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Idlewild - London, Kings College Tuesday 12th March 2002
It's been quite a while since Idlewild last graced the live scene with their presence, and I at least haven't seem them since June 2000 - and it's been 4 years since I've even attended a gig at Kings College.

I'm glad to report that they haven't lost any of their ability to give a great live show, even with a whole clutch of brand new songs. Roddy still has trouble keeping his trousers over his hips while wandering around the stage.. mad Bob now sports a blonde beard, but has the same trademark flailing hair while punishing his poor, poor bass... Rod now joins in even more harmonies, but still finds time to bounce and jump around, while his guitar screams for mercy... then there's Colin and Jeremy, as ever, quietly getting on with their respective jobs of drums and second guitar. So it's really buisness as usual.

Half way through 'Rusty' one of the road-crew runs on to the stage to cut the song short. There seems to be something wrong with the PA. The lads amble off bemused, after Roddy tells us that the PA has problems and they'll be back in five minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, after frantic rushing around by the venues staff, the band come back on to play 'Listen To What You've Got'. At the end of that number a road-crew member comes back on to stop them playing again. It seems the PA is broken on at least one side.

After a couple of minutes discussion between the road-crew and the band, Roddy asks the band "Shall we end it now, or play another song?" They decide to play on, with Roddy telling the crowd "It's half broken now, so we may as well break it properly", and launch immediately into the all out assault of 'Captain'. And what a nice treat that is, as they don't play this oldie that often now.

It's certainly nice to have them back.

skippy

set-list: Roseability / I Don't Have The Map / You Held The World In Your Arms / I'm A Message / Ideatrack / These Wooden Ideas / American English / When I Argue I See Shapes / Stay The Same / Happy To Be Here Tonight / (I Am) What I Am Not / Rusty (abandoned) / Listen To What You've Got / Captain

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