Gene
Live in London
Astoria, 28/9/02

Lewis Slade (lewisslade@ukonline.co.uk)


Woah!
What can i say???
It alway's leaves me with a unique feeling when ever i have seen Gene 
live. I dont know what it is, but whoever out there is reading this and 
have seen Gene, will know what i mean.
Me, my girlfriend and my mate arrived in London about 5:30'ish.
It was a frantic rush to try and find the venue, but as soon as we did we 
slipped into it like you slip into your home at the end of a hard day at 
work.
I pointed my mate toward the bar and he returned with arms full of cold 
cans.
We sat, eagerly awaiting our boys to take the stage.


First up were Mower, who i believe are managed by our very own Matt James.
Personally i didnt warm to them too well.
They seemed very amateur and not prepared.
Complete contrast to the second support band British Sea Power.
Wonderful. VERY original and different!
Worth checking out if u have a bit of spare money:-)


After the two bands the longing for Gene to appear was almost too much.
Having seen them on the last night of the "Club Libertine" tour some 10 
months ago, i just couldn't wait!
The venue was "packed" by now. I'm not sure how much the Astoria holds, 
but it must have been very near the limit.
Sure enough the lights went down and the intro music began.
More anticipation!


Then, the show began.
The sweet sounds of "London Can You Wait?" filled my ears.
Matt, Steve and Kevin all came on and started playing while Martin came 
on a few seconds before the cue to start singing.
EVERYONE was up for this one.
Hands in the air, egged on by Martin, this was a truly magic night.
I mean the music was loud, but the singing from the crowd was louder!


As the band played classic song after classic song, i got the feeling 
that the lads really enjoyed this one.
Matt was throwing his arms in the air like a footballer does once he has 
scored. Steve was jumping up and down like a loony. Kevin was showing 
people that he CAN move by swinging his hips now and then. And Martin, 
well we all know Mr.Rossiter is up for it all the time!


Halfway through the set came the performance of the new single "Let Me 
Move On". GREAT version of this tune! I have heard a few tunes of this 
and like other Gene songs, it sounds SO much better live. That may not 
seem possible when you listen to the album's, but there is a certain 
"magic" at Gene's shows.


The only one thing i found strange, was the descision to include 
"From Georgia To Osaka" in the set.
There is not one bad Gene song, but this is not the boy's strongest.
Is It Over? could have easily fitted in to that slot.


Anyway like every Gene show it is over too soon.
Sure they played 90 mins and 17 songs, but this is a band you can NEVER 
get enough of. If not the music, Martin's witt!


As usual i go into a rant about how Gene should be MASSIVE and at the top 
of the album charts.
The likes of the so called "Artist's" out there raking the money in these 
days, well, make me laugh!
I wont bore you with my veiws, im sure you all feel the same.
As long as we have Gene, we have it all,
Lewis.



The Setlist:

01.London Can You Wait?
02.Haunted By You
03.Walking In The Shallows
04.We Could Be Kings
05.Yours For The Taking
06.Where Are They Now?
07.Let Me Move On
08.British Disease
09.From Georgia To Osaka
10.You'll Never Walk Again
11.Olympian
12.Who Said This Was The End?
13.Fighting Fit
14.Be My Light, Be My Guide

Enc. #1

15.Speak To Me Someone
16.For The Dead

Enc. #2

17.As Good As It Gets



www.lewisslade.com/genemusic