Entertainment For Lively Minds
McAlmont the Redeemer
Indulge me, please…
Browsing a favourite music blog last week I discovered that yesterday's David McAlmont gig at the Leicester Square Theatre would be featuring an appearance from Bernard Butler, and after hoisting my jaw from the floor I instantly bought 2 tickets, thinking that finding someone among my circle of acquaintances who'd share my excitement would be a trivial task. Alas, I was mistaken. No problem, it'll make a nice spontaneous night out with my new lady-friend, who'll surely have the taste and distinction to recognise a sumptuous evening's musical entertainment when she hears it. That may be the case, but it became something of a moot point when she dumped me by text message on Sunday night. She's "not in the right place", apparently. But in her defence she does live in Essex.
Monday found a further round of ever-more desperate text invitations, all dashed on the rocks of indifference or prior engagements, so I was faced with a choice. I could stay home, douse myself in gin and bawl myself to death on the kitchen floor. But no, I thought, that's just what she would have wanted. So instead I dressed myself in a suit and tie - it just seemed right for the occasion, and given the circumstances - held my head high, and sallied forth to be healed by the voice of a angel. And oh how he healed me. A fragile "My Funny Valentine" gave way to a sleazy "Blues In The Night", followed by pearl after gem after pearl, by turns warm, buttery, feline, vulnerable and rapturous, but the peak for me was when he invited Bernard on stage for a guitar-and-voice take on "Yes". As a teenager who only came to realise the glory of Suede just as Butler was jumping ship his resurfacing with David McAlmont in 1995 was a thrill that little had ever matched in my life by that point. "Yes" has always been my go-to song for when I need a lift, the magnificent booming groove, the raucous fun of the band's performance and David's mesmerising voice floating across the top, at once sublime, then exultant, it all combines to move me in a way little else can. It was no surprise then, that as one of the defining musical partnerships of my adolescence reunited before my eyes to sing of strength and resilience in the face of rejection, I burst into tears. But they felt so good, this was exactly what I needed and all I needed to feel alive and strong again. I have never doubted the healing power of music but right there and then I was transported, refreshed and renewed.
And that was only the first half of the show! To be honest the rest of the evening is a little blurred in my memory. Butler returned periodically, elegant torch songs hugged the room, and a voice and double-bass rendition of "Never, Never, Never", sung, perched perilously mid-audience, to the elderly mother of a man currently filming David for a documentary, was memorable for overcoming the self-conscious silliness of it's execution. Throughout the night David was a charming host, witty, generous and surprisingly honest, fielding regular questions from the audience and answering them with thoughtful, sincere replies, and heaping copious praise upon his various collaborators and backing musicians.
All in all, a sumptuous night, the affection in the room for David (and for Bernard) was sincere and heartfelt, and I left feeling thrilled yet blissful. And then a drunken Irish man mistook me for Bernard Butler. Who could ask for more?
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Good story
"Yes" is a wonderful song. I remember the first time I came to London "on my own" as it were it was back in 1994. I actually travelled with a buddy from school and our mission was to go to the resurgent Sparks in the Sheperd's Bush Empire on Thursday night and the newly reformed EC & The Attractions in the same venue on the Friday. First time to see both acts, unbelievably excited.
On the night before going I was out at yet another gig - Randy Newman in the National Stadium in Dublin and prior to flying to London on Thursday afternoon I'd had an exam in med school. Upon arriving in London I went to find our hotel on Kingsway until I realised we should have been in Queensway and so by the time we eventually made it to the Empire we were exhausted.
Sparks were superb, but who is this special guest, stage right? Why, it's Bernard Butler! Making his first public appearance since being booted out of Suede a few weeks before. Myself and FJP were right up against the front barrier and as Suede fans we were now very, very happy. However in our tired state, when we went to call out Bernard's name, what came out of our mouths? "Brett! Brett! It's Brett!" Cue a daggers stare from BB.
Many years later, me & fjp go to see McA & BB on the Bring It Back tour. Great show, encored with The That's Back for Good. We waited outside to say hello when we saw their tour bus and, without a doubt, BB is the nicest famous person we ever met. Chatted for a while and was carrying a box of Eno's Oblique Strategies so he let us choose one each to decide the rest of our evening. Top man.
God, I used to go to a lot of gigs.
Two lovely posts in a row
I too only jumped on the Suede bandwagon as mark one fell apart, and I too was at that McAlmont & Butler tour.
It was half-full, and they played like it was rammed.
I wish Bernard would do a bit more creative stuff, producing all these bands who aren't capable of what he is can't be good for the soul.
The McAlmont gig sounds a belter
I was there too ..
I too was there at the Leicester Square Theatre last night and yes, it was an absolute belter of a gig. Seats in the front row - I don't think I've ever been quite so close to the stage before at a gig (handy for picking up Bernard's copy of the setlist too!). I know that David was keen to for a more 'interactive' experience with the audience and it certainly made a welcome change from some gigs I've been to recently (I do love Mark Lanegan but communication with the audience ...?)
I've treasured my McAlmont and Butler albums over the years and they've travelled up and down the country with me. I didn't manage to catch any of their live performances and had resigned myself to having missed the M&B boat so I was genuinely thrilled to find out that Bernard was David's guest last night and the set included Yes, Falling, You Do and Bring it Back.
Wonderful performances from everyone .. and yes, I shed a tear or two too Cadabra. The gig, which was celebrating David's 18 years in the business, was filmed for a live DVD which will be released in February - there are a few promotional gigs planned for Feb/March. I wonder if Bernard will be special guest at any of those .....
I saw McAlmont & Butler
at the Scala whichg I think was their first gig back with the 2nd album. For the first song you couldn't hear David at all. Before the next song came the politest heckle I ever heard "Could you please yurn up David's mic so we can hear him?".
The band kick into 'Can We Make It?' and David shout 'Oi!!!' as clear as day and the place erupts. Didn't put a foot wrong for the rest of the night. That night they played a wonderful song 'If You Want' with beautiful piano backing . It was a B side on the Falling single and I urge you to check it out.
And they finished with 'Yes' which never sounds less than magnificent
Yes...me too
A magnificent, joyous, uplifting song.
And definitely my favourite 'Later' moment.