Last night, I finally got my chance to once again immerse myself into the music of the Wild Swans. The venue from the outside just around the corner from QPR’s ground looked anything but imaginative. The saying things look better on the inside was so true, this hall surely dated from Victorian times with chandeliers and crazy mirror bedecked around the room.
The support tonight were three women in the name of Steeling Sheep which reminded me of Cocteau Twins meets Hearthrobs, well worth googling them might I add.
Finally Paul and the lads appeared on the stage to what looked an almost full room, with an international sprinkling of Philippine fans along with ‘the press’ to boot. Straight into the opening song of the new album ‘Falling To Bits’ as if it was call to arms of the audience. Sadly Steve Beswick (who attended tonight’s show) was too ill to play on the tour but his shoes were filled admirably by Stuart at short notice. The new tracks stood up well to the older material like ‘God Forbid’ and a rocking ‘Tangerine Temple’, full marks to Mr Mooney’s guitar playing on that. ‘English Electric’
seemed even better live with the rhythm section pounding a tireless beat conducted by Les’ bass. Have to say the new track ‘Bluebell Wood’
was stunning, with great input by Richard Turvey there.
Song checks included ‘Bringing Home The Ashes’, ‘Archangels’ and of course no show would be complete without the legendary ‘Revolutionary Spirit’.
You can’t not mention Ricky on guitar and table (he takes it everywhere), the guy was still buzzing around the room an hour after the show. In all it was worth trudging down the smoke to see a night of wonders. Sadly all things come to an end and Marie, my fiancée and I slipped back into the rain strewn roads of West London before heading back up north.
Stevo
I’m a (very) recent convert to the Wild Swans – I’d never heard of them before last month and the “Bringing home the ashes” CD only arrived on Friday. So I went to the gig with no great knowledge of their material.
Which didn’t matter; I was blown away by the band’s performance and songs. So much better live and in the ornate and intimate surroundings of Bush Hall. Proper songs played with love and enjoyment.
Thank you Wild Swans, it was a special night that I will remember for a long time.
Nice one guys. I travelled up from Darlington for the Glasgow gig to see the show with my mates and found it all too much. Talked with the band before and after the show and they were blown away by the reception they got. In the top 5 gigs, ever category. I posted the review which should lay it out for you. Laters.
I fell in love with The Wild Swans when I was 16 ,listening to them on John Peels radio show. In the short time they were around they managed to produce two of by all time favorite tracks, Revolutionary Spirit and No Bleeding. They have however remained an enigma to me. It was has hard to find any information about the band , as it was to track down their records.
Anyway,a few weeks back , during an idol moment, I tapped in ‘The Wild Swans’ into google,just to see if anyone else cared, I found myself here to discover, not only had the band reformed, they were playing a few miles from me, tickets were mine in an instant
We entered Bush Hall with excitement and some interpretation, would they still be good after 30 years?
Answer- They were mighty, loud and glorious, they tore the house down. The new stuff blended in with classics, seamlessly.
Highlight had to be Paul belting out No Bleeding , mesmerizing .
A great gig, everything I had hoped for and more.
cheers, Adrian
I was there! Such a great concerto from this marvellous band!
For those who have not spotted my error above; read ‘In Secret’ for ‘Underwater’.
John H
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