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 Siren Song
Just Good Friends
Tenderness
Gone Ahead
The Unconscious Life
The Comet, The Course, The Tail
If I Could (broke a string)
Time Heals (while Stuart went of to change the string)
Sign
Been Alone So Long
Here Come The Talkies
A Way Out
Still Life
Modern (encore)
Thanks to SG for the setlist!
Hammill Yahoo! Group review
Well apologies to all, I didn`t make the chat, if there was one. I had
met up with 4 Australian fans (great bunch of guys), along with Charles and
we had a bit of a Commonwealth at a Canadian bar after the gig. Yes the gig,
well there was one. After yesterdays news, you tend to not take anything for
granted. I was personally expecting a subdued performance due to fatigue but
we were in for a very energetic and exhilarating concert with just the right
amount of unpredictability. As he appeared onstage, there was an added cheer
for his birthday, but he quickly got down to business. He started with:
Siren Song
Just Good Friends
A great opener, kept it fresh as ever. He decided tonight to make an effort
and announce the song titles.. breaking with tradition. Afterwards he took
out his crib notes, and mentioned now he`s in for a hairy time with these
next few.
Tenderness
Gone Ahead
The Unconscious Life
During Tenderness, he basically read from his notes.. `unrehearsed` I
suppose. Gone Ahead, was very good and stronger than at the QEH, as were
almost all the songs repeated here in Japan. Obviously Stuart adds to the
performance with this full sound and smoothing out Hammill`s ragged edge.
The Unconscious Life was great, being one of my numerous favourites.. it was
a pleasure. He was also less reliant on the notes for that one. Off to the
guitar.
The Comet, The Course, The Tail
If I Could
Sitting, he said something about the hard part being over and now for the
easy part of the set.. right! I`m under the impression Stuart had some new
added effect in his electronic box of wizardry. During the Comet, he pluck
along to Peter`s guitar, pum pum pum-pum... with a great echo/reverb, it
really shone new light on an old song. Peter stretched himself less for the
ending of the Comet, but still great. He started with what seemed like Once
You Called Me and quickly stopped to confer with Stuart...`if we`re going to
play the other one, we can`t play this one.` So he went into If I Could, and
got punished for it. His A string broke. He sent off Stuart to do the dirty
work and also to bring back some water... Stuart the waterboy! So Peter got
up and went to the piano.
Time Heals
I was pleased. He started magnificently, but along the way had trouble with
the lines, but I doubt many noticed. The further he got into the song the
more erratic his playing, but managed to get through it. After he mentioned
that for the longest time, that song was on his setlist with the words
string break beside it. Stuart returned with guitar and water in hand.
Strapping on the guitar, Peter told us he`d give Stuart some room.
Sign
Been Alone So Long
Yes again with Stuart`s playing... he wad a great milky wah-wah sound to
Sign and really carried the song, just great. Been Alone So Long was more
difficult. It seemed to me Peter had trouble remembering some of the chord
changes, and looked to be searching, so he faded a bit and Stuart stepped
in. `Been alone so long I`ve forgotten...` I was half expecting `how to
play` but it didn`t happen. Back to the piano and his notes.
Here Come The Talkies
A Way Out
Still Life
Great to hear something from What, now? Not very much rehearsed but still
very good. A Way Out, brave to play that on his birthday, if it`s really
about what we think it is about. And he said for this last one, if he screws
this one up.... indicating he should know this one by now, Still Life. The
japanese politely clapped in unison for the encore... when Peter emerged
everyone sang Happy Birthday and was greeted with flowers and a few gifts
from fans. He looked genuinely pleased and sat down by the guitar.
Modern
As I saw him unplug his line from the tuner to a footpedal, I knew he`d be
playing Modern. He requested more guitar, more guitar, more guitar before
starting.Enjoyable version, and all out for the end. You could tell by the
intensity of `under waterrrrrrrrr` that was the last one of the night.
Before the concert, during and after I noticed about 4-5 different cameras
all around the stage... DVD I thought but quickly canned the idea because
I`ve heard so many stories about shows being filmed to only later disappear
into Peter`s collection. However fans who didn`t make it tonight, might be
able to see the concert as a webcast through the Reel & True website at a
later date. Loitering in the hall afterwards off and Peter did emerge to say
hi. He was in great spirits. 2 2 GO!
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