OFF: University of Errors last night

[alan day]

I would have loved to have seen that    I missed the show cos of work and
reading your review has made me wish I blew it in on Tuesday GUTTED...thanx
for postin that...al;


>From: Nick Medford <nick at HERMIT0.DEMON.CO.UK>
>Reply-To: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
>To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU
>Subject: OFF: University of Errors last night
>Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 11:55:33 -0400
>
>Did any other listmembers attend the gig at the Islington Garage last
>night? Probably not, as the place was only half-full- a criminal shame, as
>this was a stupendous performance from Daevid Allen and his new cohorts.
>
>I went on my own- others were either uncontactable, or, in one case, unable
>to attend as his wife was having a baby- just about the only acceptable
>excuse! Support act was Richard Sinclair, of Caravan and Hatfield And The
>North semi-fame, playing a few acoustic numbers in a mellow jazzy style.
>This particular strand of pastoral English whimsy has never tickled my
>fancy and so it proved again last night- left me cold. But to be fair most
>seemed to enjoy it and he got a good reception. The most interesting thing
>that happened was someone in the audience joining in with some impromptu
>flute accompaniment. I think I have seen the flautist before, guesting
>onsatge with Acid Mothers Temple at the RFH a few months ago. But I
>digress.
>
>The U of E came on to a tape of circus-style music and indulged in a little
>clowning before getting down to the business in hand. It was superb. No
>doubt Mr Allen is a man of many parts but no New Age tweeness last night,
>this was loud'n'filthy avant-garde psychedelic punk with the band playing
>as if possessed. Josh Pollock is simply extraordinary, wrenching wild
>sheets of noise from his guitar. If you've heard Peter Laughner's playing
>on the early Pere Ubu singles, the guitar sound isn't a million miles away
>from that, but if anything even more unhinged, teetering on the edge of
>chaos but always *just* controlled enough- given the audacity of the
>musical risks being taken, it was remarkable that the band so rarely broke
>down into self-indulgence or incoherence. The drummer (whose name I didn't
>catch) was similarly uninhibited, and credit has to go to bassist Michael
>Clare (who looks oddly like the writer Will Self) for keeping it all
>together, seemingly impervious to the lunacy all around him. I struggle to
>give points of reference but if you can imagine Camembert-era Gong crossed
>with the MC5 and the Bonzo Dog band (a stretch I know) you're in the
>general area.
>
>What did they play? I can't give a complete setlist but most of the
>forthcoming "Ugly Music For Monica" album was aired, as I was able to
>confirm at home later with my newly acquired pre-release cd-r. This is
>easily the best album the band have recorded, it doesn't *quite* capture
>the full frenzy of the live attack- how could it- but it's the best thing
>Daevid has done for many years and if you have any interest in the man, you
>NEED this album. Other than that, some glorious and rarely-heard classics
>were given the Errorization treatment- barnstorming renditions of "Hope for
>Happiness", "Pot Head Pixies", "Pretty Miss Titty" and a superb rendition
>of Kevin Ayers' "Clarence in Wonderland"- for the first 30 seconds or so I
>thought this was going to be the Velvets' "Sister Ray"- yup we're talking
>*radical* turbo-charging of the old faves here.
>
>Current Gong sax-man Theo Travis came on to add to the sonic squall at one
>point, and it was by far the loosest and boldest playing I've heard from
>him. But the absolute standout highlight was "Fohat Digs Holes in Space",
>during which the venue took off and went into orbit around the Crab Nebula.
>If you've never heard the U of E's take on this ancient Gong classic, you
>must. You must!
>
>The band are due to play some dates in Sweden soon, but you shouldn't let a
>little thing like a few thousand miles keep you from seeing this amazing
>band. Especially as the University's financial situation would appear to be
>parlous- why else would they be selling pre-release cd-r's of the new album
>for a fiver each- this is a unique and quite brilliant band, and I implore
>anyone and everyone to get behind them. Tell your friends, tell your
>enemies, tell all the people you do not know.
>
>good afternoon
>
>NM




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