Wedding Present - Fibbers, York, 9/7/2006
by Dixie Ernill
published: 22 / 7 / 2006

intro
On the first of their last batch of gigs for the foreseeable future, Dixie Ernill watches David Gedge's reformed Wedding Present play a manic and powerful set to an ecsatstic audience at Fibbers in York
Arriving in York to be greeted by a random girl exposing her breasts in a bizarre and un-provoked manner was not how I envisaged this account to start. Despite the obvious quality of her pair, they would prove to be only a minor footnote on an evening littered with highlights. Just like a delightful homemade onion chutney and sun-blushed tomatoes had added to a fine pre-gig meal, the modest and intimate surroundings of Fibbers certainly created the ideal forum for the Wedding Present to ply their well-honed trade on this, the first of their last batch of gigs for the foreseeable future. A typically confident David Gedge strode on stage and, with a pumped up band around him, tore into an opening triplet of great singles (‘Sticky’, ‘Ringway to Seatac’ and ‘Corduroy’) that would set the standard for the rest of a truly excellent gig. Even weaker track, ‘Mars Sparkles Down’, from the band’s last LP, 2005’s 'Take Fountain', took on a charming Magic Numbers feel against the abrasive guitar duelling of older tracks such as ‘You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends’. A nod to Gedge’s previous band, Cinerama, was included with the excellent ‘Wow’ belted out mid-set, before an already jubilant audience went delirious as the classic ‘Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft’ is followed by the riotous guitar assault of ‘Kennedy’. The heat is temporarily cooled by a stunning ‘Mercury’, but mayhem is restored as ‘Brassneck’ eases seamlessly into ‘Take Me!’ and old chart hit, ‘Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now’ (sung half in French) is given a rare airing. The set ends with brooding masterpiece, ‘Interstate 5’ and as is tradition the band depart without encore. Outside, the warmth of the day still lingers on as a delightful girl’s hand slips into mine. The Wedding Present may have been around for an eternity, mining the rich seam of relationships, but tonight proves there’s life in us old dogs yet. The photographs that accompany this article orinally appeared on www.efestivals.co.uk
Band Links:-
https://scopitones.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/TheWeddingPresentOfficial
https://twitter.com/weddingpresen
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-


interviews |
Interview (2021) |
![]() |
Wedding Present frontman David Gedge speaks to Andrew Twambley about ‘Locked Down and Stripped Back’, his band’s new album of home recordings and reworked material from its back catalogue. |
Interview with David Gedge (2012) |
Interview (2008) |
profiles |
Profile (2014) |
![]() |
Mark Rowland reflects on the first decade of the Wedding Present's career, who are about to have their first six albums, from 1987's 'George Best' to 1996's 'Saturnalia', reissued in deluxe three CD and DVD boxsets |
live reviews |
Lowry, Salford, 11//9/2016 |
![]() |
Dixie Ernill watches the Wedding Present play a rare all-seater gig at the Lowry Theatre in Salford in which they performed all of their new album 'Going, Going...' in its entirety accompanied by a backdrop of specially made films |
King George's Hall, Blackburn, 8/11/2014 |
O2 Academy, Leicester, 30/10/2013 |
Picturehouse, Holmfirth, 26/8/2012 |
Picturehouse, Holmfirth, 29/8/2011 |
Picture Dome, Holmfirth, 26/8/2010 |
Double Door, Chicago, 16/4/2010 |
Tower Lounge,Blackpool, 27/7/2008 |
Picturedrome, Holmfirth, 31/3/2007 |
Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 25/3/2005 |
Manchester Academy 3, Manchester, 21/2/2005 |
reviews |
Going, Going... (2016) |
![]() |
Brilliant return-to-form on ninth album from enduring indie stalwarts, the Wedding Present |
Interstate 5 (2004) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pulp - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
related articles |
Cinerama/Wedding Present: Interview (2002 |
![]() |
Cinerama are back with a new album 'Torino'. In an extensive interview Tommy Gunnarsson takes the opportunity to catch up with frontman David Gedge to talk about it, Ukranian folk music, and his years with the legendary the Wedding Present |
Cinerama: Interview (2002) |
Cinerama: Live Review (2002) |
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