THE SHORTWAVE SET AND SCRITTI POLITTI

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this is absolutely true. tonight at the windmill in brixton there is a little hush hush gig featuring london's finest of 2005, the mighty shortwave set, plus the first live performance in 20 years by the still influential scritti politti.

― anne of cleaves, Saturday, 7 January 2006 11:48 (nineteen years ago)

this is v strange, but i had a text from someone about it this morning....curious.

― edgar, Saturday, 7 January 2006 11:54 (nineteen years ago)

bloody hell. if herman dune weren't playing tonight, the windmill would be the place to be.

― emsk ( emsk), Saturday, 7 January 2006 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.myspace.com/windmillbrixton

yup, it's all true. well, except it doesn't mention scritti, but anyway - i'm so there! barms?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Saturday, 7 January 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently "Double G" of Double G and The Traitorous 3 is no other than Mr. Green Gartside...

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Saturday, 7 January 2006 15:06 (nineteen years ago)

Right, report back!We need to know!

― mark grout (mark grout), Saturday, 7 January 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

The performance could not possibly be as much a success as the alias.

― Andy_K (Andy_K), Sunday, 8 January 2006 03:59 (nineteen years ago)

Report back? FUCKING RECORD IT WITH YOUR CAMERA!

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Sunday, 8 January 2006 04:48 (nineteen years ago)

so, i went.

:-)

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 08:38 (nineteen years ago)

Was Green there then?

― RickyT (RickyT), Sunday, 8 January 2006 11:24 (nineteen years ago)

funny, i was expecting a skinny, bespectacled streak of indie piss, but was presented with a burly, bushy-goateed hod-carrier! and then he opened his mouth to sing, and out came his lovely, distinctively weedy voice. Woo. Great gig, actually - perhaps a little overly-reliant on samples, especially considering the presence of a full band, but still, good stuff.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 11:32 (nineteen years ago)

you lucky bastard. you should have recorded this! :-)

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

someone told me it was his first gig in 23 years! that can't be right, surely?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:27 (nineteen years ago)

Innit 25 or 26 years? (Since the "heart attack" incident)

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:30 (nineteen years ago)

Dude, he was really there? OMG, fvck my fvcking flu. FVCK IT TO HELL!

― RickyT (RickyT), Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

yes he was. sorry...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

I hope you appreciate how lucky you are dude.

― Excelsior Syndrum (noodle vague), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:05 (nineteen years ago)

did you get any pix?

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

I hope you appreciate how lucky you are dude.

It's certainly becoming more apparent, yes!

It wasn't hard to get in. I just went online and bought a ticket. Anyone can do it!

no pics I'm afraid - it never occurred to me to take my camera...

Oh ILX, have I failed you?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

Never fear, I've managed to chance upon a poor-quality picture which includes Green's bushy goatee.

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5241/scritti0if.jpg

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

very good! how on earth did you find that?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

no pics I'm afraid - it never occurred to me to take my camera...

Oh ILX, have I failed you?

Do you even need to ASK? ;-)

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

wait, was that green and band performing as scritti politti? or some form of shortwave set featuring green?

what did they sing, c'mon?

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

No, it was Green and band performing as Double G & The Traitorous Three. The Shortwave Set "headlined" after them (and were also very good).

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

Go on, make me explode with jealousy and give us a set list. :-)

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Sunday, 8 January 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

i would if i could, but i'm no expert...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

i'm rather glad that i only saw this today, as i couldn't have done last night anyway. but i hope he plays again soon...

― toby (tsg20), Sunday, 8 January 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

beastie boys t-shirt!

― miss michel legrand (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 8 January 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

my flatmate's friend alyssa is the new scritti politti bassist.

we knew they were famous and stuff in the 70s but i didn't know they were THIS famous!

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 8 January 2006 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

my head is fucking spinning.

― cancer prone fat guy (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 8 January 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

ooh...

that scritti 'early' comp from last year on Rough Trade is a treat!

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Sunday, 8 January 2006 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

What are the odds this makes the NME news page?

(my guess 5,000 to 1)

― mark grout (mark grout), Sunday, 8 January 2006 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

i found a blog entry about it. there are also some pics linked.

(yay internet)

― maura (maura), Sunday, 8 January 2006 16:11 (nineteen years ago)

There are a couple of great accounts at the Yahoo Scritti Politti group message board.

― robert in SLC, Sunday, 8 January 2006 17:42 (nineteen years ago)

regret #56921

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Sunday, 8 January 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

we knew they were famous and stuff in the 70s

...

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 09:30 (nineteen years ago)

You have to remember that Lex listened to nothing but indie and female singer songwriters until about three years ago.

― RickyT (RickyT), Monday, 9 January 2006 10:18 (nineteen years ago)

in my defence, i was there principally to see the shortwave set. i knew from this thread, and from various extremely excited random people in their mid-30s at the venue, that green/scritti were also playing, but to be honest, i didn't mark it down as as momentous an occasion as, well, you lot, simply because i had, up to that point, only knowingly heard one scritti tune - the possibly naff, maybe past his prime but nice enough nonetheless "don't feel sorry for loverboy".

perhaps it's time i heard cupid & psyche!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 9 January 2006 11:59 (nineteen years ago)

"Oh Patti (don't feel sorry for loverboy)" is indeed fine.

Oh, go straight to "Songs to Remember" is my advice.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

not an easy record to play live, 'cupid and psyche'.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:03 (nineteen years ago)

Cupid and Psyche >> Songs To Remember, with the possible exception of The Sweetest Girl.

― RickyT (RickyT), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:12 (nineteen years ago)

I'd be a bit worried if you've never heard 'Wood BEES' or 'Absolute' Charlie.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

it did outsell 'we are the world', after all.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

Provision >>>>> Songs To >> C&P >> Early stuff.

But it's all good.

― Dr.C (Dr.C), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:26 (nineteen years ago)

bloody hell, you lot are no help. i always thought c&p was the fans' favourite?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

You can't go wrong with any of them really. Don't worry about it - just get the lot.

― Dr.C (Dr.C), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:29 (nineteen years ago)

i've never seen 'provision' repped so high.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

my list would be in almost exact reverse of yours, Dr C - love the scratchy, unfocussed mess of Early, love the melodies and hooks of Cupid & Psyche but hate the production (which is, i guess, missing the point), and never really listened to the others much.

so. charlie. your mileage may vary. but Wood Beez is such a brilliant song.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

songs > cupid > early [shamefacedly have never even heard 'provision']

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

oh, i've just been reminded that i also know "she's a woman" feat. SHABBA RANKS!

but i have never even heard *of* any of these other songs being mentioned - so for all i know he played the lot of 'em on saturday...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:41 (nineteen years ago)

**my list would be in almost exact reverse of yours, Dr C - love the scratchy, unfocussed mess of Early, love the melodies and hooks of Cupid & Psyche but hate the production (which is, i guess, missing the point), and never really listened to the others much.**

Up to around 3 or 4 years ago I'd have agreed with you. The big budget stuff just kinda washed over me. But back in the mists of time there was an ILM thread on Scritti where Tom's take (and Robin Carmody's) on the pop stuff made me re-listen. And suddenly I GOT it. Provision is my favourite because the mix of almost scarily precise machine-funkiness, utterly gorgeous melodies and Green's cleverness (he's read a few books, that lad)seems to have been taken to the next level from C&P.

B-but - then out comes Early and with it a chance to relisten the old stuff - and it's even better than I remembered! Much better! So maybe I'm moving back to old position.

The thought of them playing in a boozer in Brixton is fantastic. I wish I'd been there.

― Dr.C (Dr.C), Monday, 9 January 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

i'm really excited that this band is so popular with people i know! i'll probably see alyssa next in early feb, and will ask her when more gigs will be happening.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

this will be of interest to scritti/green fans: http://homepage.mac.com/johnhyde/PhotoAlbum328.html

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 9 January 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently, all that Green played on Saturday are all new tricks...*wink*...

If you don't have everything Scritti Politti has recorded, you are cheating yourself.

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Monday, 9 January 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

Tricks? Tracks, maybe...

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Monday, 9 January 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

'anarcho-socialist'? fucking idiots

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

he's FIFTY? crikey. he looked 10 years younger.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 9 January 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

if he was 40, then his last gig would have been performed at the tender age of 14.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 16:50 (nineteen years ago)

which Kylie song did he feature on?

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 9 January 2006 16:52 (nineteen years ago)

'the locomotion'

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Monday, 9 January 2006 16:53 (nineteen years ago)

he was on 'someday' off the last album i think?

wow @ this gig. can't wait for the tour!

also, i've got a friend who thinks 'anomie & bonhomie' is the best scritti record :-/

― pete b. (pete b.), Monday, 9 January 2006 17:23 (nineteen years ago)

i've got a friend who thinks 'anomie & bonhomie' is the best scritti record

I wouldn't say that, but "Brushed with Oil, Dusted with Powder," off that album, is possibly the best Scritti track.

― National Roffle Association (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 00:30 (nineteen years ago)

I'm suprised he hasnt played live since 1980 - that means presumably that the whole time Scritti were biggest when C&P came out they never did any gigs at all???

This seems strange to me, because I recall (and still have it on video) them at least doing a dodgy mimed live set to "Word Girl" and possibly another song on Countdown or some similar Aus TV show at the time. Promo stuff only I guess.

Esteban you're a barrel of suprises - you like Scritti, whoda thunk it.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 00:46 (nineteen years ago)

Oh ok, just read the article, he gets panic attacks.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 00:49 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, he did a few 'performances' with a 'live' 'band' for various TV shows.

apostrophes, as they were mostly sung over backing tracks and/or filmed as pseudo video performances.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 10:26 (nineteen years ago)

i always thought c&p was the fans' favourite?

Kinda depends really. Some will like the early stuff much better. If you like I can upload some songs so you get a feel of each album? Email me at stevienixed at gmail dot com. :-) If I don't reply, it means I'm in labour and have more important stuff to attend to. ;-)

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

Esteban you're a barrel of suprises - you like Scritti, whoda thunk it.

dude's all about the weedy Britishes.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 10:49 (nineteen years ago)

Green is the best! I also wrote a little something about it on my blog;
http://melodiefabriek.nl/2006/01/08/green/230

― Marco Raaphorst, Tuesday, 10 January 2006 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

I, along with other fans, are still in utter shock and disbelief! I hope there will be more gigs so perhaps I have an inkling of chance to see this man perform!!! I'll fly from here in the United States!!!

― L.Vielma, Tuesday, 10 January 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

the realaudio track that the guardian links to is really good.

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 10 January 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

It was all a bit surreal but very enjoyable. The first track, 'Boom Boom Bap', saw him singing to a backing track, which was a kind of electro ballad that recalled 'Oh Patti'. The rest of the set was more guitar oriented (he had a slightly ramshackle drums/bass/guitar/keys/hand percussion band), like a slightly poppier, slightly more linear version of stuff like 'Skank Bloc Bologna', 'PAS' and 'Doubt Beat' and 'Confidence'. His voice sounded great and he seemed to be a more than competent guitarist. There was a track called 'Robin Hood' in which he fantasised about Robin Hood being gay, another which started with the line 'Correspondents' which was quite spiky and fractured and had a very Brian Wilson-ish five-piece a cappella breakdown. There was a marvellous schaffel beat/country and western-tinged track with the refrain 'Jesus don't try and save me' (or something). The last track was a very energetic punky thrash. The whole set lasted about 20 minutes. He wasn't boozing (anyone who's had a drink with him knows that he can get through a phenomenal amount of Guinness) and seemed completely calm on stage (no panic attacks!). Quite looking forward to the new Rough Trade album, on which he plays and sings everything himself, but rather surprised that the 'Boom Boom Bap' song (which will presumably be a single) is so 'Cupid And Psyche'....

― john lewis (johnnylewis), Wednesday, 11 January 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

so, tickets just went on sale for the gig at the luminaire on feb 5th; there are still 93 tickets available here:

http://www.wegottickets.com/list/latest

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

is no-one else interested?!

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 23 January 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

FUCKIT I CAN'T GO THAT WEEKEND TOUR NOW GREEN PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE

― 'Curt' Russell (noodle vague), Monday, 23 January 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

not in the country that weekend >:/

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 23 January 2006 15:35 (nineteen years ago)

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