The last time I saw THE WEDDING PRESENT, I was just out of short trousers and David Gedge was in them, as part of a full Leeds United strip.
Nearly 20 years later, I’m jolly excited to see a band that perfectly articulated my lovelorn youth. I suppose that purists might argue that it is not The Wedding Present we are seeing tonight, as the line-up is exactly the same as Gedge’s Cinerama project. This is an issue he addresses directly, at one stage saying that it’s a philosophical point as to which band we are actually seeing, at another (after playing Cinerama’s magnificent 'Après-ski') suggesting that, as we are getting two bands for the price of one, he should have charged us £25 for the privilege.
Indeed, throughout tonight, grumpy old Gedge gives us the impression that he is not very happy touring under his old band’s name, but the sheer verve that the band brings to all the old classics makes me think he is protesting too much. The sound is fantastic, and fantastically loud. Despite complaining that he is too old for all this, Gedge really hammers them out, so much so that he needs a restrung guitar after nearly every song. He is a real showman too, full of caustic northern wit and employing a surprising number of hand gestures.
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A revitalised cover of Julee Cruise’s ambient classic ‘Falling’ is dedicated to Gedge’s mum who crossed the Pennines to see her offspring tonight. His dad couldn’t make it apparently, as he’d gone to the pictures instead.
Despite the protestations of the audience, Gedge makes it clear that he is sticking to the Wedding Present’s credo of ‘No requests, no encores’ and after an hour or so of ‘indietastic’ (his neologism, not mine) goodness they are gone. I for one won’t leave it another two decades before making the acquaintance of Mr Gedge again, whatever band incarnation he chooses.
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