Very good quality audience tape. Some limited audience chatter. Smiths vocals very clear.
Spens third gig and the difference between his funky back-beat style against Heads' tub-thumping four to the floor is readily apparent.
A riff driven "WB" kicks things off. Wilding tells someone in the audience to shut-up and launches into "Touch Sensitive" which is delivered effortlessly. An interesting take on "The Joke" i.e. a less garage-like version precedes a mesmeric "Way Round" where Julia's synth stylings add value to the circular riffing.
"Antidotes" comes and gos in a slighty untogether way. Wildings effect pedal appears to be stuck on "Heavy Metal" and the whole thing is a little laboured. This is immediately rescued by an excellent "Dr Bucks Letter" which is an exercise in controlled tension.
Things go slightly awry when Smith calls "Hands Up Billy" to an abrupt halt - fortunately - it is a dire song shouted by Wilding. Smith explains they can do one more song and then come back for an encore. They actually play three. A swampy "F-Oldin' Money" precedes a similarly languid "Hot Runes". This is followed by what appears on most listings as "Ol' Gang" and could well be so however Mark does not sing the lyrics for that song only delivering a few snippets of words and the occasional "uh-uh-uh".
Encore time and a slow and sensitive "Birthday Song" precedes a shuffling and then rocking "And Therein" and a conclusion with a magnificent delivery of "Sons of Temperance".
An odd little affair this moving as it does between high powered rock, shuffling rockabilly and brooding rants over funky drum patterns. A short set due to curfew restrictions at the venue.
Worthwhile for tracking the emerging influence of Spencer Birtwistle and the slow decay of this line-up which would have six more gigs to do before the sacking of Wilding and Helal.
Spens third gig and the difference between his funky back-beat style against Heads' tub-thumping four to the floor is readily apparent.
A riff driven "WB" kicks things off. Wilding tells someone in the audience to shut-up and launches into "Touch Sensitive" which is delivered effortlessly. An interesting take on "The Joke" i.e. a less garage-like version precedes a mesmeric "Way Round" where Julia's synth stylings add value to the circular riffing.
"Antidotes" comes and gos in a slighty untogether way. Wildings effect pedal appears to be stuck on "Heavy Metal" and the whole thing is a little laboured. This is immediately rescued by an excellent "Dr Bucks Letter" which is an exercise in controlled tension.
Things go slightly awry when Smith calls "Hands Up Billy" to an abrupt halt - fortunately - it is a dire song shouted by Wilding. Smith explains they can do one more song and then come back for an encore. They actually play three. A swampy "F-Oldin' Money" precedes a similarly languid "Hot Runes". This is followed by what appears on most listings as "Ol' Gang" and could well be so however Mark does not sing the lyrics for that song only delivering a few snippets of words and the occasional "uh-uh-uh".
Encore time and a slow and sensitive "Birthday Song" precedes a shuffling and then rocking "And Therein" and a conclusion with a magnificent delivery of "Sons of Temperance".
An odd little affair this moving as it does between high powered rock, shuffling rockabilly and brooding rants over funky drum patterns. A short set due to curfew restrictions at the venue.
Worthwhile for tracking the emerging influence of Spencer Birtwistle and the slow decay of this line-up which would have six more gigs to do before the sacking of Wilding and Helal.