A NYC Review

[In The Margins]

http://www.deathandtaxesmagazine.com/?p=12370

Apart from a six year hiatus in the early nineties, Echo and the Bunnymen have been around for a whopping 32 years incorporating a glorious heyday from 1979-1984 whereupon the band released five albums which still eclipse anything released by their ‘Big Music’ contemporaries U2, Simple Minds or, heaven forbid, The Alarm.

Despite the sweltering New York heat, Ian McCulloch is as ever resplendent in an enormous coat, hoodie and shades and the six-piece line up put on a storming show, essentially a greatest hits, padded with a few selections from last years The Fountain. And despite battling a cold, McCulloch’s sonorous vocal is in fine fettle – the opening triumvirate of “Going Up”, “Show Of Strength” and the mighty “Rescue” were remarkable, the tinny record sound transformed into a much more muscular proposition on stage with Will Seargants whale like guitar scything through the proceedings.

For a long-term fan like myself, the performance was close to perfect. To hear Seargant recreate Ravi Shankar’s sitar riff on ‘The Cutter’ was spellbinding; similarly, the band increased in confidence as the night wore on particularly with ‘All That Jazz’ and ‘The Killing Moon’ bringing the initial set to an apocalyptic conclusion.

Deciding to return for the first encore with 1997 comeback single ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ was perhaps the only blip in the set, I could never see the value of this sub-Verve dirge but finishing with ‘Do It Clean’ and ‘Lips Like Sugar’ redeemed matters entirely. The latter song’s position as most-shouted-for-song was a curious dichotomy in my eyes as by the time of it’s release, the band were on the way down for us Europeans yet their stock was merely rising here in the States.

McCulloch didn’t say much but he didn’t need to. This was a valedictory, majestic performance from a truly classic band.

[withahip]

No fight? What a rip-off!

[bunnybunny]

And despite battling a cold

As if.

[Mr. Brian]

Ravi Shankar did not play that riff on Porcupine. It was a different Shankar of no relation named L. Shankar. It also was not a sitar, it was an Indian violin.

[black francis]

How dare you correct a "long term fan"

[In The Margins]

How dare you correct a "long term fan"

Who was probably born after Porcupine was released.

[Mr. Brian]

How dare you correct a "long term fan"

Criticizing the details. It's all I have left.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Who was probably born after Porcupine was released.

A quick gaagle search reveals that Mr McAuliffe graduated from the National University of Ireland in 2004. Assuming he started university at 18, that would put him at 26 or 27 today, meaning that he was actually born in the same year as Porcupine was released or the year after. Long-term fan? Okkkaay...

[In The Margins]

A quick gaagle search reveals that Mr McAuliffe graduated from the National University of Ireland in 2004. Assuming he started university at 18, that would put him at 26 or 27 today, meaning that he was actually born in the same year as Porcupine was released or the year after. Long-term fan? Okkkaay...

So he was born in 1983. He was 14 when Evergreen was released in 1997.

I think a "long-term fan" might think 10 years following a band was a long time. So that means 2000, in between WAYGTDWYL and Flowers. He was 17. No 17 year old was listening to either of those releases.

I call foul.

[Mr. Brian]

We are bored today

[black francis]

And being Irish obviously makes them a U2 fan which in fact makes this review a subliminal plant aimed at dispiriting the bunnywunny faithful here at VT.

Nice try but you gotta get up pretty early in the morning to pull one over us.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

So he was born in 1983. He was 14 when Evergreen was released in 1997.

I think a "long-term fan" might think 10 years following a band was a long time. So that means 2000, in between WAYGTDWYL and Flowers. He was 17. No 17 year old was listening to either of those releases.

I call foul.

Well I have been following them for 13 years, but to be honest, I don't consider myself a long-term fan. That accolade can really only be reserved for those that have followed them through thick and thin from the 80s onwards.

We are bored today

Yes.

[Dr Cheese]

Nice fur collars you've got on your anoraks there.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Leave me alone or I'll be forced to gaggle your credentials as well.

[Mr. Brian]

Leave me alone or I'll be forced to gaggle your credentials as well.

Don't do it at work! Something from this site may come up.