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Portsmouth Is Love (Day 5)
By Ginger | September 22, 2009
Who’d have thunk it? The best show of the tour, so far, I think, took place in Portsmouth, last night.
The audience were welcoming, warm and responsive, the band played a faultless set, the Black Spiders rocked big time (and later joined us on the bus for drinks) and me ‘n Gav decided to keep growing our beards until the end of the tour. They’re itching like hell but a deal is a deal.
After walking around Portsmouth, or Pompey or Southsea or whatever else they call this place, checking out the awesome shops of Albert Road it’s a treat to see such a myriad of eye watering expenditure dens peppering the street. Culturally valid accessory shops rub shoulders with semi-antique bric-a-brac stores in a bid to tempt visiting consumers into coughing up readies for essential items that they will ultimately lose interest in on leaving Portsmouth.
We have the smallest and most stifling dressing room in the western world, so in an attempt to rid myself of the claustrophobia based migraine steadily gnawing at my sense of well being I go and eat a fish by the seaside, approx 1km away. There’s nothing quite like a walk along an English beach to fill a person with equal feelings of happiness and sadness. I mean any walk along the sea can make a fellow feel a little insignificant, but something about the English seaside makes me think of the people on the other side of the water, baking in the sunshine, bronzed, naked and not think of the people on the other side of the water wrapped in multi layered protection to ward off the freezing gales of the North sea.
Anyway, the fish was lovely and the mushy peas burnt the living fuck out of the inside of my mouth.
All in all a lovely day. Lovely place. I love Portsmouth, and I didn’t even know it.
Gx
13 Responses to “Portsmouth Is Love (Day 5)”
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September 22nd, 2009 at 14:53
Followed you guys for many years before finally seeing you for the first time last year on the Earth vs. 15th anniversary tour, and then again just before Christmas. Last night however was my favourite Wildies gig so far. The album is awesome, it was great to hear it live from start to finish. And then banging out the classics to finish things off was the icing on the cake. And I got one of Ginger’s earplugs! Fucking sweet. You guys rock. Best band in the land, can’t wait to se you guys again, there’s still so many songs I haven’t seen you play live!
PS Scott’s ginseng anecdote was funny as fuck.
September 22nd, 2009 at 16:48
Wicked sounds like you’re getting better and better. You got some top tracks on the new album. See ya in Brum for some mad moshing!
September 22nd, 2009 at 17:08
Absolutely brilliant show. I took along 3 Wildhearts virgins, one of which is 15, and they came away smiling from the aural assault! We won’t be pressing charges…
September 22nd, 2009 at 18:05
Hey Guy’s
I was at the wedgewood rooms last night, and as usual, you guy’s rocked…! It was about the 7th time I’ve seen you, and you get better and better each time. Thanks again for a great gig.
September 22nd, 2009 at 18:08
cheers for last night it was a belter thought the chutzpah track had finished me off but i found some energy from somewhere.wanted to say hi to ginger when he walked past me but he was on the phone.
black spiders were great too.enjoy the rest of the tour.
September 22nd, 2009 at 18:28
Great set. Great night. Great fucking band!
Come back soon.
We need you!
September 22nd, 2009 at 21:11
went to uni at pompey and you’ve made me all nostalgic Ginger. Especially mentioning Albert Road. I used to live at no. 65. so pleased to hear you are playing Chutzpah in its enterity.Looking forward to the London gig even more if that was possible! x
September 22nd, 2009 at 22:04
My 2nd wildhearts gig, every bit as awesome as the last – perhaps more so being in my hometown.. However if Ginger had a poke around the little shop on Albert Rd – namely an orange-fronted den of random shit (good shit I might add) called DressCode, where I usually work, on my day off, I shall be very sad indeed. In fact, I might do a little cry.
But still, The Wildhearts make every other attempt at music look a bit bollocks.
September 22nd, 2009 at 23:06
Seeing you at the Wedge was my first time, and it was one of the best gigs i’ve been to this year. Hope that you come back again
Also, the new album is fantastic, and it was awesome to hear it all live
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:58
I spent 3 months working in Pompey, its ace there is so many good tattoo parlours. Anyway will be seeing you in leeds and then london sheperds bush as me and me lass are taking a trip down there fo’t weekend.
Enjoy y’sens!
September 23rd, 2009 at 16:55
B.I.C next time boys, come down to sunny Bournemouth 😀
do No Americana and Spiders want to see some shots from Monday?
September 23rd, 2009 at 18:40
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September 23rd, 2009 at 21:07
I’ve been trying to remember for the last couple of days when it was I first saw the Wildhearts; I think it must have been when they toured supporting the Almighty way back when.
I’ve been out of touch with matters for quite a while, but having bought and been impressed by Chutzpah! I noticed the gig coming up at the Wedge, virtually in my back yard, so I thought I’d reacquaint myself.
I’m really glad I did. Really glad? No… incredibly glad. Simply the best concert I’ve been to by any band for years. The rapport Ginger has with the band’s fans is unique and just brilliant. Every person in the room was made to feel welcome and appreciated and I spent the whole night grinning from hearing superb music and genuinely funny banter.
That respect is reflected in what became a 100 minute set too. When you look at virtually any band who’s sprung up in the last few years struggling to reach the 60 minute mark in front of massive audiences you have to wonder what they’re playing at ripping fans off like that, but the Wildhearts delivered in spades and gave a real impression of having fun while doing it. How cool is it to know your stuff so well that you can pretty much make up a set list as you’re going along and still provide a killer delivery?
I even found myself embarrassed by Ginger’s thanks to the crowd for allowing the band to play Chutzpah! in its entirety. It’s a fantastic album, why apologise for bringing it to fans live? Be proud! I’m proud to have been there for a flawless night and proud to call myself a fan again. Long live the Wildhearts!