Live 2012/03/06 [The Duchess]

The first time out as a three-piece, John and Steve are joined by Ash on bass (only the second time we'd ever played together). A somewhat looser feel tonight, not relying on the computers as much as before...

A massive turn out for the Portico Quartet who were the main band tonight, it was nice to play in front of a larger crowd, although we could have done with more stage space and more soundcheck time. C'est La Vie

A review of the gig in The Yorker magazine was less than complementary. What can we say? 'Thanks' I suppose...

Openers Neuschlafen should, therefore, be well placed to capture a few of the headliner’s fans but their set is so abysmal that it is hard to believe anyone will go away with a particularly favourable image of them. Their songs are repetitive with random guitar noodling on top (and by random guitar noodling, I mean stabs at an ill-deserving Fender Mustang with the worst sounding effects pedals money can buy). Things get even worse when the guitarist attempts to sing, rambling aimlessly about ankles and socks over his band’s disappointing attempts at the avant-garde. Neuschlafen need to realise that making experimental music actually requires doing something vaguely interesting.

- http://www.theyorker.co.uk/arts/music/gigs/10841