Sunday, July 06, 2003

SLIPERRY E

It's slowed down a bit on the gig front. Summertime is festival time. I'm way too old for that kind of thing.

The Eels on Wednesday night at the Royal Festival Hall is one of handful of gigs on tap for the summer. The Eels two years ago at the Forum were a bit of a disappointment. It was Mr E's "Unabomber" tour - hooded parka, beard and sunglasses. He was thoroughly miserable. I was also a bit more interested in my date (another story) so didn't really focus too much on the music. Much trepidation then on Wednesday.

Mr E was a very happy chap all night. He claimed the Queen was a big Eels fan when noting that the Royal Box was full. After the first half a doaen numbers - galoped through it must be noted - Mr E was full of chat. That seems to be a feature live. So many of the tunes are fragile on disk. On stage they are all given fizz and upbeat treatment - "Novocaine for the Soul" and "Birds" for example.

The support band lacked usual contributor Butch, but that didn't detract from a slick and sweaty set. it helped that the group featured probably the coolest bassist in town and were sporting dapper red suits. They banged through covers, back catalogue and new stuff. "Shootenanny", the new disc, sounds like a return to form.

Trepidation unnecessary; now, I wonder what happened to my date of two years ago?

Update: Gruaniad review.

:: Posted by pete @ 16:03