Sugarmill, Stoke, 10th October 2005

I can't wait to read the posts about tonight's gig. That was my 53rd Fall gig but only my 4th with the current line-up and tonight was brilliant. Seriously brilliant. MES angry, petulant, unpredictable; the band frustrated and kicking against the pricks (sugarmill management and their curfew policy...). God, tonight has restored my faith completely. My first fall gig was at Deeply Vale in the 70s, I've seen every incarnation and tonight was a top 5 classic Fall pereformance. Even better than the time they played the Sugarmill and MES sat sulking into the mike in the dressing room. I logging off so that I can buy tickets for the Wolverhampton gig now. I can't wait to read other reviews... I don't want to say too much, I want to read otehr people trying to make sense of that chaos tonight...

Mrs Elderford writes: This was my second ever Fall gig and I am beginning to feel very sorry for the rest of the band especially Ben, the look he gave to the balcony to serch for Mark was one of sheer sorrow. Mark walked on late and then walked off again after a short time, the band tried to carry on and then also walked off, i managed to have a work with Ben on the balcony and if you are reading this ben i will see you in Wolverhampton. Band very very goog top respect to you all for persevering with such an angry man.

What can you say? Welcome to the wonderful and frightening world of the Fall.

We were fortunate enough to be up in the balcony (bit weird having MES walking behind you when you're sat down), and it was rather heartbreaking to see Ben looking so disappointed after the lads had left the stage after a Markless Touch Sensitive and Blindness.

I know the way we all lap up how our leader is so aggressive and contrary but seeing Spencer, Ben and Steve outside the dressing room after the collapse of the gig before coming back on for a 3 piece Boxotosis as a goodnight snatching a passable victory from the jaws of defeat, was heartwarming.

Fall Set:
Usual suspects in the set list.
Mark came on halfway through the second number.
Mark dressed in black leather Angel stylee jacket, mit sober matching dark shirt'n'trousers.
Usual fiddling
Mark does that weird just about to sing false start thing
Mark does a weird standing infront of Steve (MES in front Steve facing in same direction behind him) and appears to feel him up with an arm reaching around Steve's right hip), not sure if he was trying to move him, hook the strap or what
Tied Eleni's mike lead around the cymbal stands. I was expecting him to pull over her keyboard as the lead got caught in her stand and he kept tugging away.
Threw Spencer's cymbal away to the back of the stage behind an amp
Knocked Spencer's floor tom over
Spence threw his cymbal stand at the passing lower legs of MES
Eleni did housekeeping sorting out the mike stands that littered the stage
Removed the mike from Ben's amp and put the amp on the floor.
Mark walked off before touch sensitive (put his jacket on and ambled away)
Eleni picked up handbag and decamped halfway through Blindness (Mrs Elderford saw her dancing behind us, but I missed that one, apparently her skin is flawless).

Played (mit Smith) for less than 30mins or so

Unbelievably loud (2nd mike in bass drum, turned up keyboards and bass)

Mrs Elderford had a chat with Ben, and he told her what the problem was. Cut a jarring scene as mentioned, what with the crowd chanting over and over for the guy who walked off stage whilst Ben is giving fucking righteous reasons for being a very dissapointed boy.

Anyhow, Fall: superb, any doubts about the vitality of the new album are diminished when it is presented at foolishly high volume for public consumption.


Ben, we'll see you at Wolverhampton. The sound was great, a sterling job well done.

Being a sad, uncritical fanboy like most of you, I enjoyed tonight, such as it was.

But having spoken to Steve and Ben after the 'show' I can't help thinking that this is a band about to disintegrate, such are the similarities between tonight and the Sugarmill show in 97 or whenever.

I'll still be there to see them in W'ton but I feel sorry for the casuals I talked into spunking £15 on the basis that The Fall were a proper group again. And the band of course...stars all.

After the gig I managed a word with one of the band, he told me that Mark was fine till he got to the venue and once inside he didn't want to do it. They persuaded him to play and thats when it all kicked off.

He was in such a bad mood that they didn't want to go in the dressing room afterwards and thats why they stayed on the balcony.

I asked him did he want a copy of the DVD and was told "this is one gig we would like to forget".

Top night

So what was wrong tonight? I am supposed to be seeing them at Middlesbrough tomorrow night (actually, that's tonight now isn't it?), but I am a bit worried that the plug is going to get pulled if the band have had an argument with MES. Stoke-Teeside is a long way to travel together if you've fallen out. Please post more details so I know if it is as bad as it sounds.

I don't think they'll be much love lost tonight, but they need to get along as the Peel Day Tribute is later this week isn't it?

Fuckin hilarious madness riotous without a riot. I took my 14 year old son who loved it - the lucky bugger, I didnt see them first til I was 16. The gargoyle was in top sneer wrestling any control the band or crowd think they may have over the frightening world of MES. Stagger swagger sneer. Tonight is what the fall are to me. Loud abrasive tense and fucking arsed. the best Fall line up Ive seen in over 20 years - lets hope they stick it out. perfect skin indeed

Oh dear…I think we might have a problem…

It was clear from the start that this was going to be a somewhat fraught evening when the band started with ‘Uwanner’ as an instrumental…not that it was supposed to be an instrumental…that much was clear from Ben’s exasperated expression as he scanned the walkway from the dressing room for any sign of his vocalist…eventually after about ten minutes of hammering away at the riff the band gave up and started again with ‘Bo Demmick’…which again was mostly instrumental…MES finally making the stage toward the end of it…

Things picked up with decent versions of ‘Sparta’, ‘Pacyfying Joint’, ‘Grass Grow’ (he actually hit some of the high notes!) and ‘Wrong Place’…but then it started to go downhill again…’What About Us’ was more entertaining for the wrestling match between MES various microphone leads…then MES storms of in huff leaving the group to finish with instrumental versions of ‘Touch Sensetive’ and ‘Blindness’ (half way through which Elini gave up the ghost too…). Ben and Steve’s faces were like thunder during this last part of the set…

After some deliberation Ben, Spence and Steve came back, somewhat pointlessly, to do ‘Boxoctosis’…

All in all then, not exactly a triumph…OK so MES may have been pissed off at the club management but only putting on half a show is not exactly the answer…

Also, I have to say that the band were not as good as I’ve seen them…everything was just utterly, relentlessly thrashed…even ‘Mountain Energei’ was played without any subtlety whatsoever…everything just as LOUD and as FAST as could possibly be played…no light or shade, no variation…exiting at first, monotonous after a while…

Stupid fucking cunt Smith. Grow up at last, you're nearly 50.


Furthermore...

So what you're saying is, I ought to try to sell off these tickets for the November Islington gigs while there's still a chance of kidding anyone they might be worth seeing, or indeed scheduled to happen at all??

i disagree. a chaotic fall is a perfect one.

an angry and embittered smith is better than a pacifying one. long live the fuckin chaos i say

it was fucking great and tomorrow will be just as fuckin great. this is the fall not the fuckin antiques roadshow.

surely we are not looking for a night of clean cut professionalism from the fall? fuckinell we can go see coldplay for that shite. viva verocity

Ive seen Spence in Laugh, The Bodines, Intastella over the last 25 years or so , but ive never seen him into it as much as with the fall. he's put a bit of weight on though i get the feeling this line up is gonner last

Oh here we go. "What?? You expect the lead vocalist and main creative force in the band to actually go on stage and make some attempt to perform the same material as the band?? Why don't you watch The Eagles??"

To which my answer is: "What?? You think that tedious pissing-about is part&parcel of a brilliant show?? Why don't you go watch drunken karoake performed with a pub band??"

The Fall do actually have brilliant material, that can be performed very well. You'd never think so from listening to some of the "diehard fans".

Hands up...who had Stoke in the draw for the 1st kick off...

No-one

Come on, arguments twixt musicians happen all the time on the road - it'll be business as normal tomorrow, I'm sure of it.

Two more gigs then a nice three day rest before the band hit the foreign climes of Bonnie Scotland.

Whilst it may have been three, almost four instrumental numbers, it's still The Fall....yes ?

Actually, Davedeath seemed to have predicted it on that thread. A bottle of cheap plonk and weekend's holiday to Butlins for that man!

How did Fallfandave know about the "Sheffield 2" gig way back in August? Freaky that!

Not according to Mr. Smith.

Only if your granny was playing on Bongos.

Originally two dates were scheduled for Sheffield but it was cut down to one. Then reinstated

I'm coming from New Zealand to see this lot?!

I expect by the time I turn up for the last few dates of the tour, there will have been a couple of gig cancellations, Trafford will have been sacked and replaced by Ding, Ben will have quit, 2 shows done with Ding on banjo and no bass, Ben & Steve both returned and the final few shows I will see will be mega-bigmungous (as my 5 year old likes to say).

Think of all the other cultural advantages you'll have coming to Europe though, Conway ?

Like real ale