There was around 700-800 people but it was clear that most had come specifically to see their chosen artist/s.Bill however got a good response and really seemed to enjoy it. Bill announced that he had prepared the music and video tapes purely for this performance.
Bill Nelson's set list:
The Guardian, September 28, 1998 ("God Bless Bill Nelson"...)
Saw the show, and wasn't too impressed with the other acts -- but I suppose I might be biased! First set was 3 guys twiddling knobs to make a (literally) painful noise that went on too long. Lacking in subtlety, and I'm sure caused a number of people to walk out! Second piece was a blessing -- a lady playing music by Einaudi on an electric harp. Interval, then LaBradford. IMHO they've got a lot to learn from Bill in the art of showmanship -- two spend most of their time with their backs turned to the audience. Electric guitars, synths. Music wasn't too bad, though. Then Bill -- his set was a much richer experience altogether. Bill was on 3 guitars (2 electric, one acoustic), marimbas (I think), piano. Kate St. John playing clarinet, saxaphone and one other.
Seemingly all new material, some very funky and rhythmic backing tapes, some soaring e-bow and some mean and dirty e-bow too. BN played some piano and some xylophone but these were both a little back in the mix as the backing tapes were quite 'forward' at times. Slightly reminiscent at times of the In-Store promo shows for After The Satellite Sings in some ways, though far more developed.
Needless to say there was some heavenly guitar. Drunk At 10am was too disjointed for my compardre but Kate gave some New Orleans lilt to the second part on sax. There were back projections throughout which included old b/w films treated with primary colours and switching to/from negative. Some were frankly eye-bending and could for all I know have invoked catalepsy in small animals in seconds flat. Most of the titles seemed to be gleaned from the voice cut ups (William Burroughs sounding ?) that appeared scattered throughout.
Graphics were created by an outfit called Dreamstealers (IIRC). The graphics complementing the music well -- a set of abstract images processed to give a psychedelic effect. Images were newsreel film of old trams (for Hotel on Wheels), a Ford advertising film and other sundry home movie images -- and fish, for the piece "red birds"(!).
A weird night of diverse music with Pansonic, LaBradford and Durutti Column. Bill came on after a short interval following LaBradford, Pansonic and a Harpist. Bill was wearing black trews, nice sky blue baggy shirt and dark grey high necked waistcoat. The video projection on one central screen had been prepared by him with the help of the Dreamstealers. I cant remember all the titles but 'Hotel on Wheels' was one where the video screen behind showed images of New York Tram Cars from the turn of the century. The video imagery was excellent-none of the other artists used it so it made it even more interesting for those non-fans present. I had expected a very ambient set but it was generally quite up. The melodies and drum tracks a refreshing opposite from LaBradford and Pansonic earlier.
The setting suited Bill perfectly- in the first number he started playing guitar and then he took his guitar off and strolled over to his Marimbas then onto Grand Piano and back to Guitar for the end of the number. He did this again in a later number. Kate St John joined him for 3 numbers and played Sax, Clarinet and Oboe and Bill switched from his Patrick Eggle guitar to his acoustic.
