A fraught trip to Liverpool in the Birdpoomobile this evening involving a couple of u-turns, navigating a roundabout twice and a confused trip around the city centre meant that our mad dash to the venue probably coincided with the band taking to the stage. We got there during "Fred Titmus", so I can't say what went before. Was "The Light at the end of the Tunnel" the opener, as seems to be tradition? Anyway, I don't think we missed much and we were soon enjoying the mosh at the front of a packed Academy.
It was a sterling performance from HMHB. Tonight's surprise cover was Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now", although just as surprising was a rare (and splendid) outing for "Footprints", in which Neil took over the guitar and Ken played bass. The latter managed to pull his lead out at one point, which was worked into the lyrics. The gig was filmed as well, possibly for a forthcoming DVD release?
Set list, from memory, rough order:
Fred Titmus
Running Order Squabble Fest
Monmore Hare's Running
Them's the Vagaries
Restless Legs
Corgi Registered Friends
For What is Chatteris...
Turned up, Clocked on, Laid off
Look Dad No Tunes
Letters Sent
Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo
Paintball's Coming Home
Hallelujah / Vatican Broadside
CAMRA Man
Wrong Grave for 23 Years
24 Hr Garage People
Footsteps
PRS Yearbook
I Think We're Alone Now
We Built this City on a Trad. Arr. Tune
Len Ganley Stance
Everything's AOR
Country Practice
99% of Gargoyles
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Trumpton Riots
While the band were off the stage before the encore, a chant of "there's only one John Peel" went up. It was a touching moment. Nigel dedicated the first song to him when they came back on stage. At the end of the gig, he placed a mic in front of some machine to play something over the PA, but I couldn't tell what it was.
Overall: bloody superb. And now I really must get to bed.