WiNTER TOUR 2008 REViEWS

[Pudu]

Ginger sang the opening line of Geordie before realising that the crowd was louder than him and sitting down on the front of the stage as the crowd sang in full voice note perfect ...

You obviously didnt hear me singing then and I was just to your left by the sounds of it!

[Jason_scorching_past]

Just back from the London show and really enjoyed it.

'A' were great, I really need to find their albums (I think I have them somewhere) as this reminded me what catchy songs they had. It's gret that such a decent band were on this tour and I am looking forward to their new album.

The setlist for London seemed to be pretty similar to other shows, although we left during Getting It so don't know if there was any more songs after that

From what I remember (no order) -

Nita Nitro
Vanilla Radio
Someone
Revolution
Everlone
SOD
Caff bomb
Suckerpunch
Carmelita
Headfuck
Nothing ever changes
Geordie
Rooting for the Bad guy
Understanding Jane
Just in Lust (just about)
Lonely this Christmas (is that the title?)
Red Light Green Light
Getting it

Might have been some others I have forgotten?

Ginger complained about the sound on stage and all of the band seemed to be having trouble with it. During Just in Lust Ginger stopped singing and got a bit pissed off and they went off without playing the song properly. Ginger returned and apologised saying he was having a shitty time, cos of the sound and how he was bi-polar but acting like a cunt (or words to that effect).

They then played the most immense version of Rooting for the Bad Guy, it was awesome, and I assume the sound troubles were fixed cos it sounded perfect.

Saying that though the whole gig sounded fine to me, and I particularly liked hearing the newer stuff like Carmelita, Revolution, Understanding Jane. I hope they continue to mix the set list up a bit, its really cool to hear something that you haven't heard much.

RFTBG should definitley be a staple though, it rocked.

[Nomad]

A few hiccups getting to this gig, as my bike chain broke betweek Kings Cross and Camden, not too far and easy enough to walk to the Forum really, but I've got a 6+mile ride home through rural Oxfordshire later on, so had to spend a while hunting down the world's most expensive bike shop. Since the Manchester gig I've basically been on a 2.5 day bender in York, and as a part of that last night I acquired an inflatable guitar from Reflex. I may spare you the account of going in there, buying it, leaping on the revolving dancefloor and asking the DJ to play Chesney Hawkes, but then again, I have no intact sense of shame.

Had a fairly good turnout, my brother, brother in law and good friend came along, and the Forum looked mostly full. I couldn't believe the cloakroom line, but even more, I couldn't believe the look of Tragedy onstage, 3 guitars and bass, all in shiny stuff, and 3 gogo girls, basically. They were exceptional value. I missed them in Manchester and I guess I shouldn't have. Friend is talking about going to see the Electric Six/Tragedy gig on Friday at the Appollo to get another fix. I did see some of the girls in Manchester on the merchandise stand though - I just hadn't realised they were part of the deal. Someone remarked that they couldn't believe they were making money as they're probably paying out royalties too...

A were a bit lighter on the chat than in Manc, but that meant they had a go at playing Tahoe too, which we were all baying for anyway. Claimed they didn't really know it, but they managed just fine. There were some fuckups during Foghorn though. Again, well worth seeing, Ginger was again watching them from stage right, so he probably agrees. Great choice for support. Wish I'd inflated my guitar before they played The Distance.

Wildhearts played another extensively changed setlist - I haven't seen the Wolves or Glasgow one, but they changed the opener, closer and a few in between from Manc. Opened with Nita Nitro, and it was a nice lead in. Hopefully someone will post a setlist, but I think we had Vanilla Radio, Revolution, Someone Who Won't.., Everlone before they played Suckerpunch, at which point I decided crowd surfing with my inflatable guitar seemeda good idea, took 3 attempts to get up, but that timed it perfectly with the solo in the middle to play air guitar to, on top of the crowd. Security guys seemed anxious I had further plans beyond that, or maybe they very enthusiastically escorted everyone out...

After that I decided I'd had enough of the guitar, although a girl in black insisted on reinflating it (someone on the board?), and having a wave around of it for a couple of songs, then it went to my friend on steroids who's not allowed to drink or sweat. In the encore we got Geordie, Understanding Jane sung by Ginger this time, we also had 29x the Pain (to hear that London call?), then they finished up with Getting it, I Wanna Go and finally (after a bit of emo ranting by Ginger) Love U 'til I Don't. Ginger wasn't in a great mood tonight, but I didn't really notice much beyond the apologies for the sound. Friend says he knocked over his mike stand loads of times.

Completely failed to really talk to anyone in the pub beforehand, and Quinns was a long enough walk as the only pub we found open to ensure nobody else made it there - so sorry about that. Maybe the really drunk girl who was spilling her handbag contents all over the floor of the pit reads here, she sprayed me with her deodourant that I found on the floor for her (I didn't need it) then told me I was lovely and gave me a kiss. Obviously I hated every moment, if my wife's reading... Tragedy saw my guitar on the way out, and two of them wanted pictures with me, which I was surprised by. I won't be at all disappointed if they support the upcoming New York dates in March. If anyone else will be making the trip over now that the pound has plummeted, I'll be happy to assist with local info. Now I just need to get lucky and catch my flight back to the US tomorrow...

[SiN1758]

Dunno about anyone else who went to the London show, but it was one of the wierdest wildhearts gigs I've been to. Ginger was clearly in a shitty mood from the get go, and at times just seemed to be "ploughing through it". The crowd seemed really quiet. Great to hear Caprice again tho, sounds immense with Ritch on drums. Nothing Ever changes was great too. Hearing Scott belting out Carmalita was pretty cool as well.

Was a really good show tho - enjoyed it immensely. One question tho, missed most of A's set, but caught the last song they played - anyone know what it's called? It was really really good!!!

[kriscoverdale]

then they finished up with Getting it, I Wanna Go and finally (after a bit of emo ranting by Ginger) Love U 'til I Don't. Ginger wasn't in a great mood tonight, but I didn't really notice much beyond the apologies for the sound. Friend says he knocked over his mike stand loads of times.

There was also a solo version of my old friend the blues squeezed in at the end somewhere, which was worth the price of admission alone for me...

[Sarc]

Dunno about anyone else who went to the London show, but it was one of the wierdest wildhearts gigs I've been to. Ginger was clearly in a shitty mood from the get go, and at times just seemed to be "ploughing through it". The crowd seemed really quiet. Great to hear Caprice again tho, sounds immense with Ritch on drums. Nothing Ever changes was great too. Hearing Scott belting out Carmalita was pretty cool as well.

Was a really good show tho - enjoyed it immensely. One question tho, missed most of A's set, but caught the last song they played - anyone know what it's called? It was really really good!!!

The last song A played was called Nothing and it was their biggest hit, not quite sure why as I thought it was dire compared to their otherstuff, but each to their own an' all that.

My hearings fucked after last nihgt but i guess thats what you get when you have your head in Scott's bass bin.

[SiN1758]

then they finished up with Getting it, I Wanna Go and finally (after a bit of emo ranting by Ginger) Love U 'til I Don't. Ginger wasn't in a great mood tonight, but I didn't really notice much beyond the apologies for the sound. Friend says he knocked over his mike stand loads of times.

There was also a solo version of my old friend the blues squeezed in at the end somewhere, which was worth the price of admission alone for me...

that's right, it sounded great too. Me & the other half assumed it to be the end of the set and was walking up to the cloakroom when they started belting out love u till i don't.

Doh!!

[SiN1758]

Dunno about anyone else who went to the London show, but it was one of the wierdest wildhearts gigs I've been to. Ginger was clearly in a shitty mood from the get go, and at times just seemed to be "ploughing through it". The crowd seemed really quiet. Great to hear Caprice again tho, sounds immense with Ritch on drums. Nothing Ever changes was great too. Hearing Scott belting out Carmalita was pretty cool as well.

Was a really good show tho - enjoyed it immensely. One question tho, missed most of A's set, but caught the last song they played - anyone know what it's called? It was really really good!!!

The last song A played was called Nothing and it was their biggest hit, not quite sure why as I thought it was dire compared to their otherstuff, but each to their own an' all that.

My hearings fucked after last nihgt but i guess thats what you get when you have your head in Scott's bass bin.

Nice one, cheers Sarc. My hearings OK - my voice is absolutely shot tho - usually a sign of a good gig!

[Jason_scorching_past]

The last song A played was called Nothing and it was their biggest hit, not quite sure why as I thought it was dire compared to their otherstuff, but each to their own an' all that.

.

Yeah they got accused of jumping on the Nu-metal bandwagon with that track. It's quite heavy for them, I prefer their catchier stuff.

[Humbug]

My third Wildhearts gig - I'd probably put it somewhere between the Oxford May '04 gig (amazing), and The Astoria Dec '04 (not great). It was only listening to a live recording from last years Newcastle show that I realised that The Wildhearts really were on top form, and this persuaded me to go and see them again last night.

Moving to The Forum was a bit of a let down, as I prefer Hammersmith, but I got my taping gear in without bother and settled down for Tragedy..blimey they're a bit shocking! Quite good though. Ginger and CJ joined them on stage for the final number, "Tragedy".

I'd never heard any A, and it took me a while to get into them. They were good though, and I also spotted Ginger watching on the left of the stage.

The Wildhearts put on a good show, and sound thankfully improved for their set. I also wondered if Ginger was OK as he wandered off stage half way through..thought it was a bit early for an encore! In the end they played for about 1 hour 45 minutes. Crowd were pretty good, though I could see security getting peed off with the constant crowd surfing..do they chuck you out if you do this or can you have another go? Really enjoyed the gig and will go again next year.

Humbug

[Assmask]

I tend to either grope crowdsurfers, or steal their shoes.

They deserve it. I was once almost knocked out by a boot in the head from one.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

The last song A played was called Nothing and it was their biggest hit, not quite sure why as I thought it was dire compared to their otherstuff, but each to their own an' all that.

.

Yeah they got accused of jumping on the Nu-metal bandwagon with that track. It's quite heavy for them, I prefer their catchier stuff.

it's not a bad song, they played it well at wolves, but i'dve preferred "something's going on" instead. tbh though, i was surprised by how many songs i knew the words to, since i only have hi-fi serious. i'm hoping they were serious about the new album and full tour!

[Nomad]

Crowd were pretty good, though I could see security getting peed off with the constant crowd surfing..do they chuck you out if you do this or can you have another go?

From past experience, after about the third go, they'll say "look mate, that's enough, all right?"

There wasn't really much this time, we're all getting too old for that sort of thing...

[SiN1758]

My third Wildhearts gig - I'd probably put it somewhere between the Oxford May '04 gig (amazing), and The Astoria Dec '04 (not great). It was only listening to a live recording from last years Newcastle show that I realised that The Wildhearts really were on top form, and this persuaded me to go and see them again last night.

Moving to The Forum was a bit of a let down, as I prefer Hammersmith, but I got my taping gear in without bother and settled down for Tragedy..blimey they're a bit shocking! Quite good though. Ginger and CJ joined them on stage for the final number, "Tragedy".

I'd never heard any A, and it took me a while to get into them. They were good though, and I also spotted Ginger watching on the left of the stage.

The Wildhearts put on a good show, and sound thankfully improved for their set. I also wondered if Ginger was OK as he wandered off stage half way through..thought it was a bit early for an encore! In the end they played for about 1 hour 45 minutes. Crowd were pretty good, though I could see security getting peed off with the constant crowd surfing..do they chuck you out if you do this or can you have another go? Really enjoyed the gig and will go again next year.

Humbug

Maybe a bit cheeky, but if you recorded the set, I don't suppose you'll be uploading it anywhere will you?

[whatevermort]

Alright, so I'll be a voice of dissent, apparently. I'm very quiet on these boards - I used to be a listee, back in the day, under a different name etc - and have seen the band 9 times now. That was the second worst performance by them I have seen. I cannot be an apologist about it: it was just poor. I understand that Ginger had a bad night, but I'd argue that mine was worse. I travelled halfway across the country - for the second time in four months, by the way - to see them, at great expense, and it was obvious from the get-go that there was something slightly amiss. Coming after Tragedy - who were great, if you bothered to get there to see them - and A - who were fine, if a little rusty (and who I want to shake and warn against releasing a new album in the current musical climate, as I just can't see that ending well at all) - I wanted fun, excitement, party spirit. I wanted that Christmas gig from years back with the covers of Christmas songs and special guests - as ramshackle as that was, that was the ideal, right?

And what I got was a band playing very well, with pretty good sound (from the varied places I stood), far better than the Empire gig, and Ginger in a foul mood. I was pissed off when he complained about the sound after having chosen to not turn up to soundcheck, and even more pissed off when he said he was having a shit time. We knew that: it showed. And it rang through the crowd, just watching them compared to many Wildhearts gigs. They were tepid. The setlist was what I expected, sadly, with no surprises - I prayed that the start of Just In Lust was Schitzophonic, but, alas - and a band who all seemed to be having fun apart from Ginger.

And then the "Do the Wildhearts have a place in the world" thing: Clearly they do. It may not be the world-conquering place you wish they had, but it's a place. It's a place that sells out medium sized venues in London and over the country, and a place that still sells copies of new albums that the fanbase eat up. It's hard to make new fans at this stage of their career (and we had one there with us last night, who, after the performance decided to not buy a CD...) and maybe he should just accept that, and play to the fanbase? I saw all the Earth VS songs a few months back - as I'm better most of the audience did - so why not give us something different?

I don't know. I'm feeling quite let down. I've seen them at their good and their bad, but I've never felt quite as let down by them as I feel today.