I have to admit The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder, and Baader Meinhof passed me by at the time. I now realise that was a serious lapse of judgement on my part. Fortunately Luke Haines is still recording and still playing live. I really, really enjoy his music. The recurring themes: the dark recesses of the 1970s; obscure Anglicana; and bitter attacks on modern society, all laced with a sumptuous side order of black humour, are a big hit with this 21st Century Man. Add in Luke's ability to marry great lyrics and observations to fine pop tunes and we are talking about one of England's national treasures - though I daresay he'd hate me for suggesting such a thing.



Luke was in great form and seemed to be enjoying himself. The occasional half-smile flashed across his face when delivering an enjoyable line or pleasing guitar solo.

A word about the Hanbury. My first visit since it was refurbished a few years ago and it's a lovely space. A certain louchness that pleased me.

The set list was a great mix of old and new. Here's what I can remember (in the rough order we heard them):

Suburban Mourning
Peter Hammil
Klaus Kinski
Bad Reputation
Wot A Rotter
English Southern Man
The Upper Classes
Unsolved Child Murder
Baader Meinhof
21st Century Man
Showgirl
Leeds United
Freddie Mills Is Dead
Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop
Lenny Valentino

Contrary to popular opinion Luke Haines is NOT dead. It's a shame that Luke's genius is not more widely recognised. I love it. A Luke Haines comes along once a generation. There's no one else like him. I urge you to check out the last couple of albums. The latest, 21st Century Man, contains some tracks that are right up there with his best stuff.

Here's a few more photos:

Photos of Luke Haines playing live at The Hanbury in Brighton on 11 November 2009

I am sick with myself for deciding against going out in the rain last night and walking down the hill to the lovely Hanbury. Pathetic. I assumed he'd do lots of solo stuff that I didn't know, but seeing that set list is making me kick myself hard.
Glad you enjoyed it, though, nigeyb. What was his band like? If you say there was a cello involved I may cry.

Bit off-topic, but according to this afternoon's mail-out from One Taste Collective, the Hanbury's closing after this weekend. Not been able to confirm this yet though (One Taste are there on Sunday).

I hope that's not a comb-over he's sporting in those photos.

No Cello Lucy - so no need to cry. I think Luke calls this incarnation the Luke Haines Power Trio. The other two were a couple of young pups - on bass and drums - and they seemed to be enjoying themselves muchly. You really should have braved the weather though!

Sad news about The Hanbury - I hope that it stays open.

Great, great night that has kicked off a major Haines retrospective for me.

How good were Black Box Recorder?

And, I can confirm, there was no combover!

Whereas it'd please me no end :lol: .

Luke's a wonderful artist - big Fall admirer. I recall when Select asked "pop" "stars" for their 1st reactions to that crappy 2nd Stone Roses LP, Haines' reaction was to put it under his grill :applaud: .

I believe this is the actual setlist:

Suburban Morning
Showgirl
21st Century Man
Peter Hamill
Upper Classes
Underground Movies
Bad Reputation
Klaus Kinski
Dead Sea Navigators
Unsolved Child Murder
Leeds Utd
Freddie Mills Is Dead
Baader Meinhof
----------------
Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop
Lenny Valentino

:cry2:

Oh shit. I mean, how wonderful for you. Must've been an amazing night.

:cry2:

21st Century Man is an awesome song, no?

I love it.

I'm also very taken with 'English Southern Man' which is wonderful.

'Suburban Mourning' and 'Peter Hammill' are my other favourites of the newies.

By the way I saw this review on the Head Heritage forum:

I was at that acoustic gig at the Pressure Point too.

Funnily enough Luke Haines' ex-cellist is babysitting for me next week.

Sorry, don't have anything else to contribute. :rollover:

Good footage here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd9cAPJ4aCA

It's not a comb-over. It's worse than that.

:o

I'm hugely partial to cellos anyway, but the addition of cello to the Auteurs' songs was a genius touch. That band would have been something to see live. The Cellist, poor bugger, is obviously a very talented musician; I wonder how he is feeling about Haines' hilariously mean-spirited portrayal of him in Bad Vibes?

:applaud:

(That's applauding the footage: thanks Shrander. Not the hair.)

Not too happy about it - I read a response he posted shortly after the book came out. Until Bad Vibes I thought they were on decent terms, given that James Banbury (aka The Cellist) continued to play on Haines' solo albums.