Rosalie and Mark, Chris and me On Saturday 12th March I went to a gig at the The Craufurd Arms in Wolverton, Milton Keynes (regular readers will appreciate that this venue is becoming a relatively common haunt for me).
This outing was to see Purson. Like the venue, this is a band that I have written about a few times before. You can read the previous posts here (you get three for the price of one):
I was accompanied by my pals Mark Hughes and Chris Tucker, both pictured across with me (a.k.a. known as the Matrix Alumni) and the bodacious Rosalie Cunningham.
The band was/is touring (14 UK dates) to promote its new album “Desire’s Magic Theatre” (DMT) which, in a less than ideal timing development, isn’t actually being released until the 29th April.
Firstly some caveats; I am not going to write (much) about the tunes because you can listen to those yourself (and I recommend that you do) and I am not going to repeat the material presented in the earlier posts. I will write about the elements of this gig that caught my attention and hopefully they’ll make for some interesting reading for you.
The audience was mostly middle aged folk (and I label myself in that way, though it pains me). This is not the normal age profile for a gig at the Craufurd. In my opinion, the fact that the grey hairs came out in force is testament to the quality of the band and the prog/psych rock it plays. Maybe you just have to be of an age to fully appreciate this genre and how good this band is when representing it.
Following on from the support band, the name of which escapes me, Purson took to the stage at 9:30pm. The Matrix Alumni were right at the front of the hall and able to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the band.
The set list is shared below, the tracks from DMT notated with the ‘new’ label.
Regarding the set list, a quick question for my grey haired readers – did you start humming/singing/thinking Status Quo when you read the name of track eight above? I couldn’t help myself.
I was pleased that “Well Spoiled Machine” was on the undercard this time and not just a figment of my imagination (read earlier post for more insight). I sang along with every “you sir and me” had to stop myself gazing straight into Ms C.’s eyes because I didn’t want to look like a perve (though now I probably sound like one).
Last time I saw Purson (yet more encouragement to read the other posts), I commented that Sam Shove, the keyboard player, had this androgynous look about him. At this gig though Sam had a red beard to go with his long hair and makeup - that rather spoiled the effect. Instead of there being any “he or she” uncertainty, Sam looked like a bloke in drag. Still a bold and brave look for the stage, but just less interesting.
Justin Smith was playing a big bodied, red, Guild Starfire bass. With his retro clothing, long hair, beard and smart guitar, he looked just the part as he was bounding around the stage.
During the gig Rosalie had a few problems, one of which was obvious and one of which wasn’t at all. I’ll start with the second – despite claims of a sore throat, her singing was perfect as far as I could tell.
What wasn’t so perfect was the strap on her Gibson SG which fell off and with it the strap end pin (which would normally be screwed into the guitar body). That presented an immediate problem for Rosalie with regards to how to hold and play the guitar. After a couple of efforts to reinsert the strap/end pin, it was clear that a quick fix wasn’t on the cards.
She didn’t have a rack of spare guitars to choose from, she didn’t have a roadie to rush out with an alternative; instead Rosalie had to work it out and she did so in a few inventive ways. First was to stand on her left leg whilst lifting the right up on to a monitor and resting the guitar or her raised right thigh. The second was to hold the guitar high on her body so that instead of it hanging at her waist, it was held against her chest. The last option was to sink to a crouch and rest the guitar on her right leg (when a proximity to the microphone wasn’t essential).
Now you might expect that during all that chaos, the band may have stopped playing or Rosalie would have stopped singing…but you’d be wrong. She just carried on as if nothing was happening - no stroppiness, not even a vocal waver. I have been to hundreds of gigs over the last 2-3 decades and I have never seen such professionalism in the face of adversity.
After the song was finished, and I am sorry but I forget which one it was (early in the set though), some kind of better solution needed to be found. Salvation came in the form of green electrical tape that was unceremoniously wound around the strap and the guitar body. The SG now jaded in more than one sense.
Once the guitar was bodged, the gig continued without further incident and it was good to hear some of the new material. I’ll look forward to an encore when DMT is released.
On the subject of encores, the band finished its main set and then after some audience encouragement returned to perform “Wanted Man”. Once the lights were up, the band came out to socialise with the audience, to sign themed purchases and pose for photos. I congratulated Rosalie on her resilience whilst Hughesy asked about the new album.
“Desires Magic Theatre” is a month away from release but it is hugely anticipated. Once I have a copy, you may even get to read a review.
The UK tour continues through March and April and then Purson is off to the States during May. There are fourteen gigs on the US leg of the tour and by then the fans will be able to buy DMT at the concerts.
http://www.purson.co.uk/tour-dates/
I did state that I wouldn’t repeat myself but in one respect, I must.
I rate and recommend this band.
If you were/are a fan of late sixties/seventies rock/metal and you want to experience something new and fresh that pays homage to the past but has the appeal and vitality of youth, you won’t go too far wrong with Purson.
The band is tight, the musicians skilled, the presentation is cool and Rosalie’s voice is superb.
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www.purson.co.uk
This outing was to see Purson. Like the venue, this is a band that I have written about a few times before. You can read the previous posts here (you get three for the price of one):
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/purson-at-the-craufurd-on-the-24th-a-gig-review
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/the-pursonal-touch
I was accompanied by my pals Mark Hughes and Chris Tucker, both pictured across with me (a.k.a. known as the Matrix Alumni) and the bodacious Rosalie Cunningham.
The band was/is touring (14 UK dates) to promote its new album “Desire’s Magic Theatre” (DMT) which, in a less than ideal timing development, isn’t actually being released until the 29th April.
Firstly some caveats; I am not going to write (much) about the tunes because you can listen to those yourself (and I recommend that you do) and I am not going to repeat the material presented in the earlier posts. I will write about the elements of this gig that caught my attention and hopefully they’ll make for some interesting reading for you.
The audience was mostly middle aged folk (and I label myself in that way, though it pains me). This is not the normal age profile for a gig at the Craufurd. In my opinion, the fact that the grey hairs came out in force is testament to the quality of the band and the prog/psych rock it plays. Maybe you just have to be of an age to fully appreciate this genre and how good this band is when representing it.
Following on from the support band, the name of which escapes me, Purson took to the stage at 9:30pm. The Matrix Alumni were right at the front of the hall and able to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the band.
The set list is shared below, the tracks from DMT notated with the ‘new’ label.
- Desire’s Magic Theatre (new)
- Danse Macabre
- The Window Cleaner (new)
- Rocking Horse
- Spiderwood Farm
- Leaning on a Bear
- Electric Landlady
- Dead Dodo Down (new)
- Well Spoiled Machine
- Mr Howard (new)
- The Sky Parade (new)
- Tragic Catastrophe
- Wanted Man (encore)
Regarding the set list, a quick question for my grey haired readers – did you start humming/singing/thinking Status Quo when you read the name of track eight above? I couldn’t help myself.
I was pleased that “Well Spoiled Machine” was on the undercard this time and not just a figment of my imagination (read earlier post for more insight). I sang along with every “you sir and me” had to stop myself gazing straight into Ms C.’s eyes because I didn’t want to look like a perve (though now I probably sound like one).
Last time I saw Purson (yet more encouragement to read the other posts), I commented that Sam Shove, the keyboard player, had this androgynous look about him. At this gig though Sam had a red beard to go with his long hair and makeup - that rather spoiled the effect. Instead of there being any “he or she” uncertainty, Sam looked like a bloke in drag. Still a bold and brave look for the stage, but just less interesting.
Justin Smith was playing a big bodied, red, Guild Starfire bass. With his retro clothing, long hair, beard and smart guitar, he looked just the part as he was bounding around the stage.
During the gig Rosalie had a few problems, one of which was obvious and one of which wasn’t at all. I’ll start with the second – despite claims of a sore throat, her singing was perfect as far as I could tell.
What wasn’t so perfect was the strap on her Gibson SG which fell off and with it the strap end pin (which would normally be screwed into the guitar body). That presented an immediate problem for Rosalie with regards to how to hold and play the guitar. After a couple of efforts to reinsert the strap/end pin, it was clear that a quick fix wasn’t on the cards.
She didn’t have a rack of spare guitars to choose from, she didn’t have a roadie to rush out with an alternative; instead Rosalie had to work it out and she did so in a few inventive ways. First was to stand on her left leg whilst lifting the right up on to a monitor and resting the guitar or her raised right thigh. The second was to hold the guitar high on her body so that instead of it hanging at her waist, it was held against her chest. The last option was to sink to a crouch and rest the guitar on her right leg (when a proximity to the microphone wasn’t essential).
Now you might expect that during all that chaos, the band may have stopped playing or Rosalie would have stopped singing…but you’d be wrong. She just carried on as if nothing was happening - no stroppiness, not even a vocal waver. I have been to hundreds of gigs over the last 2-3 decades and I have never seen such professionalism in the face of adversity.
After the song was finished, and I am sorry but I forget which one it was (early in the set though), some kind of better solution needed to be found. Salvation came in the form of green electrical tape that was unceremoniously wound around the strap and the guitar body. The SG now jaded in more than one sense.
Once the guitar was bodged, the gig continued without further incident and it was good to hear some of the new material. I’ll look forward to an encore when DMT is released.
On the subject of encores, the band finished its main set and then after some audience encouragement returned to perform “Wanted Man”. Once the lights were up, the band came out to socialise with the audience, to sign themed purchases and pose for photos. I congratulated Rosalie on her resilience whilst Hughesy asked about the new album.
“Desires Magic Theatre” is a month away from release but it is hugely anticipated. Once I have a copy, you may even get to read a review.
The UK tour continues through March and April and then Purson is off to the States during May. There are fourteen gigs on the US leg of the tour and by then the fans will be able to buy DMT at the concerts.
http://www.purson.co.uk/tour-dates/
I did state that I wouldn’t repeat myself but in one respect, I must.
I rate and recommend this band.
- Get to a gig if you can do
- Try and do it before the band gets too popular for you to get a chance to get close to, or engage with the members
- Do it before the tickets get too expensive
- At least buy a record/CD or do a download if you are more up to date than me
If you were/are a fan of late sixties/seventies rock/metal and you want to experience something new and fresh that pays homage to the past but has the appeal and vitality of youth, you won’t go too far wrong with Purson.
The band is tight, the musicians skilled, the presentation is cool and Rosalie’s voice is superb.
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www.purson.co.uk
Photos from Hughesy - Purson rocking the Craufurd Arms
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