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5th May, 2013
MANCHESTER 🏴 Salford Arms
w/ Hivver, Irma Vep
"Based in and around Islington Mill, in the real and gritty bit of Salford that sure ain’t the glitz of the Quays or Media City, this was a fantastically vital event; for and by musicians and very far removed from corporate appropriation of our art form.
After dashing up the motorway and dumping the car in the street, I got there in time to spend 20 minutes drinking beer in Islington Mill’s sunny urban garden. I made sharpie notes in the programme, before it was time to schlep down to the end of Chapel Street to see The Cosmic Dead, who bill themselves as “Scotland’s foremost Hawkwind tribute band. And no less mind.” They were joined today by Manchester’s Karl Astbury, currently a member of Nine Black Alps, and also apparently myriad other projects. Considering they are not therefore a regular band, what happened next was fairly mind blowing. I can only describe it as a massive psych-fest all contained within one single 40 minute jam. They never paused for breath. It was all very 2013 vs 1969 experimental, and despite having used the dreaded ‘E’ word, entirely engaging and great fun. After 35 minutes or so the stage manager was trying to give them the signal. Keyboard player gestured helplessly at drummer as if to say “it’s him you’ve got to stop“, and there appeared little chance of that. Having thus failed, the venue then turned the amps off. Karl picked up a wine bottle to sing into instead, rolling around amongst the feet of the tight packed crowd. By that time, the guitar was down to 3 strings. James McKay ripped the remaining strings off the Fender. And no, he didn’t indulge in that trick of loosening them first, just ripped them off. Totally exhilarating. And you’re telling me they don’t regularly play together? Wow" - God Is In The TV
(Photos by )
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