Entertainment For Lively Minds
Big Audio Dynamite (with PaddyH)
Posted by Paul Waring on 30 March 2011 - 1:06pm.
When:
29 April 2011
Where:
O2 Academy, Liverpool
Comments:
First night of the reunion tour, expectation and excitement equally high. From the off, BAD were as tight as the proverbial, tapes and tunes in perfect alignment. Mick Jones looked chipper, despite sporting the worst combover in rock, and led the line well. Most of the stage presence was provided by the extravagantly behatted Don Letts, in charge of vibe and cowbell, along with the occasional roaming toast.
Starting with a stunning Medicine Show, they rattled through the band’s back catalogue in rough chronological order, although inevitably E=MC2 was saved for the first (of two) encores. Highlights included both the biggies, plus a storming run through A Party, B.A.D. and C’mon Every Beatbox.
Mick thought the band were better now than they were back in the day – and they probably were, as technology has caught up with originality. Indeed, they all looked like they were enjoying themselves. And why not? As exciting and engaging a gig as I’ve been to in years.
The Audience:
We guessed middle-aged men, and we guessed mostly right. Hugely enthusiastic and even towards the back, little gossip and fuckwittery. Probably helped by the obvious fact that the smoking ban clearly does not extend to homegrown Scouse Weed.
Food & Drink:
Food? Don't be daft. A couple of pints in Ma Egerton's beforehand (change from a fiver for two pints!), followed by a swift Tuborg in the venue.
It Made Me Think...:
...that Mick Jones is still my Guitar Hero. And Don Letts is this week's Coolest Man on Earth. And that the time is right for BAD to be recognised as the innovators they were.
D'oh!
That would, of course, be 29 MARCH 2011...
Bugger Me
- Paul's invented time travel! Did you pick up any football or racing results? We could be quids in.
(Fine review btw)
edit - pah, seconds too late :-)
Ha! I didn't get where I am today...
...by not instantly recognising and correcting my own fuckwittery.
You have to be up pretty early in the morning to pick up MY typos.
A pity you can't edit the original text - once it's there, it's there in all its glory...
PS: If you can, get tickets at A Venue Near You. They were excellent.
Sounds a great gig
And it seems from your description (middle-aged, weed, drinking gassy beer) that most of the audience from the Stranglers gig earlier this month stayed on at the Academy (perhaps it's a half-way house for middle aged music fans, who are nearly but not quite ready to be let out into the community)
I'm just off out
to their Glasgow gig, I'll report back.
can I just say 'd BAD back in't
sorry couldn't find the heart thingey
BAck, all be it a few Days late
They were great.
Tight and having fun: Don wid his patois rappin' and leppin' aboot the shop was the main focus.
Can I put a word in for Greg on the drums, he's da man IMO! Him and Leo are a killer rhythm section, still.
They opened with 'Medicine Show' and my tear ducts opened - so good, so good.
then:
Beyond the Pale
A Party
V13
Bad
Just Play Music (I'm pretty sure that's what it was, I needed a long overdue wee at the end of Bad)
C'mon Every Beatbox
Sightsee MC - my floodgates really opened here (this is my top BAD tune)
Battle of All Saints Road
Rewind
Bottom Line - I wasn't expecting that, thanks Mick and da boys! :D
E=mc2
we got Rush from BAD II days too, but I ain't complainin'
regrets:
• no 'Ticket', okay it's a daft tune but I like it
• some Glasgow dickweeds throwing plastic pints that still had liquid in 'em stageward
• some cock trying to film what was going on with his daft phone whilst not even bothering to stand still, I had a word, he put it away
• the couple next to me that just chatted until (7 mins. in) I told them to get a room or Fuck Off!
that's me done with live gigs, it's too much hassle, there's too much fuckin' shite goin' on around me and I can't sit down have a beer and a fag in comfort with the knowledge there's a clean loo just out the door and turn left
so, thanks Big Audio Dynamite for making my last one a real good one!
keep rockin' 'cause I no longer can - Mick Jones yer a star and always will be, I have nothing but respect for you and your band