The Bluetones, London Forum 6 March 2002 I was already having a fantastic day before The Bluetones concert, but frankly, I could've had the worst day ever and this would've brought it up among the best. This is time number 8, I think, and yet another top performance. Blank Space were the first opener. Their first song was awful, with horrible screeching vocals and muddy guitars, and I thought that I was going to hate them, but they calmed down and settled into a more gentle sound, with falsetto vocals and swimming guitars. It was definitely preferable to the first sound, but was still nothing earth-shattering. I was apt to give them a bit more credit after the singer announced that it was their "debut gig", which could easily explain the room for growth there. Easyworld came on next (with their legions of fans!), and were everything I'd hoped from hearing their EP. The songs were a bit harder than on the cd, but the band was just having so much fun that it really seemed right. The singer was a complete ham - draping himself over the monitors, shaking his arse, and opening his shirt for the ladies! I was particularly impressed with their performance of "Junkies and Whores" since it meant that the singer switched back and forth (within the song) between his guitar and a mandolin, and the drummer switched between the kit and the harmonium (err, the little keyboard thing you blow into, anyway). I was hoping to hear "Better Ways to Self Destruct", but this was the only disappointing factor of their entire set, which was: U Make Me Wanna Drink Bleach A Stain to Never Fade Try Not to Think [the new single, out 11 March] Junkies and Whores Demons Hundredweight U and Me Overall, they were right up there with The Webb Brothers for the best Bluetones opener ever. And so I come to the 'Tones portion of the eveningŠ What can I say - they make me uncontrollably and blissfully happy whenever I see them play! They were dressed in their charity shop suits, as per usual with very shaggy hair (Eds has regrown his 'fro!), and a new keyboardist, Paul. The stage setup was very rock star, with criss-crossing lighting rigs but very minimal visuals otherwise. I was situated just left of centre, second row of people behind the barrier, and right behind two older ladies that Mark seemed to know. So on top of having a perfect view, Mark was definitely concentrating signing to our area because of the women in front of me. He was in TOP form last night, dancing in every possible spare second. I think we got about five concertsı worth of shimmying on one! From seeing them so much, Iıve come to realise that this is a fairly accurate gauge as to whether the guys are really enjoying themselves or just going through the motionsŠ The setlist was great, if not mostly predictable -- every A-side except "Cut Some Rug", two album tracks ("The Last of the Great Navigators" and "Carnt Be Trusted"), three new songs, and a new cover. Of the new songs, "Freeze Dried Pop" I'd heard before, and while itıs fun and has a good anti-mindless pop message, I think itıs a bit simplistic and couldıve benefited from being shelved and rediscovered in a year or two. "Persuasion" was new to me, and was absolutely amazing - quite possibly one of their best songs ever. I absolutely adored it, and Iım craving a copy of it to listen to now. "After Hours" was also new to me (despite being released in two weeks!), and is also a great one - very clever lyrics without falling into a novelty song category aıla "Autophilia". It's going to be THE drunken song to my birthday celebrations since it comes out on the same day and itıs all about drinking bottles you canıt read the labels of anymore, pulling down the shades to avoid "inviting the law", and dancing on the table singing at the top of your lungs ­ even the Germans couldn't invent a better drinking song! They also played a brand new cover of a Barbara Streisand song, which seemed like it was written especially for the Bluetones, despite the fact that Mark was singing "I'm a woman in love" (he's apparently very secure in his manhood!). The highlight for me, however, was "Marblehead Johnson". I was absolutely floored when I heard the opening notes! As many times as Iıve seen them, I've NEVER heard it live, despite it being one of their bigger singles. They had to have rehearsed it loads, though, because Adam made his part look dead easy, when itıs actually one of the most jaw-droppingly difficult guitar lines out there. After the encore, the band looked really disappointed to leave, and Mark commented that they'd play more if only they'd rehearsed more songs! A few bows, and then they were goneŠ I stuck by the front and with some hard work, frantic hand signalling, and the good grace of a roadie, I actually got a setlist. Thinking on this, I'm pretty sure itıs only the second setlist I've ever gotten from any London shows - I always find them impossible to get in London due to the high demand of audience members who want them (let alone know what they are!). So, the setlist: Solomon Bites the Worm Zorrro (Long intro) Carnt Be Trusted The Last of the Great Navigators 4 Day Weekend Sleazy Bed Track Marblehead Johnson Freeze Dried Pop ! [new one] Keep the Homefires Burning Mudslide Persuasion [new one] Bluetonic A Woman in Love [new Streisand cover] Slight Return Autophilia ----- Are You Blue or Are You Blind? After Hours [new one] IfŠ One of my favourite things about Bluetones shows is the sing-along nature of all the songs. Mark's really superfluous in all the released songs in a crowd where everyone is shouting along to every lyric ­ it's just a nice feeling to be in a crowd of a thousand where everyone knows the words to "Are You Blue or Are You Blind". (PS: release dates were changed ­ the "After Hours" single is now out March 25, and "The Singles" album, with bonus b-sides cd, is out April 8) melissa, still riding a high