HW: Tim Blake live in London

[Grumpy Old Git]

> Andrew Gilham wrote:
>
> > Short notice, I know, but I just noticed Tim Blake is first support to German
> > electronic outfit Tron at the Shpeherds Bush Empire Thursday night.
> >

And I recieved this at 4.57pm yesterday, and by 7.02pm I was at the
fabled ticket office of the Shebherd's Bush Empire, paying my 9 pounds
entry. Time was meant to be the second act, but Ankh had a car crash so he
went on at 8.27pm and palyed for just over an hour.

First up was lighthouse, which was quite different to the New Jerusalem
version (it took me a couple of minutes of noodling to be sure it was
Lighthouse) however the vocals were very good. I seem to think that when I
saw him at the fridge I disliked some of his vocals, but this was spot on.
He was alone on stage sitting with one or two keybaords, (one might have
just been a computer keyboard), a computer monitor, and something that was
probably a sequencer or mixer for stuff that he wasn't playing. Second was
Holywell, which was slow and quiet, and had a bit of a groove. Apparently
this will be the second half of his new album, 'out soon'. Then he
introduced a friend from Brittany who played acoustic guitar (after
various noodlings and tunings) for 'A song for a new age', which I love,
but the guitar was generally lost in the mix, and Tim's vocals were
suffering from what I call Huwie's problem. Can be perfect on CD, but live
often sounds as if he needs to clear his throat. Then the French guitarist
changed to an elctric guitar, and they did 'Sarajevo', a cross between the
less acrobatic bits of the vocal line of Biko (even with raised fists) and
some keyboard bits that weren't amazing. The line that sticks in my head
(as it made up most of the lyrics) is No More War, with the odd Sarajevo
thrown in. Inspired by humans being beastly to each other, and he was
reminded of this by seeing 10 year olds with SMG in Albania on the TV. He
then went into a Reggae influenced number, afetr various problems with his
capricious computer not loading things properly. I'll call this 'True
believer', because those are the lyrics I recall. He then did a long
instrumental that was good, and I don't think it was off Magick, still
with the electric guitar being played (if not heard). He then went back to
acoustic guitar and Tim used no backing stuff to play a simple piece
dedicated to his mother, a sort of Richard Clayderman piece, with lyrics
all about how beautiful people are when they pray oin their knees
everyday. He says it is his current favourite piece, I say it is not my
favourite piece by him. He finished off with a taster from his new album,
with lyrics about dreamers. By this time his throat definitely needed
clearing.

There were between 100 and 200 people there, including Trev Hughes, Keith
the Bass and Steffy Sharpstrings. Doug Smith was meant to be there,
according to Trev, but as I don't know what he looks like I couldn't take
him outside and have words with him.

Other gossip: Here and NOw are 2 months into recording their follow up to
UFOasis, and will be going to Italy as a 3 piece (drums, bass, geetar and
keyboards set off by triggers). The new stuff is a change to UFOasis. Trev
is trying to get Hawkwind to tour with Amon Duul as their support in the
Autumn (well he has sent their manager's phone numbers to each other). In
the Hawkfriends at the gig it claims that LiS 12" remix by Zeus will be
available in May, with a live Lord of Light. Hurrah. Apparently the new
Dave album is called 7696 and will be out in June on EBS, and contains old
stuff as well as new.

A British Festival gig on Aug 2nd at Kettering has been mentioned for
Hawkwind.

I tried to have a chat with Tim afterwards, but he was busy chatting with
family and friends, but Trev implied it was a one off gig. Is there anyone
who is a member of GAS that might have more info? Is there an online gong
list I could join? However there was talk of a new album, and there are
plenty of new songs (well if we ignore Lighthouse and SfaNA there is at
least 45/50 mins written and performable) so new product seems likely, and
then there might even be a tour for all of those of you who couldn't make
it to london in the time allowed. I didn't see any taping going on, but
there were lots of cameras in evidence so I guess it would have been easy
to get a tape machine in.

Mike w

OBCD:New Jerusalem.

PS Thanks Andy for the info.