Errr mah gawd. It's nearly time.

Who else is travelling from Castleton (Manchester) to Castleton (Derbyshire)?

Just me I bet

I'll be there. If you see a tall blond man in a Venini T-shirt, come and say hi!

Just leaving Hathersage.now. Awful traffic all over way here esp M5/M42. I have my cool vintage brown suede coat. Hope to spot you there. 

Finally some phone signal! 

He looked so happy - thats my strongest feeling. He belongs on a stage. Theres a lot of energy in many of the new songs (and the old ones),  but also a variation that you dont get with a lot of bands. I never saw any of the previous solo tours, so I can really see now what someone said (I think it was Eamonn) about the album recordings not capturing the same dynamism, but maybe thats just the power of any live music). He got a bit pissy with a couple of people waving phones around, which is all part of the urge to maximise that live experience. My husband even got sent back to the car as his small camera looked too professional for the security man, and he wasnt the only one. I think someone down the front who got a Malteser must actually have asked for a picture! He said summat about trying to play a concert, so thats my inference. I found a nice rock to stand on in front of the fence near the person that caught the satsuma at long off, so excellent view. The cave is lovely too. So from an experience point of view, definitely turned up to 11.

He was well into the whole cave/ caveman (and woman) metaphor, especially in Must I Evolve. Sometimes I Am Pharoah has huge energy and grabs you instantly as an opener. Its about them living statues you get in touristy places apparently, which at one level feels very mundane in comparison with the song, but its one of those ramblings of the imagination. 

I think were being chucked out of our room now, I might have to save anything else for later. I looked for a Venini t-shirt, but no luck. 

Thoroughly enjoyed myself last night.

 

I love how Jarvis now just uses his live performances to engage on topics that interest him, a bit like an extension of his radio show. It was an evening of science, history, literary inquiry, philosophy and comedy. I suppose Jarvis has always done that but he seems more comfortable now in the role of snarky professor and less concerned with coming across the hip popstar. 

 

Of the new songs i was most impressed with "Must I Evolve", which I reckon was the highlight of the evening. The first two songs he played, "Sometimes I think I am a Pharoah" and "Elvis has Left the Building" didn't work for me but then Jarv's vocals were quite low in the mix for those songs and I couldn't make out the lyrics. They might well be great songs but they just sounded a bit soupy last night. 

 

I thought he had another song or two in him but the audience weren't feeling a second encore. The room seemed more full of curiosity-seekers more than dedicated fans, which surprised me considering how fast these unpromoted shows sold out. How did these people get tickets before me? I know we are all getting a bit long in the tooth, but are there really that many OAPs leaning-in on Jarv's twitter page? 

 

For the record- if Jarvis asked me what makes me frightened, my answer would be "BABIES".

 

Brilliant.

I am pharaoh and must I evolve my favourites of the new ones but enjoyed all of them.

So what did you think Sturdy?

Eamonn wrote:

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So what did you think Sturdy?

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Same as everyone else! It was great. 

Sorry for being lazy. Will try and post some proper thoughts later. 

And the tin foil backdrop, I nearly forgot that. I was contemplating chainsaws as my fear, but far too far away for that to be relevant. I've always loved His 'n' Hers, beats me why it wasn't on its own album.

We really enjoyed the support act too as synth obsessives, well in the ancient electronic Sheffield tradition. 

I usually need to hear songs a few times before they get into me, so they'll obviously have to record them all so I can do that.

Oh, and the international teachers of pop were bloody magic too..

weed wrote:

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Just arrived home. Well worth the 5 hour round trip! The new songs are brilliant and Jarvis was really rather funny. The 2 answers to to the "What are you frightened of?" got top comedy responses. Was a really nice respectful crowd and I was suprised being a fair way from the front I actually got a Malteaser!

Now I see previous posts, I think I was stood right behind Sturdy (if by 'tall' ...you mean dead tall - about 6'5")

For those who were after recordings, I have attempted a bootleg. I'll let you know how that pans out. I didn't take any photographs though. I promise.


Update - I have just ran my recording through Cubase and mixed them a bit and it sounds pretty ok! Where do you lads and lasses think would be the best place to share them?

-- Edited by weed on Sunday 8th of April 2018 02:46:15 AM

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 Ohh thank you so much for recording sir. Cant wait to hear the new songs.

Anyway! Here's the bootleg. I have edited out a little bit where Jarvis was talking before Further Complications as I needed to do a wee wee - and nobody wants to hear that, do they?! (maybe on another website).

  Feel free to repost and share. Say "Thanks" if you find the time.

Modern ways of sharing didn't seem to work so I have We Transfered it to the BarIalia2007 email like the good old days
BarIalia2007
jarvis2007

-- Edited by weed on Sunday 8th of April 2018 10:02:34 PM

-- Edited by weed on Monday 9th of April 2018 02:00:56 AM

Eamonn wrote:

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Excellent work, look forward to listening to it. Thanks!
By the way, what's it like to wee-wee in a cave?

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 Ask yer mam.

Thanks so much, Weed. That's brilliant.

Jason wrote:

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I still haven't a clue how to get into these bar italia accounts.
Please can someone just give me an idiot guide?
I promise I'll give you a present in return, probably via dropbox.
Isn't that easier these days?
Cheeers if poss.

---

You go to yahoo.com, sign in with the details weed gave us and go to Mail. There's an email there from WeTransfer.

When signing in from a device it yahoo doesn't recognise being associated with the account, it might ask you the secret questions. If so, maybe I should send them by PM, I don't know how furtive we are supposed to be with the details??

Great recording weed, thanks a lot.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I have been busy this week so not had chance to listen in full but I'm enjoying the new songs so far.

Listening to this before I head to work for Term 2.... wonderful stuff!!!

The recording that was put in the Yahoo account, what date and venue was this? Thank you for uploading and recording!!!!! Its fantastic.

Really enjoying the recording Weed.
I did attempt to record the shows myself.
Unfortunately, they are a distorted mess, my valve phone couldn't handle that bass and drums.
Anyways, the little toilet break you had between Elvis and complications is listenable on my recording.
Someone might want to patch it in.
I'll send it to you if.
there is any interest.

Hi dlgladwin, and anyone else - I think weed's link expired after a week, I've put his wetransfer zip file in this folder in my Dropbox here (it's still syncing, says it will take 17 minutes from now): 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xljz2hjdyr5zbqy/AAADlQLfuAzURQrE2NhuuAaka?dl=0

There's a few photos I scavenged from t'internet in there as well if you want to pick one to make some cover art.

Indeed it is the matesers bit.
If you're comfortable with giving me your address Weed, I'll stick it on a disc along with some other goodies.