18/1/2007 Ginger @ the Mean Fiddler

Subject	Ginger @ the Mean Fiddler
PostedDate	1/18/2007
	A Ginger gig is always an event worth seeing - wether it's with the WiLDHEARTS, Silver Ginger 5, the Sonic Circus or solo electric or acoustic. This show was a solo electric gig to promote Ginger's forthcoming album 'Yoni'. Also in the band tonight were Jon 'Random' Poole on bass, and ex-Wolfsbane man Jase Edwards on second guitar. Ex-Cardiacs and Wildhearts man Jon Poole also appreared earlier in the evening on guitar fronting his own band The Godamn Whores, with Ginger on bass. I only caught the last part of their set and the little I saw didn't really float my boat.  I was told by someone who saw the whole thing that the set was a bit hit and miss. Also supporting was Robochrist - an interesting and unusual divertion, but who could only hold my attention for a few minutes.  There was a good crowd in the Mean Fiddler for this show, but it certainly wasn't full. There were a few familiar faces around, but not as many as usual. I'm sure the terrible weather played a large part in this as Kings Cross and many other mainline stations were shut, as was much of the tube network - preventing many people from getting to the gig.  Also, this show was part of a tour as opposed to a single gig so many people went to other dates instead of travelling to London from all over the country or abroad. Ginger noticed this and commented on the weather keeping people away, saying of the evening "we'll make it our own" in spite of the storms outside. And we did.  There were still plenty of people there to make it a good atmosphere as usual, and we knew we could look forward to a good evening's entertainment and some excellent music - which is exactly what we got. It wasn't up there with last year's Sonic Circus shows, or the solo Garage or 40th Birthday events - possibly because there wasn't that air of expectation and anticipation that a packed out venue gives. Also, there were a lot of new songs that nobody knew. As usual Ginger provided us with a good night out with his banter and music, although he didn't say as much as usual. Plenty of new songs from his latest album got played - the set opening with 'Black Windows' - followed by 'Yeah Yeah Yeah' from last year's superb 'Valor Del Corazon'. We also got a few Wildhearts songs, including B-side 'Eager To Leave 'Er'. Silver Ginger 5 were represented with three songs too - 'Sonic Shake' being a highlight.  Of the new songs, 'Can't Drink You Pretty' stood out to me. What I heard at this show certainly left me looking forward to Ginger's new album dropping though my letterbox on Monday. There were plenty of songs to keep fans from all stages of Ginger's career from the Wildhearts onwards happy, and predictably but very happilly the show was finished off with a rousing singalong of '29 x The Pain' which ensured everyone went home with a big smile on their face!  The setlist: Black Windows Yeah Yeah Yeah The Night I Was Born Again So Into You Drinking In The Daytime Brain Sugar Why Can't You Just Be Normal Save Me Only A Problem Can't Drink You Pretty When She Comes Eager To Leave 'Er I Wanna Be New Revolver Answering Machine Sonic Shake 29 x The Pain

PS: This venue has since been demolished.