Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, Friday, 10th October 2008

I've just got back from the Aberdeen Lemon Tree gig.

[apologies if this is a bit garbled - I've had one or two shandies]

Anyway, The Fall were fantastic as usual.

Quite a short set, (about 25 minutes in total)

I managed to get a set list, and it reads as folllows: Chino Splashback; Wolf Kidult Man; Fall Sound; 50yr old man; Wings; I've been Duped; Sparta; Can Can Summer; Reformation; Pacifying Joint; Tommy Shooter; Mr Pharmacist; Carry Bag Man; White Lightning; Blindness. [I'll try to scan this through tomorrow]

The groop, however, only played the first seven songs on the set list (the last two songs being instrumentals - sans M.E.S).

A geat gig, nevertheless; and I'm really looking forward to seeing them in Edinburgh on Sunday.

PeterL

Cool they played some old tracks, I hope they play Carrybagman on Sunday, I hope they play more than 25 frgin minutes as well.

Had it - really had it - total joke
25 mins of head on stuff then suddenly he dissapears and thats it
Its about time he stopped being so obessesed with being different
People paid money - and came a long way eg me , to see the band and got that
Why would somebody like Mark E Smith travel to Aberdeen and do that - just defies believe.Responders - I know thats him - get over it - but sometimes its
bloody stupid
Does he want The Fall to be a great live band - the band lives on etc - because the way he's going they will go down in history as a joke

Shit. We was heading to Edinburgh on Sunday. Now Im not so sure.
What were milophobia like? They appear interesting on Myspace, that was part of the attraction for us. You need another reason to attend a Fall gig nowadays because this type of thing is always likely to occur.

...it seems to get interesting again!

I'm looking forward to seeing John Cooper Clarke again - so the tension generated by MES will at least have some other reward.

Yes, but while it's more interesting to feel as though you've missed something great, than to actually witness it and find out it was dull all along, that doesn't help the poor sods who actually bothered to go.

When MES didnt turn up to the 'Darker-my-Love' gig, Eleni came down from manchester to explain that he had Flu and needed to recuperate.
(you can find this information on the FOF over the last week or so)
Its my guess he performed for as long as he felt he could, without fucking up his voice for the next gig.
A lot of performers in the same situation wouldnt have even bothered.
Was it a good Half hours worth???
And is there a recording???

never mind always different always the same.. always the same always the same. Like a potato.

As long as we've been joined in this forum the reviews come in like this.
Fallgig is a lottery, pays yer money...

Agree-but hopefully the promoter won't be paying the band any money. Surely the contract will state the minmum length they have to play for.

Aberdeen Lemon Tree 10th October set:

Chino Splashback
Wolf Kidult Man
Fall Sound
50 Year Old Man
Wings
I've Been Duped
Sparta FC
Can Can Summer
Reformation
[The last two songs were played as instrumentals, without M.E.S]

[On set-list, but not played: Pacifying Joint; Tommy Shooter; Mr Pharmacist; Carry Bag Man; White Lightning; Blindnesss]

Contrary to what some others have said, this was a brilliant Fall gig. The groop were on fantastic form, and M.E.S was at his most cantankerous and caustic. Highlights were the new song 'Chino Splashback', and a particularly malevolent version of '50 Year Old Man'.

I know that the groop only played 25 minutes (about half of the set list, as written), but I really don't think that anyone can have a justifiable complaint when they are on this kind of form.

I'm going to see them in Edinburgh on Sunday, and I would have no objection if they played another 25 minute set of this standard.

Perhaps they'll play the other half of the gig...

I'm looking forward to seeing John Cooper Clarke again - so the tension generated by MES will at least have some other reward.

Oh, I forgot to mention that John Cooper Clarke never appeared at Aberdeen - I don't know about the Edinburgh date

MES appeared to be ill as soon as he came onstage, it was a blistering performance and I think he genuinely wasn't able to continue.

The support band were shite, the singer is a prick.

Hopefully everything will be ok for Edinburgh on Sunday.

I will totally rely on Mr P's account of this gig.
Hope the home town gig's a stormer, mate.

Cheers Crypto

Edinburgh gigs are always good.

I meant to say there is a recording. more quality product from the Consortium which will be appearing on dime in due course.

OK, Mr P, we're on our way!!!

MES was clearly ill, heystudent i travelled a fuck of a way to get there too but better a 45 minute set (which was fucking great while it lasted) than a no-show.

No JCC, lightweight

edit- TOBYDYNAMIK posting on mrp's account by accident

Hm, 25 minutes but still fantastic? 7 songs, 2 instrumentals without MES? This does not bode well, does it?

Then again, it's been a long while since he's thrown a major wobbler, so (with apologies to those of you who went to Aberdeen) I hope he's exorcising his demons before Hackeny (night 2), York & Holmfirth.


PS - as an Englishman born & bred, I fully support an independant Scotland, & will by applying for politcal asylum shortly after it's achieved.

Ah, now 45 minutes sounds more than acceptable, & if MES wasn't well then fair enough. My initial reaction to reading about this was 'oh balls, he's about to chuck a corkscrew again'. Guess I was being a little hasty & something of a doom-monger...which is only natural when you're into the Fall.

Hope he's caning in the lemsips.

should the word "disgrace" be removed from the thread title?

Just spoken to the support bands manager (trying to blag £10 tickets he was offering on myspace - all gone ), but he said MES was not behaving and they only played "half an hour".

Who has the tapes? How long was it really?
I think 25 mins or 45 mins for a Fall gig is VERY different.

MES on stage for 33 minutes of a 45 minute set

Half an hour then.

Thanks Toby.

Hmmm...