Gong

Gong
29th July 2000

Gong are the ultimate psychedelic hippy band, who've been playing for around 30 years... Daevid Allen, now 62, and dressed all in white to match his aging hair, looks like a stylised God icon and to some perhaps he is!

Sounding as good as on vinyl (remember that?) they powered through their songs, rising above the normal and into the stratosphere where the flying teapots took you on their trip, while Gilli Smythe's loopy vocals wafted around filling in between the stars...

The crowd of mainly 30-somethings, loads of beards, long hair, etc, knew what they'd come to see, and expressed their delight at getting it... the silver teapot thrust aloft by one adoring guy showed the fanatacism with which they are still regarded by some, and in these days of 'e-culture', Gong proved they are still relevant - in fact they could seriously lay claim to being the grandaddy's of it all, having been at the forefront of danceable 'head-music'.

They were everything that you'd expect... more... ignoring the cliche's muttered by those who encountered Gong in their youth and feel they've "moved on" since - while Gong haven't - this is a band who deliver much more live that you could possibly wish for, without having to resort to hiding behind a show.