Pete Ashton’s Blog

King Heath, November 3rd. Full set.

Friday was the much anticipated Enablers gig at the Hare and Hounds. It was terrific. They are if not one of my favourite bands then definitely one of my favourite live bands ever. Here’s RussL’s GDFAF report and I should also note I finally met Russ and he’s a good man, if a little tired. But I understand that, having been there before. The middle of Going Deaf For A Fortnight is always the hardest. You’re knackered from the first week, the second week looks horrifying daunting but you’ve still got sufficient mental faculties to feel the fear. I was amused to hear he’s ending with a Motorhead gig. Now that’s brave!

Was also good to meet Lisa who had put the gig on for no other reason that she felt it a necessary thing to do. Folk like her, operating outside the usual circles of promoters, are an inspiration, especially when it results in gigs like this. Support from Last of the Real Hardmen was great and while they only played one song it was a long one that built from simple guitars and tricksy drums into a pounding roar of feedback and loops. More from them next time please.

The Enablers were stunning. Nuff said really. I took a shitload of photos, going with the “whack open the lens, point the camera a click 300 times” technique which seemed to work fairly well with 32 making the grade. I’m still torn as to whether there’s an art to gig photography or whether it’s just luck, but I have to say watching Simonelli through what is essentially a telescope is quite thrilling.

Three free mp3’s are for the taking here. Go get them now.