The Welly, Hull, Monday, 24th March 2008 (merged)

Support
The NeAT (Hull/Bricknall Ave/Lincolnshire, young lads, mean well, funny)
Ferral Man (Manchaster, big bruvvers, stereo MC's big it up, not my cuppa tea
Safi - another fine set which wrapped up with Elvis

The Fall

Intro (spoken word - Road crew)
Is This New
Wings
Fall Sound
Pacifying Joint
50 Year Old Man
Wolve Kiddult Man
I've Been Duped
Latch Key Kid
Reformation
Tommy Shooter
White Lightning
-----------------
Blindness

The Welly is an old haunt, a dump which used to put on club nights (acid jazz etc) to give a cheap student alternative to The Room et al.

It's suprising, they've done the place up nice. Where I used to dance like a stupid chicken now stands a stage. The venue actually looks OK (although Chris G said it looks like a dump, which it was). But hey! we're in Hull! Anything goes, this a lively buzzing city, with heart and soul, albeit no money (a bit like the UK version of Detroit).

The last time I saw the Fall in Hull; the gig was a disaster at the Adelphi, a bad time for Mark; ironically enough, rescheduled from a cancelled gig supposed to happen at the Welly. Word got around that bands didn't get paid for the gigs at the Welly. In protest the Fall cancelled and played an appalling gig at the Adelphi which couldn't have lasted longer than 30 minutes.

But that was in the long distant past, and believe me kids, Mark's been through it all.

Tonight though was something else. After witnessing Dublin infront of about 1,000 people I come to Hull, the Welly. It holds barley 250 people at the most. It's been snowing on Easter Sunday. Today has been sunny, then snowing, then windy, then a hailstorm. The weather can't make up it's mind. And being on the east coast on the arse end of England, it's freezing.

However, tonight The Fall are just the best band you've ever seen. They are tight, sharp, focused and determined to put on a great gig. They did just that. I've seen them about 70 times over the last 22 years and this one was really up there with the best. Last week they played Dublin, very good indeed (partly due to the enthusiasm of a Fall starved Ireland). Tonight though they were something else. Highlights included an excellent I've been duped (more than just a punk song, a pop song). The catchy Latch Key Kid and an oustanding (and Dingless)Reformation. Mark decides to throw out the road crew member and tell us what Tommy Shooter is all about.

The encore Blindness was just awe inspiring... Just when we thought it was all over Mark re-enters the stage sans microphone and lectures the crowd about his Blindman, magnificent.

This is up there with one of the finest Fall gigs of all time.

This is going to be one hell of an album.

I have been following The Fall since 1989 and this was the best I have ever seen them. A truly astonishing show. In Hull. On a Bank Holiday Monday. Pictures to follow.

More tomorrow.

The wristbands were right, we were all VIP's at the Welly in Hull...

great photos, wish i'd gone

do tell

My self and Mrs Hex en Hour has a most pleasureable evening , they were good, really, really good, very tight, Mark bang on form, twas a joy. Just Can't wait for the new album.. Roll on Salford

Yes you do!!

And the blood on the knuckles...?

Really excellent gig and so much better than the lacklustre show at Leeds. The Fall show their bouncebackability yet again. Last 2 times I was at the Welly, it was a huge downstairs room with about 25 people in! Now it's a small upstairs room which was too small for the crowd last night- they were overflowing into the merch area. Given this was a freezing monday night in a city not noted for large turnouts, the size of the crowd last night was amazing. There must have been people near the back who struggled to see and I was worried the venue might spoil the gig. It didn't- the small stage and minimal lighting seemed to add to the atmosphere.
9.50- no sign of a screen on stage. 'Great' I think, no Safi. 9.55 screen appears and the torture begins. I won't comment on this person again-see my posting about Leeds. At least he wasn't as loud last night. The prog rock instrumental intro still does nothing for me but the version of Wings was far superior to the one at Leeds- although the guitarist cocked up the intro and had to start again. He still sounded like he was out of tune or playing the wrong chords though! MES was on top form throughout, as he has been on each of the 3 gigs I've seen this tour- last night he was more focussed and sharper than I can ever remember seeing him. The band are really tight on the new stuff too. The only minor moans were the mid set lull with Latch Key Kid (played well but an average song) and Duped (luckily Eleni's vocals were quiter than at Leeds). They picked up the pace with Reformation and carried it through to the end. The guitarist cocked up again on Reformation, getting the intro wrong and trying unsuccessfully to redeem himself with some fancy stuff. Tommy Shooter would be better with MES rather than the unknown vocalist. MES kept the knob twiddling to a minimum until Blindness, when he played keyboards and turned the bass up- to good effect. At the end of Blindness he stood stage front mouthing the lyrics to the crowd, before departing with a cheery v sign. A great gig which left me thinking how much better this great band could be with a quality guitarist.

I can't believe how much stick greenway gets. He doesn't have as much flair as tim presley but has a more eccentric playing style which I prefer. He's the closest thing the fall have had to scanlon since the man himself left.

Doh! So nobody from round here went? Well I did. Busy as hell just now, will try to review it at weekend. Suffice to say, utterly splendid.

an excellent show, as good as I have ever seen them. Highlight - MES delivered end of Blindness without mic - priceless

I agree.

He plays in a more "jagged" style than recent incumbents, which fits the bill nicely.

Check the review section.

I agree.

He plays in a more "jagged" style than recent incumbents, which fits the bill nicely.

i think he's perfect for the fall

Shiiiiiit, can't believe I drove over the Humber Bridge yesterday and didn't stop. Great photos, Chrisgoodhead