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Elly Roberts reviews
Rating: *
When you put on a gig which clashes with a major European event(intentionally or not) – i.e. Champions League Final, and still manage asell-out, youre doing well in my books.
Over in Turkey things seemed to behotting up: in Wrexham it was getting hotter still – under the collar. Athousand fans packed out the William Aston Hall NEWI to see the SuperFurries play their debut gig in Wrexham.
It took them long enough to get there, almost a decade, with the air fullof promise and expectation. It seemed to take even longer to get to actuallysee them.
Due on at 9.15 for 90 minutes, everything was set for a momentousoccasion. Bang on nine oclock, I took my photo position at stage front.With a setlist and note book at hand, I prepared my camera settings.
For the next 45 minutes I stood like a nu-nu wondering what the hell wasgoing on. Normally, when theres a delay, usually for technical reasons,theres always an announcement. This protracted time took the interval timeto an unbelievable one hour fifteen minutes.
From my position, I could sense restlessness and annoyance as fans vented theiranger. Eventually they appeared, to be greeted out of relief rather thangenuine appreciation. Were they distracted by events unfolding elsewhere? Ifthe delay was for non-technical reasons, which it must have been, then theband were unprofessional, rude and bloody arrogant.
Plodding along for the next three quarters of the set, which was hardlyinspiring by any standard, they barely left first gear. Musically they soundedvery good, with the only real highlight being Gruff Rhys singing with ahelmet on his head, and a track called Frequency. To add to the agony,the frontman was barely coherent or even audible: all done on a semi-lightstage of back and side lighting.
After song three, I sat in the upper circle bored out of my mind. From adistance, this could have been any band, as hardly a face was recognisableon the darkened stage. It all had a very one dimensional feel about it untilthey reached the brilliant Juxtaposed With You, probably theirbiggest hit to date. Suddenly,the crowd eventually reacted – or was it wokeup?
Now theyre in serious danger of not fitting it all in before the 11pmcurfew. Some quick adjustments, and were given an excellent LaserBeam, Something For The Weekend, Do Or Die, finishing with a stormingThe Man Dont Give A Fuck as the crowd went hysterical during thechoruses. With an abrupt goodbye, they were off.
Chanting for more, the crowd reached fever pitch as the pulsating beats seemedto herald an immediate return. One minute turned into four minutes: four intosix: six into eight: eight into ten, by which time boos could be heard asdisgusted fans left in droves. Suddenly,the din stopped and the houselightscame on. What,no more after ten years of waiting? Surely not.Oh yes – Thatsthe Super Furries for you.
Spotting my press pass, many fans approached me expressing their deep angerand disappointment at what could only be described as totally disrespectfulbehaviour.
Regarded as arguably one of the most significant and high profile events inthe musical history of Wrexham and north Wales, this was a major letdown. Fortheir patience, did the fans get value for money? Definitely not. Will they geta public apology? Definitely not. Would I go to see them again? On the evidenceof this: definitely not.
In 1980 I witnessed what I consider to be the worst gig ever – Bob Dylan atthe NEC Birmingham. This SFA show now holds the embarrassing title.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.