Fall Heads Rock and Roll Again
The Fall at The Galtymore, Cricklewood, London , 15th September 2006.
For trivia fans The Fall are the band that named themselves after an Albert Camus novel and were the all time favourite band of late legendary DJ, John Peel. Indeed it was Peel who summed up The Fall perfectly when he said that they were "always different, always the same". They certainly lived up to his wise assessment here. The changes of personnel in the band since it's inception in Prestwich 1976 have been well documented with at least fifty musicians having come and gone since. Front man and founder member Mark E Smith has clearly stated that he hates all musicians and he certainly appears to enjoy sacking them. Tonight The Fall were missing the bassist and guitarist from the previous night's performance not, surprisingly, because they had been permanently ousted but because the pair had to attend a wedding in the US, they were duly replaced by those waiting on The Fall substitutes bench. The band were in the last night of a two night residency but all the changes did not detract from a wonderful performance. Smith once compared himself to a football manager, ever ready to ring the changes when necessary, to replace, suspend, banish and transfer his players to keep The Fall at the top their game. Some critics appear happy to simply brand Smith a tyrant. However, this wasn't the impression I was given on meeting his mum and sister at the gig. They were keen to divulge that he was taking them all on trip to the London Eye and they were accommodated at the best hotel he could afford. Bless.
However eccentric you consider Smith's tactics they paid off tonight and they continue to enhance the bands reputation as one of the most unique and influential in British music. Smith enters the stage wearing what can only be described as a pullover purchased for Christmas by his nan...in 1982. They start the evening with a couple of new numbers possibly from an eagerly awaited 26th studio album, highlights from 2005's 'Fall Heads Roll' album included 'What About Us' and the tale of modern day football violence in 'Theme From Sparta FC' which, incidentally, BBC's Football Focus results service deems appropriate enough to use as its title music. Smith prowls the stage amp twiddling (to surprisingly good effect!), chewing imaginary gum and hectoring into two microphones at the same time. The encore includes long time Fall favourite and cover version 'Mr Pharmacist' and 'Blindness' which seems to last for about ten minutes in a swirl of hypnotic and droney bass.
There is always a risk when attending Fall gigs as you are never truly certain about what will transpire. It could all end in chaos, for example, the now infamous Brownie's show in New York in 1998 when Smith chose the opening chords of the third song to hand his band their P45's on stage, equally they could end in qualified triumph. Tonight it was the latter but Fall gigs always guarantee, in the words of Smith himself, a "ludicrous, majestic and exhilarating" event.
For trivia fans The Fall are the band that named themselves after an Albert Camus novel and were the all time favourite band of late legendary DJ, John Peel. Indeed it was Peel who summed up The Fall perfectly when he said that they were "always different, always the same". They certainly lived up to his wise assessment here. The changes of personnel in the band since it's inception in Prestwich 1976 have been well documented with at least fifty musicians having come and gone since. Front man and founder member Mark E Smith has clearly stated that he hates all musicians and he certainly appears to enjoy sacking them. Tonight The Fall were missing the bassist and guitarist from the previous night's performance not, surprisingly, because they had been permanently ousted but because the pair had to attend a wedding in the US, they were duly replaced by those waiting on The Fall substitutes bench. The band were in the last night of a two night residency but all the changes did not detract from a wonderful performance. Smith once compared himself to a football manager, ever ready to ring the changes when necessary, to replace, suspend, banish and transfer his players to keep The Fall at the top their game. Some critics appear happy to simply brand Smith a tyrant. However, this wasn't the impression I was given on meeting his mum and sister at the gig. They were keen to divulge that he was taking them all on trip to the London Eye and they were accommodated at the best hotel he could afford. Bless.
However eccentric you consider Smith's tactics they paid off tonight and they continue to enhance the bands reputation as one of the most unique and influential in British music. Smith enters the stage wearing what can only be described as a pullover purchased for Christmas by his nan...in 1982. They start the evening with a couple of new numbers possibly from an eagerly awaited 26th studio album, highlights from 2005's 'Fall Heads Roll' album included 'What About Us' and the tale of modern day football violence in 'Theme From Sparta FC' which, incidentally, BBC's Football Focus results service deems appropriate enough to use as its title music. Smith prowls the stage amp twiddling (to surprisingly good effect!), chewing imaginary gum and hectoring into two microphones at the same time. The encore includes long time Fall favourite and cover version 'Mr Pharmacist' and 'Blindness' which seems to last for about ten minutes in a swirl of hypnotic and droney bass.
There is always a risk when attending Fall gigs as you are never truly certain about what will transpire. It could all end in chaos, for example, the now infamous Brownie's show in New York in 1998 when Smith chose the opening chords of the third song to hand his band their P45's on stage, equally they could end in qualified triumph. Tonight it was the latter but Fall gigs always guarantee, in the words of Smith himself, a "ludicrous, majestic and exhilarating" event.
posted by Rob (aka Coding Monkey) at
3:12 pm
1 Comments:
Though the name was familiar and no doubt I've inadvertantly come across the music, I was entirely ignorant of The Fall.
Well, after a quick visit to my Pandora.com radio station (of which, more later), I've decided to remain ignorant of The Fall. The biog (and such music as I could bear to listen to) of Smith clearly marks him out as a refreshing alternative to the airbrushed babes and chinless sixth-form moaners who populate much contemporary music. But it ain't my thing.
So, back to Pandora. Perhaps this is old hat, but I've only just discovered it. You create your own music station by listing the bands and / or songs you like. Pandora then plays you a random selection of music from those bands, depending on the rights they've secured.
But the clever part is the way it uses what it calls the Music Genome Project. Based on your selections, Pandora analyses the type of music you like and selects similar music to play you, some which you'll know, some which you won't. By giving each song you hear the thumbs up or down, the program refines your listening preferences, in theory producing your ultimate radio station. (Note: it covers Jazz, Rock, Pop but not Classical).
No doubt many of you will have your own Pandora radio station. Perhaps those who don't will be encouraged to create one.
Either way, it might be fun to share our radio stations, so here for your enjoyment (or not) is Blockhead Radio
By
Joe, at 3:01 pm
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