Keeping it close to home after a few long-haul trips chasing American Hi-Fi around the country; this one was a choice between another tiring shlep up to the Smoke in a suspect automobile (amber ABS warning lights which shouldn’t be an issue but, given my total lack of automotive engineering knowledge, any amber dash light is a worry to me) to see a band I’d seen the last 3 years in a row, or a local jaunt up the hill to Swindon’s open-air Old Town Gardens Bowl, to again pay homage to the back catalogue of the ‘don’s greatest musical sons, 70’s punk/ new wave art rockers turned Beatles pop acolytes XTC, via the good offices of original XTC drummer Terry Chambers and his ersatz and ever-changing EXTC line up. Really sorry, Midway Still and Mezzanine, but the 85-miles closer gig won out for me…
The gates to the Bowl actually opened at 2.30 with the opening act shortly thereafter, but I watched the Belgian GP qualifying instead and was given a lift up the hill by my dear lady wife! Hit the venue at ¼ to 5, running into old mate Paul Carter and folks for a chat, before taking a spot on the sunkissed slope, extreme house right, for Mickelson at 5, being joined variously during his set by local music impresario Dave Franklin, and old mate Rich May! San Fran native Scott Mickelson and an all-star pop-up band of expert local players (including Jon Buckett and Chris Webb from Gaz Brookfields band, plus virtuoso local drummer Lee Moulding) played a set of dusty Americana which at best recalled the American Gothic vibes of “Fables”-era R.E.M. or the shimmering textural acoustics of early Grant Lee Buffalo (the man unsurprisingly referencing his Appalachian roots with, “it’s a place in the South – poorly educated…”), but often ventured into more trad-Country for my tastes. A few anti-Trump diatribes also got on the good side of the Saturday afternoon picnickers and sun-worshippers during a pleasant but overlong (1¼ hours) set.
I joined Rich and his charming wife Helen for a proper catch-up during the next act at 6.45, a solo turn from local Jim Blair. I like the man but again, his stomping old school pedal steel blues and tales of whisky-soaked nights (although Jim noted his 10 month sobriety anniversary during his set) aren’t my cup of tea, so his sliding riffs and rasping vocals were the backdrop of my catch-up with friends. I did however like the closing number of his (again overlong) set, a run-through of The Jungle Book’s “Bare Necessities”!
Another wander saw me find friend Paul who was camped with mutual buddy Ben on the periphery of the bowl, house left. Ben had brought a camping chair for me – nice! So I joined them for the arrival of EXTC spot on at 8.30, our seated view immediately becoming obscured by the rush of folks to the front! So, we stood as the now 4-piece EXTC (featuring 2 new guys since my last time out last March, gig 1,374) eased in with bright, poppy keyboard-embellished openers “This Is Pop” and “Statue Of Liberty”, followed by the angular backbeat of “Ball And Chain” and an impromptu crowd rendition of “Happy Birthday” to Mr. Chambers! A bright start, then, but for a while afterwards it all went a little understated, polite, dull even… a plethora of slower album deep cuts drifted by slowly and perfunctorily (and often a little out of key, I’m sorry to admit) and I remarked to Paul, “I’m waiting to be excited…”The plaintive descending bass of a well-delivered “Peter Pumpkinhead” briefly threatened, but the subsequent “Mayor Of Simpleton”, which should have really ignited things, sounded a little bereft of its’ usual bounce. C’mon lads…
Finally things kicked into gear with the angular snark of “Respectable Street” and brilliant bolshy bounce of set highlight “No Thugs In Our House”. Finally, a gig’s breaking out! “Sgt. Rock” was fulsome and singalong; the segue from “Cuba” into “Generals And Majors” rather excellent; then the “encore” saw main vocalist Terry Lines introduce “special guest – all the way from Swindon”, old XTC guitarist Dave Gregory on, Lines quipping, “two out of four isn’t bad!” A rousing choral singalong to “Senses Working Overtime” was then topped by the languid sway of “Towers Of London” and inevitable gig highlight, the taut backbeat of herky jerky New Wave classic “Life Begins At The Hop” to close things out.
We set off quickly to Paul’s car so
as not to miss much of the England World Cup 3rd Place game (good
thing too, as it was a best-of-tournament 6-4 win!) musing on the performance.
Started brightly, then a lull, some inconsistent stuff before a very strong
finish – EXTC that is, not England! Great to see Chambers and Gregory on the
same stage too, so despite the uneven-ness, I’m glad I kept this close to home!
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