| At The Drive-In - London, Astoria Friday 2nd February 2001 |
Omar, on guitar, had the largest amount of effect pedals I have ever seen. They came out on a huge piece of plywood, with more stacked on top to be spread out over the floor.
The band came onstage, and before anything started, Jim (guitar) spoke to the audience and explained their stance on crowd surfing, slam dancing, and all the other aspects that involve the enjoyment being ruined for other people, and the much more serious issue of death. He made it plain that they would eject anyone found being threatening - what a nice change!
They launched into the first number, 'Arcarsenal', and the stage immediately came to life. Cedric, (vocals, keyboard, guitar), was everywhere. When not on top of the drum kit or sliding on his knees, he was throwing and swinging the microphone in all directions, while contorting his body into all sorts of shapes, and belting out the lyrics.
Omar, meanwhile, was doing the same, but with the added complication of having a guitar attached. He would jump and run around, while the poor guitar swung wildly around his head and on his back. Somehow he always grabbed the guitar back at the very last microsecond, to launch into his part of the song, exactly with the correct note, and at exactly the right time - genius! He would also manipulate the volume and effect dials (not pedals) with the end of his toe, all the while playing. A couple of times he came within a couple of inches of the photographers' lens, while engrossed in his playing and stage antics, totally oblivious to the fact it seemed. Another time he actually caught one of the security guards in the back with the end of the guitar, and, after the song had ended, ran over and put his arm round him, apologised and said sorry. What a nice man!
Jim got down with the crowd a few times to warn people to calm down, and also reprimanded one section of the audience about their dancing. "By all means jump up and down, but stop pushing forwards - the people at the front are getting crushed." He was the angry young man tonight, and seemed really pissed of with a small minority of the crowd. There was only one crowd surfer tonight during 'Napoleon Solo' - Jim stopped the procedings and said "My God! What the fuck are you doing? If you want to make a jackass of yourself in front of everybody go for it." Cedric and Jim then waved him bye-bye. Did this punter not listen to anything said tonight? The band then left the stage after playing to the end of the song. I'm not sure if this was the planned end, or whether they had just grown tired of the crappy London crowd, and walked off as threatened earlier.
They came back on, and at this point Jim seemed sad and angry, and Cedric then explained the meaning of 'Napolean Solo' adding at the end "ever had the feeling you've been defeated." They then launched into 'Catacombs'.
This band really does care about their crowd, and to be honest this one didn't deserve another song. After talking to people afterwards it seems that a lot of people on the other side of the room (in front of Jim) had been the reason for Jim and Cedric to be so angry, but this is almost to be expected at a big London gig. It's a shame that London crowds are so crap - same old same old.
This was a truly amazing gig for me. At the beginning there were about 20 odd bouncers, but by the end there was just three. Proof indeed, that a band can control an audience. This was crowd control with no security - a rare sight indeed! This is a band who, although, look out of control on stage, are totally and completely in control of everything. Is this the future? I hope so.
Best gig of the year so far? You bet! I'd even go as far as saying it ranks in my top five gigs of all time.
skippy
set list: Arcarsenal / Pattern Against User / Cosmonaut / Rascuache / Sleepwalk Capsules / Invalid Litter Dept. / Rolodex Propaganda / Chanbara / 198d / Enfilade / One Armed Scissor / Napolean Solo
encore?: Catacombs
