stubbadub

Gemma (cloudysky) from the stubb forums kindly posted a heady post-gig review of the Faith No More Brixton reunion show:

“Finally got back! My God, what can I say?! No question, the greatest gig I’ve ever been to, and probably the greatest gig I WILL ever go to! There can be no words that would do it justice, it was just incredible. Breathless and incoherent overview, then.

More by luck than judgement we ended up with fantastic spots on the barrier, right in the centre of the stage! We’d arrived super early, fearing traffic problems, so ended up queuing for four hours, with only a handful of people in front of us. Couldn’t believe our luck at getting such a great position. I’m paying the price now with bruises running from ankles to collarbone, but the view was more than worth it!

Selfish Cunt were on pretty quickly.. and then off again :S I thought they were OK, to be honest, (though the sound was absolutely dreadful), but they got an awful reception. The frontman was entertaining and the band seemed tight, but I think you could’ve stuck almost anybody up there and it wouldn’t have made a difference. They didn’t deserve all the boos, but really, there was only one band we wanted to see.

It felt like it took an absolute AGE for the tech guys to set up and the band to come on. I’m sure it wasn’t actually that long, but the tension was becoming unbearable by then (though, as someone near me quite sensibly pointed out – we’d waited eleven years, what’s another ten minutes?). Still, the anticipation and excitement of five thousand people is pretty infectious! It felt totally surreal; too good to be true. The roadies seemed to frown and tinker endlessly with every piece of equipment – I spent a good minute terrified that something would go wrong and the whole thing would be called off. It was pretty thrilling to see the table brought up front for Mike’s vocal stuff – lots of mic gadgetry and a great big megaphone! After the roadies finally finished there were rising chants of ‘you fat bastards’ and then the most thunderous, deafening roar when the band took to the stage. In pastel lounge suits! Big cheers for everybody – Puffy first, arms aloft, then Roddy and Billy to start ‘Reunited’, followed by Jon and then, to the loudest shouts and screams I have ever heard, Mike. Welcome back, guys.

Absolutely brilliant opening song! I knew they’d planned something special, but I never expected anything so funny, fitting and perfect. I’m sure everyone’s seen it by now, but this video -(below) – captures it so well. What you can’t see clearly in the video is the massive beaming grins all over the faces of the band by the time the chorus strikes up and the crowd really gets it. It was a beautiful moment, I swear. You can definitely hear the smile in Mike’s voice around the 2.45 mark. It was fantastic to see how pleased he was to be there, no matter how cool he played it when he sauntered across stage at the beginning. I was way too excited at the time, but I confess I’ve since shed a little tear watching it back. Incredible, emotional, and triumphant:
‘Reunited, and it feels so good/ Reunited ’cause we understood/ There’s one perfect fit/ And, sugar, this one is it/ We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited..’
I know it’s beyond dumb to pin hopes on a cheeky cover, but it really makes me pray there might be more to this than the summer 2009 tour. My head says no, but my heart says yes, dammit!

After Reunited, straight into The Real Thing.. just completely transcendental to hear that live, with every line bellowed back at the stage. The crowd went mental for From Out of Nowhere – the crush at the front was completely solid, about 20 people deep from now on. Ouch. Land of Sunshine was insane – Mike was leaping around, howling and crouching, mic stuck down his throat for the echoing laughter.
Perfect opener from Mike – calling us all fuckheads and incest babies. Awesome. I’m sure everybody knows the superb setlist by now, and I can’t remember everything, but.. Caffeine, Evidence, Chinese Arithmetic, all completely brilliant. (At some point around here I scored half a discarded drumstick! It split mid-song, so Puffy flung it into the crowd – it landed and broke in two pieces in front of the security guard in front of me and he gave me the grip end. Thank you Puffy, thank you security dude! The stick has the same ‘Faith No More 2009′ logo as the drumkit, along with a signature and a little cartoon Puffy drumming, with hair flying everywhere! I’ve barely put it down since Wednesday!)

Thrilled to hear Surprise You’re Dead, then a gorgeous sing-along Easy. Everything sounded amazingly tight and together. Last Cup of Sorrow, then into Midlife Crisis after Mike made a joke about it now being autobiographical He also responded to chants of ‘you fat bastards’ earlier by ruefully rubbing his belly and saying it was true now. Visceral, energetic performance of Midlife Crisis, then the band abruptly stopped playing to let the crowd sing a chorus.. magical.. then Mike said we had the wrong song, and whistled Popcorn for a while instead. Cuckoo for Caca after being told that the drummer’s feeling lazy and only wants to play ballads. Gentle Art of Making Enemies, and then RV! Absolutely perfect, with Mike baiting a couple of good-humoured security chaps (pointing and laughing at one when he got to the ‘..stupider..’ part, and then creeping up on another to steal his earbud, then forcing it into the guy’s mouth a little later).

King for a Day sounded absolutely incredible. I was pretty sure I’d died and gone to heaven by now, after hearing two of my favourite songs back to back, but then.. Malpractice. Completely stunned, wildest-dreams territory. Wow. After that, straight into Jizzlobber, and Be Aggressive, which half the crowd, around me at least, had been bellowing for all night. Absolutely amazing – the band was perfect, and Mike flung himself all over the place, wild-eyed and shrieking, with his ass in the air over the monitors, then curled in a ball, legs behind his head (still singing!), finally ending up flat on his back, spread-eagled, halfway off the stage. Then Epic, sounding just as incredible. The whole place went ballistic. Mark Bowen to finish. Thank-yous, fists pressed against hearts, and waves as they left the stage to the hugest applause.
Back on for the encore – Chariots of Fire! Which Mike beatboxed for, and Roddy apparently didn’t believe was a movie theme. Then seaguing into Stripsearch, which I hadn’t even dared to hope to dream would be played. Absolutely stunning. Then Just a Man to finish up – perfect.
Off again, then back for a second encore! I Started A Joke, and finally Pristina.

Ugh, nothing I could say would really do justice to what an amazing night it was. I thought it was a fantastic list of songs – so many unexpected choices along with old favourites. Such a treat to hear Malpractice and Stripsearch. As a whole, the band was fantastic – so tight and together for guys warming up after an eleven year break. The atmosphere and camaraderie was palpable, and it was great to see them obviously enjoying themselves as they played. Mike Patton was on stunning form. He is such an absurdly good singer – every note pitch-perfect, no matter what style, nor where he’s flinging himself on stage. His energy seemed completely undimmed. Every text I’ve received from friends since has been along the lines of ‘is Patton as good live as they say?’, and the answer is a resounding ‘yes – even better’.

I am beaten and bruised, totally skint, and I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Greatest night ever. Thank you so much, Mike P, Roddy, Billy, Jon and Mike B. Stay reunited! x”