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jonathan
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
114 Posts |
 Posted - 10/06/2003 : 15:49:00
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Set list:
Cactus
All My Ghosts
Massif Central
Nadine
My Favourite Kiss
How You Went So Far
Caribou
Hermaphroditos
Velvety
I Need Peace
Velouria
New House Of The Pope
When Will Happiness Find Me Again?
Bullet
Southbend Bevy
Farewell Bend
California Bound
Robert Onion
Jane The Queen Of Love
Horrible Day
Manitoba
encore:
Brackish Boy (solo)
The Black Rider
Review:
The Catholics had only an hour and a half at the Accademy, much shorter than I recall their 2001 gigs, which went by all to quickly. Frank was in perky form, introducing the band after Nadine, with Joe Kidd on drums, not seeming quite up to Scott's standards, and then telling us that's all the chat we'd get from him before a bit of banter with Dave P who suggested we'd all like to hear him talk. Apart from a restart on Hermaphraditos it was a solid, if not brilliant, show. They rattled through a huge amount of Black Letter Days which caused a bit of a lull in the middle, Southbound Bevy and Farewell Bend really quietening proceedings. But they picked up again and culminated in the highlight for me, a solo Brackish Boy finished by an enthusiastic, as ever The Black Rider. The Pixies sonds included were good, and it was a nice change to have Velouria and Caribou but just one of Monkey Gone To Heaven, Gouge Away or Where Is My Mind? would have really riled the crowd, who in all fairness weren't the kinda of 'heckle for Debaser', but certainly would have appreciated an old classic thrown in. More notably, the ommision of the likes of Headache or Los Angeles prevented the gig from ever really hitting full speed. And the absense of covers such as Dirty Old Town or John The Revelator left it as a good gig, but nothing really special. Still Frank seemed to be having fun, and the rest of the Catholics were as animated as always, Rich 'Guitar-Eater' Gilbert especially.
7/10 |
Edited by - jonathan on 10/06/2003 16:39:13 |
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mikecarey
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 00:52:53
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jonathan got it pretty spot on.
Excellent gig, with highlights for me being Massif Centrale, Hermaphraditos, Velvety, New House of the Pope, Bullet and Robert Onion.
The crowd were a bit quiet on non-Pixies/new stuff, which was disappointing, I thought.
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Narc
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 01:25:57
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Thought FB and co played well but the Brummie crowd just to quiet. Seemed to be a lot of young students and the gig lacked atmosphere. Some tosser next to me started calling for Pixies songs after the first record, which was was bloody annoying considering it was Cactus!! Highlight definitely Brackish Boy and Hermaphroditos (I've got a mouth full of suicidal drugs).
Perhaps the next tour should be called "No Pixies Songs Included".
£13 for a T-shirt 
yo soy un pistolero
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bazza
* Dog in the Sand *
Ireland
1439 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 01:52:39
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hmm... interesting. although the pixies songs did go down better - the solo stuff went down really well at the dublin gig. ah well.
Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover. |
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jonathan
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
114 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 01:59:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Narc
Thought FB and co played well but the Brummie crowd just to quiet. Seemed to be a lot of young students and the gig lacked atmosphere. Some tosser next to me started calling for Pixies songs after the first record, which was was bloody annoying considering it was Cactus!! Highlight definitely Brackish Boy and Hermaphroditos (I've got a mouth full of suicidal drugs).
Perhaps the next tour should be called "No Pixies Songs Included".
£13 for a T-shirt
yo soy un pistolero
Only £5 for the knock off Surfer Rosa T-shirts outside the venue though... the bootleggers knew who their audience were! |
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Narc
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 02:12:22
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quote:
Originally posted by jonathan
quote:
Originally posted by Narc
Thought FB and co played well but the Brummie crowd just to quiet. Seemed to be a lot of young students and the gig lacked atmosphere. Some tosser next to me started calling for Pixies songs after the first record, which was was bloody annoying considering it was Cactus!! Highlight definitely Brackish Boy and Hermaphroditos (I've got a mouth full of suicidal drugs).
Perhaps the next tour should be called "No Pixies Songs Included".
£13 for a T-shirt
yo soy un pistolero
Only £5 for the knock off Surfer Rosa T-shirts outside the venue though... the bootleggers knew who their audience were!
I know I was very tempted particularly after seeing the quality of the official one.
yo soy un pistolero
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jonathan
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
114 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 02:34:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Narc
quote:
Originally posted by jonathan
quote:
Originally posted by Narc
Thought FB and co played well but the Brummie crowd just to quiet. Seemed to be a lot of young students and the gig lacked atmosphere. Some tosser next to me started calling for Pixies songs after the first record, which was was bloody annoying considering it was Cactus!! Highlight definitely Brackish Boy and Hermaphroditos (I've got a mouth full of suicidal drugs).
Perhaps the next tour should be called "No Pixies Songs Included".
£13 for a T-shirt
yo soy un pistolero
Only £5 for the knock off Surfer Rosa T-shirts outside the venue though... the bootleggers knew who their audience were!
I know I was very tempted particularly after seeing the quality of the official one.
yo soy un pistolero
2001 - Excellent quality T-shirt for £10 (or 100 Francs, can't remember where I bought it)
2003 - Ropey quality (worse than the bootlegs) T-shirt for £13 (though a nice design I guess)
What happened there then? It's not like they need to make the offical merchandise cheaply cause they're selling thousands of them is it. |
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bumblebeeboy2
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2638 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 07:00:44
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about the t-shirts, I agree completely. i got the dog in the sand tour t-shirt, and its been my fave ever since. i probably wear it at least once a week! sometimes twice, erm, without washing it, but its good!!! its still in fine condition too, started to fade *slightly* but after the amount i've worn it and washed it, its doing very well indeed! a top quality t-shirt, looks fantastic too, nice and understated. i'm a frank black fan but i don't need a giant crappy logo or giant, bright, ugly text to tell the whole world that!  Erm, unlike my death to the pixies t-shirt, or as my mates call it, my 'pulling t-shirt' - i think its the awfulness of it/the image that gets the girls attention, and in comparison to the t-shirt, i'm probably hot stuff! |
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jonathan
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
114 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2003 : 08:14:48
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quote:
Originally posted by bumblebeeboy2
about the t-shirts, I agree completely. i got the dog in the sand tour t-shirt, and its been my fave ever since. i probably wear it at least once a week! sometimes twice, erm, without washing it, but its good!!! its still in fine condition too, started to fade *slightly* but after the amount i've worn it and washed it, its doing very well indeed! a top quality t-shirt, looks fantastic too, nice and understated. i'm a frank black fan but i don't need a giant crappy logo or giant, bright, ugly text to tell the whole world that! Erm, unlike my death to the pixies t-shirt, or as my mates call it, my 'pulling t-shirt' - i think its the awfulness of it/the image that gets the girls attention, and in comparison to the t-shirt, i'm probably hot stuff!
T-shirt fading... dye it with black fabric dye (available from any good little shop, that and 1/2 a pound of salt in your washing machine) and it will come out good as new - doesn't affect the print at all. :) |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2003 : 04:05:15
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Review on the BBC website:
8th October 2003
Frank Black at the Birmingham Academy
Reviewed by Martin Lander, BBC Birmingham website user
Frank Black and the Catholics
Frank Black has formed himself a solo career after the split of The Pixies nearly twelve years ago, for those fans who have followed him, Monday night was destined to be a real treat!
First up support band Serafin. Having released their debut single in July of this year and the successive album "No Push Collide" they are new to the touring scene still finding their feet with their live sound. This band did not set the room on fire, what they did do was turn the heat to a good simmer providing a good live collection.
Tracks early in the set had a distinctly pop-feel as melodies seemed to flow easily ready to be soaked up by the waiting crowd. At times the band did take on a Placebo kind of feel, lead singer Ben Fox Smith's voice seeming quite similar to that of Brian Molko, however they also have a very hard-edged aggressive style, giving him chance to demonstrate the real power in his voice. Generally they gave a good performance demonstrating a band that has many platforms on which to build their sound.
Frank Black
Then onto the main event and Frank Black and his band The Catholics, take to the stage.
Comprising of three guitars and a bass, the band have a very warm and complete sound, which, gives each musician a chance to really explore their contribution to the song around the original idea presented by Mr Black.
It was clear that much of the attendees had followed Frank from his days as the front-man for influential band The Pixies. As he has emerged from this, he seems to have cultivated a sound that ranges everywhere from country, to an almost Spanish sound.
Then back to a crunchy 60's rock sound and back to a more accessible poppy sound, but always containing a bluesy undertone running throughout the whole set.
The band are relentless in their performance, barely taking a break between songs as they continue to try to cram their entire back catalogue into a 90 minute set, playing a mixture of old and new songs. Tracks such as "Nadine" from the new album "Show me you Tears", being concluded by much applause and appreciation.
For the average onlooker the performance was perhaps a little tedious at times, but for the die hard Frank Black fan there was a good night had by all.
No man is an island, unless he is in the bath |
Edited by - Ten Percenter on 10/09/2003 04:12:36 |
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