CHINA CRISIS
Pacific Road Arts Centre
September 16th 2006
Billed discreetly as concerts go, along with a Muddyhead gig and a co-headline/support slot with T'Pau, this was more accurately called by Gary Daly onstage 'our homecoming'. As he told assembled revellers, many of whom had congregated from all over the UK, one as far as the South Coast (not of the Mersey, but Brighton), for God's sake), China Crisis have played the Pacific Road Arts Centre (a dockside warehouse converted to provide a venue for bands to play) in Birkenhead more than anywhere else.
This is not exactly a hotly contested honour as the Crisis tend to keep themselves very much to themselves, much to the consternation of longtime fans and those discovering them through the Muddyhead spin-off.
There is a 25th anniversary tour mooted for Jan/Feb 2007, but don't hold your breath for too long as Eddie and Gary like to keep you in suspenders. At the end of the Pacific Road show, someone distributed flyers for a headline charity gig at Liverpool's LIPA on September 30, something that no-one knew about beforehand.
But like all the best-kept secrets, China Crisis are an absolute jewel among their contemporaries. Unlike many, they just play when they want to and they play pretty much what they want to play (but don't worry, they will include the hits as well).
This show was laid back to say the least, it really was like they were playing for family and friends. Birthday requests were relayed and, much to the joy of die-hards, they recreated the scene from Gary's wedding when he sang the song 'My Sweet Delight' to his lovely wife Jean. This rarely performed song was sung almost a capella by the duo around the piano stage left, played by Andy Steele. Singing from the heart in a lowkey spotlight, Gary and his mate Eddie must have melted many a heart with this special feature. This very personal song is due to appear on next year's solo Gary Daly album, 'The Dirty Sweet And Lowdown World Of Men'.
One of the best things about a China Crisis concert is the consummate professionalism in musicianship cloaked in a ramshackle, casually thrown together style. It looks like these guys just met up and decided to busk it (they probably even feel that way) but there's a level on which they seem to intuit each other so when a line is fluffed, they all go together in a different direction. Magical.
Last year's LIPA concert was shot for DVD and is due out before Christmas 2006. I was there and it was brilliant - hope the camera guys caught that.
At Pacific Road, a local band of young guns Flynn's Piece were given a break and will be playing the Cavern next month and back at Pacific Road in November. But the main event was definitely the Crisis with a set of less well known material followed by all the hits you could want. Not spectacular, just special.
Set List:
Singing The Praises Of Finer Things
Stranger By Nature
Strength Of Character
You Did Cut Me
It's Everything
Arizona Sky
My Sweet Delight
Diary Of A Hollow Horse
Black Man Ray
Wishful Thinking
African And White
King In A Catholic Style
Working In Fire And Steel
Thank You
Christian
This is not exactly a hotly contested honour as the Crisis tend to keep themselves very much to themselves, much to the consternation of longtime fans and those discovering them through the Muddyhead spin-off.
There is a 25th anniversary tour mooted for Jan/Feb 2007, but don't hold your breath for too long as Eddie and Gary like to keep you in suspenders. At the end of the Pacific Road show, someone distributed flyers for a headline charity gig at Liverpool's LIPA on September 30, something that no-one knew about beforehand.
But like all the best-kept secrets, China Crisis are an absolute jewel among their contemporaries. Unlike many, they just play when they want to and they play pretty much what they want to play (but don't worry, they will include the hits as well).
This show was laid back to say the least, it really was like they were playing for family and friends. Birthday requests were relayed and, much to the joy of die-hards, they recreated the scene from Gary's wedding when he sang the song 'My Sweet Delight' to his lovely wife Jean. This rarely performed song was sung almost a capella by the duo around the piano stage left, played by Andy Steele. Singing from the heart in a lowkey spotlight, Gary and his mate Eddie must have melted many a heart with this special feature. This very personal song is due to appear on next year's solo Gary Daly album, 'The Dirty Sweet And Lowdown World Of Men'.
One of the best things about a China Crisis concert is the consummate professionalism in musicianship cloaked in a ramshackle, casually thrown together style. It looks like these guys just met up and decided to busk it (they probably even feel that way) but there's a level on which they seem to intuit each other so when a line is fluffed, they all go together in a different direction. Magical.
Last year's LIPA concert was shot for DVD and is due out before Christmas 2006. I was there and it was brilliant - hope the camera guys caught that.
At Pacific Road, a local band of young guns Flynn's Piece were given a break and will be playing the Cavern next month and back at Pacific Road in November. But the main event was definitely the Crisis with a set of less well known material followed by all the hits you could want. Not spectacular, just special.
Set List:
Singing The Praises Of Finer Things
Stranger By Nature
Strength Of Character
You Did Cut Me
It's Everything
Arizona Sky
My Sweet Delight
Diary Of A Hollow Horse
Black Man Ray
Wishful Thinking
African And White
King In A Catholic Style
Working In Fire And Steel
Thank You
Christian
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