CityLife

not a big fan of old rockers reforming , but i am a bit upset i have missed the last 2 magazine gigs - still one of my best gigs of all time (and i have been to over 500 in 30 odd years ) was them at the russell club in 1978 - am certain to be trying for tickets should they come round again .<br />

Having only learned of Magazine's revival via a newspaper review in a dentist surgery I somehow conspired to miss their gigs earlier this year , the same mistake would not happen again.<br /> <br /> I last had the pleasure of seeing the magnificent magazine at the Liverpool Empire in 1979 , when suported by an unknown band called Simple Minds , indeed I somehow blagged my way backstage to meet the enigmatic Howard who had very little to say I seem to rememeber.<br /> <br /> Anyway the choice of the marvelous Bridgewater hall was perfect for the avant garde sound of Magazine.<br /> <br /> The first half of the show consisted of the correct use of soap , starting with a faveourite of mine "because you're frightened " , including a great version of Thank you & finishing with the fantastic song from under the floorboards .<br /> <br /> The second half of the show was more accesible in its inclusion of stand out tracks from the other albums , real life , the light pours out of me , parade , permafrost but no shot by both sides (which didnt suprise me).<br /> <br /> The sound was tight & electrifying all through the set , Dave Formula's swirling keyboards , coupled with a very heavy bass from Barry Adamson , controlled by John Doyle's drum . The replacement for the late John Mcgeogh & the backing singer were well on board with all that was moving on.<br /> <br /> Of course all this was held together beautifully by the mesmirising presence of Mr Devoto & even his surreal readings & links added to the magnificence of this event.<br /> <br /> If you are a fan & you missed the last 2 visits dont miss a 3rd if it ever happens , 30 years was a long wait but it was worth it.<br />

The natives were getting restless, the hall was packed to the gills. The backdrop came down featuring Linders 'Real Life' images, this was a sight to behold. The excitement building and finally the band emerge onto the stage, little later followed by Howard to ecstatic applause. Howard seemed to scan the crowd and be quite bemused at the sheer volume of people present. John Doyle mouthed "Wow" standing up from his drum kit to survey the audience. They kicked started into 'The Light Pours Out Of Me', with marvellous effects from the light machines behind Howard. It was electrifying and the hairs stood out on the back of my neck. I caught some great shots, Howard appears to be guiding the lights by hand. He was dressed rather eccentrically in a pink single breasted jacket, with mandarin collared pink shirt, 3/4 length trousers and canvas shoes. Quite the different man we saw 30 years ago, but echoes of the young Howard remain in some of his posturing, he gave us little ballet steps, quirky movements, lots of hand motions, grimacing and smiling, staring out into the vast crowd he looked like he was really enjoying the comeback.<br /> <br /> The music was flawless, with guitarist Noko giving us some good ole sex appeal with red shirt and leather trousers, Dave Formula on keyboards, smiling and having a ball, on bass Barry Adamson with shades of Slash in his top hat, snazzy waistcoat and dark shades.Finally John Doyle on drums (who was interviewed on our very pages check out here) bashing and crashing with passion.<br /> <br /> Howard shared a few words with the audience, he introduced all the band said it was all down to Dave Formula that this reunion had taken place and also gave a mention to the late John John McGeoch during the set. Howard introduced Rosalie from Ipso Facto onto the stage and they performed a short duet, on 'Great Beautician In The Sky' later Samantha, the guitarist from IF joined with backing vocals standing behind Barry Adamson. Towards the end of the set Howard sat on the edge of the stage, eyes gazing into the dark swaying masses who by this time had erupted since they played 'Shot By Both Sides'. It became a bit of a mosh pit and the barriers were squashing us somewhat, meanwhile the cameras (which had been whirling around the stage & crowd all evening) panned onto the front row. So I presume a DVD will be coming out, you might spot me snapping away with my trusty Cannon in hand.(Check out some great shots of the night here)<br /> <br /> The set list appeared to be the same as the one from London (check out here). I did manage to get half of Howard's set list by the end of the night. They carved out one hell of a great show for everyone including the supremely entertaining guest acts and I'm sure no one went away disappointed. After completing two encores the entire band came onto the stage and took a bow and the crowd made a thunderous appreciative racket. Thanks for a great night Magazine, dare I say it even better than in 1979!<br /> <br /> (Not sure all the links here will work but check out the full evenings review of supports acts at Mudkiss Fanzine:<br /> <br /> http://www.mudkiss.com/magazinegig.htm<br /> <br /> Review by Mel<br />

This was such an anticipated event, it was bound to disappoint, however slightly. I just felt it sagged a little in the middle, the choice of songs a tad predictable (almost all of the live Play album, nearly three decades old, was played). Magazine are a band who marry thought provoking lyrics with soaring melodies, so the choice of one or two of their less tuneful numbers in that central section (Twenty Years Ago has always been a dirge) was the only criticism I could level. Well, maybe also Devoto's surreal monologue about...um...<br /> <br /> That having been said, it was still one of the better gigs we'll see this year. I last saw them in 1979 at the Apollo and don't remember Devoto being such a great presence on stage. Barry Adamson wore a sinister top hat that made me think of Baron Samedi in Live and Let Die, and Noko was an able replacement for the late John McGeoch.<br /> <br /> Stand-out moments were the dramatic opening, The Light Pours Out of Me, Song From Under The Floorboards and the fabulous Permafrost, whose lyrics had been slightly altered (perhaps to make them slightly more politically correct).<br /> <br /> Great to see them back, and no-one could have lived up to such high expectations. All we need now is some new material...<br />

Thoroughly enjoyed the gig, musically they were right on the button and the reception the crowd gave the band was stunning. One of the best gigs I've been to in a long, long time - if you didn't catch it go on Tuesday you won't be disappointed<br />

MAGAZINE, after being lost under the proverbial floorboards for 27 years, emerged blinking into the spotlight again.<br /> <br /> But would the band, led by one of Manchester punk’s founding fathers, Howard Devoto - the man who helped form The Buzzcocks before duly quitting and then debunking punk - seem like a shiny, tantalising edition of Vogue or a dog-eared old copy of Titbits?<br /> <br /> Neither, really, because while they failed to reproduce the excitement of the cutting-edge sound they created back in the day, they conjured up enough new tricks to keep their old fans happy-ish at the Academy on Saturday night.<br /> <br /> And you’ve got to hand it to Devoto. While not the greatest singer technically, he certainly tries to put on a show, albeit one involving choreography that’s half Marcel Marceau mime and half Basil Fawlty awkwardness.<br /> <br /> Against a backdrop recreating the cover of first album Real Life, Devoto – backed by original members Dave Formula on keyboards, John Doyle on drums and Barry Adamson on bass – lurched onto the stage with white jacket and bald head to open with messianic The Light Pours Out Of Me.<br /> <br /> Doctor Evil<br /> <br /> And were it not for the fact that he was wearing black three-quarter length trousers (a style crime even in summer), the singer could easily have been mistaken for Austin Powers’ old adversary, Doctor Evil.<br /> <br /> Inevitable, I suppose, as his voice always had a bit of a Nosferatu quality.<br /> <br /> Being a former art school boy, Devoto still has a neat line in nonsense wordplay, so one minute he’s teasing the audience that he’s ‘still Adam Faith’, the next he’s talking about it always ‘drizzling on my Mivvy.’ Crazy guy.<br /> <br /> When the band struck up the stuttering and challenging The Great Beautician In The Sky, it was a reminder of why Magazine were so courageous. Never easy but never boring either.<br /> <br /> During the song a black-clad backing singer came on stage and read a paper, as though the whole exercise was one big yawn.<br /> <br /> Eventually the jacket came off, revealing a baggy white shirt, and Devoto, with that key on his back fully wound, darted around stage for Permafrost. But from that frantic high, it was more of the unexpected as he read from a book about Mr Manifold, like some demented vicar.<br /> <br /> The fans allowed him his moment of barminess, though, safe in the knowledge that coming up would be the driving bass and synth-infused numbers they loved in their youth.<br /> <br /> And Definitive Gaze, Shot By Both Sides and, as part of the encore, Motorcade were served up to complete a fascinating if not entirely inspiring night of post-punk nostalgia.<br />