Red Sparowes @ ULU
July 08 2008 @ ULU, London.
Traditionally, when reviewing a gig like this, the support band doesn’t get much coverage but in this case they deserve an honourable mention. Guapo were extraordinary, not entirely for the right reasons, but extraordinary nonetheless.
Wearing what looked like matching, purple, sequined lycra they proceeded to play a set of pure Prog the likes of which has not been heard since 1977. To say they were derivative of King Crimson would be unfair on the word derivative, they were closer to being an out and out tribute act! Yet, somehow, they were also brilliant. They played with utter conviction, supreme skill and not even the slightest hint of irony, even in the face of gentle ridicule from areas of the audience. There were moments when we were convinced a small Stonehenge was going to descend from the lighting rig. The drummer deserves a special mention for his effortless genius and gong playing of the highest order.
Once Guapo’s craziness was out of the way we were able to move on to the main event. Red Sparowes shuffled on and without preamble launched in to a blistering rendition of ‘The Great Leap Forward Poured Down Upon Us One Day Like A Mighty Storm Suddenly And Furiously Blinding Our Senses’ (you’ve got to love those snappy song titles!).
Strangely, it looked distinctly like one of the guitarists was playing Rock Star on the Wii throughout most of the gig, a very big man holding a very small white guitar, the impression was most odd but the sound was awesome.
They followed up with ‘A Message Of Avarice Rained Down And Carried Us Away To False Dreams Of Endless Riches’, gorgeous slide guitar and all. From then on it was just a cascade of layered guitars, bass and Dave Clifford backing up with some extraordinary drumming.
A hot point of debate around the E&D office at the moment is around the direction that Post Rock is heading, where will it go next and how is it going to rediscover it’s originality? Frankly, when it’s played as well as this, who cares? It’s magnificent.