Miscellaneous - Clapham Common, London, 31/7/2006

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 21 / 7 / 2006

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Article

It’s a lovely summer sunny afternoon, and I’m here with my girlfriend to see my favourite band. Well, one of them anyway and, more importantly, a group that has been with me for the last 22 years and that have never ever disappointed me ever, Echo and The Bunnymen. We catch first of all most of a set from the Pipettes. Becki, Rose and Gwenno have now released their debut album ‘We are the Pipettes’ , but they have always disappointed me on record and live, but today they play most of the album and go down a storm with the younger members of the audience, whom didn’t find the £5 ticket admission too much to cough up with. Next up are Larrikin Love, whom start off with a ska/ bluebeat sound, but end up edging towards a Bloc Party/Libertines/London indie type thing in the latter part of the set, which was a shame. And then there is my beloved Echo and the Bunnymen whom now have yet another new line up with only Ian “Mac” McCulloch and Will Sergeant, remaining in their rightful places. Mac was very quiet during the set, only making a few comments to the crowd but he was drinking brandy throughout, and it sounded like his voice was screwed up by the end of the hour plus set. Will looked great with a lovely Ramones style hair cut. It was the longest I have ever seen his hair. The set list was one to die for starting off with ‘Lips Like Sugar’, moving straight into ‘Stormy Weather’, which happily it wasn’t, bar afew drops of rain that stopped as soon as they started ‘Seven Seas’. They then played ‘Bring On the Dancing Horses’ during which Mac said “Hi” to us all and then demanded some ice for his throat. ‘The Disease’ came as a pleasant surprise, before the band moved straight into the last single, ‘Scissors in the Sand’, which was followed by ‘The Back of Love’ and the wonderful ‘Zimbo’. The song that, however, went down best came next, their best single ‘The Killing Moon’ from 1984, followed by 1983's ‘Never Stop.’ Sadly ‘Do It Clean’ was missing. The audience requested it, but Mac said “Nah”, but instead we got ‘Villiers Terrace’ which incorporated Johnny Cash's ‘Ring of Fire’ ; ‘Summer Wind ‘,a Mac download only single ; the Doors ‘Roadhouse Blues’ which then segued into David Bowie's ‘Jean Genie’ ; ‘ Rescue’, ‘Nothing Last Forever’ which included Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ ; ‘Don’t Let Me Down’. Finally ‘The Cutter’ finished the set, all of which was pretty damn near perfect to me. Badly Drawn Boy came on after this and Damon Gough straightaway said “How do I follow that ?” Well, mate, you can’t ! The audience pretty much talked through most of his set, as he was brave enough to play mainly new material. ‘Born in the UK’ his new album's title track was played twice, a slow version followed by a fast version, the latter of which I thought was better. The album is out on his parents’ wedding anniversary of October 14th while the single is out on his birthday of Octpber 1st . He played with a brand new band and the newer stuff was harder sounding than his previous music. There was some old material but not anything that sounded like hits. He did play a cover of the Lotus Eaters ‘First Picture of You’ which only a few hardcore Echo and the Bunnymen fans may have known,. It was a good set, but not for me and even my girlfriend, who is a fan, said she preferred his older stuff. It was, however, a good day out, a cheap festival in the centre of London, over by 8pm and with free ice cream. What more do you want for a £5 ticket then ?

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