Astoria Gig

[Jon Jarrett]

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003, M Holmes wrote:

> I wouldn't go quite that far but it did add to pacing problems with the
> gig. The first problem was that just as the band had got into high gear,
> they played two instrumentals (new ones) back to back and the whole
> crowd where I was (next to the sounddesk)lost the flow and started
> chatting amongst themselves. This happened again during Huw's set.
>
> It was great to see Huw's health had improved from Hawkfest, but I think
> it'd have been better to have the set before Hawkwind, or if not, for
> him to do a couple of solo songs and then lead the band into "Moonglum"
> to kick up the pace a bit again. The same happened during "Wings".
> It's too slow for a gig unless it's there to take down a blistering pace
> for a bit. This time it added to the pacing problems. It would have
> added interest to have Lene Lovich try the vocals since it was female
> vocals on it when the song first aired. I've never thought tjis song
> suited Alan's voice, but maybe that is just me.

        My big problem with that song is that whenever I've seen Bedouin
play it, once the first line of each verse is sung I find myself
automatically filling in the rest: "some waste of time you are, and you're
so popular"... This wasn't quite as bad with Hawkwind, but on the other
hand neither was the song half as good as the Bedouin version...

> It was just a shame to see three breakpoints in the gig really ruin the
> pace.  Maybe I've just got so used to Dave's instincts on this being
> damn near perfect that it took me by surprise.

        I did think that was the sort of thing that was going on, but it
didn't surprise me very much. The continual appearance of techno in the
set and the apparent surprise of the band when they first resurrected
`Hurry on Sundown', as well as the refusal to drop `Assassins', has often
left me thinking that Hawkwind don't really understand what appeals to
their crowds, which isn't even the same as what appeals to their
fanbase. But then again I suppose every gig's different and I've only got
a personal impression also. But the idea that the effect of the
individual numbers or even the whole arrangement of the set might have on
a crowd wasn't really being thought through is not a new one to me...

> That said, when things got going, it really was a great gig. Where Are
> They Now? was absolutely excellent, and I've been writing to Santa to
> say that since this has been left off the album, it'd better be
> Hawkwind's bid for a Christmas single or I'm going to kill all the
> reindeer. Golden Void featured Void's End again and I really think
> that's the best piece of melodic synth since Wave Upon Wave. Angela's
> Android and Brainbox Pollution really rocked too. Hurry On Sundown was
> excellent, though I'd still like to see that tried as a fugue by the
> band. I saw this once by accident when Nik sang the wrong line and Thom
> Crimble covered up by turning it into a fugue. It sounds unlikely I
> know, but it really worked very well.

        They have got to to do something with `Where Are They Now' but
it's hardly a finished song as they currently do it. A live release will
suit me fine, if it's being done as well as that. Gets me every
time... Yours,
                Jon

--
                Jonathan Jarrett, Birkbeck College, London
    jjarrett at chiark.greenend.org.uk/ejarr01 at students.bbk.ac.uk
  "As much as the vision of the blind man improves with the rising sun,
       So too does the intelligence of the fool after good advice."
       (Bishop Theodulf of Orleans, late-eight/early-ninth century)