Memories of a thousand* gigs #6, #7 & #8

(* probably not actually that many, but who’s counting?)

#6: The White Stripes 
Anson Rooms, Bristol – 20th November 2001
Also in attendance: Mrs Robster, Matt the Hat

The year the White Stripes broke through. Having been introduced to them in the summer, I quickly became obsessed with Jack and Meg White, but it wasn’t until the autumn when I saw them live for the first and only time that I really understood what the fuss was about. They were immense. The sound they produced totally belied the sparseness of the stage setup – a basic drumkit, a couple of guitars, a Rhodes electric piano and some mics. Jack tore around the stage in a frenzy, blurting out deranged vocals in the style of a crazed blues singer with some hefty scores to settle. Meg somehow kept apace with her rudimentary drumming skills, like a female Ringo Starr only much prettier. No wonder there was such a media storm around them at the time. Truly mindblowing stuff. Eighteen months later they released Seven Nation Army and conquered the world.

(Matt the Hat, owner of a couple of second-hand record shops in North Devon, recorded the show and was kind enough to let me have a copy. Sadly, it has since gone walkabout, otherwise I'd have posted a track from it here.)

Soundtrack:

• Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes (Live on Later with Jools Holland 2001)
• When I Hear My Name - The White Stripes (from ‘Live Under Blackpool Lights’ DVD)

#7: The Levellers
The Lemon Grove, Exeter University - 14th October 1991

For whatever reason, I think the guy on the PA was feeling somewhat mischievous this night. After the support band had finished, he for some reason thought it would be a good idea to play ‘Straight Outta Compton’ by N.W.A. The entire album. Very loudly! Now, gangsta rap was never your average Levellers fan’s cup of tea, in spite of the shared sentiments in the lyrics of Fuck Tha Police. The longer the record played, the more restless the crowd became. Initially, I found it hilarious, but I did start to get a tad concerned as the audience became increasingly hostile towards the sound guy. So it was somewhat of a relief when the Levellers finally appeared on stage.



Soundtrack:

• Fuck Tha Police – N.W.A. (from ‘Straight Outta Compton’)

#8 Teenage Fanclub
The Lemon Grove, Exeter University - 28th January 1992

Enjoyable 'n' all, but nothing mindblowing from the Fannies. The night is most memorable for being the one and only time I ever crowd-surfed.  What a silly thing to do...

Soundtrack:

• The Concept – Teenage Fanclub (from ‘Bandwagonesque’)