballad which could have walked off da Tom’s “Smitten”
album) led into a cover; not an “incongruous” one, this time, but a totally
apposite and well delivered reading of The Waterboys’ sweeping 80’s classic “Fisherman’s
Blues”. A bit of “swirly” from Matt augmented the hushed atmospherics of “You’re
The Chalk”, whilst a clutch of old amped-up sweat-inducing Raze favourites in “New
Leaf” and “Troubled Minds” retained their trademark gallop, even in this
acoustic setting, Si still working up a sweat for his art and commenting, “If
we ever do merch it’ll be wellies!”
Logan
and I had my favourite “Back To The Fall” dedicated to us; then “Audiobook”, a rocky,
racey hoedown dealing with the transition from extended punk rock adolescence
into “middle rage” (as a number of Si’s songs do), rounded off a gem of a set
from these 2 talented brothers. Compliments then a quick departure (it is a
school night, after all!), following this infrequent but enjoyable showing.
Nice one boys!
No comments:
Post a Comment