Leeds Academy, Friday, 2nd October 2009

45 minute set
Over Over/ Chino/ Wolf Kidult Man/ Fall Sound/ Duped/ Sloppy Floor/ I'm Not From Bury/ Sparta/ Reformation// Pat TripDispenser!- 2 drummers!// Psykick Dancehall

and a snatch of White Lightning performed after curfew - no amplifiers, no microphones, no guitars, just one unamplified drummer and MES conducting the crowd singing the words.

Quite a bizarre and short gig by recent standards.

This was only my 4th Fall gig. Last time was at York, The Duchess, where they did almost a full two hours. I hope the usual ratio of decent length to ludicrously short gigs is better than three-to-one? It was a shame because Mark seemed to be having a great time, and as somebody next to me put it "They finally get to play in a decent venue in Leeds, and he goes and mucks it up".

I think he said 'mucks'.

Possibly my 40th Fall gig, right up there in the top 10. Might add a sensible review when I've stopped grinning and had a kip...

BTW where were you all for the Nightingales set?

They were due on at 9.15... came on at 9.45. There was a curfew at 10.30 owing to a disco afterwards. I heard before the gig that times were going to be tight as the gruppe were driving up from Windsor, so I don't know if that's the reason for the late show.

I might add there was much disappointment that the Victoria alehouse has taken the brew The Fall off the menu prior to the gig. A missed opportunity for sure. An omen?

Same line up,despite the photo in Mojo (apart from the extra drummer). Had a couple of pints in the Victoria before (good pub). Met a guy from York who reads the forum but hasn’t posted yet-introduce yourself sir. Got in the venue half way through the Nightingales set. Half a set too early. Didn’t like them one bit- especially the singer. Then a very long wait for The Fall. They keep pulling big crowds-upstairs was shut but another big turnout. MES on good form throughout, I wasn’t impressed by Pete when he first joined but he’s doing the business now, and Kieran’s come a long way since The Ritz gig. The Eagle’s always impressed me, which leaves one weak link. Eleni spoiled what would have been a really good gig in my opinion. Her keyboards ruined the 1st 2 songs till the PA guy turned them down and her backing vocals in Wolf K Man were awful. Shame really. Who’s on the subs bench Mark? The intro tape sounded like a sneak preview of the new album- Sloppy Floor I think. High point for me was the unexpected Pat Trip Dispenser.

Bit drunk . . . . pretty happy . . . . that was one hell of a pat trip

Stood at the back a bit . . . . moshed a bit . . . . bought a couple of bags

Short . . . . but . . . . I had me a real good time

pat-treip////shit!! that's my fav. shit!! why didn't i go...

pat trip dispenser...what a great song...shit...i'm fuckin'g gutted!!

The promoters know Smith rarely gets on stage before 10pm so why did they book them into a venue with a 10.30 curfew? It's particularly annoying we only got 45 mins as the band were on fine form and Smith's vocals were stronger and clearer than I can ever remember. This isn't the first time this has happened either, it's time they stopped short changing fans (the 45mins included 2 walk offs so there was even less performance time than that).

you should think your self lucky for what they was. what? would yourather have seen The boss for 4&1/2 hrs or bono lip syncihing or alex turder...MES is just fuckin it man!! ha ha ah!!!

I would rather have seen The Fall for the hour and 15 minutes they were due to do! I know it's quality not quantity but any set less than an hour is taking the piss IMO.

And that was top draw!! Mark bang on form, great Vocals. I thought The sound was good and the groupe fairly banged it out. Pat the trip dispenser, for fuck sake, I never thought I'd hear that again!! twas a bit short but twas a good set.

Best I've seen them since the 80's. I would rather have 45 minutes like this than 2 hours of what we have been having lately!!
The Nightingales were magnificent, but got no crowd response at all. After Pat Trip Dispenser, Daren should be proud, playing with the best 2 British bands around at the moment.
Oh, and first time Ive noticed that Eleni carries a Taser in her bag onstage. Has she ever had to use it, I wonder....

Some photographs.

The Taser is for when MES reaches over from the back of the keyboards to 'play' them...

"The Taser
Is close to me..."

Yeh great wasn't it .

Pat Trip Dispenser - two drummers fuking hell great night even went to the after party before jetlag kicked in - will post something once my brain works better - met some great people from here and also the mentioned forum reader at the vic

Is that what Marmot helped fix the night over? Winks postulated a different battery source



WHO WAS THE OTHER DRUMMER?

yeah, who was that other drummer?! Was he not at Windsor?

Well worth the 4.5 hour round trip. I had 2 local car parks programmed in to my Tom Tom. Both closed at 9pm. Found a local outdoor car park that was free after 5pm. Result.
Went straight to venue at about 7.35. I did not want to miss any of The Nightingales. I was disappointed to hear live music playing upon entering, but it was another support band. Their banner said EviiR. They were competent but ultimately boring. I ventured to the front barrier as the announced their final song, as I knew that The Nightingales would be on soon, what with the tight schedule and all. I stood right in front of Eleni's keyboard.
The Nightingales took to the stage to no welcome whatsoever. They did an abridged version of the recent set to be found on dime elsewhere. It was the first time I had seen the band in any form, having been a fan since hearing Idiot Strength a generation ago. I thought they were absolutely fantastic. The 3 musicians were all amazingly competent. Our very own daren on drums was very animated, and brought the set to life with his complex rhythms.
Robert Lloyd brooded around the stage, looking like a fat old version of a young Elvis Costello. He rightly berated the audience for being awful, and bit back at one shout of 'get off'. I am amazed that a Fall crowd could be so unappreciative of genius.
I had seen a piece of paper stating that The Fall were due on stage at 9.15. They did not hit the stage until 9.40. The backing music was awful metal, until just before the band appeared. Then a track from the new Fall album was played. I thought at this point that it would have been pretty cool to just play the new album and for the group not to appear.....
First time I have seen this line up. Very tight. Mark was in the best mood that I think I have ever seen him. I disagree with whoever said he was drunk. I think he was very sober, but was obviously limping a bit from recent injuries. Set list is as posted earlier


Over Over/ Chino/ Wolf Kidult Man/ Fall Sound/ Duped/ Sloppy Floor/ I'm Not From Bury/ Sparta/ Reformation// Pat TripDispenser!?/ Psykick Dancehall

Even Reformation sounded good to these ears, which I have always hated both live and recorded. I could see the set list at Eleni's feet, and could see that Pat Trip Dispenser was scheduled to be the final encore. What a thrill!
The band did not stick to the printed set list at all. I get the feeling they cherry picked tracks because of the curfew. No complaints from me with the choices, anyway.
I clocked that Daren's drumkit had been left assembled at the rear of the set, and sure enough he appeared on Pat Trip Dispenser. A song from the Golden Era, performed with a 2 drummer line up. More than anyone could have hoped.
Pat Trip was the obvious highlight, but if I had to pick one from the set it would be Ive Been Duped. Completely disagree with earlier posting regarding Eleni. I think her improved and confident input is what elevates the group above what they have been recently.
I left the Academy overjoyed, and looking forward to a new Fall album more than I have done for about a decade.

one of the most enjoyable fall gigs i've ever been to. never even contemplated the length of the set!!!

the whole band looked like they were enjoying it...all were fantastic...especially el, the keyboards were fab!!!

me and bunny girl had a blast. more please

will post some photos when i get home




p.s. nightingales were tight as fuck, reminded me a little of nomeansno

Cracking night, great gig, good venue,good beer in vic and superb after gig party topped off with a greasy donner and a bloody expensive taxi home.
plus trip dispenser and psykick dancehall what more could one ask for ?

That was Faith No More! The Mid Life Crisis albumI think. Good stuff.