Albert Tatlock Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Can't upload pics to hosting sites from work. If anyone is desperate to see them all I can email them to someone to upload. I'll attach the best two (made half size because of attachment space, and one at a time for similar post restrictions) now. A few words to follow (I'm trying to cadge a setlist also). This taken during Puncture Repair. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Tatlock Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 Keep getting errors about breaching some limit or other when trying to attach a second picture. Anyway:- A top evening started off with free beer at a colleagues leaving do. He had wanted his redundancy (with nice pay off), so it was smiles all round. I also saw some friends who had moved on last year - one of whom had lent me my first Elbow CD and is now pregnant. So there was much to talk about and much free beer to drink. I later formed part of a quartet of Englishman/Irishman/Scotsman/Welshman, so it was really hard to tear myself away from the inevitable rugby banter and free beer (Have I mentioned that?). So, a short tube ride later and I was walking along the Thames embankment (with a strangely semi-dislocated left knee that seemed to appear out of nowhere) in the late evening glow. I entered the Regency (I'm guessing) spendour of the Somerset House courtyard just as the support Liam Frost said "Thankyou and goodnight". Sorry Liam, but it was free beer. There was a fair bit of tout activity outside, but this event had been noted as sold out, so Elbow looked pleased with themselves when they arrived on stage. aFter the predictable but still storming start of Station Approach, there was a strange intermission when Mark Potter the guitarist disappeared for a few minutes. Guy Garvey covered admirably with some 'band split' banter, and some naval jokes that would become a running gag throughout the evening (e.g. "I come from a long line of seamen"). Somerset House was once the home of the Admiralty, and later the registry for all births and deaths in the UK, a tax office (possibly part of it still is), and now a gallery. The central open space is very pleasant indeed. More on Somerset House here. As indicated in the topic subtitle, this was a show where I did not feel completely enthralled at the start. It was still light at 9pm when the set started, and the outdoor setting diluted the punch of the sound that had knocked me out at the Astoria in March. The crowd was borderline chatty with a faint buzz permeating under the sound of the slower songs, being as interested in socialising on this sunny City day as getting into the music, and I suppose that I did not have the same flicker of excitement as when seeing Elbow for the first time those few months ago (plus not having the frisson of risk associated with Mark almost starting a fight with that mother and daughter when returning from the loo back then ). It all just did not feel right somehow, but I also am very picky with the gigs I go to, so I do set the bar pretty high. The set was similar to that from March (I am still waiting to try and see one posted elsewhere) but longer to make room for several more songs, especially from Asleep In The Back - including perhaps my favourite of the night Any Day Now. There was also one new song - a Guy and piano alone song in the vein of Puncture Repair, but whereas that is plaintive, this was more forceful and seemed to be (if taken literally) a plea to Guy's brother to lay off the booze and the bad crowd he is associating with (? - Guy tends to write from first hand experience). There was another song I did not recognise at all either (sort of Elbow meets the Glitter band - but in a good way) - not on the albums, maybe another B side like McGreggor - which was also spectacular again. Then as the sky darkened, there was a growing 'rock show' atmosphere and the second half turned out to redeem all the gripes I'd had. The crowd became much more enthusiastic (more than at the Astoria) and the band were feeding off that. The last song before the encore was Forget Myself, and during the encore ritual, we all started singing the chorus again over and over, getting faster and faster as the 'get back on stage' handclapping got faster. It was quite funny. Before we reached helium voice pitch, the band returned, and requested a repeat performance of the sing-a-long. Good stuff. Newborn finished things of on a high. The lightshow throughout was very good - complimentary without being flashy or distracting. Sound quality excellent - I had wondered if there would be echoes from the surrounding walls, but if there were, it wasn't a problem where I was standing. In an effort to take the most direct route back to Waterloo Bridge and the train, I blagged my way past some sort of armband check and found myself on the terrace overlooking the Thames. This had been set up with tables/bar/food etc. I don't know if it was a after show party for the band or for the sponsors of the festival. Probably both, but the main advantage of being there was that the queue for the loo was much shorter. I did have Lard of Mark and Lard standing behind me there. I did not hang around to see if the band were going to show up, but made my way back off home. And the knee fixed itself sometime during the night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Sounds like a good one - reminds me of seeing Doves at the V Festival last year and that the set was good, but because it was light late it didn't quite click till the sun finally went down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Tatlock Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 Oh, and Muller was right. It was filmed, and also recorded according to GG. Not sure to what ends and where/when it will appear. And the new song is apparently called Brambles. Still haven't identified the "Glitter band" song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Cheers for the photos, Andrew, I've uploaded the best of them as a Flickr gallery... http://www.flickr.com/photos/97254245@N00/...57594194164261/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Tatlock Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 Cheers for the photos, Andrew, I've uploaded the best of them as a Flickr gallery... I hereby grant you all reproduction rights. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 No worries - just added the other 6, so they're all up now! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Thank you for the pics! I think Guy looks better now than he ever has. Some day they will come back to the US. Someday...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pnêyu Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I did have Lard of Mark and Lard standing behind me there.OK, my jealousy is tempered by the fact that it wasn't Mark. I missed Elbow on the last tour here because I didn't get tix in time (I'm slipping in my old age--I would never have let that happen in the past). I have no one to blame but myself, but Andrew, your reports always help. Nice pics too! Take care of that knee, young man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bluefluff Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Still haven't identified the "Glitter band" song Well, I am quite sure it must be "A Good Day", B-Side from "Forget myself" Said to my mom the other day, it sounds a bit like Elbow kicks the a... of Gary Glitter with some Black Sabbath-Mood Well, that "Brambles" track...is it identical with that heartrending ballad of the friend of Guy? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Tatlock Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Well, I am quite sure it must be "A Good Day", B-Side from "Forget myself" Said to my mom the other day, it sounds a bit like Elbow kicks the a... of Gary Glitter with some Black Sabbath-Mood Well, that "Brambles" track...is it identical with that heartrending ballad of the friend of Guy?Thanks for the info, and welcome to VC. Probably another one for the rumoured B-sides/rarities album.Brambles - I believe so. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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