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My Bloody Valentine - London, ICA - 13.06.08 |
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Reformations are an odd thing. On the one hand you get to see songs played by their actual original performers that you never thought you’d ever have the chance to see and it could be the best experience ever. On the other, it could turn out shit, the bands could just be doing it to give themselves a pension and still despise each other. So it was with a mixed bag of emotions that I stood before the ICA stage waiting for My Bloody Valentine to play their first gig in 16 years. Billed as a “rehearsal show” for the Roundhouse gigs starting the next weekend, no one was quite sure what to expect. Would they restart every song when one of them mucks it up? Or would it be the all out sonic explosion of noise it is they are renowned for. Judging by the doormen to the main room of the ICA actively handing out earplugs, the venue looked to be expecting the latter.
At 9.30 sharp they enter the stage to a massive cheer from the crowd with front man Kevin Shields thanking the crowd for coming to the rehearsal and telling them that the real gigs start next week. Any doubts are immediately shattered straight away when the crunching intro to ‘Only Shallow’ explodes out over the PA system.
Throughout the gig the noise levels are of face melting proportions to the point where by the end of the gig everyone is just simply in on massive dazed trip. Bar one slip up at the beginning of ‘Cigarette In Your Bed’, they’re note perfect and yet despite Shields and Belinda Butcher’s whistles strumming throughout the gig compared to the rhythm section it still blows every crowd member away.
Set closer ‘You Made Me Realise’ disposes of any doubters in a standard 20 minute run through which of course wouldn’t be the same without a 15 minute wall of sheer noise that is so loud it makes my teeth hurt. We leave the venue just wondering what just happened, but one thinks for sure, My Bloody Valentine are back.
Words: Matt Harris
Photos: Lucy Johnston (Flickr)
My Bloody Valentine unofficial site: http://www.mybloodyvalentine.net/
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| Coding: Darren Burrows