This review isn't going to be a social history lesson, or a testament to genius. I don't want to burden you with the whole legacy of the best psychedelic band of all time. I don't want to explain why comfy ladies in their late fifties turned out with shining eyes and their grown up daughters.
The show tonight is for 2002. The new LOVE (same great line-up as the old BABY LEMONADE from LA) have stripped down 21 of their best-known songs. Right down to their astonishingly complex basics. They've polished them up with stinging guitars and driving rhythms and made them as fresh, exciting and relevant as they ever were. The young crowd are squealing with delight. The old ladies and the old blokes are ecstatic with renewed acquaintance with a living music.
Arthur Lee is a revelation. He smiles so much. He preens, shuffles and duck walks. He plays with his shades and woolly hat, shakes a tambourine and invites some lucky kid in the front row to play it for him. He says "I love you" to everybody.
He confesses - with a smile - that he's sick of doing these songs (a new album is promised for the New Year), but he's delighted to be singing them for us tonight. And everyone knows he's telling the truth. He's a smile on legs.
Every song is a highlight, bringing gasps of amazement/ delight that they are still THAT GOOD. The precise notes of the records, scorched into the memory of a whole generation for safe keeping don't need to be played. The spirit of the music is back in force. Arthur Lee was so far ahead of his time that all these years later he's finding an audience that has just about caught up with him.
The young guys from Leeds' best bands lurking in the crowd are humbled with the effortless charge of juggernaut rifs, soul-searching melodies and stop-you're-dead three guitar attacks. This is so cool you could get chillblains.
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He's using a harmonica to play the guitar; he's pretending he can't remember the words; he's telling us "My name is Whatsthisemancipationproclamationshit." His voice is the richest thing in rock; his mastery of chord changes and his ear for a stand up and cheer guitar solo are stunning.
He's got everything from Bacharach to Hendrix and Morrison in his repertoire. He's black funk, Mexican brass section and Hispanic crooner. He's THE BEATLES and THE STONES all in one. He's damn good. And the snot is stil caked on his denim pants.
Which song was best? "Little Red Book," "Orange Skies," "Your Mind And We Belong Together," "Live And Let Live," "Alone Again Or" (with Arthur singing the trumpet part); "Bummer In The Summer"; "Andmoreagain"; "7 and 7 is"; "Signed DC"; "Between Clark And Hilldale"; "The Red Telephone"; "Daily Planet" ("we're doing this by special request...from me"); "You Set The Scene"; "She Comes In Colours"; "Stephanie Knows Who"; "Everybody's Got To Live"; "My Flash On You" (for George Bush); "August"; "Que Vida"; "A House Is Not A Motel" and "Singing Cowboy" ("We're not going to do an encore..."). Every one is the best you'll ever hear.
Also stand up for BABY LEMONADE members David Chapple (bass); David Green (drums); Rusty (Rickenbacker!) Squeezebox and Mike (School Tie) Randle on guitars/ vocals. They are the true LOVE band for sure.
An impossible opening spot was filled with grace, quality and a beautiful voice by Leeds' own RAMON.
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