Premier Rock Forum

I saw em last weekend, and they were superb. I got kicked out of the show midway because someone accused me of putting him in a headlock. Bizarre.

Dave N. wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:55 pm I saw em last weekend, and they were superb. I got kicked out of the show midway because someone accused me of putting him in a headlock. Bizarre.

We might need more details.

Midway through a GBV show, though, is way longer than most shows. I saw them in Village Underground before lockdown, and they were great. I've only got a couple of their records, and to be honest, I'm not a fan of really long sets, but it was really good.

There is/used to be a festival of GBV tribute bands at the WIndmill in Brixton. All day, barbeque included in the price, plus (the year I went) one of the bands was fronted by Paddy Considine. Superbly strange day out.

I would like to see them condense the three albums a year into one album, and it would probably be great.

Saw the live band in Joshua Tree last spring and they were fantastic - I feel like the band deserves a front to back good album. Would like to see Bob take some stabs at real lyrics just to change things up and because Same Place the Fly had some great, great stuff.

Definitely Not Crap. Having a musician like Doug Gillard in your band can only make it better. Another reason the current lineup kicks so much ass is drummer Kevin March who played on Earthquake Glue (2003) and Half Smiles Of The Decomposed (2004) (and that New Years Eve DVD recorded at The Metro), then returned at the tail end of the Classic Lineup reunion after Kevin Fennell was fired in 2013. I saw them in 2014 and they slayed.

Keeping up with their releases isn't easy but it's one of the things you have to accept with Pollard. His 2021 side project Cub Scout Bowling Pins (basically GBV with their producer on keyboards) was especially great. The fact that he can be so prolific after this long is astounding. After he's gone people will be digging into his catalog for years. Rock on Bob.

I think in terms of sheer quality, the current lineup of GbV, with Doug Gillard as unofficial musical director, may be the best edition to date. Seriously. I don't know if Pollard's songwriting is quite as great as it was in their heyday, but the albums are more consistently strong than ever -- no duds, very little Drunk Bob wankfest or lo-fi prattle, and they rock very convincingly. And I saw them live about four years back and they were outstanding, though I had to leave after about two hours (being the only sober person at a Guided by Voices show is, let us say, a challenge). I kinda burned out on GbV during the "Classic Lineup" reunion period, but they're back on my hit parade.

Dave N. wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:55 pmI got kicked out of the show midway because someone accused me of putting him in a headlock. Bizarre.

dullards and dreadful bros

(currently waiting for Sandbox reissue to arrive)

I liked the joke, Randy.

Frankie99 wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:51 pm I liked the joke, Randy.

+1

I've been using an office day to catch up on the last two releases from these prolific beasts.

Goddamn. The reunion era seems to be getting better and more consistent. Strut of Kings and Nowhere to Go But Up brought out lots of smiles. If you dig Pollard and power pop, don't sleep on these. The onslaught of album tends to make people tune out, but I feel like they're hitting a late career stride.