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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
It seemed slightly ironic for a band that boasts one of the largest line-ups in rock that
The Blue Aeroplanes should decide to play the Borderline, which happens to have one of the smallest stages of all London venues. Last time they played here things were so tight that dancer Wojtek Dmochowski inadvertently kicked a member of the audience in the head, mind you he was swinging from the lighting rig at the time!
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
That sense of barely controlled chaos is what makes The Blue Aeroplanes such an exciting live band, and tonight at one point there were five guitarists on stage leaving Wojtek to strut his stuff amongst the crowd. Even the lull between songs becomes interesting as various members avoid getting tangled in guitar leads and try to duck swinging mic stands and guitar necks as they swap places on stage. There are bands, such as The Fall, who have a huge history of ex-band members but few who attempt to get most of them back together to play a gig. Tonight's disappointment at finding out that Rodney Allen would not be appearing is tempered somewhat by the inclusion in the line-up of original guitarist Nick Jacobs and Angelo Bruschini, who's on a break from Massive Attack.
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
It's Brushini who gets things started with the familiar twelve string intro to "Jacket Hangs", surely one of the best opening motifs to any song, a sublime riff, and then vocalist Gerard Langley intones "Pick a card, any card, wrong!". It's probably the song that has come to define the band, the opening number on their most acclaimed album "Swagger" - it captures just what I love about them. The numerous layers of intricate guitars, Gerard's riffing poetry with the backing vocals providing harmonies, it's all crammed perfectly into "Jacket Hangs". Next up is a song from new album "Anti-Gravity" called "My Old Haunts" and then we are transported to the late 80's with the lovely circular riff to "Veils of Colour". Back to the present with a bump and the rocking "25 Kinds Of Love" and then it's two more oldies "Warhol's 15" followed by the catchy "Severn Beach" which is sung by Nick Jacobs.
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
Things quieten down with "Weightless" and as on the "Swagger" album the ending of this beautiful song slowly transforms and builds into the spiralling funk of "...And Stones" which gets the audience moving. Latest album opener "Sulphur" manages the rare feat of a new song that doesn't seem out of place following straight after a classic such as "...And Stones", I think this song could quickly grow into a fan favourite.
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
Another new number follows sung by the excellent Gerard Starkie and then things get frantic with "Colour Me", surprisingly the only number from the "Beatsongs" album to make the set tonight. Oldies "King of The Soapbox" and a wonderfully raw run through of "Bury Your Love Like Treasure" close the show with a beaming audience shouting for more.
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
As an encore Nick Jacobs and Rita Lynch have their turn in the spotlight before the band return for their traditional set closer, an extended jam through Tom Verlaine's "Breakin' In My Heart" which could have gone on all night if the crowd had their way.
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
The new songs sounded very promising on first listen and "Anti-Gravity" was available for sale at the gig in beautiful gatefold-sleeved vinyl glory only. I left clutching a copy, excited that there really does seem to be a resurgence of bands releasing vinyl again. However, this romantic dream was somewhat ruined by getting home and discovering that the needle on my stereo was crocked and I couldn't play the damn thing! Maybe there's something to be said for downloads after all...
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| The Blue Aeroplanes live at The Borderline London - Photo by Steve Worrall |
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