Pixies / Idlewild / Teenage Fanclub / My Latest Novel

Pixies / Idlewild / Teenage Fanclub / My Latest Novel @ Meadowbank Stadium, 28/08/05

Scottish group My Latest Novel failed to get anything out of the crowd at this gig. The stadium was half empty for them, and only latest single “Sister Sneaker Sister Soul” suggested that they have any chance whatsoever to rise above the position of opener on these type of shows.

It’s pretty, sure, but just because something is pretty doesn’t mean it can’t be deathly dull. In fact, My Latest Novel would do well to take a leaf out of Teenage Fanclubs notebook. The Scottish favourites played a set of fragile yet engaging rock, with older songs taking place alongside new material such as “Fallen Leaves”.

Teenage Fanclub manage to get a bit more out of the crowd, but despite having worked with Pixies frontman Frank Black in the past, they don’t seem the right band for the support slot.

Trust Idlewild then, to save the day. Opening with “Little Discourage” and “You Held The World In Your Arms”, their unique brand of grunge-tinged rock managed to get a good reaction.

A set full of great songs proved to be a hit, and despite a surprising omission of “American English”, singles such as “Love Steals Us From Lonliness”, “Live In A Hiding Place”, “I Understand It” and closing trio “When I Argue I See Shapes”, “El Capitan” and “A Film For The Future”, they prove to be a great warm up to the main event.

It’s incredible that after such a good support slot, that Pixies can blow every other band on the bill into oblivion. Having regrown some of his hair and wearing a suit, Frank Black and the band launch straight into an incredible opening quartet of “Bone Machine”, “Stormy Weather”, Jesus & Mary Chain cover “Head On” and “U-Mass”.

The crowd is unbelievable for the influential 80’s punk band, singing along to every word, and “Monkey Gone To Heaven” is the first sing-a-long of the day.

Pixies are incredibly animated for the gig, and give a good amount of banter. Where their T in the Park gig last year was slightly stand-offish, the band seem relaxed and as if they are enjoying themselves.

Rarer number such as Neil Young cover “Winterlong”, “Blown Away”, “Into the White” and “Ed is Dead” get a look-in tonight, but the surprise smash of the night is not “Debaser”, “Where Is My Mind” or even “Gouge Away”, but the deliberately cheesy “La La Love You”, which Frank Black dedicates to “all the lovely ladies”.

Closing with Vamos, Where Is My Mind, and an encore of Gigantic, this band may have been arguably the best reformed band last year, now have an argument that they are the best band around today period. It’s a bold claim, but in the basis of tonight, not all that far-fetched.

review by Matthew Shaw

Latest Updates