Comments on: The sweetest gig

By: Dan H

Dan H — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 22:17:57 +0000

I first encountered Scritti back in 2000, after working on a documentary on them in Cardiff. I was not into the sound at all, but after 2 weeks of working around the making of the film, (I was a junior sound editor,)
I had to get some of the music.
So since then I have got more into the music, bought all the records etc.. Heard a rumour about the gig about a week ago, and then decided to travel to the gig on the friday night from my latest home Stoke On Trent, got lost in the hills and after 4 hours of travelling I arrived to one of the strangest locations for a gig I had ever been to, but it was so good, as the reviews say above I feel that Scritti Politti was even better live than I ever expected. Even though my main reason for going was to hear that voice, that voice that I never thought I would here live. I can’t wait to hear about a tour, or festival dates, as I am addicted to the live sound of Scritti Politti.
I also tried to get some video clips on my phone but there not very good all that long.

By: Mike Nelson

Mike Nelson — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:06:35 +0000

Hi! I’ve not contributed here before but, inspired by a great gig on Friday, feel I should join in. Some random comments on what’s already been said…
Yes the audience were ‘into it’ but steadfastly didn’t dance. I’m old and unco-ordinated but even I couldn’t stand still all the way through! The band were clearly nervous and only seemed to gain confidence by having successfully played each song on the night – perhaps this is why the encore eventually contained four repeated songs – they’d proved to themselves they could play them! Most amazing is Green’s voice – unaged, unforced and just as you’d dream it would be.
I didn’t realise that what this gig had included was actually a first live appearance by The ‘Sweetest Girl’. A brilliant moment and a deep,dark beast of a bassline. The song fitted very comfortably with the rest of the set.
I was one of the idiots who Green had to be patient with – couldn’t get the damn ‘phone camera to work – probably too dark anyway – but he still smiled and shook hands with me even after my useless loitering with the camera.
During the set, the edge-of-Wales setting even brought on comments from Green about his school life before playing ‘Mrs Hughes’ – Green can still produce a rich Welsh accent when he wants to.
I agree with the setlist above as far as it goes – obviously taken from one of the lists taped to the stage. To be fussy, though, the encore actually ran ‘E11th Nuts’ then ‘Robin Hood’ then ‘D to the O’ and finally ‘Sweetest Girl’. Titles of the other two new tracks were announced as ‘Am I Right In Thinking’ (rather than just ‘Thinking’) and ‘The Edge of Degradation’ (rather than just Degradation’). It was an 18-song gig lasting 69 minutes! Why do I know these last bits? Well, I’ll admit to having a mono through-air recording of the whole gig obtained using an mp3 voice recorder. Quality is surprisingly good considering but not quite great enough for use on the website, I think – poor quality stuff won’t boost the band’s popularity and, these days, people expect better than the sort of quality that could be picked up on cassettes at record fairs and dodgy market stalls. It’s a useful historical document though.
I loved the gig – dragged my brother-in-law to it and he was well impressed and keen to go back and listen to the album.
Wonderful to have got to the first ‘official’ Scritti gig for over twenty-five years! Now some more, please!

By: mark

mark — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:01:51 +0000

got a set list was
1 BOOM BOOM BAP
2 SNOW IN SUN
3 ROBIN HOOD
4 AFTER SIX
5 E11TH NUTS
6 COME CLEAN
7 DR ABERNATHY
8 SWEETEST GIRL
9 THINKING
10 COOKING
11 ROAD TO NO REGRET
12 D TO THE O
13 MRS HUGHES
14 DEGRADATION
encore
ROBIN HOOD
SWEETEST GIRL

venue mad place out in the middle of the hills on the border of wales and england but bloody lovely my kiddy said it looked like a spooky haunted huge house.
gig mind blowing met green before the show and after what a lovely man looks in his 30s not 50 said that the band are going to lean the old songs and even bushed with oil dusted with powder and that they are playing the big chill fest in south england went there with my wife and two kiddys their first gig
green if you are reading this thank you ever so much for the great gig
x

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 14:54:14 +0000

We’ve put up loads of footage of this years’ gigs on bibbly, and haven’t had a complaint from either Rough Trade or the band. I’m pretty sure they’re aware of it. Frankly, i think its good promotion to have it online. You can’t get any better than fan-based marketing! But of course, every should decide for themselves. Personally, i’d love to hear the Sweetest Girl so much…

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 14:06:09 +0000

Hi Karen, I wondered who you were dancing about in front of me ( at least I think that was you)
:)
Yes I too willed the band confidence and loved how although they appeared nervous they didn’t seem at all phased by who they were playing with, which is how it should be really. It made me think of how Mark E Smith assembles bands.
I liked them a lot.
Ellen,I borrowed a mobile phone but was so flabbergasted by the whole thing I couldn’t operate it properly to record anything and truth be told I was a bit nervous filming might put them off!
;)
I saw Mike from this forum with his video camera, not that I want to pressure him though as he already explained he wants to be respectful of the band’s wishes in distributing anything he captures, but there is footage out there.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 16:21:52 +0000

I can’t believe they really played The ‘Sweetest’ Girl! Twice! i wish i was there, but i’m pretty sure they will come to the Netherlands soon.

And if anyone made any pictures, or better even, videoclips of the gig, please send them to us at bibbly-o-tek!