Killing Joke: The Concert File
2006
|
A new year and a new album, with the intriguing title Hosannas From The Basement of Hell. 10 March: Clermont (France), Volcaniques de Mars (cancelled) 11 March: Bordeaux, Barbey Rock School (cancelled) 16 March: Herouville St-Clair, Big Band Cafe (cancelled) 17 March: Lille, Aéronef (cancelled) 2 April: Cambridge, The Junction (postponed) 3 April: Norwich, Waterfront (postponed) 7 April: Manchester, Academy 2 (postponed) |
|
14 April: Antwerp, Petrol
Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Hosannas/ Requiem/ Frenzy/ Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche/ Gratitude/ Complications/ Pandemonium.
By all accounts a frankly less-than-spectacular beginning to the tour ... a late arrival, various states of inebriation and Jaz's losing his voice contributed to the poor atmosphere. Raven has been replaced on bass with a musician only known as Kniel at this time. The set ended without an encore.
15 April: Luxembourg, Den Atelier
Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/
Complications/ Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Hosannas/ Frenzy / Majestic/ Asteroid/
Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche. Encores: Gratitude, Unspeakable, Pandemonium.
An improved performance marred somewhat by a rather quiet
audience, most of whom seemed to have turned up by accident rather than by
design!
Unspeakable was rehearsed during the soundcheck and then turned up in the
encore. (Thanks to Dirk Ostroske for the details) 16 April: Amsterdam, Paradiso Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/
Complications/ Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Hosannas/ Frenzy/ Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/
The Wait/ Psyche/ Gratitude/ Unspeakable/ Change/ Pandemonium. A significant improvement over the debut
gig, with the added benefit of turning up on the
Fabchannel site for all to enjoy. So far the promise of only
playing the latest two albums has gone unfulfilled - which is unfortunate
since the newer numbers got the most enthusiastic reception from this audience -
but the band appear fairly focused and spirited. The guitars are too
low in the mix to get much sense of their sound, but drums, keys and vox are
coming through loud & clear. New bassist Kniel (warpaint and all) is taking an
active role by helping out with the backing vocals. Even Geordie is doing
a little jamming! 18 April: Toulouse, Havana Cafe 19 April: Nantes, L'Olympique Setlist: Booids/ Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total
Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas From The Basement Of Hell/ Frenzy/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Pssyche. Encore: Pandemonium. 20 April: Ris-Oranges, Le Plan Setlist: Faith Healer/ Booids/ Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total
Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas From The Basement Of Hell/ Frenzy/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Pssyche. Encores: Gratitude,
Unspeakable, Complications, Pandemonium. 21 April: La Chaux de Fonds, Dahu
Festival 22 April: Le Mans, Circuit Setlist: Booids/ Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total
Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas From The Basement Of Hell/ Frenzy/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Pssyche. Encore: Pandemonium. 23 April: Mulhouse, Noumatrouff
An attendee reports being lucky enough to hear Money Is
Not Our God being rehearsed - twice - during soundcheck. Setlist
(see photo on right): Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/
Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Frenzy/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche. Encores: Gratitude/
Unspeakable/ Pandemonium. Complications was included in the encore list but not
played. 26 April: Leuven, Het Depot Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/
Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Money Is Not Our God/ Frenzy/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche. Encores: Gratitude/
Unspeakable/ Pandemonium. Another excellent night, with band and audience alike in
good spirits. Those fortunate enough to engage in some post-gig chatting heard
that another new album may be forthcoming! Entre le punk et la new wave, au début des années 80, il y eut
Killing Joke et peu de gens savent que ce groupe eut le génie d'associer la
rugosité du punk, la puissance du métal et la maîtrise technologique pour se
poser en précurseur de l'indus. En effet, sans Killing Joke, pas de Nine Inch
Nails, pas de Ministry et pas de Rammstein. Près de trente après leurs débuts,
les gens de Killing Joke repassent à l'attaque sur l'Europe pour venir défendre
"Hosannas from the basements of hell", leur dernier album en date qui fait suite
à un déjà très convaincant album éponyme en 2003. Le groupe a eu des hauts et
des bas mais on peut dire que depuis une dizaine d'années, la Blague Qui Tue a
réussi à maintenir le cap et rallier à sa cause non seulement les amateurs
d'indus et de punk, mais aussi les métallurgistes de tous poils qui aiment les
riffs bien bruts de décoffrage. Je débarque à Louvain avec un ami qui n'a plus fait de concert
depuis bien longtemps mais qui a sauté sur l'occasion de revoir Killing Joke,
qu'il avait vu en action il y a vingt ans. Nous arrivons tôt au Dépôt et cela
est récompensé puisque nous croisons le chanteur Jaz Coleman qui nous salue et
bavarde un peu avec nous. On en profite évidemment pour faire dédicacer nos
billets. Jaz a l'air bien content d'être là, sa bonne humeur étant sans doute
accentuée par les kirs royaux qu'il continue d'écluser à la terrasse du café d'à
côté. Voilà une bien belle façon de commencer un concert. Il faudra
malheureusement attendre que Confuse The Cat, le groupe de première partie, ait
fini un set ennuyeux pour profiter pleinement des bienfaits de la musique de
Killing Joke. Les quatre musiciens de Confuse The Cat ont oublié qu'il y
avait une vie après U2 et Depeche Mode et jouent en une demie heure huit titres
d'une simili cold wave impersonnelle et entendue déjà des tas de fois. Les types
ont de vieilles guitares Fender Jazzmaster ou Rickenbacker et jouent aussi une
musique qui a vieillie. Les approximations du show n'améliorent rien et le
chanteur n'arrête pas de perdre la bretelle, le jack de sa guitare ou de donner
involontairement des coups de manche dans le micro. Il y a des jours où certains
groupes devraient vraiment prendre de la drogue pour trouver l'inspiration. A 21h15, Killing Joke, annoncé par la chanson "The faith
healer" du Sensational Alex Harvey Band, prend la scène d'assaut et va molester
un public dont les effectifs tournent autour des 400 personnes. Tant pis pour
ceux qui ne sont pas là car pendant 90 minutes, ça va être le bonheur total,
avec un Jaz Coleman parfait dans sa combinaison noire et son maquillage à la
Alice Cooper. Ses complices entretiennent une onde de choc monumentale et le
bassiste aux chaussures aussi épaisses que ses riffs et à la houppe de Tintin
cybernétique est pour beaucoup dans le pilonnage sonique qui règne sur scène. Ce
dernier remplace au pied levé l'habituel bassiste Paul Raven, parti
momentanément tourner avec Ministry. Le claviériste n'a pas son pareil pour
larder les neurones de griffures industrielles imparables et le guitariste
Geordie Walker, impassible sous sa casquette, décortique des accords hantés sous
le martèlement ignominieux de la batterie de Benny Calvert, enfoncé dans
l'obscurité du fond de la scène. L'éclairage est en effet minimaliste et
participe à l'atmosphère angoissée attisée par un Jaz Coleman agissant tantôt en
mécanicien hébété du rythme, tantôt en diablotin primesautier souriant au
public. Le groupe capitalise sur son passé et propose une set list
composée de titres anciens d'à peu près toutes les époques et de quelques
chansons nouvelles du dernier album ("Hosannas from the basements of hell",
"Majestic", "Gratitude"). Le tout premier album de 1980 est particulièrement mis
en valeur avec cinq titres, dont les immortels "Wardance" et "The wait" (qui fut
repris en son temps par Metallica). L'autre grand album des années 90,
"Pandemonium", n'est pas en reste avec "Communion", "Whiteout" et "Pandemonium".
Le rajout in extremis sur la liste de "Money is not our God" (de l'album
"Extremities dirt and various repressed emotions" de 1990) ravit les fans de la
première heure. Chaque titre représente un sommet du concert, tant
l'interprétation est tranchante. Sans trop remuer, Killing Joke dégage une
présence et une énergie incroyable, la patte des grands. Avec un rappel de trois titres composé de "Gratitude",
"Unspeakable" et "Pandemonium", le groupe achève de triompher et reçoit
l'ovation d'un public qui a modérément bougé mais qui a bien pris son pied. La
set list que j'avais sous les yeux disparaît sous mon nez mais je me venge en
allant piquer celle de la batterie. François. 27 April: Köln, Prime Club
Setlist: Faith Healer--Booids intro/ Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total
Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Frenzy/ Money Is Not Our God/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche/ Complications/ Unspeakable/
Pandemonium. An on-the-spot report: "I felt the band had a lot of fun
and played quite accurately. Very happy faces in the pit." 29 April: Nottingham, Rock City Another good night with the band long on enthusiasm if (by
some accounts) short on accuracy. Word is that they were enjoying themselves so
much that venue management nearly warned them about running overtime.
Implosion was originally included in the setlist but not played. 30 April: Glasgow, ABC Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/
Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Money Is Not Our God/ Frenzy/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whitetout/ Wait/ Psyche. Encores: Unspeakable, Pandemonium. Something of a disappointment, especially compared to the
Nottingham gig the night before, with pre-gig inebriation having a seriously
adverse effect on the playing. 2 May: Oxford, Zodiac
Setlist: Faith Healer--Booids intro/ Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total
Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Frenzy/ Money Is Not Our God/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche/ Gratitude/ Unspeakable/
Complications/Pandemonium. An excellent evening, garnering one of the few compliments
from the tour so far about Jaz's voice! 4 May: London, Koko Setlist: Faith Healer + Booids Intro/
Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Well-played and well-received - quite a winning
combination, with things getting 'hectic' down the front during some of the more
danceable old favourites! The sound continues to be a problem according to some
reports, with the vocals mixed so far down as to be inaudible. A review from the Guardian: Last year, Killing Joke celebrated 25 years of making music that their
original drummer, Paul Ferguson, once described as, "the sound of the earth
vomiting". With nostalgia still stirring the bile-filled gut of the punk rock
behemoths and a new album that recalls their angriest days, Killing Joke still
spew like bully boys after a 48-hour bender. 5 May: Manchester, Academy2 Setlist: Faith Healer + Booids Intro/
Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total Invasion/ Requiem/ Voted best gig of the tour by those in attendance with a
basis for comparison. 6 May: Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Another strong showing -- marred somewhat by troubles at
the mixing desk and low attendance, but the punters who came got a great treat. 7 May: Sheffield, Corporation A few minor hiccups (most notably the need for a guitar
change mid-Bloodsport!) but overall an enjoyable night out with everyone in good
spirits. 8 May: Cambridge, Junction 9 May: Norwich, Waterfront 9-11 June: Donington, Download Festival Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Total Invasion/ Unspeakable/ Frenzy/ The Wait/
Gratitude/ Asteroid/ Psyche/ Pandemonium. No complaints from those in attendance, with reports of great spirits and
great playing. Geordie reports the entire new album has been dropped from
the set ... will future reports confirm? Stay tuned. 30 July: Fuji (Japan) Festival Setlist: Communion/ Wardance/ Total Invasion/ Unspeakable/ Bloodsport/ Gratitude/ Asteroid/
Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche/ Pandemonium.
Encore: Requiem. Blogger
Jinki writes: When Youth, bassist from Killing Joke, dj'ed at the All Night Fuji Rave at
the festival last year, I wrote about how his band had stood me up one New
Year's Eve 26-odd years ago. I never did get another chance to see them. So,
understandably, Killing Joke instantly became my most-wanna-see band this year.
And, true to form, they kept us waiting in the Red Marquee on Sunday night for a
good 15 minutes after the official start time. But, hey, what's a few minutes
compared to a quarter century? The crowd was just as tantalized as I was while waiting. They frequently
broke out into a chant. And every time a roadie walked on stage they went ape,
thinking it was the band. I couldn't help but smile.
Other reports state Alex Paterson was backstage and made a
brief appearance at the end.
24 April: Lyon, Trans-Club
Setlist: Faith Healer--Booids intro/ Communion/ Wardance/ Primitive/ Total
Invasion/ Requiem/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Frenzy/ Money Is Not Our God/
Majestic/ Asteroid/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Psyche/ Gratitude/ Unspeakable/
Pandemonium.
Gratitude/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Money Is Not Our God/ Frenzy/ Majestic/
Asteroid/ Whiteout/
The Wait/ Psyche. Encores: Unspeakable, Pandemonium.
The gig starts tamely enough, with ex-choirboy Jaz Coleman in reflective mood.
"I'm about to be a grandfather," he says with a smile. But he looks like the
stuff of a child's nightmares. Dressed in a black boiler suit, with dark
triangles above and below his eyes, he prances about from one foot to the other
like a demonic harlequin, playing up the scary depths of Killing Joke's canon
like an old-fashioned ham.
He shudders and shakes, entices and preaches, electrified by Geordie Walker's
grinding guitar rhythms. Coleman makes clear his admiration for Walker, one hand
on his heart, the other gesturing towards his friend. It's a rare moment of
sentiment. Though their history is far from one-dimensional, taking in elements
of funk, disco and even pop, it's the lacerating rock, the inspiration for two
generations of punk and metal bands, that Killing Joke rejoice in tonight.
Wardance is a primal and euphoric call to arms, Requiem an anthem to make Oasis
squeal in fear. Majestic, from new release Hosannas From the Basement of Hell,
proves that angry young men can turn into angrier old ones, Walker's riffs
stalking Coleman's blood-curdling roar.
Coleman's awareness of time is unwavering and even his farewell is doom-laden.
"I'd just like to remind you the next time we meet again, someone in this room
will be dead," he says.
Gratitude/ Bloodsport/ Hosannas/ Money Is Not Our God/ Frenzy/ Majestic/
Asteroid/ Whiteout/
The Wait/ Psyche. Encores: Unspeakable, Pandemonium.
But Coleman instantly pronounced, "This is no joke." And, with that, the drummer
hit the high hat and band launched into their set. Dark, lyrical, haunting. They
played extensively off their new album, "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell."
But they also gave us a good sampling of some of their early classics, like "Wardance"
- their first single and a personal favorite.
Coleman prefaced every song with a litany of political commentary, urging us not
to forget Hiroshima and listing America's most recent transgressions. But I
don't think anyone - except the odd foreigner, like myself - really understood
his Yukio Mishima references. And when Lucifire and her partner joined the band
on stage - each juggling a candelabra of fire - the spectacle was breathtaking
and the audience ecstatic. They called for two encores. And got them.
17 August: Trutnov Festival, Trutnov, Czech Republic
Setlist: Complications/ Primitive/ Wardance/ Total Invasion/
Bloodsport/ Frenzy/ Gratitude/ Asteroid/ The Wait/ Money Is Not Our God/ Psyche/
Unspeakable/ Requiem.
18-20 August: Devon, Beautiful Days Festival
Setlist: Gratitude/ Asteroid/ Wardance/ Total Invasion/ Unspeakable/
Bloodsport/ Frenzy/ Whiteout/ The Wait/ Pssyche/ Pandemonium. Encores:
Requiem, Complications.
This review appeared on rockbeast.com:
The heaviest band on the whole line up were the final band of Saturday night,
Killing Joke. It’s hard to believe that they have been going twenty seven years
now but this does not show apart from on their confidence as they tear through a
set of powerful and bass heavy tracks. Jaz Coleman truly knows how to control a
crowd with something as little as the expressions on his face.
The hard rocking fans of Beautiful Days loved the extra bit of heaviness as they
pinned themselves up against the barrier head banging along. Their set is easily
one of the best sets of the weekend. It just goes to show that even though they
have been going for a mighty twenty seven years they are still on top of their
game.
23 September: London, Lost Playground Festival (cancelled)
5 October: Gent, Handelbeurs (cancelled)
11 October: Rouen, l'Exo 7 (cancelled)
12 October; Savigny, Le Temple (cancelled)
13 October: Caen, le BBC (cancelled)
14 October: Brest, Le Hespérides (cancelled)
15 October: Paris, Elysée-Montmartre (cancelled)
The autumn dates were cancelled due to Jaz's reported back trouble.
