The Unofficial Official Liverpool Shows Thread

[Dr Cheese]

[Scouser]

It was lashing down with rain when I met Smiffy in the Pan American on the Albert Dock. One short taxi ride later and we were in the Ship & Mitre for the unofficial official pre gig meet. A few Belgian beers later we headed to the gig after meeting up with a few other unofficial board posters (great pre gig atmos). Cheers guys.

The lights go down to the Gregorian chants. I have a heavy heart as I wait for Going Up to start...hang on! Whats this - straight into Rescue. Maybe the setlist will be different this year...

No. Its the same. Just altered slightly. And shortened - alot. Couldnt believe when the first part of the show was over, thought there was going to be a load of encores. There were two.

Mac was incoherent and had a complete charisma bypass. If he thinks rolling towels into balls and kicking them into the crowd is rock and roll - well, he really should get out more. Will just kept his head down, the guy must be mortified. People paid good money for this.

The backing band all look about 12. The drummer is pretty good, the others are just session bozos. Drums way too high in the mix - All That Jazz, Over The Wall just become about the drums. Will totally drowned out (just as well at times as he made a few fuck ups which isnt like him at all, he totally messed up the Broke My Neck snippet by missing his cue).

Crocodiles got a play but it was overly muscular. I was quite near the front and most things sounded OK, but coming back from the bog The Killing Moon sounded a dogs breakfast. I felt like crying when they played People Are Strange as an encore. The worlds best back catalogue to choose from and they choose a ropey Doors cover.

But even sadder the office party contingent lapped it up. In fact the biggest crowd reaction of the night came for People Are Strange and the Walk On The Wildside section of Nothing Lasts Forever (never a more apt song title nowadays). Says it all about the current Bunnymen malaise.

There were moments of the old magic - Show Of Strength, Dancing Horses, the outro to The Cutter. But thats the same every gig.

We were treated to two new songs. Didnt catch the names from Macs mumbling. I think the first one may be called The Teeth Of Feng Shui (or something like that). It was a Flowers B Side at best up to the final third when Will let rip. That bit was great. Will - please ditch Mac and get the vocalist you deserve.

The other new track I just cringed throughout. Obviously "the single" its woeful. "Whatever you waaaaaaant, whatever you neeeeeeed" - Oh God. Scissors In The Sand it aint. Its not even a Stormy Weather.

Why is Will saddled with this coke sniffing, ego maniac whose voice has gone and is so divorced from reality its now like a never ending episode of Saxondale? Will, do yourself a favour mate, cut the chord. Only the mortgage payments are keeping him stuck to Mac.

Mixed reports from the post gig debrief. The hardcore official posters all lapped it up of course. The office party crowd were complaining there should have been more hits and less obscure stuff (like Show Of Strength and The Disease - idiots). People like me were left bemused. It had moments of genius and moments of abject misery for the long suffering.

Anyone who got into the Bunns post 85 probably thinks its all great. Anyone who remembers the Bunnymen in their live prime will be weeping today. Just watch the footage on Pictures On My Wall if you dont believe me.

I blame the Rolling Stones. If they hadnt made it acceptable (and profitable) to tour into your 70's then the Bunnymen may have made a dignified retreat. Theres only so many times you can flog a dead horse...

Even a dancing one.

[Dr Cheese]

It was the usual "Bunnymen by numbers" performance, Will keeping his head down, Mac mumbling away unintelligably (he even asked at one point if anyone understood what he just said - he got a rousing chorus of "NOOOOOO!!") and bossing the other two around. The sound wasn't great with far too much bass and Will and Mac both lost in the mix, I don't know if it was but the setlist seemed to have been pruned quite substantially resulting in them disappearing seemingly just after they arrived, cue some disgruntled muttering from the punters in my immediate vicinity. The atmos in the venue wasn't as good as last year (which wasn't as good as the year before) and that goes for the performance too. Maybe it's time for them to knock these Christmas gigs on the head.
Tonights show might be better but I don't give a shite cos I won't be there, roll on Gogol Bordello next week!

[Mr. Brian]

Killing Moon Live at Liverpool Carling Academy Dec 8 2007

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This is just impossible to hear because of the crowd singing along

New song Live at Liverpool Carling Academy Dec 8 2007

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I found myself enjoying this

[JackT]

The hardcore official posters all lapped it up of course. The office party crowd were complaining there should have been more hits and less obscure stuff (like Show Of Strength and The Disease - idiots). People like me were left bemused.

People like you were left bemused? What kind of people is that, exactly? Miserable, elitist, douchebags? The chronically bemused?

[guitarplayer on here too]

What I wonder is why anyone would want to go and see another Bunnymen gig if they are expecting something different other than the usual setlist or set-up. Loads of dry ice, Mac with his inaudible comments and going on about "turning the soddin lights down" or "too much echo on the vocals". Will looking down at his guitar. The Cutter and The Killing Moon with Ocean Rain as the final song. If so, why slam it. Personally, since the last gig I went to in 2005 (where there was a slightly bigger overhaul of the setlist, so it was worth the effort to attend), I haven't bothered other than an HMV appearance in London where the set was done acoustic. The RAH gig will, of course, also be completely different.

As for the new stuff, the song Epic is a grower, but the other one I guess will be what Everything Kills You was to me on Siberia. A bit naff. Judging from what people have said, the only thing I'd say is that they obviously didn't want to play much else from the rest of the forthcoming album once again. Wonder if they will bother when it comes out. Probably not.

[Fish Hook Girl]

Thank you for the photos, Dr. C! They are great. Well done!

[Dr Cheese]

I've got loads more but the quality isn't great - taking decent photos in a shower of beer and flailing bodies isn't easy!

[Dave Smith]

After the Cavern gig we wondered why the new songs weren't mentioned-now we know why.If they are the best two songs on the new record.......they need a new producer.The first one was alright when it got going but was mildly similar to Stormy Weather and the second one sounded like an outtake from Slidling and incredibly similar to Stormy Weather.When the two hired hands(bass,guitar) sidled up to the mic to sing 'whatever you want' chorus in a rock'n'roll show style it was embarassing.It could have been a cover of the Status Quo song of the same name.

Criminal that the setlist was short and the same as the festival shows-t last year we got Bedbugs and Silver-but at least they are contractually obliged to play Ocean Rain at the Albert Hall and not Doors covers.Highlights-SOS,Crocs,OTW,Cutter.Lowlights-band under-cooked,Killing Moon a mess,Will's jazz rendition of Rust(not like him that).
Overall??Some great moments,too many average.Still be there next year though!

[Dr Cheese]

Overall??Some great moments,too many average.Still be there next year though!

My sentiments exactly.

[Dr Cheese]

The sound quality in this clip is a bit shit cos my camera couldn't cope with the sound levels but, to be honest, it wasn't that much better when you were there!

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[Scouser]

People like you were left bemused? What kind of people is that, exactly? Miserable, elitist, douchebags? The chronically bemused?

Have you ever thought of writing for TV? Your a natural. Sort of like the internet version of Larry David. But without the wry observations. Or the laughs. Or the talent.

Funnily enough you were mentioned quite alot at the pre gig meet.

[electrabunny]

First of all, thanks for all of your reviews and photos. Keep them coming!!

Secondly, someone on the other forum gave a pretty good review of the show - so I'll share that with people who cannot (or don't want to)log in there.

From oceanbrain in Blackpool, UK:
"Ive not put a post on here before,but after last nights gig praise just has to be dished out.F***inhell ,Wow,absolutely blown away.Ive Been A Bunnymen fan now for over 25 years [shine so hard] & my first gig was at lancaster university in Jan 83,since then ive seen them several times but last night was the Bollox!.It could of been oh so different with Liverpool losing to Reading Mac could of been in a shit mood but not at all,they came on at about 9.15 straight into Rescue,the sound & volume [for me] was spot on ,Macs voice on top form,the vibe just felt right,i had a feeling this was gonna be special.Stormy Weather ,Show of Strength & new song Epic followed[although Mac called it something else,can anyone tell me].There was a dickhead who kept shining a laser pen into Macs eyes but it didnt seem to bother him [or he never noticed,its no secret his visions a bit dodgy to say the least!!].The other new song "I think I need it to" sounds like an anthem already,the band now sound like a band again if you know what i mean,no disrespect to past band members but since Pete & Les theyve sometimes just sounded like Will & Macs backing session players,but last night they were really tight again & all seemed to be lovin it.Great to hear Crocodiles[straight through no ad libs],Rust,Over the Wall & treat of the night People are Strange.Sing a long classics Nothing Lasts Forever[wild side,dont let me down ,midnight hour]& Killing Moon were applauded by Mac saying to hear you all sing like that makes us feel proud was a nice touch.Finished with Lips Like Sugar [can anyone tell me what he ad libbed in the middle]ended for me the best gig ive been to in ages,I missed them not doing Ocean Rain but heh you cant have everything ,theyre probably saving that gem for the orchestra at the Albert Hall in September,until then looking forward to the new album & thanks for the early Xmas pressie last night boys......SONGS TO LEARN & SING INDEED!!!!!! p.s. ive just uploaded i think i need it to & killing moon from the gig on you tube,thanks."

Scouser: Who did you meet up w/ pre-gig?

I actually enjoyed the footage of Killing Moon where everyone was singing along - I think crowd participation just makes shows that much better!

[Scouser]

The beautiful people.

And me.

[insanejane]

Have you ever thought of writing for TV? Your a natural. Sort of like the internet version of Larry David. But without the wry observations. Or the laughs. Or the talent.

Funnily enough you were mentioned quite alot at the pre gig meet.

All the American writers are on strike. It's been reruns for a while now, I guess kind of like the setlist