And so it was that Damo Suzuki, previously of the krautrock band Can, appeared at the Hare and Hounds public house in Kings Heath, Birmingham, a mere five minutes walk from my abode, for the monthly Curates Egg night curated by The Courtesy Group. Also appearing were members of the Modified Toy Orchestra, quite possibly members of Mills and Boon and Andy Bole.
Damo Suzuki sang with all of them. I could be wrong but I think he sang the same song with all of them too. This wasn’t a problem by any means as it was a good song, if song is the right word. Maybe series of vocal sounds would be better.
The ModToyOrch bit was great. Nice to see Brian and co doing something more downbeat and undulating. Their work always has this as an undercurrent but here it was brought to the fore. Courtesy Group were the highlight though. I’ve been tragically missing seeing them play for about a year now and the experience was something else entirely. So I won’t try and describe it. Marvelous, and about an hour long without a break. The Mills and Boon bit was terribly noodly in a prog/post-rock kind of way, which is fine but a bit hard work when your brain has been fucked with, and Damo was still doing the same thang. So we left after that. Which, on reflection was a mistake as Andy Bole sounds pretty darn interesting from his MySpace. I’d like to have seen Damo’s act with that backing.
Before going to this I’d been warned that these Damo Suzuki shows are very hit and miss as he essentially jams with the locals. When they hit it’s incredible and when they miss it’s all a bit awkward. This was pretty much a hit.
If I’m not sounding very enthusiastic that’s because I’m not sure exactly how to write about this one. In some ways it was a normal gig but in other more important and less tangible ways it was something else entirely.
I shall be at the next Curates Egg for certain where the traveling guest is comedian Simon Munnery. Combined with the surreality of The Courtesy Group in whatever way they decide upon this should be one not to miss. September 20th. Mark it.
Later: Chum Tom’s report on said gig.
Later still: Russ L gets on the case.