HW Xmas Party @ The Astoria - *FIRST REPORT*

[Kevin Perry]

Sugar on chips is delicious :-)

---
Kevin Perry
Sonic Energy Authority
http://www.mountaingrill.co.uk/

"It is the business of the future to be dangerous;
and it is among the merits of science that it equips the future for its
duties."

----- Original Message -----
From: Nick Medford <nick at HERMIT0.DEMON.CO.UK>
To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: HW Xmas Party @ The Astoria - *FIRST REPORT*


> In message <l03102800b672d3172f99@[195.102.200.9]>, Melvyn Vincent
> <mel at MVA.U-NET.COM> writes
> >Well it's not often I get a first at something,but here goes.......
> >
> >I've just arrived back at my studio after witnessing one of the best gigs
> >HW have done over recent years. In fact...this was the fully polished
> >version of what the Hawkestra  @ Brixton probably should have been
> >(although Lemmy,Nik Turner,Dikmik etc were not present at the Astoria).
> >Don't get me wrong........Brixton was a night I'll never forget, but I
> >think Dave Brock took on board some of his own misgivings & fans
criticisms
> >of some elements of Brixton,......and assembled a show that was well
> >organised allowing ample contributions by special guests....BUT.....BEST
OF
> >ALL........THE SOUND!!!!!
> >The sound was great...clear and well balanced. I could actually clearly
> >hear everone that was playing on stage at any given time. Full marks to
the
> >engineers whoever they were!
> >The whole show was obviously being recorded and I can't wait to get the
album!
> >
> >The surprise of the night for me was hearing what Hawkwind sounds like
with
> >a saxophonist/flute player who can REALLY PLAY.........(sorry nik).
> >Didn't catch the guys name though.
>
> Yup, I'd go along with all that. The sax player was brilliant- 'Angels Of
> Death' was given a whole new lease of life, and his snakecharmer-style
> clarinet during Hassan/Palestine finally gave that section the extra
> dimension it's lacked before. Dave did say his name but I missed it.
> >
> >DOWNERS?
> >The support acts
>
> Have to agree, you must've missed Morphonic who played unremarkable
> trance-techno, too light and frothy to be really compelling. Spacehead:  I
> didn't enjoy them, leave it at that, don't want to upset their friends and
> admirers on the list. Simon House was a big disappointment (although he
> briefly took off on the 'Damnation Alley' section).
>
> Tim Blake I actually enjoyed, much to my surprise as I've never liked his
> solo stuff, but he played one long digi-dub piece ('Tribulation' or
something
> like that) that blew me away. Rest of the set was variable but overall
good
> enough to sustain interest.
>
> But why, why have 4 support acts when at the end of the night the Hawks
> run out of time and we don't get an encore?? Anyone know what they would
> have played? I saw Ron down at the front explaining the situation to some
> fans but couldn't catch what he was saying. Not having an encore was
> strange- no cathartic release, made me realise how ritualistic gigs are
> (especially Hawkwind gigs)- it just felt incomplete and wrong.
>
> None of which alters the fact that this was a bloody brilliant
performance:
> don't think I've ever seen the band so loud, heavy and intense. Everyone
> played a blinder- how often can one say that? Particular highlights:
>
> Damage Of Life: yeesss! Finally I hear one of my favourite Brock songs
live.
> Absolutely superb, hypnotic rhythm throughout, great electronics on the
> closing section.
>
> Flying Doctor: never really liked this track before but it blows the roof
off
> live. Brilliant vocals from Ron. I have gradually come to like Ron's
presence
> more and more and last night confirmed his worth to the band IMO.
>
> Sonic Attack: With Mike Moorcock reciting it down the phone from Texas
> it came together extraordinarily well. The disembodied screeching sounded
> truly eerie. This track can go either way live, but this was
unquestionably
> the best I've ever heard it. The bass throb which shook the whole building
> was amazing. Sonic attack indeed.
>
> Hurry On Sundown: What can you say? After the joy of hearing it at
> Brixton, this was even better: an utterly invincible blasting blanga
version,
> biggest cheer of the night.
>
> I could be wrong but I got the feeling there was less pre-programmed stuff
> than of late. With both Harvey and Keith on hand, Dave played more
> guitar and the whole thing had a more live sound. Once again one has to
> acknowledge the all-conquering Davey/Chadwick rhythm section: don't let
> Alan slip away again Dave! He's too valuable!
>
> And finally...
>
> While I was standing at the food hatch waiting to be served, a bloke asked
> me to pass the salt. I did so, he poured it over his chips and then walked
> off. Only then did I realise I had in fact passed him the sugar. If you're
out
> there, my apologies!
>
> --
> Nick Medford