Phoenix and Flight 666

I'm having a quiet night, it's been a busy wee week (blogs to follow - whisky included). It's been written with the aid of Poperings hommel bier, which has been sitting in the fridge for a few months, and for some reason tonight seemed the night to open. I'm about to cook a nice creamy fish curry to go with the beer.

Last night M, A (hmmm must get nicknames for those two) and I wandered along to the Phoenix Foundation. As usual the band had technical difficulties to start with (I think I've seen them once without tech problems), but they are very relaxed band live. And with it being a local gig, everyone is pretty forgiving.

Firstly the bad: audience. Fuckers. talking throughout the gig, there to be seen, not for the gig. I kinda fixed that by moving up towards the sound desk which seems to work at SanFranBH. The talking is usually a bit of a problem, but this was worse than normal.

The Good: sound balance (once tech problems sorted) was superb. Some of the best sound I've heard from Phoenix. Music-wise, the old stuff was heavier and more rocky, which worked very well. the new stuff seems to be going more prog (so more Luke than Sam), and the longer softer songs still have that country vibe going through. It's one of the reasons I love this band, the influences are so diverse, from electronica (TC Wedde); country (Sam; Will - kinda); prog (Luke), and yet it works. Some of the songs were like new releases by Neu. And the extended bits, the freakout sections, they are getting more and more interesting as a band - there were definite CAN influences, and yet still very recognisably Phoenix. Really good - looking forward to the new album, due out later this year. Gig, probably a 6.5-7/10

S2H and I went to the new Iron Maiden movie at Reading today. I hate Reading. But nevermind, best two hours I've spent in ages !!!! Fun, enjoyable movie with great music, cool atmosphere and a band who really understand why they are playing music. Definitely worth seeing. It's a good doco of a band on the road, and a band who understand how addicted their fans are - and how important a good show is. Their music really is a performance, which I commented on in the review of the gig I saw on the same tour.

Here's the promo for the movie: