The Psychøtic Reactiøn

Star and Garter, Manchester, 14th July 2002:

Yes, our first gig outside the South-East (cue portentous drum roll), with vast scope for mishap, but (BUT!) it was a great success (no, really). My D-reg Polo got us there in one piece, despite some white-knuckle manoeuvres. Tim The Drummer was superb, despite never having played or heard half of the songs!

Originally, four bands were intended to play, but one pulled out, which was probably a good thing as time was at a premium. First band, funk-rock outfit Spanglefish, were beset with bad luck (I know how they feel) but turned in a good performance, nonetheless.

I was finally able to use my Laney amp and 4×12 together (oh, the joys of car ownership) and Gav was able to unleash scary sub-bass noises via one of our secret (well, almost) weapons. A respectable crowd had turned up (mostly to see Stealth Munchkin) and the atmosphere was good. I was amazed we were able to get in all the intended songs, and despite one or two troubles with FX levels and generally sweating like a pig I was dead chuffed. I got to beat my guitar to smithereens (again, but isn’t that what Kays are for?) and finally got to play “The Stupid Cunt Song” live, while Gav did some performance art with a VAT form. Crowd reaction was very favourable, or at least it sounded like it. I wasn’t wearing my glasses as they always fall off!

There followed a barn-storming set by the mighty Stealth Munchkin. The feel of many of their recordings reminds me of the third Velvet Underground album, but live they’re faster and noisier, more like White Light/White Heat! At the end we got together for an all-out group session (it’s obvious what I meant) of the Reaction’s “Last Train”, Stealth Munchkin’s “Hallelujah” and finally the greatest song in the history of mankind, “Louie Louie”. When the noise stopped we could hear the sound of people in the audience being excited! Special thanks to Gav’s granny for her superb cooking. Also thanks to Tim for his fantastic drumming, Lauren for organising the gig (it WAS worth all the effort!) and John for the loan of his excellent Trace Elliott bass amp.

Set list:

• Force of Nature (Williams)
• Fido, Your Leash Is To Long (The Magnetic Fields)
• What’s Under The Stairs? (Williams)
• Cocoon (Williams)
• Put Your Weight On Me (Williams)
• In Your Head (Williams/Croft)
• Medley: The Stupid Cunt Song/Buried Alive (Williams)

Choice quotes:

Soundman: “Oh, that was a Shergold!”