Sounds, October 15, 1977

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Sounds

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Stiffs strut their stuff


Vivien Goldman

Stiffs Tour
High Wycombe

Everybody was in high spirits on the first night of the tour, with the help of one thing or another. Everybody concerned appeared to regard it as a spree. Nick Lowe slipped out of the Three Tuns, High Wycombe carrying two large suspiciously chinking brown paper bags — "Just bought a couple of sarnies in case I get peckish onstage," he offered innocently. And token longhair Larry Wallis reeled back in the street, mock horrified when I proffered the KP — "What! I'm on the Stiff tour and she offers me nuts!"

Amidst all this locker-room style Good Fun, you could hear some music that in my hawk-eared way I've categorised as good-better-best (for me personally, natch.)

Good was Nick Lowe. I can't get over-enthusiastic about that kind of straight ahead boogie rock but I'm aware that a) it's my problem that I can only perceive it as the last thrashings about of a dead art form, and b) musicianship counts for a lot, and nobody could say that Nick Lowe isn't a musician. Also, I really like "Heart Of The City."

Not so good was Elvis Costello, much to my disappointment (first time I'd seen him). He played lots of stuff that isn't on his very good (Stiff) record. I'm told his appeal exists on an "everyman" level — it's just like the geezer next door had splashed out on some leathers, and decided to do it on stage, charisma or no charisma.

I can see that, but it's still not my idea of fun. Les from the Albertos (who was definitely the star of the show as impromptu m.c.) commented from the wings — "However funny you are, you can never be as funny as the people who are doing it for real" — namely Elvis's totally self-absorbed way of lecturing the audience like a parrot in NHS specs, holding a warning finger in the air while cocking his bead pensively to one side. He sang "Less Than Zero" well, but I preferred Wreckless Eric.

Ian Dury played drums with Wreckless Eric, Denise played bass, and Wreckless Eric came on just like (I imagine) Roky Erickson (would). I didn't catch any of the other titles, but he definitely did the Big Hit Single, "Whole Wide World" which I've always loved. The other numbers were musically and visually interesting and fun, sounded pared-down and ready to trot and totally bizarre. The set built up to a fantastic 13th Floor Elevators-style crescendo. Question Mark & the Mysterians may be resurrected in Wreckless Eric.

My high spot of the night was Ian Dury. Judging by response, the audience felt the same way on my unofficial clapometer (give me a break — spare me the patented Stiff gags on that one). Although Ian had lost his voice (see article this ish) he still managed to grip the onlookers by the appropriate areas. He was great when he barked out the staccato litany of "white face black tie etc" from "Sweet Gene Vincent" like a demented fairground barker on STP, and his rendition of "Billericay Dickie"'s got three stars.

The band's musicianship was showcased in touches like the neat guitar solo in "Clevor Trever," and by the time Ian had finished "Blockheads" and was going into "Plaistow Patricia" there was untrammelled ecstasy all around me.

Even if people don't know Ian's songs they can enjoy 'em, 'cos they've got music-hall fairground end-of-the-pier roots that elicit a Pavlovian instant fun response. See him if you can.


Tags: High Wycombe Town HallHigh WycombeStiff's Greatest Stiffs LiveNick LoweLarry WallisHeart Of The CityMy Aim Is TrueStiff RecordsLess Than ZeroWreckless EricIan DuryDenise RoudetteWhole Wide WorldQuestion Mark & the MysteriansMavis NicholsonGood AfternoonWatching The DetectivesHoover FactoryGig guide

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Sounds, October 15, 1977


Vivien Goldman reports on the opening night of the Stiff's Greatest Stiffs tour, Monday, October 3, 1977, Town Hall, High Wycombe, England.


Jaws reports on Elvis Costello's first TV appearance, Friday, September 30, 1977, on Good Afternoon with Mavis Nicholson.


My Aim Is True is No. 35 on the album chart (page 8).


Steppin' Out lists three more Live Stiffs tour dates: Thursday, Oct. 13, Glasgow; Friday, Oct. 14, Sheffield; and Saturday, October 15, Leeds.

Images

1977-10-15 Sounds clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.


Hey ma that's me up on the screen


Jaws

1977-10-15 Sounds page 09 clipping 01.jpg

While his fellow Stiff artists sat waiting outside in the rain and the Stiff tour bus. Elvis Costello was ensconsed safely in the pub next to the Stiff office ... watching himself on TV. He made his first TV appearance on an afternoon show on ITV hosted by the redoubtable Radio Four personality, Mavis Nicholson. Looking only slightly nervous (on the TV, that is) he sat there clutching his guitar and answered Mavis' surprisingly intelligent questions (indeed, she'd make a more than suitable replacement for Bomber Bob Harris) with thought and occasional candour. He did two new numbers accompanied only by his own guitar and atmospheric lighting — "Watching The Detectives" (his new single) and "Hoover Factory." The high point, however, was when he re-asserted to Mavis that he was indeed only 23. A number of the Stiff employees present giggled and looked skyward at this point. We await eagerly the shooftie at Elvis' passport that Stiff have promised us.



Photo by Frances Newman.
1977-10-15 Sounds photo 01 fn.jpg


Cover, chart page and gig guide.
1977-10-15 Sounds cover.jpg charts Steppin' Out gig guide

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