The Fall – Concorde 2, Brighton – 9/5/10
4/5
By: Keri Kennedy
It’s always a gamble buying a ticket to see The Fall. Known for their no-shows, onstage strops and 15-minute gigs, they’re legendary as much for their unreliability as for their charismatic front-man, a certain Mr Mark E Smith.
Brighton is lucky this time. The Fall take to the stage on time, and they play a through an hour-long set concentrating on new, 28th LP Your Future, Our Clutter with two encores. Smith is suitably grumpy, in trademark leather jacket (soon strewn over the bassist’s amp, revealing belted slacks worn just below the nipples) and shirt. The ever awkward lead singer – loosely speaking – never engages or even acknowledges the crowd. But hell, he’s onstage and we should just be grateful for that.
When they fire on all cylinders, the latest incarnation of these Manc stalwarts are a tightly honed, almost drone-rock attack on the senses, like a doodlebug from up North that worms its way into your brain. Smith remains onstage practically all night – one minute muttering into one of his three microphones, the next turning up or, more hilariously, completely off, the guitarist’s amp. This is Smith’s show, and no one should upstage him.
It’s 90% YFOC material, which leaves many petrified first-timers confused. But it’s stomping, even glam in places; ‘Bury’ with Elena Poulou’s squelching synths, gets heads bobbing. ‘We Are Sparta FC’ is the closest we get to an anthem, but Smith makes no apologies for a forward-thinking set. Signed to Domino now, his band – which basically means him (imagine, a Fall without MES!), remain engaging at the very least. Baffling, yes. Arrogant, sure. But completely unique.
Artists in this article: The Fall
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment