Lindisfarne

The Fire Station
Sunderland,
Wearside,
UK.

2023-09-16

Whilst I’ve noticed Yuletide fayre creeping into our supermarkets for some time now, it’s been Christmas all year long for Tempusfugit & I. On top of the BBC box set, a myriad of Mirabilia, The Alan Hull Songbook in “Barlick”, Rod & the two Rays “miraculously” getting back together to busk in a Newcastle shopping arcade, this is the sixth time of seeing The Lads this year.

We’ve both had our vaccinations. Tonight we’re off to Sunderland.

On the way down, TF reminds me that the great Sid James died here. Literally. On stage at The Sunderland Empire. We’re next door at The Fire Station.

I’ve been here a few times already. Setting aside the traditional friendly (?) leg pulling between Geordies & mackems, The Fire Station is a cracking venue. As the name suggests, a former fire station, adapted to house a bar, bar dining area & a 550 seat auditorium. And it’s been done really, really well. Nice, helpful staff, too. Even with Geordies.

We might have seen the band a number of times this year. We can probably guess the set. But we’re both “well up” for tonight’s show. And given we both intended recording we had a childish game of “up yours first”…”no, up yours first”…”no, up yours first”…

As it turns out, TF had a bit of a technical mishap, so the only recording to be upped from the two of us is this one. He’ll be back, though.

We may have got the “usual” two sets. However, they’ve played a good few shows this year and you can tell. They’re getting better and better. Each show develops its own character, so it’s never the same thing twice anyway. Plus, and it’s a small thing but we both picked up on it, DHD played “When The War Is Over” a bit differently tonight.

So, no real surprises from a setlist perspective, but well delivered versions of…pretty much everything. For me, not quite Wylam Brewery, but definitely “up there” in terms of performances I’ve enjoyed from this lineup. And all interspersed with a bit of humour, some poignancy and a lot of humanity.

For loads of reasons, I love this band. Best band in the world? Well…probably not and, being the type of people they are, they probably wouldn’t thank you for that accolade.

Still got a lot of shows to play this year with a lot, lot more being added for next year. Me & Tempusfugit already have five earmarked for 2024.

The fog on the Wear was all here:

S101 No Time To Lose
S102 Turn A Deaf Ear
S103 City Song
S104 Statues & Liberties
S105 Lady Eleanor
S106 Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong
S107 Log On Your Fire
S108 Anyway The Wind Blows
S109 Road To Kingdom Come
S110 One More Night With You
S111 January Song

I N T E R V A L

S201 Call Of The Wild
S202 All Fall Down
S203 Sundown Station
S204 Dingly Dell
S205 When The War Is Over
S206 Winter Song
S207 We Can Swing Together
S208 Fog On The Tyne
S209 Band Intros
S210 Meet Me On The Corner
S211 Run For Home
S212 Clear White Light Part II


ROD CLEMENTS Vocal, mandolin, fiddle, guitars
DAVE HULL-DENHOLM Vocal, guitars, harmonica
STEVE DAGGETT Vocal, keyboards, guitars, harmonica, percussion
IAN THOMSON Bass, vocal
PAUL SMITH Drums

Lineage
SP-CMC-4U >
TASCAM DR-40 >
Sound Forge Pro 14 >
Trader's Little Helper (level 8) >
Torrent Site

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