THE POSIES +
COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS
Camden Dingwalls 5th March 2001
A Poptones event, so it seems to follow that Alan McGee's new label have something to do with the fortunes of the Posies these days. Ever since main songwriters of Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer went their separate ways a couple of years ago, a truly bizarre chain of events took place. Due to the tidying of loose ends, a 'Best of' AND a box set were put together, and then somehow Ken and Jon ended up touring together, and a new live acoustic album ('Just in Case you Didn't Feel Like Plugging In') was the result. It seemed that the Posies were far from dead.
Tonight's show is the first time that the Posies have played in England as a four piece band in a long time, and there is a really charged atmosphere in Dingwalls. Unfortunately we have to endure the 'Posies-lite' music of Glasgow's Cosmic Rough Riders - a puzzling band who have all the right influences (Gram Parsons, Byrds, Big Star, etc), but they just come across as really tame.
The Posies in contrast step things up a gear with their opening blast of 'Definite Door' and the Husker Du tribute 'Grant Hart'. It's clear from the start that they're here to have fun now that they're no longer burdened with what the likes of Geffen want them to do. In fact it's ironic that the Posies always looked up to Big Star (Jon and Ken even made up half of the reformed Big Star in the early 90s) and now their own reputation is one of a brilliant band who were never appreciated.
So what do they play? Too many songs to recall I'm afraid. We got a lot of 'Frosting on the Beater' (still their best known album I suppose) and bits and bobs from all their albums, as well as the recent Spanish import EP. Tons of covers too, when they're trying to keep this Posies-hungry audience happy. As we won't let them off the stage they oblige us with versions of Elvis Costello's 'I Don't Want to go to Chelsea' (one of the more rehearsed covers it has to said!) and stabs at tacky pop and metal songs, most of which raise a smile. Actually 'Hungry Like the Wolf' was sounding really good 'til it fell apart!
A light hearted, often celebratory performance. Who knows when they'll be back for a full-blooded Posies show (if ever?) but this was a gig not to miss.
KEN STRINGFELLOW +
JON AUER
Highbury Upstairs at the Garage
6th March 2001
So the main Posies are back again, albeit for two separate acoustic sets. Jon is up first and immediately makes his intentions clear when someone shouts for 'Definite Door' - "I thought that was last night" comes the reply. Oh well. Suffice to say I don't recognise any of the songs apart from the closing cover of Pyschedelic Furs's 'Love My Way', although Posies fans won't be disappointed by this solo material. Musically it inhabits the same melodic, guitar based area that the Posies (and Teenage Fanclub, Replacements, Big Star, etc) do so well, although it certainly doesn't make as much inpact on its own as it would with a band.
The same goes for Ken Stringfellow, although his material is slightly more abrasive than Jon's sweetly melodic songs. He's headlining tonight, primarily because his new recordings are soon to be released by Alan McGee's Poptones (who have funded these dates), and there's no reconcilation at the end - this is very much a case of two separate sets. I've never heard any of Ken's material before and it probably takes a few listens, but he was still warmly received. Less fond of the covers than his partner Jon, this lengthy set is all new material. Roll on those solo albums!
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