“Say hello to the boys and girls, Sooty!” – Jason does his nude puppet
show for the crowd at the Virgin MegaStore. Picture by Total Blam Blam.
Last night they loved you…
I know it’s not strictly Bowie news, but I’ve had a few e-mails asking how things went last night… so I’m sure you’ll allow me this small transgression.
Grandaddy played a short but intimate show to a very appreciative crowd at the Virgin MegaStore in Oxford Street to celebrate both the release of their new album, Sumday, and their first placing in the UK top 30 with the single, Now It’s On. The band played a fine balance of old and new including the aforementioned single, plus The Go In The Go-For-It and Lost On Yer Merry Way all from the new album,.
They also chucked in a smattering of classics that included Hewlett’s Daughter, A.M. 180 and the Bowie favourite, Summer Here Kids… At least according to recently injured* guitarist Jim Fairchild it’s a Bowie favourite. Jim told me a story he had been told by one of the road crew, of when David went to see the band in New York. Apparently he was quite vocal in his wish for the band to play the song, screaming his request above the din of the crowd! And who can blame him, it is a truly great song.
We didn’t have time to hang around for the Grandaddy signing session, but, judging by the length of the queue, they must have been there for some time. As I said yesterday, if you do get a chance to see them on their current UK tour, then do. See yesterday’s news for the UK dates, and click on the picture above to take you to the Grandaddy website, where you can view the rest of their summer dates.
* Jim was involved in some nasty accident recently, where his shoulder was run over by a large vehicle of some kind. He is on the mend, but it means he certainly won’t be able to perform the likes of the quite awesome Levitz, for which he would normally hold both an acoustic and an electric guitar at the same time!
“Oh she’s a tongue twisting storm…” – Kristeen
hits the high notes. Picture by Total Blam Blam.
Next it was straight off to Camden to see Kristeen Young. Unlike most of the BowieNetters present at the Underworld, I hadn’t seen Kristeen live before, so I was looking forward to this, her very first London show. I have to admit I was a little nervous for her, as London audience’s have a reputation for being quite reserved, and are generally miserable sods, unless it’s someone they already know and love.
I needn’t have concerned myself, it was obvious from the moment this vision in pink took to the stage that we were about to witness something unique. Kristeen stormed through an eight-song set that certainly won this audience over, and the fact that she didn’t have a live band behind her didn’t compromise the energy of the music one bit.
“Squawking like a Pink Monkey Bird” – KY
conquers Camden. Pic by Total Blam Blam.
Kristeen has an absolutely incredible vocal range, soaring effortlessly through the registers, to the point of shattering the lenses of Keiths’ spectacles**, and reaching the kind of notes audible only to dogs. She is also an accomplished keyboard player and has a unique stage presence, and all of these qualities together make it very hard for me to provide any convincing comparisons.
For the record, the set included: Wake The Dead, Breasticles, Touch Tongues, Yesterday’s Future Man, I Am The Best Of All Things, Lie, We Are The World (Why KY) and Devil Girl. The first three songs and We Are The World (Why KY) are from the Tony Visconti produced new album, Breasticles, which includes the re-recorded duet with David, Saviour, that we told you about recently. (05/15/03 NEWS: KRISTEEN YOUNG COLLECTABLE AND LONDON DATE)
Kristeen, kindly signed copies of the CD after the show, and sales seemed healthy enough to pay for her next trip to London… which won’t be soon enough.
** This didn’t actually happen, but I would pay good money to see it if Kristeen wants to consider it for her next UK show?