The Wild Swans

by **DivaDiana77** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:09 am

Who is going tonight? Please tell us how it is (I'm sure it will be awesome)
Bootleg and post pictures!!!!
And tell them they have to do another show soon cause some crazy people like me would fly all the way out there to see them.
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by **Voodoo Billy** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:04 pm

Off to Static in half an hour. Full report on Saturday (if anyone wants it).

by **black francis** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:05 pm

Well since you're offering.

by **Voodoo Billy** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:51 pm

It was magnificent.

by **black francis** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:09 am

I can only imagine but I would guess there's a sense of camaraderie (<---is that spelled right?) we haven't seen for some time with the Bunnymen.

by **DivaDiana77** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:20 pm

Voodoo Billy wrote:It was magnificent.

Tell us more!

by **Voodoo Billy** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:20 pm

It was another magical night. There was a maritime theme to the evening, the stage was swathed in coastal fog, decked with fishing nets and paraphernalia, the life ring at the back giving the ship's name "Revolutionary Spirit, Liverpool". As with the July gig, there was a sense that care and attention had gone into creating a sense of place. Will was "manning the decks" with a wonderfully eclectic mix of maritime flavoured tracks. A bell rang in the distance.

The band appeared and opened with what I regard as their finest, "No Bleeding" before taking us through tracks old and new including both sides of the new single, "Liquid Mercury" and "The Wickedest Man In the World" as well as the superb "English Electric Lightning" (for which we were handed the obligatory hymn sheet). Paul offered rum rations for those sea dogs who fancied a swig and Fisherman's Friends were handed out. The set ended with a storming "Revolutionary Spirit", it still gets me hearing that song played live, the old hairs on the back of the neck, every time.

They returned to the stage to be joined by a certain Mr William Sergeant who played four encore tracks including "Melting Blue Delicious" and "Tangerine Temple" (the additional guitar on these in particular creating a fantastic noise in such an intimate venue). During the encore, Paul introduced the rest of the crew, the loudest cheer from the crowd being reserved for Les. Paul himself seemed almost in awe of the personnel he had gathered together, I think his words were "How cool is my band"(?).

All those involved, on and off-stage were really into the spirit of the occasion and as in July, the camaraderie between band members and audience was apparent.

I can't wait to hear the album in 2010. If you get a chance to see them live, don't miss it, they are truly something special. Photos will be posted in the morning.

by **DivaDiana77** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:16 pm

That's both concert and party.
Sounds so fab.

by **Scouser** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:25 am

Voodoo Billy wrote:It was another magical night. There was a maritime theme to the evening, the stage was swathed in coastal fog, decked with fishing nets and paraphernalia, the life ring at the back giving the ship's name "Revolutionary Spirit, Liverpool". As with the July gig, there was a sense that care and attention had gone into creating a sense of place. Will was "manning the decks" with a wonderfully eclectic mix of maritime flavoured tracks. A bell rang in the distance.

The band appeared and opened with what I regard as their finest, "No Bleeding" before taking us through tracks old and new including both sides of the new single, "Liquid Mercury" and "The Wickedest Man Alive" as well as the superb "English Electric Lightning" (for which we were handed the obligatory hymn sheet). Paul offered rum rations for those sea dogs who fancied a swig and Fisherman's Friends were handed out. The set ended with a storming "Revolutionary Spirit", it still gets me hearing that song played live, the old hairs on the back of the neck, every time.

They returned to the stage to be joined by a certain Mr William Sergeant who played four encore tracks including "Melting Blue Delicious" and "Tangerine Temple" (the additional guitar on these in particular creating a fantastic noise in such an intimate venue). During the encore, Paul introduced the rest of the crew, the loudest cheer from the crowd being reserved for Les. Paul himself seemed almost in awe of the personnel he had gathered together, I think his words were "How cool is my band"(?).

All those involved, on and off-stage were really into the spirit of the occasion and as in July, the camaraderie between band members and audience was apparent.

I can't wait to hear the album in 2010. If you get a chance to see them live, don't miss it, they are truly something special. Photos will be posted in the morning.

Thanks Bill - great review. I havent felt like that about seeing the Bunnymen for years. To see Will and Les on the same stage - amazing. I really do wish Mac would just fuck off and go solo.

by **DivaDiana77** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:27 am

Wild Swans on MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/thewildswans

There are alot of recent tunes on the player, including The Coldest Winter in 100 years where Simpson talks about the people who have lived in the house--Pete DeFrietas, Julian Cope, Courtney Love, etc. Lots about Pete. Beautiful and disturbing if you haven't heard it.

I think I love them. Great songs.

by **Scouser** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:40 am

The guy is an absolute legend.

by **DivaDiana77** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:10 pm

PICTURES OF THE GIG!!! And a sound check appearently.

Wild Swans

Interview with Paul Simpson

by **Voodoo Billy** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:03 pm

There was also a lovely gig print/poster for sale once again, signed by all the evening's personnel as was the case in July. I'm not sure if they're on the website yet though there may be some of July's left to buy.

by **Sick4Tunz** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 12:25 am

black francis wrote:I can only imagine but I would guess there's a sense of camaraderie (<---is that spelled right?) we haven't seen for some time with the Bunnymen.

Right. That was apparent at the Liverpool shows: Will is in his corner on stage left, far from Ian in the center with no interaction in between. If you were to measure the distance, Ian is actually standing closer to his paid hands Gordy and Stephen. There's no interaction betwen them, except when Ian raises he left hand and exclaims "wait!", and Gordy and Stephen look up somewhat fearful not knowing what will be expected of them. Gordy said afterwards that Ian often does that when he needs to catch his breath. Who knows. It's not a team effort. I think they are stuck with one another for the time being because commercially there is probably nothing for them outside the Bunnymen.

by **DivaDiana77** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 4:08 am

Sick4Tunz wrote:Right. That was apparent at the Liverpool shows: Will is in his corner on stage left, far from Ian in the center with no interaction in between. If you were to measure the distance, Ian is actually standing closer to his paid hands Gordy and Stephen.

Well now, to be fair, Will was always a bit like that on stage--so was Les. They never were the onstage cutups or bastions of brotherly love like the guys in Switchfoot. That's how Ian ended up with the impression that he was the main event rather than realizing that just isn't the case.

Is Stephen the one who has always subbed in for him? There was a guy they were using way back when who also went on with the Prodigal Sons. The guy is good.

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