|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Live appearances
Here are some live tracks that are kicking around... 1. Danger! High Voltage (Live on the radio)
[lyrics]
Fact! The band recorded a live acoustic version of 'The Model' for the Jo Whiley show on Radio One. The band had to do a cover, and had wanted to do Devo's 'The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise'. However, Radio One didn't think enough listeners would have recognized that song, so The Model was the backup choice.' 'Golden Tony' has come across the 'PukklePop' set which includes: 1. Don't be Afraid of the Robot
[lyrics]
There are also sets from the Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands (29th August 2003) and the Parish House of Blues in Louisiana (1st March 2006) kicking about An uptempo version of 'Dance Epidemic' recorded live at XFM. This is probably what the single would have sounded like [lyrics] Other XFM tracks: 1. Dance Commander
[lyrics]
Videos on-line You can download two videos by clicking here Interesting story from Mark Wright about 'Download '04': "Was anyone else on here at Download 04 when (according to Dick, looking at his watch) Peaches on the third stage played Gay Bar at exactly the same time as they did on the second stage in order to give those on the main stage in the middle a surround sound experience of their famous song? Don't know if it happened but I'm pretty sure Peaches were playing at the same time, so maybe..." Also, this site was recommended for requesting videos. Click here to see two fantastic videos (dance commander; be my dark angel) and some great photos. (Thanks to 'Neurocamerawoman' for this) Also check out the MySpace site / You Tube for an interview with Dick and a "lost" performance of 'Radio Ga Ga'. Here is my review of the band in Newcastle, 2004... DANCE COMMANDER VALENTINE ROCKS NEWCASTLE It was a cold February evening after several days of snow and a line of students stretches from the door of the student union building at Newcastle University. What are they waiting for? The latest show in Electric Six's latest tour to promote their new album 'Señor Smoke'. The doors opened at seven-thirty and the students piled in and were led down to the spacious performance room with bar, large stage and ample dancefloor. They were firstly treated to an excellent 30-minute performance by band 'Thinking of Kate' - who are touring this time with Electric Six - which started at eight. At just before nine o'clock the second support act Hoggboy came on stage and although their performance was punctuated with a stagehand wandering on stage every so often it was an enjoyable 40-minute slot. Then it was the time for the real reason: Electric Six. Although their arrival on stage was delayed by some mike-problems, the group finally emerged from billowing smoke at ten o'clock precisely and kicked into a rousing rendition of 'Dance Epidemic', performing a slightly different arrangement to that of the album - probably the single version. After this excellent start they continued with some material from 'Fire' - 'Naked Picture (Of Your Mother)' and 'Getting into the Jam' Dick Valentine and Electric Six were on top form with his singing right on target and just as good as a studio performance, especially when considering his dancing on stage. During the night they performed a mixture of old and new material - 'Vibrator' 'I'm The Bomb' and the infectious 'Bite Me'. Second single 'Gay Bar' wasn't performed until about forty minutes in and was greeted with lots of jumping, singing and hand clapping. It just goes to show the quality of their material that they don't have to rely on a known crowd-pleaser until their set has been well established. 'Danger! High Voltage!', the single that shot them to fame, was even later on in the show. However, all of the songs they played were crowd pleasers! Songs such as 'She's White' and 'Rock 'n' Roll Evacuation' (which Valentine dedicated to president Bush) encouraged crowd participation and they were only too pleased to join in. In fact nearly every song was welcomed with cheers, jumping, hand waving and general excitement. The stewards would probably say too much because of the amount of crowd surfers throughout the performance, who were unceremoniously brought back down to earth. Valentine cheekily waved to some as the passed. The highlight of the central segment was Valentine's excellent acoustic performance of two songs. The first track, sadly, I was unaware of but the second one was the ballad from their second album, 'Jimmy Carter', which really showed off both Valentine's guitar playing and the ability to sing without any fancy instruments. It was like listening to the album track with all the instruments stripped away: MTV Unplugged please take note. The performance ended with a rousing performance of 'I am Detroit', with the final two notes going on for several minute as Valentine conducted the band and the guitarists showed off by playing their guitars under their legs, over their backs without looking etc. The notes continued as the band left the stage and the audience called for more. And naturally Electric Six provided them with three more songs. The first was 'Devil Nights' off the new album but this was followed by crowd- favourite and clap-a--long-able tune 'Radio Ga Ga' - a staple of their live shows for many years - and then the third single off their debut album, 'Dance Commander'. That was the end of their 80 minute set and the students piled out of the room, hyper from a fantastic performance by Electric Six. List of songs played (not in performance order): FIRE: Dance Commander; Naked Pictures (of your mother); Danger! High Voltage; She's White; Improper Dancing; Gay Bar; Getting Into The Jam; I'm The Bomb; Synthesiser SENOR SMOKE: Rock 'N' Roll Evacuation; Devil Nights; Bite Me; Jimmy Carter; Dance Epidemic (alternative version); Future Boys; Dance-A-Thon 2005; Be My Dark Angel; Vibrator; Radio Ga Ga OTHER: I am Detroit (Dance Commander b-side); Underwear (Magnetic Fields cover) |