This was one of those lovely free gigs - always the best kind - laid on by Q Magazine in a very small venue in Covent Garden. Their competition to win tickets started months ago, and they were on a first come first served basis - given that few people have heard of The Courteeners in London even now, and even fewer had back then, we were able to get a small group of us into the show. As well as a free show, there was also a free bar, which really was the icing on a very nice cake. The gig was at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden, a private members club for people that work in the creative arts, but which also has a number of TV studios, rehearsal rooms, and generally places to entertain people - a very posh venue. The whole shebang was being filmed by Q Mag for their website as well.Before The Courteeners, there was a 25 minute set by Nick Harrison, and his band comprising a couple of other people. They were playing acoustically, and played half a dozen or so songs, none of which were really memorable (although a couple sounded OK at the time). For much of the set, they sounded like white reggae, which I often find to be cringeworthily embarrassing - and this was no exception. They also reminded me to some degree of The Kooks, although very much of those bits of The Kooks material that I don't really like, where they sound like they are pretending to be an Irish busker band.
So, all in all, I wasn't a big fan of Nick Harrison (and band). They sounded OK, but it was nothing remotely original, and was of a genre that is already very well covered, and done much better by several other artists. Doubtless Q Magazine will be huge fans, but I was left underwhelmed, and thinking how very safe and unadventurous it all was.
After a short (free) beer break, The Courteeners (or more accurately, singer Liam Fray playing solo acoustic songs) appeared, to lots of polite applause. The thing about acoustic gigs is that they tend to be very quiet and polite regardless of the artist playing, and so it was for this show. Liam ran through an 11-song set, featuring many Courteeners songs that sound rather guitar heavy in their normal versions - like If It Wasn't For Me. However, it was incredible how well many of them seemed to transfer to being played acoustically. The set also included a version of a Stephen Fretwell song called Darling Don't, and a fantastic song, also linked to Stephen Fretwell, called Smiths Disco. Just before playing it, Liam said that Mr Fretwell had given the song to him, and I really hope that The Courteeners (or somebody!) record it soon, because it was very good indeed.This set really showed another, softer side to The Courteeners' songs, and especially to Liam Fray, who the music press seem to be portraying as a totally arrogant tosser. He didn't seem like that at all, cracking jokes between songs, making fun of himself, and generally coming across as a thoroughly good guy. The band's mammoth tour of small venues starts tomorrow, and by rights, they should be playing to packed, sweaty venues up and down the country. This was a million miles away from that, but a fantastic show all the same - made even better by the fact that it didn't cost a penny.
Setlist: How Come / Darling Don't (Stephen Fretwell song) / Bide Your Time / An Ex Is An Ex For A Reason / Smiths Disco (Stephen Fretwell song) / Please Don't / Acrylic / If It Wasn't For Me / What Took You So Long / No You Didn't No You Don't / Not Nineteen Forever.
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