Friday, October 10, 2003

thewife and I went to see Wishbone Ash play at the Renfrew Ferry last night. Wallowing in nostalgia or trying to reclaim lost youth. I'm not sure which. When I was a kid I loved Wishbone Ash - they were introduced to me by this blog's commentator, Father Bell. Argus was one of my favourite albums ever and I had gone to see them a coule of times in the seventies. I thought they had gone off the rails a bit around the fifth album and didn't really hear anything of them afterwards. I preferred I think to hang on to the recollection of them ending a set with Phoenix at the Reading Festival in the rain in the mid seventies. It was in torrential rain again last night that we headed off to the ferry.

I have had this aversion over the years of my favourite bands of my youth, Pink Floyd for example, I cannot stand big style. Bunch of pretentious middle class prats who don't need no education cos they got it bought for them at public school. However I digress, I have often re-listened to and even bought stuff I used to think was magical only to be very sorely disappointed. Was this going to be the case with Wishbone Ash? Well No, not at all.

If I had been asked what I wanted to hear in advance and in what order I would have pretty much opted for the set list. To be fair they have to play a couple of songs off the new album, but everything else was perfect, I can almost list it still in my head, The King will come, Warrior, Throw down the sword, new one, Time Was, etc right up to a finish with Phoenix, and an encore of Jailbait and Blowin' Free. Close you eyes and you are 16 again.

Of course when you open them you realise that rock n' roll is the domain of balding, middle aged men with substantial beer guts sueezed into blue jeans, leather jackets and the right band tee-shirt. A very enjoyable night was had by all. I suspect Manuel should have been there as well and in spirit I think Father Bell was too.
posted by timesnewroman at 7:03 AM  

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