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Back Again? Robin, Clive and Mike together in Edinburgh 30 December 1999 Over the last few years there have been a number of "semi-reunions," the most notable being the 1997 coupling of Robin Williamson and Mike Heron for two gigs in Glasgow and London Bloomsbury. During 1999, Robin and Clive Palmer started to tour together again to promote the album At The Pure Fountain. However, the long-awaited day happened on 30 December 1999 when the original line-up of the Incredible String Band reformed for one night only to play St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh. This seemed initially like a very strange setting although the tickets should have stated that thermal clothing was essential as the venue was freezing! Reaction to the gig appears to be mixed and this review aims to take into account the comments that have been aired on the ISB Mailing List. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this ongoing discussion. The general view appears to be one of disappointment. While nobody was expecting a return to the late '60s with the band entering on a magic carpet, lighting jossticks, getting out the bowed gimbri and playing Hangman in its entirety, there were expectations of something special. The event was billed as The Incredible String Band and Friends but it was more like the Robin Williamson show with friends. Alongside Robin, Clive and Mike were Robin's wife Bina on backing vocals and Lawson Dando on piano. Clive played banjo and Northumbrian pipes on one song, Mike played guitar and mouth organ while Robin limited himself to guitar, harp, violin, whistle and electric bass! Robin ran the show although Clive had near equal billing in terms of the number of lead vocals. The inclusion of Mike appeared to have been a last-minute decision. While his voice sounded excellent, at times it sounded as if he was playing on his own and had not rehearsed with the others. This was a complete contrast to the 1997 gigs where Mike and Robin were more equal with Mike's band providing a stronger base for him. The equality of the ISB was not replicated here. there had been much talk prior to 1997 of animosity between Mike and Robin although they had denied it themselves. The Glasgow and Bloomsbury gigs make it clear that there was no animosity. After Edinburgh we start to wonder again. Atmosphere was lacking in contrast, in particular, to the Bloomsbury gig. The venue did not work and guest artist Billy Connolly took the occasion to provide some thoughts about the venue and the church in general, a move welcomed by all those who believe in freedom of thought. (Well done Billy!) My personal view of the songs chosen, and one reflected by many of the list contributors, was that this was a missed opportunity. Over the course of near two hours there were very few ISB songs played. As previously stated, no-one really expect a "Greatest Hits" package but we expected the ISB to honour their own material rather than play what was largely a set of reasonable cover versions that could be heard in any folk club. This is again where the 1997 gigs were better. Those two events contained a wealth of post-ISB Heron and Williamson material but they also included some reworked ISB songs. The only ISB songs played in Edinburgh were the obligatory Empty Pocket Blues and a few of Mike's songs. Everything's Fine Right Now was one of the few group successes of the evening. OK, no-one expected a rendition of A Very Cellular Song but the encore of I Bid You Goodnight was unexpected and probably Mike's high point of the evening. Mike's voice certainly sounded as strong as ever. It showed just how strong and distinctive his voice is. That's a cover version too! Again unexpected and slightly disappointing Painting Box. This is one of the band's most popular songs and, on record, another Heron triumph. I had the feeling that Mike had not practised this as it took some time to get together. Mike sang this solo but it missed the Likky's vocals on the chorus, a key feature of the original. There has been much discussion of Bina Williamson's backing vocals but, if she was adding backing vocals, surely this is the song that required them. Three guests appeared during the course of the evening, each having a short solo spot rather than joining in the with ISB. Archie Fisher sang a song called The Golden Tones about a pop group who "broke up when the van broke down." He was followed by Bert Jansch who sang Lily of the West and Caledonia. The warmest welcome was reserved for Billy Connolly who admitted that he was looking forward to replacing Jerry Garcia in the Grateful Dead but in the meantime he played The Cuckoo accompanied by his own banjo. I think the overall feeling was one of disappointment although it was generally agreed that it was good to see Mike, Robin and Clive together on a stage again. The thrill of the reunion contrasted with the "let down" in the choice of material and, sometimes, the delivery of it. This was not an Incredible String Band gig but a Robin and Clive gig with a few guests. As a one-off ISB celebration it could have been improved by the inclusion of more ISB material and, possibly, some songs with Malcolm Le Maistre who was in the audience. This should have been a one-off tribute to the ISB but it was more of the ISB's tribute to their own influences. In many ways this was just another folk club band. An appreciation of the ISB by its members would have been most welcome as there were many in the audience who would not have seen the band perform at their peak, indeed some who were not been born. This does not need to be a return to the '60s and '70s, just a performance of their own material. When can we hear Mike again? Tracks played included:
Martin Payne |