I can confirm that a terrifying version of "Underwater Experiences" was thrust upon the audience in Toronto!

It was magnificent.

Excellent. I'm slightly envious! I was just about to ask for setlists there and freakbag read my mind...

As for the laptop, I think Colin is checking the Pink Flag forum to see if there is any update on the Velvet Underground/Pil/Magazine thread. ;)

"As for the laptop, I think Colin is checking the Pink Flag forum to see if there is any update on the Velvet Underground/Pil/Magazine thread. ;)" it's the best thread going, so it's totally understandable that he'd be interested in any new posts!!!!!

Silk Skin Paws live? hugely envious!!!

OH. MY. GOD. Underwater Experiences? I can't wait until tommorrow when I can be assaulted by that song.

This is your correspondent...

TUESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2008 TORONTO, CANADA VENUE: LEE'S PALACE

Captured from an actual setlist that was left lying around and (sadly) scooped up by another devotee:

1. Our Time
- delivered sans the bittersweet murkiness of RB3 -- all confidence and no vulnerability for this version

2. Mr. Marx's Table
- "it's too late to pray" -- doubtless a nod to those on Wall Street (Bay Street, here in Canada)

3. Comet
- we were all happy to be pummelled by this one - the world will indeed go on...

4. Being Sucked In Again
- a fitting response to the first cold week of the year -- perhaps a comment on the epidemic of reissues and reunion tours of the last few years?

5. Mekon Headman
- Graham talks to us directly and reminds us why we're here

6. Icon In Perspex
- only wire could sound like this

7. Advantage In Height
- the bombay collossus returns! where's hughie?

8. Agfers of Kodack
- Graham's ode to photography (?) done adequately - no veins bulging a la Scottish Play -- I guess you can't explode every
night of a tour!

9. Silk Skin Paws
- musically brilliant, lyrically worrying - are we heading back to Thatcher's Britain and Reagan's America?

10. All Fours
- not entirely sure if this was played at this point in the show but this one was done with the same intensity
as the record -- there's a bit of agony here, you'd think Bruce would've been involved

11. One of Us
- their pop gem unleashed on Toronto in less than fine form - a false start (courtesy of Robert?) and slippery timing with the early choruses kept this plane on the runway

I can't remember when exactly but there was a bit where Colin did his Jimmy Page impression and managed
to get a laugh out of everyone in the room - good fun!

12. Boiling Boy
- the highlight of the evening for the techno crowd - the most un-rock number in the set could've easily gone on for
much longer putting everyone in a trance - our atoms were excited - a welcome relief from the manic bluster
of the Pink Flag meets Send approach they seem so enamoured of these days (wire just aren't weird anymore!)

13. The 15th
- the opening signalled a rush of noise from the crowd - clearly a favourite everywhere they go

14. 106 Beats That
- personally i'm not entirely sure they have any business doing this one now as it sounds very much
of it's time but then again I have no taste - I gawked at Colin barking and enjoyed it anyway - it's wire, in my town!

15. I Don't Understand
- i think we all understand that this one is the funniest song they've bashed out in recent years - not unlike
Comeback In Two Halves and Their Terrain, this one may be doing what they do best -- criticising themselves?

16. He Knows
- i think i read about this one years ago (during the time i opted out of wire trainspotterdom, silly me) -- quite thoughtful in it's approach and has real potential -- could've easily made it onto Read And Burn 3 but I'm such a fan of that one I'm not sure I'd want anything changed - maybe!

17. Pink Flag
- get your calculators out, how many dead or alive?

18. Lowdown
- decent but far from groundbreaking -- i think this one may be for the fans! the new wire wants to make friends
it seems! (not a bad thing btw)

19. Underwater Experiences
- not unlike the other versions you've heard, this one popped up out of nowhere and leaves you wondering who what when
and why was this created? catharsis and disorientation in equal amounts - a terrifying surprise from one of those imperfect
folds in the space/time continuum - as thoroughly odd and wonderful as you'd expect

Absent from the official setlist are two other numbers that were most certainly played:

20. 12XU
- this song arrived in Toronto without any recognizable intro but managed to cleanse the venue of any lingering calm
-- complete with atonal guitar splatters courtesy of Margaret - highly appropriate!

21. Circumspect
- is it just me or is this song in the wrong sequence on o47? -- what comes across as slow and lurching on record
seemed to pick up speed played live - the dynamics on this one improved greatly

Three encores were enough for them (but not for us!) and so they bid Toronto a fond farewell, secure in the knowledge that their efforts spanning four decades (70s, 80s, 90s, 00s - that's four decades, right?) were appreciated and will undoubtedly
be remembered for many decades to come... teach your children well!

Technical Tidbits:

Colin played the Line 6 Variax - for those who don't know, it's a guitar that models the sound of other types of guitars with the twist of the knob - I've tried it and I don't like it!

The laptop was spotted as well but for what I do not know. Lyrics?

I don't think Rob had an Octapad in his kit this time.

Margaret sported a well-loved Jagmaster I believe. I've tried it and I like it!

... running out of tape

just back from the WFMU gig at Irving Plaza, er, "the Fillmore" in NYC. The set was similar to what ilogic lists, but not identical. Having also been at the South St. Seaport, I was impressed by the amount of different material, particularly in the second half of the set, seeing as the UK sets appeared to be all the same. "Silk Skin Paws" was a highlight for me, more bristling than the album track but just as strangely alluring.

the sound was more together than the Seaport in terms of onstage action--that is, Margaret's amp didn't blow up during "The 15th," so that number was superb, and the 2 guitars were very well balanced throughout. But the mix didn't seem to have as much trippiness overall--does Wire tour with a sound tech, and if so is it the same person now as earlier in the summer? The mix was more straightforward, or somehow not as many overtones were emerging. That means it was more in your face, though--not a bad tradeoff. Graham's bass was sometimes too quiet, surprisingly.

the film screen at the front of the stage came down after the first encore, and as some people filed out, I went up to check out Colin & Margaret's gear. Then up came the screen, and out came the band, twice more! Most of us were surprised. Of course I couldn't hear much vocal right at the front (actually Colin's vocals didn't cut through 100% much of the night--I think was a mic/mix issue rather than a voice issue), but it was intense to be up there!


my girlfriend was in "the loo" before realizing that the band was back onstage for the 2nd encore. She made her way back to the room and stood next to Chris Martin of Coldplay to watch the final 4 numbers... I suppose it's too late for him to learn a few tricks?

Just back from Irving Plaza. I think my son will be talking about this night for a long time! He (we) were very impressed with Times New Viking and bought a CD on the way out. They sounded much better (fuller) live, which is pretty cool considering it's mostly just guitar and drums.
Wire were fantastic tonight. I finally got to see them play The 15th and shouted out a loud "Thank you very much" when the applause died down. We were both blown away by the R&B songs. Agfers has never been my fave from this period, but it was amazing. Same set as posted for Boston, with 12XU after Circumspect. The 80's material was very welcome, as good as or better than in 2000. Would've flipped for some tongue in cheek Drill, Baby, Drill...especially with Graham reminding the crowd several times that tomorrow (today!) is the last day to register to vote. I also thought I'd be missing Bruce, and I did think about him today, and even just before the show as I explained to Troy where (and how) Bruce would've been standing on stage. Margaret fit in and rocked out.

Enjoy the rest of the tour! See you next time around.

-another the Paul

yeah, i kind of agree with c.c.: "the mix didn't seem to have as much trippiness overall". very minor point because it was an excellent performance with a great setlist, but i thought the guitars sounded a bit more freaked out at the seaport show.

buzz buzz: a keyboard player too. really fleshed out their sound.also she is quite a good vocalist.

I considered flying to Atlanta and crashing in on taoyoyo's couch if he in the missus would have me but I could justify the expense or the carbon footprint.

Damn, damn.

Colin, Graham, Robert, Margaret, please come back soon...

7jlong says...



A bigger faux pas would have been to complement Colin on his pants. ;-)

Saw both the Philly & DC shows this weekend. Amazing stuff. The Philly show had better sound but the DC show had the better performance. Does it really get any more intense than Pink Flag? I doubt it. Unbelievable stuff. Hats off to Margaret for stepping up and filling Bruce's shoes... she didn't miss a beat.

Graham was visibly pissed about the sound during both shows... especially at the DC show where he was giving the sound guy dirty looks throughout the whole set. I will agree that the sound at the DC show was too muddy and not very well mixed. Didn't take anything away from the experience for me at all.

This is only a minor criticism, but after hearing them two nights in a row, I think the Object 47 songs (especially Perspex and All Fours) could benefit from being slowed down slightly. I don't think playing them at the speed they are at now does the songs justice.. especially Perspex where it seems like Colin is struggling to get in all of the lyrics into the chorus. That's just my opinion though, they are still both great songs.

Thanks to Wire for coming out to the states and reminding us all once again why they are the greatest band in the world. I won't forget those two nights for as long as I live. Here's hoping that Wire will come back again in the future.