'First Appartition of the Ghost'
Live at Finsbury Park, June 10thh 2000
A hot sunny day, plenty of beers, loads of faces and
open spaces: Finsbury Park on its best behaviour. The
perfect site for the first sighting of the Velvet
Ghost.
The masses arrived at the Marqueee, which up to this
point was witnessing other talents,yet those in the
crowd were looking for something just a bit more. They
were met by the Chorus of Bagpipes as Cathal Joseph
Smyth suantered through the crowd to join his fellow
musicians on the stage that awaited....the greatest
show on earth (again).....
When all was right, a thumping version of 'We Are
Love' (the way as nature intended it to be) got the
venue into gear and something good , something very
good was taking hold.
Many fears that were existing pre-show were quickly
vanished as a confident and dynamic Smythian
performance assured those present (both on and off
stage) that energy, attitude and determination would
win the day.
Many of the crowd were a bit miffed at this at the
begining, indeed who were these guys and who gave them
the right to take over Finsbury Park and the Fleadh?
Whoever did or did not though couldn't help but get
into it, this was damn solid stuff.
The anthem that should have been, 'You're Wonderful'
was next to fill the airspace of NW4 as this track
crosses all ages and tastes, it simply is wonderful.
If the Velvet Ghost follows the responses of the
people when this was displayed, hopefully the song
will finally gain the attention and respect it
deserves.
What backed this up too was a different slant to the
songs origional incarnation, and indeed that was true
of other old gems (like The Wizard, The Communicator
et al). For a band that only rehersed a few times
before today, the capable hands of messers Boz, Vause,
Mc Gloin and Co. soon had everyone on their feet, a
feat not achieved by the acts before or afterwards
that day in the tent.
A more personal moment from the frontamn himself was
seen in a short but sweet ditty about those things
that make childhood so special, the grown man returns
to the idiosyncracies of yesteryear with just guitar
and vocals to bring the audience back with him.
An abrupt end to that was then met with a blinding
performance of tracks like 'The Wizard' and a sadder
introduction to 'Johnny the Horse'. Here we are given
the story of how Smth one day met these bowsies near
his house and how one cried telling him of his mate's
death. Unlike the radio-friendly version of the
original song, a more sombre and melancholic verse
greets us to a deeper and more insightful side of the
song.
One may have felt the biggest pity of this performance
was the clock working aginst those performing, however
the nature of the (festival) beast was temepered with
a few moments of unheard magic.
For the first time ever, the general public were
'welcomed to the darkside', a new Ghost classic .....a
tale of one man's struggle and dealings with those of
the drug underworld. 'I want my money by 11am, I want
my honey in my pocket again', these lyrics and the
bouncing melody and ever so catchy chorus had mant
welcomed to the 'd-d-d-d-d-d-d-darkside'.
One song that had those present listening aswell as
dancing to was the new 'This Friend I know'once again
illustrates the songsmith's ability to strike a chord
with all of us. This tale of a misunderstanding
between friends for me was a real moment:
'....I don't want to be
Laughed at put down or broken
Oh no
Don't want you to lie
Or speak words that you choke on
Oh no.......'
Who does my friend? Who Does?
If the Velvet Ghost are going to unleash their sounds
to the record buying public, a good track to start the
ball rolling with would be 'Hoo De La La'. Not
everyone can claim to have an unfamiliar crowd singing
along to an unheard of sdong by the end,but those on
stage here today can. I mean within a minute the crowd
were singing along in a chorus of 'Hoo de la la ,Hoo
de la la'...release this one for sure.
By the time the clock struck 2, the aparition was
drawing to a close, a thanks for those present,both
sides of the stage and a special mention to young
Elouise Symth saw the band finish its performnce with
the Blue-beating 'The Communicator'. Another
foot-stomper, the set finished up on a high and all
were in better mode then 40 minutes previously.
One can't find fault much here today, all are in top
form,from ivories to brass, from Double bass to
guitars (Boz for life- what a scoop!) everyone jelled
well and delivered the first (but not last)
performance of the Velvet Ghost.
I had been to Finsbury Park a few times before, and
although I may have witness earthquakes,flagshakes and
more, I never saw an aparition like that today in the
Marquee.
More people have witnessed the wizardry of the
Dreaming Man and now have seen the Light of the
way....
Velvet Ghost....Finsbury Park relinqushes it soul
today, god it felt good!
All the best
Vince Foley!
=====
"If it ain't Vince, it ain't worth a F*CK!"
ICQ 46099201
NEVER SAY NO TO A MAD IDEA!
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