Not mine, unfortunately, kudos to occasional gig buddy Alfie for swiping the mixing desk list!
Fair play to Ride; they’re not just
resting on the laurels of their lauded shoegaze/ neo Britpop past… This iconic
reformed 90’s band, a couple of years removed from touring the Covid-delayed 30th
Anniversary of their classic and genre-defining debut album, 1990’s “Nowhere”
(a tour I caught in Bristol for a stunning performance, gig 1,221), announced
plans for a new album, their third such since their 2015 reunion. Snatches of
said album “Interplay” sounded very promising indeed, a definite upbeat groove
underpinning their shimmering yet muscular guitar sound, so I pre-ordered a
copy of the album, plus tix for their Autumn tour (having to shlep it down to
Portsmouth for that one, as I’d already made plans for their Bristol date).
However, this then came up… I was rather hoping they’d do a Rough Trade
in-store album release tour whilst not counting on it, but booked as soon as it
was announced, spreading the word to like-minded friends in the process. Ride
at close quarters, then a meet and greet? Yes please; particularly as there’s a
burning question I’d been meaning to ask them if I ever got the chance…
So I picked Rich May up, spending a longer than anticipated (and cross-country!) drive down to Brizzle catching up – been awhile! Met up with friends Matt and newly-domiciled Bristolian Sarah, already there in this splendid small back-room venue. Whiled away the time as the room filled up – a sold-out one this, not surprisingly… Ride took the stage spot on at 7.30, the front row of vocalist/ guitarists Andy Bell and Mark Gardener, plus bassist Steve Queralt taking seats line abreast, Andy immediately bigging up the album; “last we checked we’re no. 2 [in the album charts], beaten only by Beyonce; that’s a strange situation!”
Thereafter we were treated to a
shining 40-minute acoustic vignette, understandably concentrating on the new
album material, and revealing Ride are hitting a rich vein of songwriting form,
the “Interplay” material on show tonight largely standing pat with the best of
their post-reunion releases. Opener “Peace Sign” was powered by a tough beat
from drummer Laurence Colbert and featured an impressive languid dual vocal
hook interplay (sic) from Andy and Mark; “Last Frontier”’s backbeat drum
opening ceded to a New Order-esque ascending bass underpinning a melancholy
verse and beautifully harmonic chorus; and “Monaco” was a robust metronomic
rocker even in this format. Between numbers, Ride again demonstrated they’re in
fine fooling, those turbulent Britpop days thankfully long gone, with some fun
banter, Andy keeping the anti-Beyonce vibe going, and Mark responding to a
punter asking about a Welsh gig with, “Andy’s from Wales and if he goes back,
he’ll be in trouble!”
An unexpected “Vapour Trail”, stripped back and delicately delivered, was utterly gorgeous, Mark then announcing, “let’s keep the oldies flowing for the nostalgia element in the room!” with a bouncy, strumalong and almost Beatles-esque “OX4”. Finally, “Last Night I Went Somewhere To Dream” reluctantly ended proceedings, a menacing, almost Burundi drumbeat recalling Echo And The Bunnymen’s “Zimbo” flowing into a lighter, pastoral chorus. Great way to end an understated but warm and shining set.
Signing sesh afterwards, so after a
wait we got albums signed and pics taken, plus I brought my Gigbook Volume 2,
featuring the NME “On” piece from January 1990 which introduced me to Ride, along
for the boys to sign, Laurence showing particular interest in my memorabilia
which was nice. I also got to ask that question – when are they going to
play “Shiiine On”? Mark murmured, “yeah we should play there”, my rather
gushing reply of, “you totally should, you’d utterly smash it,” being cut
across by Andy replying, “you can’t just turn up you know, you have to be
asked!” So, come on Shiiine On, get asking…!
Left the venue with Oxonian Mark giving me some friendly gyp for my Swindon Town FC allegiances (!), before farewells to Matt and Sarah, and a drizzly yet quicker drive home, dropping Rich off then home via Jimmy’s for late kebab tea. So maybe they’re not at Shiiine On this year (unless they’re all phenomenal poker players!), but on this form, that aforementioned Ride Portsmouth gig this September should be a “live” highlight of the Autumn…
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