We all know the Paisley Underground (let’s get ‘that’ out of the way upfront!) is a moment in time of great significance for those of us who were there first go round and this applies to a large proportion of AUK’s readers… and writers. The make-up of the disappointingly slender audience in place for tonight’s Rain Parade show in the Brudenell’s community room would also support this observation. Looking, as it does, as if most of those in attendance were there in the early 80s for the LA outfit’s short tenure as peerless purveyors of glorious Byrdsian jangle and ‘psych-pop’ nuggets.
It has to be noted that there were initial worries about the potential for the evening to be some kind of nostalgia show for the indie crowd. A sort of ‘80s Calling’ for NME and Bucket Full of Brains readers. However, as the room fills up a touch there’s a smattering of younger ‘late comers’ to the splendours of Matt Piucci and Steven Roback’s latest incarnation of the band, which strangely has now been around longer than the original version. Piucci, in his recent interview with us, noted that one of the things which encouraged them to make such a convincing return was the appreciation of this younger crowd.
Despite a solidly curated and delivered set, this appreciation, though definitely present, is somewhat muted tonight. A significant proportion of the audience seems more intent on taking copious notes and photos rather than giving themselves over to the music. Even those in attendance who are not silently composing their review are subdued in their response. Whilst this does not seem to dampen the band’s enthusiasm – they appear to be having plenty fun throughout their 75 minutes on stage – it is perhaps the reason why the four song encore promised on the set list is cut to a pithy single song; an admittedly coruscating version of ‘Kaleidoscope’.
The set begins with another early classic ‘No Easy Way Down’. It’s a somewhat belligerent opener, a moody and muddy version of one of their moodier and muddier songs and it sets the scene for a set that is a little more psych and a little less pop. It is however the more melodic end of their oeuvre that hits home best tonight. The full on jamming, nuggets pop of ‘You’re my Friend’ landed beautifully and their 1982 debut ‘What She’s Done to Your Mind’ with guitarist Matt Thoman’s Byrds’ infested jangle and pedal effects was a treat. As was their very latest single, the almost spot on full band harmonies of the slightly melancholy ‘Surprise, Surprise’ which immediately proceeded it: nice touch that, songs 42 years apart and yet entirely at ease together.
Surprisingly perhaps it is this new material that appears to fly best with both audience and band. The title track of 2023’s “Last Rays of a Dying Sun” fizzed with energy and ‘Green’, with Piucci taking over keyboards from Derek See was a gruff delight. The band seemed somehow more comfortable and energised by these newer songs. Perhaps the lower weight of expectation associated with this newer material allowed the band to feel more free and relaxed when delivering it and this is something that the audience responded to. A lot of the older material seemed a touch workmanlike and functional though perfectly pleasing, almost like the band felt they needed to play it to keep us happy rather than really wanting to – fabulously competent but a little mechanistic.
What we wanted was for them to be less restrained, to really let go. We were waiting for that rush of the first time we heard psychedelic backwards guitars and effects, the jangles and melodies that pinged our hearts and sent us off in search of the Byrds, Love and those other Californian psych nuggets that so transformed our listening lives. In a way, this again matches the tone of their interview with us, which positioned this tour as an exercise in craft and ensuring audiences get what they expect – as far as possible. The whole event felt like a really enjoyable and engaging academic exercise; an exam that we all aced but which didn’t really do much for our career prospects.
Grateful thanks to Simon Godley for some of the photos used.
Shame about the poor turnout – there was no lack of people at 229 in London. Similar crowd by the sound of it though – if there was ten years between the oldest and the youngest audience member I’d be surprised.
Similar set – although we got a few more in the encore. To be honest they could have played ‘No Easy Way Down’ for 90minutes and that would have been just fine – what an opener, waves of sound with a steady grinding motorik beat. And the new material did make for some of the highest highlights – ‘Last Rays of a Dying Sun’ and ‘Last Stop on the Underground’ in particular.
What a dream of a gig.