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Robin and Mike Together on Stage Again, 27 September and 4 October 1997

We thought it would never happen. The Incredible String Band last played together in 1974 and it was widely believed that all was not well between Mike and Robin. Robin has been touring extensively and releasing many albums. Mike has been less busy but released the wonderful Where the Mystics Swim in 1996, to my mind the best post-ISB album. However, with the success of the Be Glad magazine, the CD re-releases etc things started to change. We had the convention in Leeds where Mike, Robin and Malcolm all played but separately. This was followed by Back Again where Malcolm and Clive Palmer played in London. Then in the Spring of 1997 the news came that Mike and Robin would be playing together again, not as the Incredible String Band although older songs were sure to be included in the repertoire. Two dates were arranged for Glasgow on 27th September and London Bloomsbury Theatre on 4th October 1997.

Saturday 27th September and I board the Royal Scot from London Euston to Glasgow. I had my passport with me and I had watched Rab C Nesbitt so I knew all about Glasgow. The Henry Wood Hall was only a short taxi ride from the hotel and it was full when I arrived. It was only a short walk from where the Mike and Robin had been playing back in the 1960s with Clive Palmer at the Incredible Folk Club. A BBC film crew was there and the gig was recorded as well. Mike and Robin were joined by John Rutherford and Dave Haswell from Mike's Incredible Acoustic Band. There were no real surprises in the material played. Anyone who has seen Mike or Robin recently will be familiar with the songs and the delivery. The difference this time is that the Incredible Acoustic Band played on Robin Williamson material while Robin joined in on many of Mike's songs. The ISB material included has also been played in the solo sets recently but it was good to hear Robin and Mike playing it together, especially for those of us who never saw the String Band live. There was some suggestion that the paying was not totally "together" but after 23 years and two rehearsals what can one expect. There was however a strong feeling of anticipation. It was felt that the Glasgow gig was to some extent a warm up for London and the band needed one outing under its belt. However, the overall feeling was one of excitement and surprise at hearing Mike and Robin singing and playing together. The animosity myth had certainly been dismissed.

One week later at the Bloomsbury Theatre in the centre of London. The warm up was well-worth it and the whole evening was far more comfortable and confident for the band. The audience included Rose Simpson, Joe Boyd, Likky's sister, Robert Plant and Roy Harper amongst others. The set of songs was identical to that played in Glasgow with a short break in the middle where we were entertained by T & R Theakston (a brewer for those not in the know). The acoustics were excellent and the sound quality could hardly be improved. Robin picked up his mandolin for the opening Everything's Fine Right Now before reverting to harp and guitar for the rest of the evening. Sadly the gimbri failed to make an appearance. The real highlights were naturally the older String Band material while Mike's Song for Robert Johnson (with Robin on whistle) gets better each time I hear it. There was more talk between the songs than in Glasgow, Robin talking about a little upstate festival in 1969 while Mike referred to being impressed by Robin's beatnik appearance when he first met him. After Red Hair we were treated to a Robin medley of October Song and Maya. Robin ended the first half by telling a story called Fathers. String Band songs in the second half included 1968 which although included in the live On Air CD, it never had an "official" release until being included on Mike's Where the Mystics Swim. Feast of Stephen from Smiling Men closed the second set.

There were two encores. At the end of the first one, Robin picked up the violin for a great version of Log Cabin Home inn the Sky that had everyone singing along. The second encore was just Mike and Robin singing the Carter Family's You've Been a Friend to me which had appeared on Radio One Live in Concert.

Hopefully this will not be the last we hear of Mike and Robin playing together. It was clear that many more people wanted to listen so we must keep our fingers crossed.

  1. Everything's Fine Right Now
  2. Lonely Exile
  3. Tom & Alexei
  4. Scotland Yet
  5. Red Hair
  6. October Song/Maya
  7. Favourite Sins
  8. Killing the Dragon
  9. Fathers
  10. Love Letter to my Wife Bina
  11. Mexican Girl
  12. Koeeoaddi There
  13. 1968
  14. Song for Robert Johnson
  15. Me and the Mad Girl
  16. Feast of Stephen
  17. Everytime I Hear Sweet Birds
  18. Baby Goodnight
  19. Log Cabin Home in the Sky
  20. You've Been a Friend to Me

Martin Payne

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