Psicle: Gong Hillaging

I wasn't sure whether to go see someone who I saw as an ageing hippy back in the late 70s but there are many reasons to lash out nigh on 40 quid for Steve Hillage. The main one being he's made some damn good music in his time. Introduced to Gong and Hillage by my mate long since lost Victor whilst partaking it was as I was broadening my appreciation of music beyond The Stranglers (although they have a rich vein of psychedelica), The Banshees (sometimes psychy) and Sham 69 (no, can't think of anything psyche influenced in their repertoire). I digress, having got into Planet Gong and Here and Now and seeing that culture clash with punk (Alternative TV for anyone?) I moved on from classic post Gong solo Hillage only to rediscover it when he formed System 7 instrumental in getting Glastonbury dance tents going. When I bought the tickets I didn't know it was going to be a showcase of his 70s albums. So a little apprehensive as to whether it will be Prog Rock or Space Rock. Am I still digressing? I'll get to the point.

The day kicks into gear with a cycle east to see Dulwich Hamlet undeservedly lose 1 nil to Billericay Town who have some very angry supporters one who was abusing a steward got laughed at by Dulwich fans and slunk off back to his mates. Twat. We played well but didn't take the chances and they did take just the one. Back home for half an hour before heading off to Islington to meet Pete in the famous Hope and Anchor which had the live double album from 78 which I have on their wall. And a Splodgenessabounds single. Nice touch. Then it's over to the Islington Assembly Hall where Gong are in full swing. They play a great range of old and new Gong including a couple off the classic and brilliant Camembert Electrique (one of you out there has my T shirt!) The bass is fantastic weaving in and out of the drums laying down that classic Gong groove then breaking up to confuse us. The guy from Knifeworld fronts the band singing and making guitar hero moves and he does it damn well adding energy to the band. Then there's the second guirarist on brilliant glissando guitar and a sax and general wind instrument duties guy. All in all just what you want playing Gong songs. They go off to applause but of course everyone is here for Hillage. A great warm up act bookending Hillage's solo albums.

Gong come back on with a keyboardist synthist and then we welcome Steve Hillage on stage. He's just on a rather short guitar with no head. I say "just" but what he gets out of that guitar is amazing. They take us on a journey of laid back trippy meanderings jazz like improv through to classic rock tunes which must have laid the way for stadium rock bands. Just on that, when they play straight down the line rock they are the best rock band I've ever seen in my entire life (a nod to Ramsay) although admittedly I don't go out of my way to see straight up rock bands indeed tend to avoid. Then they play around with harder rock riffs lifting us into a frenetic raw punky energy overlaid with Hillage's zippy guitar. The audience is mainly stationary, maybe it's the average age in here which is at least a generation older than the last time I was here to see Kawala. But I just can't help myself and get into a funky jumpy groove with hands in the air that guitar playing with the synth is hitting the spot in my brain. I even nearly headbanged in parts. Nearly. That's what's great about Gong especially with Hillage. Drum and bass and rhythm guitar keeping you grounded whilst the synths and sax and glissando guitar and Hillage's meanderings lift your mind up to the stars. Yeah I think my mind was wandering back to the days when I first heard Gong and Hillage and subsequent psychedelic events and bands. Flashback. And I've not mentioned the amazing light show visuals. The band go off and return for a triumphant finale before we are turned out into the chilly night air. Pete thought it was great although he wasn't a Gong fan before maybe he is now. We grab one for the road at the H&A where we chat to father and son about the gig and other "weird" bands. I think the father was trying to out weird us reeling off everyone from The Grateful Dead and Beefheart to Throbbing Gristle. I held my hand and didn't reveal my Good Missionaries trump card. A great night out. Again soon Pete? This coming Friday? The Old Faithful aka Windmill? You're on. And band practice Wednesday in the studio with drummer. Remember to bring that thing to make your guitar go all glissandoey.