Thursday’s Curate’s Egg gig, run by the redoubtable Al Hutchins of The Courtesy Group, was quite fantastic. I love what Al’s doing with these nights, putting on bands who are evil in the nicest possible way, the choices filtered through his worldview of how things should be. There are a number of promoters in the city who are doing interesting things but the evening that Al curates (and it is a curatorship rather then mere promotion) always intrigue and impress. You never know quite how it’s going to pan out and there’s a tangible sense of unease, like you’re on a journey somewhere on terms that you’re not sure you want to sign up for. This is what live music should be live – dangerous, exciting and mindblowing in equal measures.
The headliners were Gallon Drunk for whom the touchstone appeared to be Nick Cave with a touch of Morphine. They fucking rocked and by the end the room was dancing like Bacchus was in town.
Prior to them we had Nightingales who proved that old punks never stop innovating. Musically they were astounding and if I hadn’t met a couple of them beforehand and found them to be lovely people I would have been scared shitless waving my camera in front of them. As it was I was merely uneasy, especially as the singer had the air of a drunk in a chip shop about the spew his evening’s alcohol consumption over the counter. Oddly enough there was a distict smell of bleach at the end implying the bar staff had a similar thought. Shockingly good though. Need to see them again and again.
And finally, at the beginning the evening, were our hosts The Courtesy Group. Shockingly this was the first time I’d caught their whole set as themselves – I’d either come in late or they’d been in a different incarnation (such as when playing with Damo Suzuki) – so this set had high expectation attached to it. When I come to do my Top 10 bands in Birmingham that are beyond marvelous they’ll be near the top. There are reference points but they’re almost insignificant. I remember once describing them as similar to The Fall but that seems like nonsense now. They’re simply unique and, yes, frightening with Al’s use of the inevitable space at the front of the crowd as a stage extension, eventually moving as far into them as the mic lead would allow and into the corridor. With his antics it’s easy to forget about the band but they’re integral to the performance, spinning from something akin to Beefheart through to something akin to deep south blues and onto other planets inbetween. Astonishing.
Is this the best night in Birmingham at the moment? Quite possibly. The next one is December 20th with punk poet John Cooper Clarke. I won’t be here for it but I damn well hope you will.
All my photos from the gig are here.
Later: Russ L: not so happy
Gallon Drunk are still going?!!
No. This entire post is just a hallucination you’re having.
***
Was “Pete’s Top Ten Bands In Birmingham That Are Beyond Marvelous” just a throwaway comment, or is that a post you intend to write at some point?
It’ll happen. I think there are actually enough bands to fill it and it’s something worth doing. When it’ll happen is another thing altogether…
Hi Pete,
This is Daren, the drummer from Nightingales. Thanks for yr kind words and fab photos from the Gallon Drunk -bostin stuff! Next localish gig is on Sunday 2nd March.
Anyway, don’t know if you’re interested but next Thursday 31st, my old 60s garage band Das Fringe are reforming and playing a free gig at the Hare & Hounds – and not only are we the Nightingales rhythm section, but Pete, the lead guitarist, is also the guitarist in the Fall… so we’re a bit of indiosynchratic indie supergroup!
Ithink you’ll love the band, and I know the band like great photos, so….!!
Come and say hello if you make it over.
Cheers
Daren