Medicines Sans Frontieres Benefit gig - Night 2 of 2
Performing the entire Beatles White Album
'Heavy Friends' included:
Kimberley Rew
Paul Noble
David Moritzi
Morris Windsor
Callina
Adam Buxton
Romeo Stoddart
Ed Harcourt

There was a whole lot of 'smelling' going on on Sunday night. Jesus it was FECKING hot! Being in a residential area, they had windows and doors closed and it was close to the hottest weekend of the year so far. I was reduced to rubbing ice cubes all over me head to try and call down. Even copious pints of 'Wife beater' couldn't cool me down. Great evening though, despite the heat. Robyn's guitar gave out halfway through 'side 2' so he had to wing it a bit. He didn't look at all comfortable without a guitar to hide behind. They had a break after side 2, or an 'oxygen break' as Robyn described it. The heat reminded me of the good old days of 1977 down the front of a Generation X gig at the Marquee or something. HOT!!! Can't say I noticed anyone recording it though....

ashratemple


Hello, fans!

You may remember me as a lost soul who was looking for a ticket to Robyn's White Album gig a few weeks ago. Well, I've just returned to NY from London and I'm happy to report that I GOT IN, BABY--and I had the time of my life! I showed up at the 3 Kings Pub early on Sunday, Aug. 8, where I met another fan, Ian, from north London. Neither of us had a ticket, but stuck it out until the landlord of the pub produced a couple of spares for us and a nice American couple who came all the way from California without tickets.

I know that "ashratemple" already described the "pungent" atmosphere that night, but I've got lots more details for those interested in such things. First of all, it's true: it was about 100 degrees in that (very small) pub, and there was a crowd of around 80 people. Before the show, Robyn looked out on those of us waiting in the street from a window above the pub, and called out to people he knew in the crowd. I heard him warm up with Roxy Music's "More Than This" and the Beatles' "Julia," and I was already excited. We were given tickets that were embossed with "WA", and were given white badges to wear.

Inside, there were no chairs, and as there was no stage either we all stood around the corner where the band had set up. The room was decorated with large posters of the individual Beatles, and their lyrics appeared in frames on the walls. Robyn came out about 8:30 dressed in kelly green pants and a black & white polka-dot shirt. He looked great, and very happy. He announced, "Hi, we're the White Album." Accompanying him were Morris Windsor, Andy Metcalfe, [ed: actually Paul Noble] Kimberley Rew, and some young guy (whose name I didn't get) on keyboards. Before the performance, writer Michel Faber and some other woman said a few words about Medicines sans Frontiers.

When they launched into "Back in the USSR," I couldn't get over the huge sound and how faithful it was to the Beatles' original. Throughout the show, they really tried to do the songs as they were originally recorded, and this included guitar solos, drumming, and all the other incidental sounds that appear on the album. Somehow the keyboardist was able to recreate the familiar sounds of planes landing (USSR), birds (Blackbird), and all piano and organ parts. Robyn remarked that it took the keyboardist 2 hours to do the things that originally took the Beatles 400 hours to do when they originally recorded.

Robyn presented the songs as a kind of "dialogue" among the Beatles. Where John rocked with "Yer Blues," Paul responded with something sweet like "Mother Nature's Son," and then George "replied" with "Savoy Truffle." It was very clever. A female fiddler was brought out for "Don't Pass Me By," and a comedian named Adam Buxton did "Why Don't We Do It in the Road" as a funny rap karaoke piece. "Julia" was done by a sweet, young, nervous performer with a band whose name I didn't hear. He flubbed the words a
little bit, but Robyn and the rest of the crowd helped him out.

After a break of about 10 minutes and some much-needed air, the band came back and did Side 3. The whole place was jumping with the song "Birthday." Later on, Kimberley Rew even yelled out "I got blisters on my fingers.." after "Helter Skelter." And then--"Revolution 9." Everyone was so curious to see how they'd do it. A laptop was set up to count out the 8:15 seconds of the song, and with the landlord of the pub reciting "Number 9" over and over again, they somehow matched the cacophony of the Beatles' original. It was excruciatingly loud. Andy Metcalfe [ed again: Paul Noble] took a small bullhorn and ran it up and down the strings of his guitar. On top of all the sound, Robyn took the opportunity to lambaste George Bush, and spewed out a string of curses in disgust of the U.S.'s policies. It was very effective, and a little scary.

After the show, an auction was held for Medicines sans Frontiers. T-shirts, cd's, artwork from Peter Blake, and even spangly platform shoes autographed on the bottom by the band were sold. The hottest items were 2 identical CDs recorded at the previous night's show. We were told that these were unique, although Robyn's wife joked that they'd be for sale at London's Camden Market the next day. I'd like to believe that they also recorded that evening's performance. I would certainly buy it, especially as it would be for
charity, but we'll see what develops.

Ciao,
Mary

A wonderful account, Mary. I couldn't have put it better but I can add a few things...

> Inside, there were no chairs, and as there was no stage either we all stood around the corner where the band had set up. The room was decorated with large posters of the individual Beatles, and their lyrics appeared in frames on the walls. Robyn came out about 8:30 dressed in kelly green pants and a black & white polka-dot shirt.

Which he changed for one with smaller polka dots for the second set, fashion fans!

> He looked great, and very happy. He announced, "Hi, we're the White Album." Accompanying him were Morris Windsor, Andy Metcalfe, Kimberley Rew, and some young guy (whose name I didn't get) on keyboards.

It was Paul Noble on bass, not Andy, and the keyboard player was Darren Morris

> A female fiddler was brought out for "Don't Pass Me By,"

Kalina? Sung by Morris a la Ringo.

> "Julia" was done by a sweet, young, nervous performer with a band whose name I didn't hear. He flubbed the words a little bit, but Robyn and the rest of the crowd helped
> him out.

Robyn introduced him as Romeo from a new band call the Magic ...I didn't catch the second bit!

> I'd like to believe that they also recorded that evening's performance. I would certainly buy it, especially as it would be for charity, but we'll see what develops.

If they do, it may well be the Saturday show because Robyn's guitar cut out during "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (prompting him to comment "While My Guitar Gently Dies") and wasn't fixed until they came back for side 3. Robyn looked a little uncomfortable without his guitar but it could have just been the heat!

Kimberley sang a lovely "Blackbird" and was stunning playing the Clapton licks on "While My Guitar". Robyn was much more at home with the John and George songs than the Paul ones on which he didn't seem to be able to get the right key and compensated by hamming them up a bit. "Yer Blues" was stunning and "Long Long Long" was a revelation
to me - it's always sounded a bit flat on the White Album but was absolutely beautiful in the hands of RH and co. The only bit I didn't like was Adam Buxton's rap version of "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" - Robyn is a far superior comedian! But all in all, one of the best gigs I've ever been to - I'm hoping the next one is "Piper at the Gates of Clerkenwell"!!!

Tulloch