A quick return to Rough Trade; after last
week’s album release show and signing from spritely indie newcomers Coach
Party, this one is hosted by spritely indie veterans Ash! The band may be into
their 31st year, astonishingly, and the boys themselves now well
into their mid 40’s, but on the evidence of last year’s “Shiiine On” Top Band
performance, they can still knock out one devastating rock show. Also, judging
by brief advance listens to the new material from forthcoming, 8th
album “Race The Night”, they’ve still got a bat’s ear for an infectious,
riff-powered indie hook or two, so a trip to Rough Trade for an album release
show (including a copy of said album in the ticket price!), albeit in acoustic
form, was pretty much a no-brainer for long-time Ash fans Rach and myself. So,
over 28 years since I first made the trip down to Bristol for an Ash gig (July
1995, gig 301!), and for the 18th time of asking overall, it’s Ash
time again!
Rach’s work colleague Sarah took Jami off
for the evening, so Rach and I set off down the M4, hitting the very busy shop
just before 6.30 so joining the queue for ticket activation (hey, it’s the
future, dont’cha know). Grabbed a front centre spot in the back room (yay!)
next to We Are Scientists fan Louise, who was also doing the return trip for
Ash – although, amazingly, it was her first Ash gig! Compared notes, during
which we’d discovered that Rachel had seen Ash at Glastonbury 1995, so a month
before my own first time!
So engrossed in gig chat were we, that we
hardly noticed the band taking the stage prompt at 7.30… well, Tim and Rick
initially, Mark joining them after a quick hunt for the bassist, Tim
commenting, “[it’s] like a weird version of “Where’s Wally”!” Unlike Coach
Party last week, this was a proper stripped back – virtually naked, in fact! –
stage, with 3 stools for the boys, big ol’ acoustic guitar (with one solitary
fuzz effects pedal) and bass for Tim and Mark, and drummer Rick making do with
a tambourine for his percussive contributions! Quite the departure from the
usual stack of Marshall Amps then…
A clutch of newies from the “Race The
Night” album ensued… Opener and title track “Race The Night” featured all the
Ash hallmarks of upbeat undulating verse structure, delicious soaring and
harmonised choral hook and (still!) youthful buoyant effervescence; “Usual
Places” (preceded by an otherwise ebullient Tim commenting, “my voice is a bit
frazzled but we’ll do our best…”) saw the aforementioned fuzz pedal get some
use in this racey yet melancholy paean for lost youth and the passage of time;
“Peanut Brain” (“a short snappy one!” announced Tim before challenging the
crowd to time it; the couple behind us clocked it at 98 seconds, 2 seconds
faster than on record!) had a flippant, embryonic “Jack”-esque feel; and
“Crashed Out Wasted” was a slow-burn, melancholy wallow, a real Sunday morning
comedown vibe with a lengthy and absorbing build to the guitar riff outro (Mark
remarking that it was one of his favourite Ash guitar riffs!).
We were then joined by Ash’s new (and
former!) record label Fierce Panda’s boss (and one of my go-to NME journos,
back in the 80’s-90s!) Simon Williams, who plugged his own book “Pandamonium”
before conducting a pre-prepared Q and A sesh with the band. Disappointing that
he didn’t take any questions from the audience (I had one prepared), but this
was an entertaining chat nonetheless, referencing (thankfully) abortive plans
to set a DeLorean on fire to promote the new album, and how the band
“accidentally” headlined Glastonbury in 1997! Ash’s relaxed nature and bonhomie
shone during this chat vignette, and it was easy – and excellent – to see that
despite 31 years of being at close quarters in the band together, they’re
clearly still the same best mates that they were when they formed Ash at
school.
Back to the music one final time, then, as
Ash treated us to acoustic run-throughs of oldies “Kung Fu” and a superb
singalong “Girl From Mars”, Tim leaving the stage with, “see you in 2 weeks [at
the Marble Factory gig]” and some wag (not me, sadly) retorting with, “see you
in 10 minutes [at the signing session]”! 10 minutes stretched to over an hour,
as our front stage spot translated to a back of the queue spot, and, happily,
Ash were taking time to take pics and properly chat with everyone. Well done
boys! Our turn finally came for a chat and photos with an affable trio, who
appreciated my “Shiiine On” 2022 setlist I’d taken for them to sign. I also
bought that “Pandamonium” book after an earlier queue chat with Mr. Williams,
thanking him for informing my musical tastes in the 80s with his journo work.
Home late after a detour to pick up Jami. Shame I’m missing the Marble Factory
gig, but Rach will be there with Sarah. If tonight is any evidence, she’ll find
a band on good form with some cracking new material. Still plenty of life in
this lot yet!
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