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Stoke Memoirs And 3D Spex (Day 8)
By Ginger | September 26, 2009
Who knows why some gigs you absolutely love and some you just can’t get into?
The band all loved the show in Stoke, the audience were amazing, the hecklers heckled in good spirits (albeit during an announcement that our friend Tim Smith has severe health problems- I guess bad manners don’t wait for appropriate moments to spring forth, huh? Nice one mate. Your girlfriend will be so proud, if you ever get one, ha ha), the guys in the band all played like a well oiled machine and the songs flowed like easy conversation. Me? I just couldn’t get into it. By the end of the second set the onstage sound had reached such muddied proportions that I could feel myself shouting to hear my vocals, so in an attempt to keep my voice for tomorrow’s show (and the rest of the tour) I let the crowd sing the final song 29 x The Pain. It was a curious moment with Hot Steve handing the microphone to seemingly everyone in the audience that doesn’t know the lyrics. Still, it has to be said that in another venue an SM57 would have been stripped from its cable and never seen again. A fine testament to the sheer decency of the Stoke crowd.
And while on the subject of hecklers and people not realising that we were going to be playing the new album in its entirety, I would like to make certain that my intentions in highlighting the heckling was not to incite further violence or have anyone threaten to ‘sort them out’. I don’t want to see ANY violence at our shows, okay?
I understand that some people will feel short changed by the decision to play the album and this is something I’d like to clarify. This decision was made during a fraught time where we couldn’t make our minds up as to what to play: old, new, rare, popular, etc etc etc. We put the vote to the fans on the forum and you unanimously voted for us to play the album. We take your responses very seriously indeed, and so we made a last minute decision to honour the popular voice, and deal with the disapproval of the minority, in this case. We can only offer, as consolation for anyone who might be disappointed with the decision, the fact that we have a band playing at the very top of their game (playing some songs that will never be played live again), one of the worlds very best sound-men, an awesome bill and a very competitive ticket price.
It looks like we will continue to support our albums by playing them in their entirety, in the future, if we are to continue to make albums. There are tons of bands just trotting out the best of set and releasing no new music, this is fine and supporting this is also great, but that isn’t The Wildhearts. Not at all. We want to the future to be an exciting place with musical innovation as well as a nod to the past, hence the two sets, both of approx equal length.
I hope you will continue to join us on our musical journey, and for anyone who only wants to see the ‘best of’ set I hope you have enjoyed the past 15/20 years and leave with fond memories. It’s been a great ride, hasn’t it?
After the show we were invited to a private screening of Final Destination 3D, which the band and crew later decided against, favouring, instead, another night drinking on the bus. Doing the same thing every night drives me a little stir crazy so Gav and I decided to round up some friends and make the screening anyway. Walking into a huge cinema that is completely empty is a thrill that no-one should pass up if ever given the chance. We selected our seats and watched as the 3D format threw chisels at us, as well as various body parts, in spectacular fashion. A great bit of gory fun with some very inventive kills, all sadly marred by the worst ending since The Happening.
Still, the gorgeous Krista Allen appeared in the movie, which was a bit of a treat.
Back on the bus we watched Step Brothers together and took ill laughing so hard at the drum kit/bollock interface scene.
Driving through Stoke as the clubs had long closed yet the scattered, drunken debris still roamed the street looking for a final fight or a fuck, but will probably settle for a kebab, I couldn’t feel more alien.
It’s a feeling I get every now and again and one that gives me great comfort.
Sometimes I just really feel different than everyone else.
Gx
36 Responses to “Stoke Memoirs And 3D Spex (Day 8)”
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September 26th, 2009 at 14:38
I cant wait to see you and the band play in Leeds tonight. And i’m sure the good people from all over yorkshire will make you all feel very welcome.Lets make this the best gig of the tour not just so far but of the hole tour.
September 26th, 2009 at 14:42
on a personal level i have seen many bands live and can never understand why people pay good money to go to a gig only to disrespect the band by heckling or to stand with arms folded as if to say impress me then.my partner and i were at the nottingham gig and a couple of blokes stood just in front of us absolutely motionless!!….i suppose thats their right to do so,but we had the night of our lives.we have never felt short changed by any album or performance thus far and will continue to show our support in the future,keep your chin up and keep rockin!!!
September 26th, 2009 at 16:02
Without going into too much detail, just lately I’ve been in a few situations where I’ve been amongst some people that make me think “what am I doing wrong?” and it’s only when I get a day or two away from it I realise that the answer is a definite “no”. So carry on feeling that way Ginger because you’re right on this one.
And definitely keep up the business of the live shows nodding to old and new. There are bands much younger than yours that already survive on an ever-dwindling fanbase and playing “heritage sets” (token newie for the bar break, then “golden oldies”). You are not that band and long may it continue.
September 26th, 2009 at 16:02
Ooops. That didn’t make perfect sense. It should have read “am I doing something wrong?”… to which the answer is still “no”.
September 26th, 2009 at 16:07
Just got my ticket for Shepherds Bush, I’m so into the idea of you guys playing the new album. It is awesome after all.
You have so many great tunes that picking a set list must be impossible for you and you’ll never please evryone.
At least these days you can play long enough to get 20 songs in. Not like back in ’92!
September 26th, 2009 at 16:38
I was at the sugarmill show last night. You actually got off fairly lightly, there are normally way more hooting nobhead neanderthals and apathetic school kids with funny haircuts in there.
good gig though and I liked how the new material feels as though i know it already despite me only buying it from itunes a couple of hours before the show and listening to it on the bus on the way into town.
p.s. ginger, i appreciated your dave gilmour moments at the end of chutzpah even if no-one else did.
September 26th, 2009 at 17:09
When does the rest of Europe get to see the new album in full on a stage?
September 26th, 2009 at 17:36
Speaking as someone who has adored the Wildhearts for 16 years, I actually thought playing the album in its entirety was fantastic!
With such a vast back catalogue we will probably never get to see some of these songs live ever again!
I think its great that you let the fans decide what they want to hear and hopefully newer fans will get to contribute next time around making it a more varied set instead of all the old favourites that people like myself have seen countless times before…I’m not saying that the golden oldies are a bad thing – its just nice to see the newer songs getting a look in!
September 26th, 2009 at 18:06
I’m still on a high from Nottingham and would happily see The Wildhearts play every new album in full during future tours. There are arseholes everywhere…and some of them turn up to your shows. Why let them ruin the show for you and everyone else? I know it’s easy to say, but all I can suggest is ‘rise above it’ – otherwise they win.
September 26th, 2009 at 18:08
I appreciated the Gilmour bits too…there are some distinctly Metallica-ish vocals going on in there as well…not complaining mind, I was at the Brighton gig and had my little cotton socks well and truly blown off. First time I have seen you live and very definately not the last. That gig was a while back and I am still buzzing, am gutted that I refused to go backstage when invited but I was aware that I woyuld most surely collapse into heap of quivering jelly, gush the glory and make a total twat of myself. Still, I was in the frontline and got showered in the sweat of Ginger so I is a happy lady…
September 26th, 2009 at 18:10
Ginger, allow me to play devil’s advocate.
Firstly, I loved hearing the whole of Chutzpah at the Birmingham show, as did many others. However, it’s probably a little unfair to suggest that this is what the audience asked for. A large proportion of the audience probably aren’t active on the website etc and would have turned up expecting a more ‘traditional’ show. Nothing particularly wrong with that, these fans quite reasonably didn’t know any better before the show.
You should be (and I imagine you are) grateful that you have such an active and supportive online community, but it might be a mistake to assume that they represent the majority of the band’s fanbase, or even that we can be used as some kind of microcosm of the fanbase as a whole.
For what it’s worth, I loved getting to hear the album in full. Hopefully you’ll continue to enjoy playing it, but just try not to get too frustrated with the audience members who weren’t aware of the website poll/setlist beforehand.
September 26th, 2009 at 18:20
I think the idea to play the album in it’s entirety is brilliant. Having seen bands over the year do the greatest hits + the new single I thiink it’s refreshing change to hear the whole album and good on you if this is to be the format for all future tours.
September 26th, 2009 at 18:23
I just wanted to say thanks for coming to Stoke last night. We all had a top notch night and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
Playing the new album is a great idea for us old fuckers who haven’t got the energy to jump around like twats for a whole gig anymore. We all enjoyed being able to just chill out and listen to the new material before you launched in to the more familiar stuff. My aging knees & back really appreciate that today.
Thanks again.
September 26th, 2009 at 18:57
Stephen Says:
September 26th, 2009 at 18:10
“……and would have turned up expecting a more ‘traditional’ show. Nothing particularly wrong with that, these fans quite reasonably didn’t know any better before the show.”
that’s kind of a wierd way of looking at it, at a festival maybe, but when a band is touring a new album I don’t usually expect a ‘greatest hits’ set. I would at least expect the majority of the set to be from the currrent and previous album and a couple of ‘oldies’ as an encore…. Isn’t that the whole point of touring? I’ve been to two gigs this tour and that’s because it wasn’t the same old songs again…like I said keep the ‘best of’ sets for festivals and one off gigs, an album tour should be what it says on the tin!!
September 26th, 2009 at 20:08
Ok, im an ickle bit drunk, due to work, a cold i swear i am genuinely gonna die from(!)…..erm, and wine! SO, just wanted to ask, is there gonna be another sg5 album ginger? Also, seeing u guys in pompey, as i commented previously on wot an amazing nite it was, reminded me, wen i saw cj up close, of those tattooed love boys an last of the teenage idols an those daze, that music was ‘kin gr8, anyways, im gonna go watch ‘brazil’ now, an i agree wit every word bout final dest 3d, 1st ‘live action’ film i’ve seen 3d an was very effective, but the ending??? wtf?! but as this isnt a film review site i shall go find my lemsip an bott of wine!! (much better than crystal meth!) and thanx again for monday nite’s gig, but keep on ya toes cos those black spiders are AWESUM, tc
September 26th, 2009 at 20:09
OH, BTW TEZZABLOKE? UR WORDS ARE SPOT ON
September 26th, 2009 at 21:43
Came down from Bolton for the Stoke gig and going to Manchester Academy on Wednesday night. Its a pity that a couple of hecklers could make you go off beam a bit. It was very visible that you werent having a good time and it did effect the performance, I can tell that Tim Smith means a lot to you and I cant see the point in people paying to go to a gig and not listening, but the world is full of ’em. Saying that Chutzpah is brilliant and the merch looks good in our house. The black spiders were awesome as well, the drummer is a bit scary hahaha. Good friday night out all round. Hope you feel up for it on Wednesday.
September 26th, 2009 at 21:49
sugarmill stoke first let me apologize for the disrespectful asshole who would not shut up we are not all like that in the stoke area! for someone who could not get in to it you played a blinder one of the best gigs ive been to and ive been to a few!dont let the asshole spoil it please come back again hopefully youll be into it next time!awesome supports awesome album awesome night!!!!!
September 26th, 2009 at 21:53
Can I just say…in response to both Tezzabloke and also Ginger…
Tezzabloke: I agree completely, I have never understood heckles, its a yobish trait and as a quite person myself, its always been a pet hate and it ruins gigs. I was at the Norwich show which Ginger stated he enjoyed but then said it was a let down for this reason.
As for arms folded, I have to disagree. I have a friend who is in an up and coming band, hes a lively chap, but if you get him stood infront of a band he loves…he doesn’t go mental and crazy…he just observes and takes it all in, its strange, but some people enjoy live music differently. As long as you enjoy it, eh? 🙂
Ginger: I must admit, I hated the playing of the whole album idea at first…even after owning Chutzpah! and loving it…maybe because I have never been to a gig where this has been done unless its a “special” gig. But it makes sense, and it hit me today reading your post…why bother making a whole new album and then only playing half of it when you take it on tour? That means some songs are either not good enough to be played yet make an album…or never ever see the light of day, which is sad. I love the concept, playing a two sided set, it works…it worked when I saw it and I hope many bands follow. Great work, and keep it up, you guys are beyond great.
Scase 🙂
September 26th, 2009 at 22:33
I voted Chutzpah (for tomorrow night in Glasgow) for the simple reason that I’d like to hear every song on it live as I think they are all brilliant. In fact the only time a Wildhearts setlist has come close to disappointing me was during a tour in support of the self titled album where very few songs from said album were played. Hearing old favourites is always great, but (for me anyway) when it comes to one of your favourite bands, theres nothing quite like hearing how ace one of their songs sounds live for the first time!
September 26th, 2009 at 22:33
i dont see what there is to feel short changed about the new album rocks just as much as anything else the mighty hearts have ever put out!! are bands supposed to put out one “classic” album then spend the rest of their lives spending time and money writing and recording music that they never play? just have a few drinks and enjoy it-thats what its all about.
September 26th, 2009 at 22:43
The whole playing an album thing is something I have seen before. But it only seems to cause problems in bands of a metal/rock background.
I went to see Iron Maiden on the A Matter of Life and Death Tour when they played the new album in it’s entirety. I had some people next to me who as far as I can tell had not got the new album. Ok a fan of the old stuff, nothing wrong with that but why go and see the band on a tour for a new album and not buy the album? It may be the best one they have done.
For £8 on play not even a round in the pub you can get a new album by a band and not only get a document of what that band is doing at that time. But a look at what the band are now.
Iron Maiden for many are a old school metal band, but who have the balls to go into the studio and make an album that many ‘fans’ may not like.
Unlike Iron Maiden the Wildhearts do not have the EMI record deal or distribution. The band are independent and proud, they heard from the fans at what they want to play. We asked to hear the new album and we are going to get it. If the album was crap then a case to heckle is heard. But it is not Chutzpah rocks like a motherfucker and deserves to be played LOUD.
I bet many people will go out and buy the CD after the gig. I am taking two people to the gig in Glasgow who have never seen the band and only have heard them while in my house. They have not got the new album but what a great way to sell it to em.
I love this whole thing about the playing of the album as it keeps everything fresh and shows people still care. When no one gives a fuck then it gets stale.
September 26th, 2009 at 23:53
fuck em all boys…..we are waiting with eager anticipation for the boys to come home….newcastle will be the show of shows ,you know,you just know what to expect from “the lads” the albums great…..in all honesty 85 per cent shit hot 10 per cent good 5 per cent “ah daint nah”but we are ready to blow the academy apart,and in all honesty we just want to say …y doing a great job . the heckeling will be..funny ,truthfull achingly acurate and just what you would expect ..love ,peace and respect. xxx the boys from shields
September 27th, 2009 at 00:48
i just think its great to see a band so confident in there new stuff that they’re prepared to play the album in full. i can’t wait to see them in newcastle. gonna be ace.xxx
September 27th, 2009 at 01:46
To be honest, I was initially a bit concerned when I first heard that the new album was gonna be played in full. I always thought of albums as being a piece of art in itself, and a gig as more of a party thing – all the most energetic stuff. And this is true for loads of bands. I’d have been hugely disappointed if Terrorvision back in the day played every song off How To Make Friends for example – too many slow ones and fillers to keep a crowd excited. But Chutzpah feels so much like a live album that every song will work. I think it really depends on the material. Would the Beatles have got away with playing their later albums live?
I suppose what I’m trying to say is with most other bands whole albums live would probably be a mistake, but with the Wildhearts you know it’s gonna work! Some bands put together excellent albums but aren’t that good at playing live, whereas the Wildhearts are so much better live than they are recorded I consider the CD/MP3s as more of a souvenir or something for a car journey.
We are now living in a time when “concept albums” just aren’t keeping bands fed and watered, so the focus has to be on the live experience. All we want is a band on stage enjoying what they’re playing, and if that’s the whole album they’ve just released then what’s the point in doing otherwise? If you wanna do a “Best Of” tour inbetween albums ya can be sure that’d be a winner too, but I certainly agree there’s no point doing that when there’s a shiny new album to be played.
Monday night is gonna win Night Of The Year Award for me, guaranteed! See you there fellas!
September 27th, 2009 at 07:54
jason and scase,hope you enjoyed the gigs in portsmouth and norwich respectively and thanks for the comments on my post,its appreciated.keep on rockin and long live the wildhearts!!!
September 27th, 2009 at 11:38
And the fukin wildhearts!! S o Trent show Fukin amazing thanks to you and to everyone involved.
Mark 10/10
September 27th, 2009 at 12:55
I was at the Stoke Gig and I could’t remember the lyrics to 29 x the pain either. Sorry Ginger. Still, best Gig I’ve ever been to and the new album was awesome. The band were as tight as a gnats chuff!!! Can’t wait to see you again.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:11
Hi Ginger and band i support your ideas 100%, don’t worry about the people stuck in the past i feel you music is gettin better with every album and love the variety each new album brings you are a great band which is a rareity in todays day keep the music coming and keep playin the new stuff live with a nod to the past. My only worry about your comments ginger is the phase were you say if we make any future albums, I hope to be listening to new wildhearts music for many years to come. Keep the albums coming thick and fast and play them live, can’t wait to see you live in manchester this wednesday
September 28th, 2009 at 13:14
I was at the gig at the Cockpit on Saturday and the reception for the new album was brilliant – everyone was going fucking mental and singing along, proper glorious. I hadn’t actually heard it before the gig, was looking forward to getting the full force of it in a live setting and wasn’t disappointed. Check out the footage of it on YouTube, it was truly a night to remember. Only thing that spoilt it was getting kicked out for crowdsurfing during Sick of Drugs……how the fuck can you get booted out of a Wildhearts show for that?! Ah well, I guess the band can’t help it if the security are arseholes……!
September 28th, 2009 at 19:45
Thank you for the clarification Ginger, personally I appreciated it. I will certainly continue following your musical journey. I’m with Stephen though in saying that you should not take these blogs as representative of the whole fanbase.
Since I’ve been such a pain in the a, will you play understanding jane for me in london? hehe
September 28th, 2009 at 20:24
Ginger – you can choose your friends, but not your family or your fans! Stoke was wonderful, to the extent that the “Greatest Hits” set felt almost anti climatic after the amazing Chutzpah set! I was genuinely embarrassed by the behaviour of the chimp down the front. And genuinely sorry to the chimps of Chester Zoo to who I am comapraing him! Will be down at Shepherds Bush on Thursday – any chance of Caprice?
September 28th, 2009 at 21:34
Just to say thanks to you guys for playing Stoke on Friday,my neck still aches from the headbangin’!Also agree with the comments about the dumb chimp down the front who tried to spoil it,I was shocked it could even speak.Hopefully you will come back again but won’t hold my breathe too much as seen many bands play the Sugarmill,have their set spoilt by a prick or two then never return.See you at Manchester.
September 29th, 2009 at 14:22
I was at the Sugarmill Friday, at the front all night, total admission not sure how Ive missed you guys and Im 43, didn’t know a single song but hey had a good jump up and down and arm waving session. Good gig. And the Black Spiders drummer is brillaint what a character 🙂
October 2nd, 2009 at 16:38
me missus couldnt see a fukin thing! i did, good show!
October 3rd, 2009 at 16:23
I’ve yet to see a disapointing wildhearts show (been a few since mondo akimbo was released!) …friday in stoke was brilliant, i think that the decision to play Chutpah in full was excellent as the album is awesome and as most people have rightly said you might not get to see some of those songs live again!! My mate i took along with had only seen you guys at download festival a couple of years ago but is now a converted wildhearts fan. Keep up the good work lads and keep touring!!