RAH but a tour of London first
Not Gorilla
Tescos Finest Pork and Stilton sausage sandwiches, two cups of coffee and
we're ready to go.
brisk walk to the train station and then it's off to Waterloo aboard one of
South West Trains luxury carriages.
Arrive in Lonon about 12:15 and have a walk along the South Bank to the Tate
Modern. Couple of voluntary donations later and we were in. Very
impressive building, some good has come of Lottery money at last. Started
at the top (Nude section) and worked our way down. Have to watch my step as
Kate has an art degree and I'm of the "I don't know much about about art but
I know what I like" school. Luddite that I am I was glad to see that they
had several of my "favourite" works. You know the ones, canvas completely
covered in one colour "Ooh, it says so much about the artists feelings. You
can really see the emotion in it". Then on to a couple of Jackson Pollocks.
Cockney rhyming slang I reckon. Back to the Nude section
Off to the Cafe and decide to invest in a couple of works of art Soggy
Chicken Club sandwiches by Macdonalds reject staff all for the princely sum
of Ł3.50 each. Wander back up to the Nude section..
Woman on toilet was nice work and very lifelike too was a small gallery
section though. Thud. Art hurts. Never mind, one last look around the
Nude section before we go to the shop.
Off outside for a sit in the sunshine. Time to test the stresses of the
Millennium Bridge. One large jump and see standing wave start to ripple
towards the St Pauls end of bridge. Whiplash effect dumps Australian
tourist in the thames, huzzah. Job done.
Quick wander around St Pauls and then on to the Underground to Piccadily
Circus. Train breakdown at Hounslow causes problems for our train so get
off at Green park and walk towards Piccadily Circus.
Little did I know it but mistake of the day is just around the corner. As
we were wander along Piccadily, Kate (born in London) pipes up "lets have a
look in here". Like the innocent lamb to the slaughter I am, I tag along
into the Burlington Arcade.
Yeah, yeah I know NOW.
The magnetic effect of expensive jeweller (or jeweler for our across the
pond bretheren) and woman of expensive tastes comes into force and I am
whisked at mach 2 towards the window of Michael Rose the jeweller. "Ooh
aren't these nice", "yes dear, must move on or we'll be late". Shit, what am
I doing here. With only marginly less effort than it takes to get the duvet
off of Kate and with both feet on the window and my hands clasped firmy over
her eyes we lurch limpet like from window to window up the whole length of
the arcade pausing marginally at the Ł12.5K cutlery set before emerging out
by the Royal Academy.
Decide to go to Tower records to buy a G DVD. Unfortunately none in stock
so wander off to Leicester Square. Got mugged for 25 quid mind you the
friendly mugger did offer two kebabs and four beers in return. So, off to
South Kensington.
Arrive at the RAH about 6:30 and have a quick chat with Andy Hyam from
ReGenesis who along with some of the other members were handing out flyers
for the upcoming gigs. Remember pop-pickers if you are off to the Half Moon
in Putney; book early.
So having divested ourselves of 6 quid in exchange for two cans of Carling
pish water we have a wander around the venue. Nice Piccy of G at the
Princes Trust in 1992. Onwards and upwards to our box.
Settle in nicely, hmm just us here...too good to last I'm sure. 20 minutes
later two more peeps arrive a Canadian chap and his girlfriend. Familiar
face appears in the box next door. One of Kates' managers. Hmm must be on
best behaviour now. Three more people arrive, two chaps and a small
boy..can it be? No he was too young to be PC. That leaves one seat in the
box free. I knew it PC was on his way.
Some noise from below and all goes dark. Bit of noise from a chap with a
guitar and his sandal wearing friend with a violin. Get on with it, get TMB
(if you've stayed with me this far you'll know the feeling.) ;-) on.
Lights up and time for a chat with the people in the box and the box next
door (still one seat left old PC is leaving it a bit late).
Lights dim lots more noise and 4 figures in white take to the stage.
Huzzah.
Very tall mooselike creature appears. No wait, they're not moose antlers,
they're f*cking bats wings. Wey hey we're off its WOTS.
Absoulutely astounding Peter Gabriel has lost all that weight got his hair
back (apart from the centre bit of course) and it's the early seventies.
I don't know who the other guys are on stage (bifocal they are superb
musicians though) but
Gabriel is fantastic he hasn't forgotten any of his words and all his
mannerisms are just like Denis Gagné. Uncanny.
One swift gulp of helium and Peter starts his Brittania monologue. 0.5
seconds later and we are into DWTMK. 20 minutes later the door of the box
opens and cue entry of ..................
small bald fellow........it's.............it's..............some old duffer
who can't rmember the time he was supposed to be here. No, no it's not PC.
But poor confused geriatric he spent most of the time looking in the
opposite direction to the stage.
This is just awesome. I am completely stunned. Not into silence. Just
stuuned. very very pleasantly. I can't remember the whole setlist or the
running order but it included
WOTS
DWTMK
Horizons
Firth of Fith
The Battle of Epping Forest
The Cinema Show
I Know What I Like
Suppers Ready
Peter Gabriel and his brilliant Genesis soundalike band leave the stage to
thunderous rapturous applause. Hold on a minute it's not Gabriel after all.
It's Denis Gagné.
These guys played all of it brilliantly. They are the ulimate tribute to
early Genesis. Criticisms, petty? Yes, but you can hear the Franglais when
Denis is singing (if you want to be a purist). Denis' mike could have been
a bit louder. TBoEF has never been a favourite of mine so that was a few
minutes of drumming fingers for me. Although I did enjoy the theatrics of
TBoEF.
Encore number one featured the Knife (what else). More rapturous applause
and time for the second encore. We hope.
Huzzah they are back "and I would like to introduce our very special guest
.........................................Mr Steve 'Ackett"
The RAH goes wild, the stench of ruptured incontence pads is so overpowering
that it puts Mr H off his stroke during the solo of FoF. Just a little bit.
A thumbs up from Mr H to Denis Champoux and the seal of approval is done.
One more time. Absoulutely fantastic. Theatrical performance? No doubt.
Brilliantly played? No doubt. Would I see them again? No doubt.
Thank you The Musical Box
Mad dash for the tube and train. Got back to Wokingham about 00:45. No
f*cking taxis so 40 minute walk home. Nice Gin and tonic quick post to the
NG and the rest is censored.
NoT GorillA
--
Bomb disposal expert: If you see me running, try and keep up.
James Davies
We've all been posting about how good it was and we're all so serious
You've backed it up but with some humour.
James
"Not Gorilla" <FOAD-s...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1JrK8.39361$wd3.5...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...
NoT GorillA
--
NoT GorillA
Bomb disposal expert: If you see me running, try and keep up.
"James Davies" <Jamesdavie...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:addt68$v94$1...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
Jon eh!
ages......Uncle Slubsy will be proud of you.....perhaps you can borrow his
crown <g>
Right on!
Lamblies~
"Not Gorilla" <FOAD-s...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1JrK8.39361$wd3.5...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...
NoT GorillA
--
NoT GorillA
Bomb disposal expert: If you see me running, try and keep up.
"Jon eh!" <jdpow...@georgian.net> wrote in message
news:QpdL8.11078$QZ3.1...@news20.bellglobal.com...