Willard Grant Conspiracy - Luminaire, London, 9/11/2007
by Anthony Strutt
published: 20 / 10 / 2007
intro
Anthony Strutt finds the Willard Grant Conspiracy on superb form as they both play a heartfelt and very human set at the Luminaire in London
Tonight's show is part of an American Music Festival spread over a fortnight at London's Luminaire venue. This venue is the most muso of all venues because if you want to talk during a band's performance the venue's management will personally tell you to shut up. The Willard Grant Conspiracy are an acquired taste. The songs of the band's front man and the group's only permanent member Robert Fisher, like those of Mark Eitzel, are often dark and lonely with just a touch of humour. They have a very sad but very human quality, and there is a great sense of belonging in Robert's pre and after songs; conversation with his audience. Tonight's set at just over 85 minutes is shorter than average for a Willard Grant Conspiracy London show. The band are also not promoting anything new, despite having just finished a new album, 'The Lost Weekend', up in Scotland which is due for release early next year. Robert begins by telling his audience that they can disco dance under the mirrorball that hangs down from the ceiling of the venue should anyone want to, but nobody does. The first four songs are delivered as a 3 piece, before the first support band, Glaswegian act Doghouse Roses, who also play on the new record, join the rest of the group on stage. Tonight we get songs about death ('River in the Pines', ), Archie the cockroach ('Sticky'), a song co- written by Steve Wynn whom forgot he co-wrote it ('Flying Low'), the devil ('The Trial of Harrison Hayes') and more death ('The Ghost of the Girl in the Well' and 'Let It Roll') A dark evening but definitely worth going out in the cold for. The photographs that accompany bthis article were taken by Laurent Orseau
Band Links:-
https://en-gb.facebook.com/WillardGrantConspiracy/https://twitter.com/willardgrant
https://www.willardgrantconspiracy.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard_Grant_Conspiracy
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview with David Michael Curry (2019) |
Willard Grant Conspiracy viola player David Michael Curry talks to John Clarkson about its tenth and final album 'Untethered' which was completed after the death of its front man Robert Fisher during its recording. |
Interview (2013) |
Interview (2009) |
Interview (2008) |
Interview with Robert Fisher (2006) |
Interview with Robert Fisher (2003) |
Interview Part 2 (2000) |
Robert Fisher Interview (2000) |
Interview Part 1 (2000) |
live reviews |
Garage, London, 18/9/2009 |
In an evening fraught with difficulties and distractions, Ben Howarth at the Garage in London watches Robert Fisher's Willard Grant Conspiracy, against the odds and a heavily reduced stage time, play a riveting and forceful set |
Majestic Theater, Detroit, 24/9/2009 |
Bloomsbury Theatre, London, 18/5/2008 |
Dingwalls,, London, 9/5/2006 |
Edinburgh Village, 11/7/2002 |
features |
Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2017) |
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' John Clarkson pays tribute to Robert Fisher from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, who died at the age of 59 in February and who we interviewed many times and headlined our Bands Nights on four occasions |
reviews |
Untethered (2019) |
Evocative tenth album from Willard Grant Conspiracy which features the last recordings of its front man Robert Fisher who died in early 2017 |
Paper Covers Stone (2009) |
Regard The End (2003) |
Everything's Fine (2001) |
Mojave (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPPrisoners - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Allan Clarke - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Jonny Fluffypunk - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Bluebells - Interview with Ken McCluskey
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
related articles |
: Interview (2023 |
In the first part of a two part interview, both parts which we are running consecutively, guitarist Paul Austin talks to John Clarkson about the reformation of his band The Transmissionary Six after a decade-long absence, and their new album, 'Often Sometimes Rarely Never'. |
: Interview (2023) |
Willard Grant Conspiracy/Big Hogg: Feature (2015) |
Tom Bridgewater: Interview (2015) |
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart