Spacehog at Spaceland – November 20, 2009

I wasn’t sure if I was going to write a recap of Friday’s gig because I know when I start getting caught up in a really great night, I’m apt to forget a lot of the details and after seeing previous shows, there was not a doubt in my mind that it was going to be a really great night. I know it’s a risk for disappointment to go in with such high hopes but not only did they live up to my expectations, they exceeded them in Hog style.

In a departure from last year’s gigs which included songs from Resident Alien and a couple new songs, the Spaceland audience was treated to songs from all three albums as well as Arckid, and Tender Trio tunes. I guess I knew with the opening notes of the first song, Beautiful Girl, that I was going to want to write up something. I’d already enjoyed two other really good bands, The Moor and Sing Orpheus ( http://www.singorpheus.com/home ), talked to Ant briefly in the parking lot, caught up with Caro in the club and enjoyed some quality date time with my husband. So there I was front and to the left of the stage, bopping my head to the music and frantically fishing around the bottom of my purse for a pen and something to take notes on. That is how I ended up with the set list and some very minimal notes scribbled across my palm, over the back of my hand and up the inside of my wrist.

Our location placed us in front of Hansom Pyjama, who living up to his new name, wore his pink striped jammie top. If anyone could carry the look off, it’s Ant and he did it quite well. And what could add to the thrill of seeing Roy, Ant, Jonny and Rich together on stage again? Why, that would be different color lights and flashing, pulsing, swirly images projected onto the stage! Fantastic! This is where I want to babble endlessly in an attempt to convey how absolutely amazing it was to be in the midst of it all, particularly with the familiar chords such as those of Mungo City filling the room, the crowd singing along, swaying together, the colors and lights washing over everything. Very Alice In Wonderland as the packed room felt bigger than it had before yet at the same time my close proximity to the stage making it feel small and intimate. Joining the band on stage for some songs were a violinist named Daphne and a fellow named Marlon on trumpet. I know I raved about the shows last year and meant every word of praise but now it feels as if those shows were just a warm up for Friday nights performance.

I’d be really hard pressed to pick a favorite out of Friday’s set. It was fun to hear a new one, Wish You Well, but of course there were also old favorites. Space Is The Place hands down is always the one that I want to hear most. Not to take it for granted that it will be played, but to be honest, I do kind of expect it and would really disappointed if it wasn’t. Of course I wasn’t disappointed. A song that I didn’t expect to hear, and couldn’t have been happier about was Cool Water, a Tender Trio song, that I first heard on Youtube. As was true with a few of the songs, in this one Ant set aside his guitar to play keyboard. Hearing some of the unreleased songs, just made me long all the more to one day find them on a CD. Without being redundant and going down the entire set list insisting that each song was my very favorite (because I could easily do that), songs that come to mind when I think back were Germany (an Arckid song with Ant on vocals), The Horror, and Zeroes, both in which Roy’s voice is truly mesmerizing. It was also pretty cool to hear a cover of The Teardrop Explodes’ Reward.

After Wish You Well, (a new song that I hope makes it to that fourth album that we’re always wishing for), there was that moment of sadness in which good nights and thank yous are said and the band leaves the stage. I dared to wish for an encore but then so did everyone else. The people on the other side of the stage must have seen the door behind the stage better than my side did because I could hear cheering in that direction and out came Spacehog again! Lucky thing too, because I think some of us would have stood there until we were thrown out waiting and hoping.

It was a song I love! Lucy’s Shoe was performed with Royston at the keyboard this time and Ant on Roy’s bass. And just as that song was finishing, I realized that the chances were good that there would indeed be one more song. How could they not play In the Meantime? I’d been so enjoying all the unexpected songs that I’d not realized until I heard murmurs in the audience that it hadn’t been played yet. As those familiar beginning notes were played, Roy quiped that he wasn’t sure if he remembered how to play this one. Anyone just coming in off the street would have thought it was the band’s first song of the night with the amount of energy coming off the stage and the hollering and singing from the crowd. It was a fantastic way to end the show and I can only hope it left the band wanting to do it all again soon as much as the fans did.

Anyone can stop reading here and not miss anything about the gig itself.

I just want to add that it was great seeing Caro again. We said good bye and laughed about the writing all over my hand which is now memorialized with one of her famous Poloroids. Like always my husband and I were rushing off to pick up the kids (and already late at that). We were about 10 minutes down the freeway when we realized that ohhhhhhhhhh fuuuuuuuck, the credit card was still at the bar and so we found ourselves back at Spaceland again. Hi Hi again Caro, card safe in hand and back out just in time for some conversation in front of the club with Ant (another person who it is always great talking to). Finally as we headed to the parking lot for the second time that night, we had a chance to wave good night to Rich and tell him the show was awesome.

Set list

Beautiful Girl
Reward
Mungo City
The Isle of Manhattan
Spacehog
Cool Water
Space Is The Place
Zeroes
The Sunset Boulevard
Germany
Wish You Well

Encore:
Lucy’s Shoe
In The Meantime