HAWKWIND AND PRIME SINISTER
The Intrepid Fox was invaded by strange people wearing lab coats with pictures of marijuana leaves all over them; this could only mean that the annual Hawkwind circus had flown into town. Pulling myself out of the drinking hole and into The Astoria, I was just in time for support band Prime Sinister from Paris.
On the whole Hawkwind supports are often irrelevant, although in the past they have had many varied astral companions, Ozric Tentacles, MAN, Tubulah Dog, RDF and Porcupine Tree amongst others. On a side note the perfect support and one that would bring a new generation of Hawkwind admirers out the woodwork would be The Meads Of Asphodel who seriously need to get over whatever fear they have of playing live.
The first thing that struck about Prime Sinister were that they were heavier than most I have caught supporting the Wind. With ‘In Guns We Trust’ they were also shouting “motherfucker” a lot which was kind of unexpected. Not that it was done in an immature Rage Against sort of fashion, there was an industrial grunge backbone running through this hefty bombast. “Do you like rock n’ roll,” shouted the front-man before getting the spade out and bombing into ‘Buried Alive’ which certainly rocked with the air of Motorhead about it.
Got to admit I didn’t pay attention to their whole set as it was a case of bumping into people who kept saying they didn’t expect to see me at a Hawkwind gig, no idea why as I have seen them about 30 times from the back of milk floats on the beach to Wembley Arena.
I was pleased to be able to spend the whole set dodging the video cameras in the photo pit (apart from occasional beer refills). Shame about the photos though, as the dry ice flowed from start to finish. This was the first time I had seen them with the current line up which saw long time road crew member and bassist of Spacehead Mr Dibs, sharing the lead vocals with the ever reliable founding member Dave Brock. This performance was also notable as Gongster Tim Blake was also sharing keyboard duties.
Got to admit the newer Hawkwind material that I have heard, (Alien 4 being the last album I liked) really has not done it for me, live of course it was a different affair and the band peppered the more recent stuff with some obligatory classics and kept everyone happy. Just for a change Hawkwind were in space for tonight’s show and I am pretty sure it was the void that is ‘The Black Corridor’ that kick-started proceedings. It was instantly evident that Mr Dibs was up to the job vocally and one could have closed their eyes and been under the illusion that it was actually Michael Moorcock up there on stage.
One of those newer songs was next I didn’t recognise the lyrics “what a good way to go” and now Google illuminates that the song was ‘Aerospace Age Inferno’ so perhaps I have been missing out as it was a catchy little trip of a song and dare I say had a bit of Monster Magnet about it. Of course a Hawkwind show is not actually just about the music it is strongly all about the visuals (man) too. The back projections are as tripped out as ever (and even with the no smoking ban, I am sure many of the audience were too) and there were a pair of acrobats performing in various costumes to keep us all entertained.
‘Orgone Accumulator’ and I think some lyrics from ‘Only Dreaming’ just didn’t do it for me, I guess the mid section piano part made it go all Elton John and then with another song that I never really got on with ‘Robot’ left me hungering for a classic. Luckily I got one as they dropped in a depth charged performance of ‘Master Of The Universe’ this was much more like it, now we were smokin’.
I wouldn’t say this was the best Hawkwind show I have seen by a long stretch and I admit to walking away with mixed feelings. They can be better when they play with the spontaneity of just turning up at a free festival unannounced, plugging in and letting rip. The rave induced all-nighters at Brixton were always fantastically memorable (or would have been if it were not for the drugs) but this seemed just a bit too “safe” for comfort.
Still with songs like Damnation Alley with its poppy melody, a deranged ‘Sonic Attack’ as well as encore of a storming ‘Flying Doctor’ and obligatory ‘Silver Machine’ the Wind still have what it takes and there is a good chance they will make it to their 40th Anniversary show in a few years time.
Pete Woods
LONDON ASTORIA 19/12/07