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Another Purson Gig Review - Craufurd Arms March 2016

3/22/2016

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PictureRosalie 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):
  1. http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/purson-at-the-craufurd-on-the-24th-a-gig-review
  2. 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.   
  1. Desire’s Magic Theatre (new)
  2. Danse Macabre
  3. The Window Cleaner (new)
  4. Rocking Horse
  5. Spiderwood Farm
  6. Leaning on a Bear
  7. Electric Landlady
  8. Dead Dodo Down (new)
  9. Well Spoiled Machine
  10. Mr Howard (new)
  11. The Sky Parade (new)
  12. Tragic Catastrophe
  13. 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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Photos from Hughesy - Purson rocking the Craufurd Arms
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Thrills, spills and sport – a week in the news

3/18/2016

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Great news this week, it’s official, a fifth Indiana Jones movie is in the offing (due out in 2019) and I am thrilled about it. Perhaps not quite as excited as I was about “Star Wars - The Force Awakens” but very much on the same scale of endorphin hit. Harrison Ford and his Indiana Jones character are the cinematic equivalent of gold in my opinion.

Though the late Sir Alec Guinness was rather less sycophantic.  This week also saw evidence presented that during the filming of the original Star Wars, Ford was referenced by Sir Alec as “a rangy, languid man who is probably intelligent and amusing”. How’s that for a compliment?

Is that even a compliment?

Probably!
 
Thoughts of star wars brings me on to the Force…

…Ed Force One 

The Iron Maiden 747 has been involved in a runway incident that saw the jet grounded in Chile. When I initially saw the “plane crash” headline I’ll admit I panicked a little. Were my heavy metal heroes as dead as that Obi Wan Kenobi fellow?

It turned out that the dramatic headlines were not necessary, none of the Maiden chaps or their tour equipment was damaged. The tug towing the aircraft spilled an essential pin and the 747 ended up hitting the tug.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/35794208/two-injured-after-iron-maiden-plane-gets-damaged-in-chile
 
Not that much drama after all…

Which couldn’t be said about the Six Nations last weekend!

The England/Wales game was a corker and it got particularly tense towards the end.

But after the excitement of that match, England winning the tournament off the pitch because France lost to Scotland, was a bit of an anti-climax. Bearing in mind that last year’s Six Nations final day was the most exciting single day of rugby I have ever experienced, the French defeat means that I/you/we won’t enjoy the same level of tension. Hopefully England beats France and closes the tournament with a Grand Slam.

From Grand Slam (hopefully) to Grand Prix - the 2016 season kicks off in Melbourne this weekend.

Will Ferrari be able to challenge Mercedes? Will Hamilton have an edge over Rosberg? Will the McLaren, Renault and Haas teams spice up the midfield? How the hell will new the qualifying format work out?

I have followed the F1 pre-season testing and am glad that the what-ifs and maybes will shortly be answered in race conditions.

Channel Four has poached the TV rights from the BBC for this year’s coverage (thankfully the races won’t be interrupted by advertisements). In a piece of inspired creativity, last night the channel scored a big hit (at least in my opinion) by broadcasting a themed edition of “Speed with Guy Martin”. The “F1 Special” pitted Guy Martin and his Tyco BMW Moto GP bike against David Coulthard in the 2012 Red Bull championship winning car.

The spectacle of the drivers and their machines going head to head across a series of challenges was surely compelling viewing for anyone with some petrol in their veins.

The gulf between the F1 team (with its equipment, its funding, its squadron of personnel and the polished David Coulthard) and Guy, his engineer, and bike in the back of a van, was stark and nicely presented.

I loved it and if you missed it, it’s worth a catch up.

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Impaired hearing and impaired judgement

3/16/2016

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Brian Johnson, the legendary singer, has been warned that if he continues to front AC/DC, and subject himself to the rigours of touring, he faces permanent deafness.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35751399

That is bad news for AC/DC fans everywhere but particularly in the US where the world tour has been postponed, and for my buddy, Mark Hughes, who has a ticket for the UK leg of it.  The suggestion from the band is that it might carry on with guest vocalists. To my mind, that is a bit shit – that would be like Motorhead touring without Lemmy…

…pointless.

If I had paid for a ticket, I’d be wanting my money back.

Without Johnson, who is so integral to the sound/experience, an AC/DC gig with the remaining members, and a guest, would feel more like a tribute act. Ironically, the tour is promoting the album “Rock or Bust” – without Johnson, it’s a ‘bust’ for sure.

AC/DC has faced its share of woes of late – hearing loss, combined with the loss of mental faculties and a loss of liberty in the case of Phil Rudd. As a fan, I know that what I am about to suggest may upset the legions of others, but retirement must surely be on the cards.

In Johnson’s case, there could be an upside, maybe stopping gigging could free him up to join the Top Gear presenting team instead.

Because the program hasn’t even started and Evans and Matt LeBlanc are already in trouble. Though I think the whole doughnuts in the vicinity of the Cenotaph thing was just a publicity stunt. What a great way to court controversy and promote the new format show – the suggestion that the offending scenes might not be shown in the final broadcast show is irrelevant because the whole world has watched them now anyway.  

Deaf (well nearly) could join Dumb (depending upon your perspective).

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    Adrian Baldwin

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