Page 37 - RYAN'S GIG GUIDE SEPTEMBER 2014

RGG September 2014 - p.37
Bongo Bryan
Billed as the first hometown gig since (which I believe would have been at The Mere)
PWEI at The River Rooms was always going to be a special event Of course the line up
has changed since then and whatever original fans think of that is up to them My opinion
when the name was resurrected was quite simply along the lines of “If they’re any good
so what?” Graham is still there he named the band so let him get on with it Since then
I have seen them three times and they have gone from “really good” to “excellent” so I
was expecting nothing less from this night and was not disappointed First up on the night
were EN violinist Erica Nockalls of The Wonder Stuff’s project who are on the verge of
releasing their second album Whilst her work on The Wonder Stuff and with Miles as a
duo reflects the more pop/folk direction EN positively rock and in Erica herself have one
very powerful performer her voice going from whispers to guttural screams and proving
the violin has many textures This was my first EN gig it won’t be my last and am very
much looking forward to the album
As anticipation grew for the main act the familiar “PWEI Vs The Moral Majority” intro
rumbled through the room signalling their arrival house lights went down and the band
entered to massive applause straight into “Back Business” from the ‘comeback’ “New
Noise Designed By A Sadist” album It was clear on the first time I saw the Tim Davey
Jason and Mary Byker line up that the “ Sadist” material was very strong live and (in my
opinion anyway) that the older ‘classic’ stuff often sounded somehow weaker in
comparison Since then however Mary has become a very impressive co front man
alongside Graham and is very capable of filling Clint Mansell’s sizeable shoes As for the
set we get a few “ Sadist” tracks of course but it is the older material and brand new
tracks that come across the best suggesting that not only are the band comfortable with
the past but are very much a band of “now” The older song selection does not disappoint
with “Wise Up Sucker!” “Def Con One” “Ich Bin Ein Auslander” “Everything’s Cool” and
“RSVP” present as always but also included some tracks the original line up hadn’t played
for years like “PWEI Zation” Radio PWEI” and the still quite astonishing “Dance Of The
Mad”
The two new singles also feature both sounding excellent “Watch It Blow” showcases the harder
edged PWEI sound (a logical continuation of the “Dos Dedos Mis Amigos” album the last with the
original line up) and the anti FIFA “Reclaim The Game Funk FIFA” updating the theme of “Touched
By The Hand Of Cicciolina” from We also get the ‘fast’ version of “Babylon” a live favourite
originally mooted as a single back in the “Dos Dedos ” period but recorded completely differently in
the end for the album A bit of a lost gem finally being given a new lease of life The Prodigy
collaboration “Their Law” was also included there to remind people of the influence of PWEI on the
dance/electro scene which is often forgotten or neglected to mention
To sum up then – a triumph I can’t wait for the new album and whilst the commercial highs may never
be reached again which is true of so many bands still going from the period PWEI live are still one of
the best bands you can go and see in Here’s to the future you lucky people!
POPWILLEATITSELF