Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan UK dates

[danny la rouge]

I've long been a Lanegan fan, but there are some real nerds out there. OK, the first collaboration with Campbell is patchy, and perhaps didn't deserve the awards, but it has some real gems on it. And, in my view, the new one is much better. Yes, Campbell's writing can be twee, but there is just something between them that outweighs that.

If people can't cope with him doing something he clearly wants to do, then that's their problem; don't buy it! I suspect they just don't like the idea of him playing second fiddle to a woman...

 

[felixthecat]

I suspect they just don't like the idea of him playing second fiddle to a woman...

And I think you're oh so right

 

[perplexis]

Not bad at all!
Initially pretty ropey sound engineering- Lanegan & the bass were almost indistinguishable (cute, but not useful), I'm normally an advocate of "more bass" but this was all a bit much and sounded like it was being pushed through a serious compressor. Campbell almost inaudible to begin with, but soon got leveled out (well, a couple of songs in). There followed an hour of very good but kind of chilled set, slightly less live-feeling than I'd expected, more studio-ey in a way, playing lots of the good album material. They came back for an encore and they absolutely rocked it for 3 songs, and I suddenly felt that it really had been worth going to the gig.

 

[felixthecat]

Isobel sounded fucking terrible, and she was so obviously not happy with it - arms folded, face like a slapped arse. I've heard her screw up before live and get the giggles about it which was rather endearing, but not last night. Mark was in good voice - in fact he's consistently good these days. There have been moments in the past when you wished he hadn't bothered turning up - being clean, healthy and happy is showing itself in his voice. And for Mark, that performance was positively animated

I agree about the sound - the mix was well ropey at times. Good set list tho - loved the tribute to Jeffery Lee Pierce.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Was there much from the first album, or did they concentrate on the newer stuff?

(did they do "Black Mountain" and "Deus Ibe Est"?)

 

[felixthecat]

Was there much from the first album, or did they concentrate on the newer stuff?

(did they do "Black Mountain" and "Deus Ibe Est"?)

'Twas a mixture, with a few bits of Lanegans solo stuff.

Set list

1. Seafaring Song
2. Deus Ibi Est
3. Carry Home
4. Who Built the Road
5. The False Husband
6. Broken Seas
7. Saturdays Gone
8. An absolutely fabulous Gun Club song which I've forgotten the name of.
9. Back Burner
10. Little Sadie
11.The Flame that Burns
12. Honey Child
13. Salvation
14. Keep me in Mind Sweetheart
15. The Circus is leaving Town

encore
16. Revolver
17. Come On Over
18. Ramblin Man
19. Wedding Dress


Am I sad for remembering this? Don't answer that

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

No Black Mountain then

 

[felixthecat]

No Black Mountain then

*sigh*

But you get the fucking brilliant Gun Club song *(and its going to kill me if I can't find out what its called), Wedding Dress and Little Sadie.

Black Mountain - pah!
(but thats cos its Isobel on lead vocals and I'm biased)

* Free to Walk - eventually got it!!!!

 

[Col_Buendia]

Not bad at all!
Initially pretty ropey sound engineering- Lanegan & the bass were almost indistinguishable (cute, but not useful), I'm normally an advocate of "more bass" but this was all a bit much and sounded like it was being pushed through a serious compressor. Campbell almost inaudible to begin with, but soon got leveled out (well, a couple of songs in). There followed an hour of very good but kind of chilled set, slightly less live-feeling than I'd expected, more studio-ey in a way, playing lots of the good album material. They came back for an encore and they absolutely rocked it for 3 songs, and I suddenly felt that it really had been worth going to the gig.

Ahh, so there were lots of urbs there! I loved it, and I think your take is spot on. I thought they warmed up about 30mins in, & the encore was truly great.

Isobel sounded fucking terrible, and she was so obviously not happy with it - arms folded, face like a slapped arse.

Didn't she make some comment about having flown too much recently, and so their voices were a bit stuffed...?

And for Mark, that performance was positively animated

Quite! His one polysyllabic utterance between songs amounted to "I beg to differ" when she said that about her voice being off... But isn't it a drag that he is still such a grumpy fucker - he had his lights down to about 50% compared to Campbell, and I could hardly see the bastard!

'Twas a mixture, with a few bits of Lanegans solo stuff.

Am I sad for remembering this? Don't answer that

You're not one of those people that was hanging over the barrier at the end waiting for a set list from the venue staff?? Jesus, I had a chuckle at that, a computer print out of a set list! I must be gettin old...

 

[felixthecat]

Quite! His one polysyllabic utterance between songs amounted to "I beg to differ" when she said that about her voice being off... But isn't it a drag that he is still such a grumpy fucker - he had his lights down to about 50% compared to Campbell, and I could hardly see the bastard!...

Oooh - you forget the 'thank you' after the JLP song ! I suppose we've just got to accept he hates performing live, will never feel comfortable doing it and just be glad he actually does live shows.

You're not one of those people that was hanging over the barrier at the end waiting for a set list from the venue staff?? ...

No - sad I may be, but not that sad.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Just got back from Manchester - it was, well, OK I guess.

It all sounded lovely, apart from Isobell - you could barely hear her, and looking at the meters on the FOH desk it wasn't the engineers fault - she simply wasn't singing loudly enough. My guess is he had the mic gain as high as he could get it without it feeding back, but it wasn't enough. He could have backed the rest of them down to compensate but then it would have been way too quiet. It's such as shame, as the rig sounded lovely - nice and crisp, with no muddy bottom end - full marks to my mate Dave, who was the system tech

The only other major problem is their sheer lack of charisma and stage presence - there just isn't any. Neither of them said a single word during the entire gig, save a mumbled "good night" at the end from Lanegan. It made it come accross a bit flat really, you might as well have been listening to the CDs.

I'm glad I went, coz in spite of all this it sounded lovely, I'm just not sure I'll bother with them live again.

Oh, and the setlist was as follows, according to the bit of paper I swiped at the end:

Seafaring Song
Deus Ibe Est
Carry Home
Who Built This Road
The False Husband
Ballad Of The Broken seas
Saturdays Gone
The Flame That Burns
Back Burner
Little Sadie
Free To Walk
Honey Child What Can I Do?
Salvation
Keep Me In Mind Sweetheart
The Circus Is Leaving Town

Revolver
Come On Over (Turn Me On)
Ramblin' Man
Wedding Dress

So, almost identical to the London gig...