The Field and The Dellburgoes

Hairy Lemon Backpackers

Pix courtesy of Digital Dan...

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The Hairy Lemon seemed to have an expectant aura about it this night. Dayglo stealthily infiltrated the premises on Friday, June 13^th. Once inside, Dayglo was surrounded by painted faces, punk fairies, a rather large chap with a dagger in his back, a sinister looking rag doll and all things congruent with Friday 13^th except for Jason's non-appearance and not a hockey mask to be sighted, and gratefully there was not an "oh, that's so bloody ironic" t-shirt in sight either.

The Field

It usually takes Dayglo a song or three to get into musical gear. This is my inbuilt indicator of whether I'm gonna like a band or not. The Field just managed to scrape in by number three. They appear to have found their stride, and Dayglo thinks that a few more live gigs will add to their ability to deliver an excellent show. The Field are undeniably eclectic but maybe not quite as danceable as I like it, but they have developed nicely since I last saw them which was only a few weeks ago. A new easiness and intimacy has emerged since then as tonight's gathering of ghouls and buoys seemed to be more familiar with their songs. I'd have to say that The Field have enough songs in their back pocket to make even an average gig worthwhile and I like their stripped down approach. Lead Field vocalist has a serviceable voice and it's those highly conscious lyrics that make me sit up and take notice. And a further plus - they did set the scene for the current that flowed from the performance arena to the audience.

The Dellburgoes

Argh, not another review of The Dellburgoes, cried Nightglo. There are two chances of that happening, said Dayglo - Fat and Slim. It aint easy reviewing a gig when you want to enjoy every moment yerself!

The Dellburgoes took centre stage, white painted faces, makeup reflecting the light and the night's theme (except for Rex who had undergone excruciatingly ye-gods-type eye surgery that day). A bit of a sound check and then the expected propulsion off the Dellburgoes launching pad. The crowd snapped to full attention and immediately started to bounce higher and harder and really enjoy themselves. All I can say has been said before. There are those many moments where the guitars kick in and take your breath away and prove that these guys have a bona fide confidence in manipulating the tools of their trade, grafting surf riffs with their unique reeperbhan madness. Something that too many younger bands seem to lack is to have a thoroughly good time performing live. Image aint everything! As a live act, the Dellburgoes are devastating. Let's hope it stays that way.

The Hairy Lemon once again provided the space for a twin peaks forest of beats, and not an obnoxious rawk star in sight. As an aside, time for a bit of my personal culture... any band that can awaken the sometimes dormant fun and light-hearted gene in my body has performed quite a magnificent feat indeed.

With a head full of lager and grand ideas and as the last note of the night faded it was time to reflect a little. Conclusion? My faith in live music remains. Tim and Dave dragged out the antique Space Invaders machine, and there we were, until the almost dawn and accompanied by a further realisation that it was Saturday, the 14^th June.

And, a few 'facts' surrounding Friday 13^th and the number 13...

According to one statistician, due to the mathematics of the calendar, the 13^th of the month is more likely to fall on a Friday than on any other day of the week - IQ off the richter scale and this is all he could come up with...

According to one Texas superstition, a bag filled with 13 sow bugs tied around a child's neck will cure the child from the thrash, or sores in the mouth - Dayglo gazes into the crystal ball and sees years of therapy ahead for some lucky little Texans...

Woodrow Wilson once had 13 guests to dinner. This was met with a lot of protest by his guests, but he declared the number to be lucky - after that blunder, Nightglo hopes the tucker was good...

There were 13 colonies, which led to 13 stars, bars, and an eagle with 13 tail feathers that was holding 13 darts. E Pluribus Unum has 13 letters - does anyone really care, besides the Freemasons...?

French Lick Springs, Indiana once passed a law requiring all black cats to wear bells on Friday the 13^th - Nightglo is still wondering what a 'French Lick' is... Dayglo has promised to show Nightglo later...

And allegedly, there were 13 dudes at the Last Supper...