The Old Neptune, Whitstable
The Old Neptune, Whitstable, 15th April 2005:
Two live debuts with two new drummers with two different bands in the same week is probably asking for trouble, but somehow we managed to pull it off. With Das Zumas reborn as a power trio earlier in the week, this was the turn of the new-look Reaction. Our little gigging hiatus has been well documented (by us, anyway!) and for a while The Psychotic Reaction’s future was looking distinctly tenuous. However, Gav’s back, Luke’s in, and the licensing laws seem to have inadvertently enabled us to play as a trio in our local without fear of interruption!
So, as you may know, we basically have two sets: there is the no-holds barred original-material, free-form jamming and oddball cover versions set that I view as our “proper” one, and then the longer “compromise” set that we play when we are playing pubs; this latter option being essentially for the money (to help fund our less profitable, shall we say, art installations). This involves a fair smattering of covers, but needless to say we avoid the standard pub/cabaret fair (”Brown Eyed Girl”, “Money For Nothing”, “Wonderwall”, “Yellow”… I can’t go on, but you know the score!) and plump for well known, but non-cheesy “quality” covers. As a duo, this has been modestly successful, but obviously as a band it’s a lot better musically and financially. In fact, for this gig, we ended up playing more originals than I would have thought we could get away with. Most local bands (with some honourable exceptions) don’t seem to be able to do this. Either “original” bands don’t play pub sets at all (I wouldn’t either if I could afford it, plus it severely limits the already limited number of places to play in), or have different bands for different gigs. The bands that do play covers and pub gigs often don’t have original material that is good enough. Some of course, don’t even try and make no bones about it.
The first set was a little troubled, but nobody seemed to notice or mind (much). I somehow managed to forget which verse I was on during “Cocoon” (I’ve never done that before), Luke’s sticks disintegrated in the middle of “Fire” and Gav’s bass did an impromptu drop-D re-tuning during “The Model”. However, set two went rather swimmingly. My brother’s loaned DD-3 during Bass VI enabled me to re-create the sonic cathederals of the album version with ease. Also Paul The Other One’s PA was a life-saver. I almost sounded like A Singer. There was an enthusiastic response, not just from our dedicated hardcore following either, but from complete strangers, even a DFL (pause to take that in)! We even got paid. We’re back in business!
First Set:
- High Noon (DJ Shadow)
- Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
- Cocoon (Williams)
- ES-40 (Williams)
- Fire (Hendrix)
- The Model (Kraftwerk)
- Force of Nature (Williams)
- Louie Louie (Richard Berry)
- Teenage Kicks (Undertones)
Second Set:
- Last Train (Williams)
- Put Your Weight On Me (Williams)
- In Your Head (Williams/Croft)
- Magnificent Seven/ Kinky Afro (The Clash/Happy Mondays)
- The New Victor (Dick Dale)
- It’s A Small Town (Williams)
- What’s Under The Stairs? (Williams)
- Bass VI (Williams)
Quotes:
A Punter: You’ve chilled out! You’ve stopped climbing furniture!
(This is a temporary anomaly, ladies and gentlemen!)