Carling Academy, Oxford, Monday, 17th March 2008

Magnificent, the best I have seen them for years.

From the setlist:

Intro
Wings
Fall Sound
Pacifying Joint
50 Year Old Man
WolfKiddult Man
I've Been Duped
Latch Key Kid
Reformation
Tommy Shooter
Systematic Abuse
White Lightning
Blindness

but "What About Us" was definitely in there......

good stuff, wasn't it. The new songs sound interesting too. This time I didn't make the mistake of leaving when the lights went up, as they eventually came back on to do Blindness.

Blinding.

Solid Guitar, and I loved the drummer and bassist. Lots of promise for the LP

Eleni's keyboards were varied and interesting.

MES was mischevious with his knob twiddling, and he removed two of the drummer's cymbals near the end of Systematic Abuse (or was it Reformation) - its a bit of a blur.

Nice to put a face to a few names at the gig, Very Famous Sports Reporter and Stephen.

Apologies for not making it to the Hobgoblin on time, would have liked to meet more folks. Made the mistake of watching part of the support band Nought. Thats what I scored them.

Safi was Ok for about 3 minutes and then the noise was painful.

Will Pop some photos up tomorrow or Wednesday.

Oh yes, and Snowdaughter really enjoyed it too!

The Eleni vocal track was mint with MES doing the backing....

the most aptly named band in pop/rock history. Followed by Safi bloody Sniper. I was not alone in wondering why MES does this to us. Fortunately The Fall played a blinder to make up for it.

The Eleni vocal track was mint with MES doing the backing....

yeah that was a highlight. Can't wait to hear that on record.

the most aptly named band in pop/rock history. Followed by Safi bloody Sniper. I was not alone in wondering why MES does this to us. Fortunately The Fall played a blinder to make up for it.

Nought were ok for 5 minutes. I think that I must be the only person who likes Safi. Third time I have seen him and I always enjoy his set.

The Fall were so much better tonight than in Newcastle a couple of weeks back.

I'm surprised at the poor reaction to nought, for me one of the best supports I've seen for The Fall, even recording part of their set at hammersmith palais. They fit the bill all the better for having no vocalist - just music to set the scene for the main act.
As for Safi, I'm glad to hear he's back in the picture.

[QUOTE=Liam,Mar 18 2008, 12:50 PM]
[/QUOTE]

Safi bloody Sniper. I was not alone in wondering why MES does this to us. Fortunately The Fall played a blinder to make up for it.[/QUOTE]
This is bad very news. Surely MES has got the message by now.

This is more like it. After the sludge-fest that was the Astoria gig, last night
was a genuine stormer. Actually being able to hear Pete Greenway's guitar playing brought some much needed light and shade to the proceedings, while the overall mix and more intimate atmosphere was far better.

The whole group seemed on top of their game with the result that songs like Reformation and Systematic Abuse were given a new lease of life. It was the best I've Been Duped I've ever heard and Latch Key Kid looks set to become the new album's tour de force. Apart from the return of Safi (although briefly thank God) the only low point was the MES-less Tommy Shooter.

Otherwise Mark was in top form (I'll take cymbal rearranging over knob twiddling any day of the week) and there was even a classic "Mr & Mrs" moment when he started playing Eleni's keyboard and she flashed him one of those "there, there my dear" looks that we've all no doubt experienced ourselves.

My friend Chris, who's only ever seen them at festivals before, enjoyed it immensely and will no doubt post a positive review on the Sky website.

It was also great to see so many of you in the pub beforehand, especially Toby Dynamik, Billy Big Bananas, Systematic Pete and (in the shadow of Eleni's handbag) SnoweyUK none of whom I'd met before. When I stopped off at the kebab shop opposite the station I saw the guy in the flat cap who launched into Carry-Bag Man when Mark handed him the mic "I couldn't help myself" he said. Respect, sir.

Brilliant gig, brilliant night. It was the first time I'd seen The Fall outside London since Keele University in 1987, I should Leave The Capitol more often.

I definitely don't remember What About Us but agree with the rest of the setlist. Not 100% sure about the order though.
Maybe the Nought/Safi Sniper support and using the upstairs room was designed to replicate the two triumphant shows from last year.
Good though it was last night, I didn't think it was as good as either of those two, particularly the second night, which was legendary.
Bit of a dip in quality in the middle - dare I say it, a couple of the new tracks - but from I've Been Duped onwards it was back to storming form. Blindness, with the house lights on for the first half or so, was a magnificent finale.

A SUPERB GIG THIS ONE.THEY NEVER DISSAPOINT AT THIS VENUE.
THEY WERE AT THERE CREATIVE BEST LAST NIGHT.

LOVELY TO MEET SO MANY OF YOU IN THE HOBGOBLIN+ ONE OR 2 I HAD NOT MET BEFORE+ THE GUY IN THE FLAT CAP AT THE GIG ITSELF.
I DECIDED LAST NIGHT I WOULD BOOK THE SALFORD GIG ON MAY 3RD+ I HAVE JUST DONE THAT.

GLAD I TOOK SOME LEAVE OFF WORK TODAY

ROLL ON THE NEXT FALL GIG

PETE

It was a good one Mrs Smith is an increasingly accomplished performer Not crazy about the new bass player, touch of the level 42 to him

Another great show. Took a while to really get into gear but by "I've Been Duped", the band were cooking. Kieron worked bloody hard on those drums last night. I've noticed that Pete is slipping in a few more guitar parts now, "Reformation" and "Blindness" both had some extras added........ can Jimmy Page style soloing be far away now?

Always a pleasure to meet faces old & new and last night was no exception - a great crowd in the Hobgoblin beforehand.

Having seen a few shows on this tour now I think its reasonable to say the Fall are alive and well in 2008. The new album is much anticipated in this house.



Oh, yeah - I never get tired of thinking Safi's shit either.

Nought AND Safi Sniper??? Not again, please not ever again. I could feel my life force draining away last time I had to stand though S bloody S.

I am almost glad I didn't get the train from London.
Almost, not quite.
Sounds like they played a blinder and was much better than Astoria. Which I agree was a bit 'sludgy.'

hmm the negative review or two I'd seen of other shows and my uncertain reaction to the boot of the new songs (which on first listen sounded, erm, new, Fall like, and not bad, but Emperor's new clothes-ish to my - possibly unsympathetic? - ears. Had some 'issues' at present).

I should have gone last night really but wasn't in the mood too. ah well, can't see em all. hopefully the next one i do actually see will be a stormer too.

I have enjoyed the forums and found them useful for ages - but this is the first time I have braved a comment.

Agree with most of the above - not as good as last years Oxford gig - when I got my hands on the mic for a few shouts of "Check the track record" with the americans on board, but still pretty good - I was a fan of the Wright Stuff as it goes - but I've been Duped is even better. Also agree that it got better from there.

I was the impossibly tall dude with his 13 year old son (attending first Fall gig having heard Fall Sound and Dr Bucks Letter and asking to come - good on the Bullet for my Valentine and Slipknot fan) stood behind what I imagine was Snoweyuk, right on the barrier then.

Definitely heard the first bits of "What about us" too. Loud wasn't it?

Safi annoying apart from the Sinead O'connor bit which was quite scary.
Nought were okay in a Zappa sort of way I thought - decent racket.

Great venue upstairs and downstairs.

I noticed your son, and thought it was great to see some youngsters in the crowd.

As for loud, my ears still have a semblence of ringing in them even now.

Its been gradually getting better through the day, and I hope that by the morning I'll be back to normal!

Just put my recording up on Dime:
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=188621

A blinding gig. Kieron played like a proper Fall drummer at last. Highlight for me was Eleni's keyboards, especially at the end of Pacifying Joint, and coming back on for Blindness of course, after the non-believers had already started leaving. It was a surprise to the sound guys too, as they had already started removing mics, etc. The one for the bass drum was gone, but Mark threw a vocal mic in there. Probably a fluke, but t really looked like he knew what he was doing.#

BTW, the setlist is missing 'Is This New' as the first proper song (is it a proper song?).
My daughter got Kieron's setlist at the end. I'll try and post it here tomorrow.

A cd of their's is cherished in this house, two tracks alone (cough cap kitty cat //Ignatius) that certainly have something of zappa; rolled up with evocations of early genesis, husker du and ..British Grenadiers

Pike1957, I don't have a dime account to see that torrent info and they aren't allowing any new accounts at the moment. Is there any other way you can send the info ?

Keep an eye on the forums, there are usually one or two who'll post a regular file download/stream.

(I'd do it if I knew how... )

Cheers! Weirdly, despite no recent activity, my account is still valid.

And what a wonderful recording it is! Fantastic job.