The Robin. Bilston nr Wolverhampton., Tuesday, 4th March 2008

The Fall played 'Latch Key Kid' for the first time.

And Exploding Chimney

Two Fall Fans, two new tracks and here was I expecting a stereo DVD recording from 2 angles....Ah, I know what's happening you are editing it together to make it look professional

One of the most boring and emotionless gigs I have ever been to in my entire life. Audience silent and motionless, band playing hard Smith either pissed or senile - back to the audience, pissing about etc. He doesn't even do the choruses any more. Mrs Smith is holding this line-up together. Miles too much old stuff in the set. Thoroughly disappointed, my life is falling apart.

Stands back and waits for the usual "But hey, this is the Fall!" comments. I too am beginning to think that the look back bores have a point.

I thought it was OK actually, not outstanding, but pretty good…

But, gotta leave for work now, so haven’t to time to tell you why at the moment, more later…

It never felt like approaching EVENT status but I hadn't heard the new stuff before so I was up for it from that point of view. Had to feel sorry for the guitarist (Pete?) when Mark kept pissing about and turning his amp off. I would have downed tools and headed for the bar I'm afraid.

When they were allowed to, though, I thought the group whipped up quite a brew and increasingly so towards the end of the set. Who was the ranter bloke at the start? He was cool.

set was approximately

exploding chimney
my door
pacifying joint
latch key kid
Alton towers
wolve kidult man
fall sound
ive been duped
what about us

sparta
tommy shooter

wings
blindness

don't think thats the right order, but its close

people i spoke to after thought it started slowly but warmed up a bit for the encores
I'm a contrary bastard & thought up to Fall sound was ok, but that it got messy after that

yeah it wasn't the best. it was mark really, he had little sparkle and his hair was not at it's best. He seemed very sleepy. I bet he didn't sleep well the night before. Mind you his mrs was looking lush. That song 'wolf kit man' was a highlight. The bass player looked like that x factor presenter. The bass worked hard. I'll buy the album but as for live shows it feels like a waste of 20 quid to see the leg-end. I feel sad typing that but it's how i feel.

Well for the first time in my life I'm in two minds about going to see The Fall - tonight Newcastle.

As recently as 5 years ago I would have walked it barefoot from Whitley Bay, and have followed the band for 26 years countrywide.

I just regard the last 12 months as the most boring ever in the history of the group. The band (and Mark and his missus apart I don't even know who they are) has long since become almost irrelevant, and the Americans I saw at Leeds last March just erased the last vestiges of empathy that to me was an integral part of following the group. I found the last album totally bland, and 12 months on unlike any other Fall output it hasn't grown on me.

My last two Fall gigs were the aforementioned Leeds one which was very average, and the 30 minute farce at The Sage in Gateshead.

I've come on here looking for a spark to ignite my enthusiasm to part with what will be the best part of a hundred quid for me and the misus. Can those that went last night help me out?

Following The Fall has always been like following a lower division football team, there's the loyalty, enjoyment, and heartache factors.Since the implosion of 96 - some 12 years now! I have had no problem with the constant changes and much of the output has been amongst my most favourite.

However, I can find a million and one more productive activities that will bore me rigid on a freezing Wednesday night in the North East.

This last 12-18 months I've just felt like I was contributing to MES pension scheme, which I have no problem with whatsoever, indeed for the enjoyment I've had over the years I would gladly send him 50 quid on his birthday every year and let's save everyone the bother.

The question being therefore (to those that went last night) is this likely to be a proper Fall gig, or just another expensive, pointless charade? See also the next album.

I came away happy in the realization that i get to do this another twice within the next twenty days. I'm way to far into this thing to let, ok, a bit of a lackluster performance stop me from coming away with a big smile on my face. I'm terrable at reviewing The Fall as it just kinda pales into insignifecance when i remember what they have done in the past, what they do now and what they will do in the future.

"Its The Fall, what else do you need really"? Apolodies i have liitle more insight into what most people seem to be talking about ie. poor gig.

I think this is going to be a very divisive tour for Fall fans.

I really enjoyed last night, stood in the crowd & thought how much the line up had improved since I first saw them at Ashton Court festival last year. Despite MES' best twiddling efforts I thought the overall sound was excellent and that the new material was played with relish, "Wolve Kidult Man" being a particular highlight. Set list choices we could argue about forever... "What About Us" was pretty awful and they're still playing both that and "Pacifying Joint" - one or the other would do fine. I thought "Blindness" was a MASSIVE improvement on the last time I saw it performed (Barfly?).

Whilst not the best performance I've ever seen I certainly didn't go away unsatisfied.

Judging by last night we may see some pretty low turnouts this time around.. no new album and minimal promotion isn't going to bring the casual fans in to swell the ranks.

like a luke warm review of a fall gig is gonna stop me turning out tonight...

Any thoughts on Latch Key Kid and Exploding Chimney specifically? What kind of songs were they?

Nor should it, fill yer boots its still a free(ish) country.

Just asking for a bit of informed opinion while I've still got money in my pocket and a choice of what to do with it. Don't want to wake up tomorrow feeling like I've been ripped off (again).

I stood at the back of the venue and saw loads of people just going home before the end. OK some people have to get home, the attitude to late starting is another issue. Loads of people just went during the gig. I've never seen the like at a gig, it just never got going. The Mighty Fall are now just bland. The songs are too samey, however much a fan I have been over the years all my enthusiasm is going fast. Smith spends less and less time on stage, I could shake him - there's nobody to do it though is there because he's in charge. There's nothing funny or clever about these shambolic performances, they are just sad. From a time and money angle the Fall (to me) don't seem to be attractive any more. He must have pissed off loads more people last night, I never saw anybody smile all night, I saw lots of people looking at watches and talking, wandering round looking at bare walls, just killing time, not watching the gig. What happened to the spontaneous wit, extemporising and the crowd bouncing up and down? The last ten gigs for me have all been a struggle, I keep telling myself that one day it will all be better again, but they may have had their last chance with me last night. I really have difficulty believing people when they write about fantastic performances, how come I never get to see any?

I would say nondescript was the correct word.

yeah me too..the sage gig was an expensive 35mins especially after jumping on the wrong train and having to get a taxi from some god forsaken housing estate somewhere in sth tyneside!! sht, you're talking me out of it now

FUCK! that made me sad - but I'd say the last two times I've seen them in Berlin, I've had similar feelings.

Who else is there? what else have we got?

I feel like my best old friend is terminally ill - and I'm not prone to melodrama.

My mate is off to see them in Newcastle tonight, and I feel it fair to warn him.

Ach, man...

It's only the first night though. Nerves? Group/MES a little jittery? (Though I admit I'm starting to get a bit fed up of the personnel changes, meself

Hope they get it together by the time they play Oxford.

I've set my expectations down quite low anyway. That way I might come away rather more pleased than I thought I would.

It was the first night you know - they have not spent 6 months holed up in Bono's reheasal rooms getting it 100% right. Its The Fall for christ sake - cut 'em a bit of slack....

Sorry Neal but I know it's the Fall, I've followed them for years. There are no surprises for me with antics/behaviour/show standards, I've been there. For years. I've cut them slack for years, it's cost me a fortune. I don't know how you can think the way you do in this comment. That was not the Fall last night mate.

This all seems to be getting very negative & I don't really understand why... what I would say is go along and see them, make your OWN mind up and if you don't like what you see don't go again - simple innit?

It is simple, indeed. I really hope that Mr Smith reads these comments though.