Wire @ Cockpit
By Steve ElvidgeYou have to approach these things with caution. Do we ask too much? These guys can't have the same fire in their belly and why should we expect them too, besides, I'd heard and readily believed that Wire's own bloody mindedness means they only play new material with only an occasional foray into the 'earlier, funnier' stuff. Not so bad if the new stuff is as good but it never is, is it? It can't be because we haven't invested it with 30 years of meaning and set memories to dusty, worn out grooves.
But, fuck me, they were great! The new album Object 47 contains a few gems, 'Perspex Icon' and 'One of Us' both making an appearance. 'The 15th' from 154 was a standout, retaining some of the subtlety of the original (not always the case with bassist Graham Lewis's sometimes overwrought backing vocals). Some song choices were a mystery 'Being sucked in again' from Chairs Missing is ok but no 'Outdoor Miner or 'I am the Fly'?? More songs came from punk landmark 'Pink Flag', 'Lowdown' and great encore closer '12XU' 1:55 of heaven and I remembered all the words and everything.
The only original member not here was Bruce Gilbert whose shoes were filled by very well by a woman guitarist who while never actually moving did in fact rock, note perfect all night. Her Kim Gordon like presence connected Wire to Sonic Youth, a connection I hadn't made before, but there it is, both outsiders, both really having created their own genres and of course both, you know, getting on a bit.
Main man, Colin Newman, who tonight Matthew was going to be Tony Wilson as a geography teacher, did at one point take off his suit jacket and fold it neatly across an amp. That, combined with the need to keep pushing his specs back up his nose belied the sheer energy of most of the set, his distinctive southern whine holding a tension and attention, the man couldn't utter a rock cliché if he tried.
That's why we love them.
