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Title: Forum, Kentish Town, London
Description: Wednesday, 10th June 2009


marinade - June 10, 2009 08:38 PM (GMT)
Psykick Dancehall/A Figure Walks/Rebellious Jukebox.

No shit.

josef - June 10, 2009 08:56 PM (GMT)
unbelievable! The Fall 2009. Go to manchester. Seein' is belivin'

Buy Kurious! - June 10, 2009 08:57 PM (GMT)
QUOTE (marinade @ Jun 10 2009, 08:38 PM)
Psykick Dancehall/A Figure Walks/Rebellious Jukebox.

No shit.

:o

rainmaster - June 10, 2009 09:28 PM (GMT)
I thought this sort of remeniscence was no longer tolerated... :whistle:

elvischomsky - June 10, 2009 09:37 PM (GMT)
I got there a bit late. Mark E Smith had put on a bit of weight and was wearing a comedy wig and The Fall then proceeded to play a number of songs by Buzzcocks; 'Ever Fallen In Love', 'Promises' etc. Enjoyed it, but think it could go down as one of The Fall's oddest gigs.

stevoid - June 10, 2009 09:47 PM (GMT)
that was The Fall
all the new songs sounded brilliant, golden oldies amazing, he can still sing. anyone hear what he said after those 3 songs?


josef - June 10, 2009 09:58 PM (GMT)
hot cake wolf cowboy george 50 year old man funnel of love psykick dancehall a figure walks reb jukebox bury reformation (who makes the nazis not played on set list)

Mere Pseud. - June 10, 2009 10:02 PM (GMT)
QUOTE (marinade @ Jun 10 2009, 10:38 PM)
Psykick Dancehall/A Figure Walks/Rebellious Jukebox.

No shit.

Hurray! MES has finally read my post from 22nd July 2007. Or more likely Elena told him about it. ;)

JokerHystericalFace - June 10, 2009 10:22 PM (GMT)
Sounds like this show might have been quite the treat! Surprising oldies.. Good mix of new'uns... For some reason I have very positive feelings towards the 2009 Fall, even if my posts occasionally make it seem otherwise... Looking forward to the new album.

How did the old songs sound? Reworked/rejigged or close to the original?

Also, no debuts of even newer songs... However, how are the newest ones sounding? Similar to previous outings, or does it sound like they are being shaped in new ways as performances go on?

Really, I'm just jealous of those of you who get to see shows like this... Curious to hear more detailed reports about the show, if anyone feels ambitious about reviewing...

SteveHamilton - June 10, 2009 10:55 PM (GMT)
Excellent gig, a good mix of songs old and new. Not seen The Fall in a while and there were some tunes I didn't recognise. Bury was very good. They went on quite early and I missed John Cooper Clarke. Saw a bit of the Buzzcocks, their sound was loads better than The Fall, I guess that's the way it goes - they crank it up a notch every time the next act comes on. It was quite a short gig as well. Think they might have started with Hotr Cake, then Wolf Kidult Man, 50-Year-Old Man sounded a lot different to the record, there was a bit that sounded like Silver Machine and a different section at the end! Then they did Psyckick Dancehall, A Figure Walks and Rebellious Jukebox, Bury, then they took a break and came back for Reformation which was very good. Who Makes The Nazis was on the set list but we never got to hear it.

This post was sponsored by the West London Trade Union Club on Acton High Street. Or something.

Stranger - June 10, 2009 11:14 PM (GMT)
QUOTE (rainmaster @ Jun 10 2009, 10:28 PM)
I thought this sort of remeniscence was no longer tolerated... :whistle:

Yeah I know.

After the second old number, MES said something like 'that's the tribute act bit dealt with'.

then started the third one. :o

the word 'cabaret' did pop into my head :devil2: but I didn't care as by this point I was dancing with two lovely ladies. I'd ignored them a little at first - not out of rudeness, but shyness - but they as good as invited me to join in dancing with them. Good fun.
:)

I enjoyed it : the first 2-3 numbers hadn't been bad, so to speak, but I was thinking, hmm, this certainly isn't turning out to be a vintage gig.

Then with 50 Year old Man onwards things turned around about face.

yeah, I see what Elvis means - MES did look like he'd put on weight, and I can sort of get the 'comedy wig' reference too. :rolleyes: :D

ON EDIT : d'oh...I've re-read elvis' reply and get it this time. :ohdear: thing is, I honestly did think MES had put on a bit of weight, and cos he's grown his hair, made erm, 'sense' of ec's remark...:whistle:

I got the blue book as a souvenir at the stand...still thirty quid, but at least I didn't have to pay postage.

very nice. Not sure all the lyrics deserve making it to print, and there's the odd glaring error or two (three cups of *tea* to get out of bed? yeah right), but nicely put together all the same.

:)

josef - June 10, 2009 11:23 PM (GMT)
a little rememberence of how shit 70's britain was. Strikes, nationalism and a bankrupt labour government, great music!

elvischomsky - June 10, 2009 11:34 PM (GMT)
[QUOTE=Stranger,Jun 10 2009, 11:14 PM]
Then with 50 Year old Man onwards things turned around about face.

yeah, I see what Elvis means - MES did look like he'd put on weight, and I can sort of get the 'comedy wig' reference too. :rolleyes: :D

ON EDIT : d'oh...I've re-read elvis' reply and get it this time. :ohdear: thing is, I honestly did think MES had put on a bit of weight, and cos he's grown his hair, made erm, 'sense' of ec's remark...:whistle:




:wacko: You lovable fool. :lol:

Audrey Wetherspoon - June 10, 2009 11:38 PM (GMT)
He was up on his feet, then?

Did he look well?



Stranger - June 10, 2009 11:42 PM (GMT)
I wasn't close enough to see.

I was behind the mixer.

He was walking slowly. I thought it was cos he might be pissed. Then I remembered...

marinade - June 11, 2009 12:07 AM (GMT)
MES pot tum-tum was pretty evident. Gig solid but unremarkable but for the oldies sequence. Good Refo encore. Sound usual for Forum - muddy

Fritter - June 11, 2009 12:11 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (marinade @ Jun 11 2009, 12:07 PM)
MES pot tum-tum was pretty evident.

Maybe his recent injury has kept him away from his daily visits to the gym to keep his abs ripped?

Stranger - June 11, 2009 12:14 AM (GMT)
Exactly, And spent more time relaxing his legs at the pub, perhaps?

:)

The Man Whose Bed Diminished - June 11, 2009 01:32 AM (GMT)
Prior to tonight, I was a floating look-back bore voter. Tonight, however, I was/we were invited to join the front bench, and I gladly accepted.

Most of us like to sit in our ivory towers, espousing the virtues of a gruppe/individual who doesn't carry a lot of old weight around. However, tonight, some of that old weight was released into a relatively intimate corner of NW2, and what a privilege it was to be able to jump around to it.

Yes, some of the Crown jewels were brought out for a polish tonight, and how they still shine.

Even typing this now, I can scarcely believe that I witnessed Psykick Dancehall, A Figure Walks, and Rebelious Jukebox played live back to back. But perhaps even more significant is how well they fitted into the new/new-ish songs like Cowboy George, Funnel Of Love and Reformation among the others they also played.

Yes, it was a strange gig - it even took a while for the penny to drop as to which song they were actually playing on two occasions, but that is probably or hopefully understandable in the circumstances - but it was also a very consistent sounding one. There was nothing which particularly stood out as being out of place, and what more could any of us ask? Well, perhaps that they complete the setlist - as it did have Who Makes The Nazis? written at the bottom of it - but that is perhaps me being greedy, because tonight was a feast without it.

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 01:38 AM (GMT)
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Surplus Johnny - June 11, 2009 01:48 AM (GMT)
Tube strike didn't seem to have an impact, Northern Line was running anyhow. Didn't fancy drinking so went straight to the gig. Must have been the earliest i ever arrived at a venue to see The Fall.

Seen John Cooper Clarke a few times down the years, still glad i can. More of a stand-up routine now, still jokes about Ladas for christsakes! Hire car as per, and E. Chickentown, bagful of folders at his feet.

No intro for The Fall, straight into Hot Cake. MES follows on on two feet, but with a grevious limp, knob-twiddling from the off. WKM, 50 Year Old Man, which went on so long, someone i was with asked if it had merged into something else. Funnel Of Love, then fuck me, Eleni goes, "is there anybody there?", and Psykick Dancehall starts up. ^_^

A Figure Walks and Rebellious Jukebox next. Very welcome but unexpected given recent events. Probably the best version of Bury yet. Reformation last, seems to have a new lease of life recently.

Hadn't seen MES thrash a cymbal for ages so it was good to see that as well, and tinkering with the "headlines" kit.

Mentioned elsewhere that i hadn't seen The Buzzcocks since 1977, Steve Diggle was wearing the same shirt, i reckon. Awful guitar posturing and the need to get home for a "smoke" and a decent drink was my exit. Still can't understand the billing on the night, though.

Anyhow, it's The Fall 2009, lest we forget Mark,...tracks from Dragnet/Witch Trials in the here and now? Cheers, but chivvy along the new album. :)

Gawd bless you, boss. :beer:

Oh yeah, if anyone from The Forum reads this, you should sort out the smoking arrangements. It's hard enough being a social leper but corralled into a pen outside? Ye gods, people were queing to get out for a cig. Some folk, ahem... actually lit up in the foyer.

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 02:01 AM (GMT)
I fucked off before the Buzzcocks came on, as did many Fall fans I met in the pub as they played on.

I guess Elvischomsky and BI Kurious stayed on to see them?

Did anyone see these local Fall fans?

Different pub maybe?

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 02:16 AM (GMT)
user posted image

johnnymills - June 11, 2009 02:39 AM (GMT)
user posted image

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 06:43 AM (GMT)

friendly_visitor - June 11, 2009 07:20 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (Hanley Played a Fender P @ Jun 11 2009, 09:43 AM)
Psykick Dancehall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTs2ma3dnU

Unbelievable! :wub:

Many thanks! :applaud:

Nurdled, by Astley - June 11, 2009 07:26 AM (GMT)
Reading this lot over night at work almost made me quite jealous....

Sudost36 - June 11, 2009 07:59 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (Hanley Played a Fender P @ Jun 11 2009, 06:43 PM)
Psykick Dancehall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTs2ma3dnU

Thanks alot for that, an energetic run through I think.
I didn't make it in the end, I know it's a poor excuse but £23 for the train took care of that, and anyway, already have ticket for Beachdown Festival to keep me going.
Very odd reviving this lot, who is looking back now? I thought there would have been at least one new new addition from the next album. A one-off I hope, given the nostalgia fest of last night.
BTW Mark, could you please edit youtube description, Rebellious Jukebox ain't on Dragnet!!!

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 08:17 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (Sudost36 @ Jun 11 2009, 07:59 AM)
BTW Mark, could you please edit youtube description, Rebellious Jukebox ain't on Dragnet!!!

Oops.

It was 3.30 am what I put this up.

I'll put the Witch Trials classic up later!

Exopsychicton - June 11, 2009 08:20 AM (GMT)
Recording? Of course there is. Patience...

R. Totale - June 11, 2009 08:38 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (marinade @ Jun 10 2009, 09:38 PM)
Psykick Dancehall/A Figure Walks/Rebellious Jukebox.

No shit.

Oooh I wish I'd gone now. Not since Wings at Islington eh?.. Or John Quays at Cricklewood.

R. Totale - June 11, 2009 08:43 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (friendly_visitor @ Jun 11 2009, 08:20 AM)
QUOTE (Hanley Played a Fender P @ Jun 11 2009, 09:43 AM)
Psykick Dancehall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTs2ma3dnU

Unbelievable! :wub:

Many thanks! :applaud:

Stunning! Well done Hanley!!! :applaud:

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 10:38 AM (GMT)
This wasn’t just a gig about 3 songs from the Fall’s first 2 albums, this was much more than that. Hot Cake and Bury are developing into right crowd pleasers and Reformation has been re-invented into the new Blindness with the help of Kieran’s enthusiastic drumming. It’s all looking very good, although MES still looks very uncomfortable walking. However, there was some rare friendly interaction with the crowd during Reformation, and Mark always looked like he was really enjoying himself.

MES pushed his time on stage to the limit which I doubt pleased Pete Shelly that much. The Buzzcocks had covered their drum kit in a black cloth, but Mark made quick work of that and gave it the thrashing it deserved. If you squeeze the Fall in between a couple of tired old acts, you’re going to come out looking good. I felt MES was well aware of this and appeared to taunt the aging punks waiting at the back. I didn’t stay on to see the Buzzcocks and opted for a pint back in the pub as they played on. We had some banter with a load of their fans on the tube afterwards, and they were taking the piss out of Smith of course. However, ask anyone of these ‘fans’ what the latest Buzzcocks album is called and they all look a bit sheepish.

stuart - June 11, 2009 10:56 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (Hanley Played a Fender P @ Jun 11 2009, 10:38 AM)
This wasn’t just a gig about 3 songs from the Fall’s first 2 albums, this was much more than that. Hot Cake and Bury are developing into right crowd pleasers

I'd agree with that, what was great was the transition from "Rebelious Jukebox" to "Bury" and there's no loss in quality between the very old and brand new, everyone I was with were blown away by "Bury".

It was a great gig before they played the old stuff, Mark looked like he was enjoying himself, the sound wasn't great, but the performance made up for it.

The Buzzcocks were pure cabaret after The Fall, Steve Diggle's posturing was completely ridiculous, he seemed genuinely pissed off the "Support band" played too long. I enjoyed the hits, but wouldn't go out of my way to see them again.

avsp - June 11, 2009 10:56 AM (GMT)
Sound a bit muddy, couldnt hear Smith at all really but it suited the bass in a way I think Or the 'problem' turned int a 'virtue' perhaps?

Hot cake, very bouncey, best I've heard

Wolf/George/50 all ran into each other. It struck me that perhaps the 'breakdown' bits exist to allow for knob-twiddling to occur & have the greatest impact, ..., i dunno?

Funnel, the best version I've heard yet. Awoke this AM with it running round my head. The next single perhaps?

F*ck me a greatest hits package. Couldnt hardly believe it but 'contrariness' is the nature of the beast. Surely its a one off for the 'Vortex' reunion?
Jukebox was the best. During a Figure Walks Smith stood well sidestage as if to say 'compare & contrast this band with yesteryears' & in truth it lacked the menace but still they're strong songs & the band rocked them out. OTOH perhaps he was 'watching' them himself? The drumming on Figure was especially good.

But Bury was outstanding, best song of the night. Band clearly determined/enjoyed/energised to/by the need to say 'F*ck yesterday! THIS is us NOW, its ours, ..., we're confident now'. Really got the crowd going. Looking forward to the album version

Reformation, a good version with some great moments.

Overall the band are getting tighter & repeatedly hit that special Fall 'that sounds amazing even tho, (precisely because?), it doesnt sound quite right' fingy that we all love so much. Lots of Eli keyboard wibble thru out that I thought worked well. Knob-twiddling effective. Also an increased amount of backing vocals that sounded promising.

The only Fall gig I've been too where I didnt, momentarily, think 'Is he looking straight at me?'

7.5/10. A more than decent, verging on great gig. Loved it.

JCC, what you've always got. But at one poem I'd not heard before 'Diamond Geezer' or summat. Went down well, as always. Gets the usual JCC/10

Buzzcocks much better sound, started & didnt stop, all the hits etc, great but, ..., excessive, by anyones standards, throwing of rockist shapes, ..., so silly that it became joyous. I'd give them a 6/10

A fair mix of young/old men/women in the crowd, which was nice & efficient bar staff, .., tho' that idiot who split an entire pint over the merchandising desk clearly shouldnt be allowed out without holding his mam's hand, ..., he'd probably write rambling reviews of the gig too :/

avsp - June 11, 2009 11:01 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (stuart @ Jun 11 2009, 10:56 AM)
everyone I was with were blown away by "Bury".

Yes yes yes. Lots of people at the bus stops, chip shops afterwards were saying this

simpo - June 11, 2009 11:04 AM (GMT)
wonder if they'll do Who Makes The Nazis in Mancehster?

DoubleWeasel - June 11, 2009 11:11 AM (GMT)
Great gig, was the first time I managed to get down to the front at a Fall gig, magic.

All the new stuff is shaping up nicely, best version of Bury I’ve heard, and Hotcake is cracking, reb jukebox and the other two were a big welcome surprise too.

Took a non fall fan and he’s converted, and was good to chat about tunes etc. with the two manc fans in pub beforehand.

Left 2 songs in to Buzzcocks – their ‘thanks to the support act’ comment at the start of set got me fuming, Twats

Hanley Played a Fender P - June 11, 2009 11:16 AM (GMT)
QUOTE (simpo @ Jun 11 2009, 11:04 AM)
wonder if they'll do Who Makes The Nazis in Mancehster?

Not uncommon for MES to put 'teasers' on the set list that never get played, but who knows Dave.

While you're here Dave, a bloke stopped me for a chat as I was on my way out. He's a film maker who wants to do something about Fall fans, and the fact we are all so diverse.

He was very keen.

I told him he should definately start with me as I'm by far the best looking.

He gave me his card.

simpo - June 11, 2009 11:23 AM (GMT)
Surprised no one's made a documentary about Fall fans before.

Or an Ealing comedy type romp titled The Fallen :D




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