{feelings} patrick wolf at the roundhouse, friday 4th november
AUGH WHERE DO I EVEN START. Okay, I went with sophieisgod to the Roundhouse last Friday. Initially we got tickets because Cockbullkid was supporting and we have some serious Anita Blay feelings. So I know I definitely went in not really thinking about what the gig would entail? Because I am myopic and really interested in Anita's face.
Cocknbullkid was absolutely fantastic. Anita wore bright pink (sexy) matador dress and commanded the stage the minute she strutted on. I always have a brief moment of panic just as a gig starts where I go "what if they're not as good live?". Not so. Anita's voice was on fine form, there was a great deal of shimmying (oh my) and she played my two favourite tracks from the album - 'Mexico' and 'I Deserve It'* I was a little surprised those were tracks she chose to play since they're in the middle of the album. Anyway, Sophie and I were having a blast, though it was clear that the rest of the crowd had no idea who she was really.
Then there was the usual break for the changeover and setting up during which I have a tendency to get really cranky. I also hadn't heard Lupercalia (the album Patrick was touring with) even though it's been out for a while because I was swamped/not paying attention. So, I had almost, forgotten I guess why I love him so much. Sophie just stood by smugly, biding her time for she is wise and beautiful and knows me far too well. S, sure enough Patrick comes onstage and opens with 'Armistice' from Lupercalia.
I gasped.
Then I scrabbled for Sophie's hand, turned round and went "how could I forget?!" in a pained voice. The minute he sang that first extended note, that was it, sold. Gone. It was a risky choice to start out with - it's new, it's slow and it's quite quiet but that whole adience - as you can see - was so still and so wrapped up in this weird almost reverent quiet and it absolutely took my breath away. Somewhere along the way I had forgotten how prodigiously talented he is. Simply the amount of instruments he plays is extraordinary, let alone how versatile and strong and clear his voice is (or his lyrical talent). Just, sheer muscal competency at it's absolute finest (and most attractive ngl). What followed therein was on of the best gigs I have ever been to. No qualms about saying that, it was transcendental for me. He was just on magnificent form (as he said, the only London show he's done sober which made me weep a little on the inside) and so at ease when he was performing. It's clear that he was just comfortable and wrapped up in what he's doing and enjoying it. What was really beautiful to me is that whenever he finished singing and looked out at the rapturous applause, he'd just look so stunned, like "oh really me? cheers". The other thing is that Lupercalia as an album is so joyful because he's actually happy and it radiates from him. he just seems to be content and settled and secure and it showed in his lyrics and it absolutely showed in his performance.
Aside from that though, he's just a mesmeric performer. It's so involved in the music but not to the point where he ignores the audience - the opposite actually. he was forever getting off stage and as close to us as he could get, holding out the mic for us to sing. You just get so involved in watching. For me personally, his earlier work really comes to life in performance. The further years of musicianship add something I guess, and more control, but there's something about that early almost desperate to say something work that transfers so well to a live performance. He played an arresting version of 'Godrevy Point' which, again, had everyone rapt. I'm easily got by a vocal crescendo and modulation and thhis was absolutely beautiful. He also played 'Tristan' which I always had trouble, connecting to? For some reason that I honestly can't remember because watching that being played live? So entirely woke that song for me. Maybe something about screaming "my name is Tristan - and I am alive!" does something to someone but it was amazing. I just, I haven't stopped talking about this gig since I left the venue. It was one of those gigs where you feel the music with the body, where it gets stuck in your chest and won't dislodge itself. There's honestly nothing like dancing with a best friend in a sea of hipsters, of spending a gig sweaty and gross in an ill-advised cardigan but with a huge smile on your face, of singing "love has no boundaries, sees past sexuality" in unison with at least 200 other people.
So thanks for all of these feelings can be directed at Sophie and some truly quality googling.
*which resulted in some pretty serious clutching of Sophie ngl.
Cocknbullkid was absolutely fantastic. Anita wore bright pink (sexy) matador dress and commanded the stage the minute she strutted on. I always have a brief moment of panic just as a gig starts where I go "what if they're not as good live?". Not so. Anita's voice was on fine form, there was a great deal of shimmying (oh my) and she played my two favourite tracks from the album - 'Mexico' and 'I Deserve It'* I was a little surprised those were tracks she chose to play since they're in the middle of the album. Anyway, Sophie and I were having a blast, though it was clear that the rest of the crowd had no idea who she was really.
Then there was the usual break for the changeover and setting up during which I have a tendency to get really cranky. I also hadn't heard Lupercalia (the album Patrick was touring with) even though it's been out for a while because I was swamped/not paying attention. So, I had almost, forgotten I guess why I love him so much. Sophie just stood by smugly, biding her time for she is wise and beautiful and knows me far too well. S, sure enough Patrick comes onstage and opens with 'Armistice' from Lupercalia.
Click to viewI gasped.
Then I scrabbled for Sophie's hand, turned round and went "how could I forget?!" in a pained voice. The minute he sang that first extended note, that was it, sold. Gone. It was a risky choice to start out with - it's new, it's slow and it's quite quiet but that whole adience - as you can see - was so still and so wrapped up in this weird almost reverent quiet and it absolutely took my breath away. Somewhere along the way I had forgotten how prodigiously talented he is. Simply the amount of instruments he plays is extraordinary, let alone how versatile and strong and clear his voice is (or his lyrical talent). Just, sheer muscal competency at it's absolute finest (and most attractive ngl). What followed therein was on of the best gigs I have ever been to. No qualms about saying that, it was transcendental for me. He was just on magnificent form (as he said, the only London show he's done sober which made me weep a little on the inside) and so at ease when he was performing. It's clear that he was just comfortable and wrapped up in what he's doing and enjoying it. What was really beautiful to me is that whenever he finished singing and looked out at the rapturous applause, he'd just look so stunned, like "oh really me? cheers". The other thing is that Lupercalia as an album is so joyful because he's actually happy and it radiates from him. he just seems to be content and settled and secure and it showed in his lyrics and it absolutely showed in his performance.
Aside from that though, he's just a mesmeric performer. It's so involved in the music but not to the point where he ignores the audience - the opposite actually. he was forever getting off stage and as close to us as he could get, holding out the mic for us to sing. You just get so involved in watching. For me personally, his earlier work really comes to life in performance. The further years of musicianship add something I guess, and more control, but there's something about that early almost desperate to say something work that transfers so well to a live performance. He played an arresting version of 'Godrevy Point' which, again, had everyone rapt. I'm easily got by a vocal crescendo and modulation and thhis was absolutely beautiful. He also played 'Tristan' which I always had trouble, connecting to? For some reason that I honestly can't remember because watching that being played live? So entirely woke that song for me. Maybe something about screaming "my name is Tristan - and I am alive!" does something to someone but it was amazing. I just, I haven't stopped talking about this gig since I left the venue. It was one of those gigs where you feel the music with the body, where it gets stuck in your chest and won't dislodge itself. There's honestly nothing like dancing with a best friend in a sea of hipsters, of spending a gig sweaty and gross in an ill-advised cardigan but with a huge smile on your face, of singing "love has no boundaries, sees past sexuality" in unison with at least 200 other people.
So thanks for all of these feelings can be directed at Sophie and some truly quality googling.
*which resulted in some pretty serious clutching of Sophie ngl.