Between the City and the Deep Blue Sea

The Magic Band, The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, UK, 05/06/05

Looking at this Blog, I can’t believe how long I’ve not posted for. I have my excuses ready…no, really, there hasn’t been anything to post about. I could have kept telling you “rehearsal went well today” over and over again, or “went out flyering tonight” about 100 times. But that doesn’t make good reading.

Everything in the past couple of months has been focussed on Autons gig with The Magic Band on Sunday (05/06.). I am writing this a few days after the gig and I still can’t quite believe it happened!

As you may or may not know, The Magic Band originally played with Captain Beefheart from the 60’s to the early 80’s. There were various members over the years and the reformed Magic Band that tours now is made up of members from down the years. I believe only 2 of the current band actually played together in the original band, but on each song they play live at least one member of the current band was actually involved in the recording of that song. The band is united through their collective experience of dealing with the Captain himself, the retired Don Van Vliet.

Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band recorded the classic double album ‘Trout Mask Replica.’ They stretched the ‘guitar-bass-drums-vocal’ band format in ways no one before or since has managed to do. The music is bluesy, jazzy, atonal, and ‘alternative’ before the phrase was coined. Some songs start with the players each following a different time signature and then ‘meeting’, musically, later in the song. And over the top is the Captains barking vocal which follows it’s own rhythm while staying in time and in tune with the music.

The reformed Magic Band play instrumental versions of some Beefheart tracks, with original drummer John ‘Drumbo’ French playing drums. On other tracks, Drumbo carries off an uncannily accurate vocal performance. For these tracks Mike Traylor, a latter-era Magic Band drummer, plays drums.

The Magic Band is probably the one band in the world Autons all wanted to play with. We literally could not think of one artist currently touring that we would want to play with more. We had all bought tickets for the Pompey gig the day they went on sale. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that we realised, looking at both The Wedge listings and The Magic Band website, that they hadn’t confirmed a support act for the tour. So, we chanced it, and sent an email to the band asking if we could support them. They sent a really nice email back, and said they’d pass our details to their agent…

To be honest we kind of didn’t expect anything after that. But a week or so later we did indeed get the call offering us the support slot. And after a month of frenzied promotion the gig finally arrived.

We were due to load-in at 6pm but forgot and accidentally arrived an hour early meaning we would catch The Magic Band’s soundcheck…shame…unfortunately they were running late too and left us with a very little time before doors opening. Luckily Autons are very easy to set-up and the chance to see The Magic Band in action, and get a private airing of ‘Diddy Wah Diddy’, was more than adequate compensation.

It’s worth noting here how The Magic Band operate. Here are 5 guys in their late 40’s to late-50’s with a wealth of touring and recording experience between them. They were touring with just a road manager and merchandising guy/driver. They were loading all their own kit in and setting up on their own. We offered our help but they wouldn’t hear of it as we’d already loaded in and they couldn’t return the favour. Compared to how other ‘signed’ touring acts operate, their attitude was very refreshing.

All of the band were so friendly. Mark ‘Rockette Morton’ Boston (bass) was travelling with his wife and they enthused about having had the chance to visit Stone Henge. Gary ‘Mantis’ Lucas (guitar) filled us in on details of the other shows they’d played. And Denny ‘Feelers Reebo’ Whalley (guitar) chatted about guitars and even had a go on mine! The only complaint they had was not being able to find a music shop open on a Sunday. Typical England! Nevada or PJ Walkers take note!

Drumbo seemed a little pre-occupied when he arrived. He was perfectly polite but so focussed on setting up and soundchecking. He was meticulous in his attention to detail, picking out excess sibilence on the mic’s and a ‘ringing’ sound on the drum kit toms. It was a real pleasure watching a professional at work, the sort of thing you can learn from. Once they had finished soundchecking Drumbo came over and was interested in our set up, our lack of drummer, our use of electronics, our use of ‘amp modelling’ for the guitars. A real gent, all told.

We began soundchecking with about 5 minutes left until the doors opened. We started off with ‘Can Fever’ which samples the Beefheart track ‘Sure ‘Nuff ‘N Yes I Do.’ The Magic Band were having dinner at a table set up in The Wedgewood Rooms bar. As the sample from ‘Sure ‘Nuff…’ kicked in a few heads turned. They knew we were going to play the track but it was rewarding to see them show some interest.

The Magic Band explained that they usually go back to their hotel before a show to rest. However, Mike Traylor stuck around to see our set and chat to us (indeed, Tony Auton disappeared with him for about an hour before our set!) For the first time at a gig I actually stayed backstage until we were due to go on. David Auton did too, and this certainly helped me keep calm. I wasn’t actually feeling nervous, but had I gone out into the main room I think I would have started to.

We walked on to a version The Kinks ‘See My Friend’ by Pompey legend Renaldo (of Renaldo and the Loaf fame.) Autons have collaborated with Renaldo on this track and we recorded it the day before the gig, so it was great to hear a mix of it, albeit from backstage. Mike Traylor was listening with us and asked us to send him a copy. Our set is pretty much a blur. ‘See My Friend’ was still playing as we took our positions and the stage was completely dark. I can remember looking out at that point because the room was busy, and I took a mental snapshot. ‘Can Fever’ predictably got the best reaction – partly because the Uber-Auton’s in the crowd love it; partly coz of the ‘Sure ‘Nuff…’ sample which the rest of the crowd recognised. For me, it all felt good, but I was partcularly happy with ‘Lamplight.’ It just felt great; a good rhythm, and the people I could see on the barrier were into it.

We ended with the frantic ‘Limbo Dancer’ and I broke another guitar string…that’s 3 gigs in a row now. It’s 3 different strings too so I don’t think there’s a problem with the guitar: I’m just being too over-exuberant! Mike Traylor was there as we came off and was encouraging and complimentary. We were floating on air after that point. I needed a few beers to just calm down, but the adrnaline was too much. Indeed, I got stomach cramp which lasted until The Magic Band came on; a problem I’ve had in the past after gigs.

I’d like to say some thank you’s here. Firstly to The Magic Band for being so accommodating. Secondly to Ian Binnington for having the faith in Autons to live up to the challenge. Next to the Wedge crew, as ever, for treating us so well. Thanks too to Paul for the photo’s of us. But a special thanks goes out to James and Chris for filming our set and recording it too. Especially James for running to and from home to collect the gear he needed.

Lastly, and by no means leastly, everyone who came along to see us and everyone that said nice things to us after the show. We were blown away by your support…and immensely pleased by those who asked us where we were from and how the tour was going. If we came across as a touring act then great!

In all the excitement I almost forgot what we were all there for in the first place: to see The Magic Band. Drumbo announced the band as they walked on and has to be the most chatty frontman ever: he was talking more than the John Peel Maida Vale gig from last year, and that was impressive enough. The Wedge feels pretty intimate usually, but he made it even more so.

Kicking off with an unexpected ‘Gimme Dat Harp Boy’ it took them the length of the song to get settled. They didn’t play a duff song all night, though I’m still not a fan of their current version of ‘Mirror Man.’ Too long in my humble. And, personally, I could do without the bass and drum solo’s. But these criticisms are maybe unfair when you consider what The Magic Band give in terms of performance and keeping this music alive. They are the one band whose indulgences I can cope with.

‘Lo Yo Yo Stuff’ was another welcome, surprise addition. Great to see they are still adding to the reportoire (as far as I’m aware this tour is the first time they’ve played this track live.) Can I make my plea for ‘Autumns Child’, ‘Ice Cream for Crow’, ‘Hot Head’, ‘Clear Spot’, and ‘Sugar ‘n’ Spikes’ here please??? ‘Alice in Blunderland’ was a highlight though it’s not a favourite of mine on record. Tony Auton and I were on Gary Lucas’ side of the stage and had a clear view of his guitar playing. It was enough to make you cry, with every note perfectly placed. I don’t go in for the ‘showy’ stuff usually, but this was played with so much soul.

They ended with a 1-2-3 hit of ‘Circumstances’, ‘Moonlight on Vermont’ and ‘Big Eyed Beans from Venus.’ The 3 songs I wanted to hear most all crammed into the last 15 minutes! After the gig the whole band came out, signed autographs, posed for pictures and spoke to fans. It must have been the latest I’ve seen the Wedge empty out AND it was a Sunday night. Again, nothing was too much trouble for The Magic Band. An inspiring set of men.

posted by LMT @ 8:40 PM