Delighted Of Tonbridge Wells

On Sunday, we travelled to deepest darkest Kent to a venue just outside Tonbridge Wells called the High Rocks to see British Sea Power and Tom Williams and the Boat. It was all-dayer which started at around 1pm; being lazy we managed to get to the venue about six and a half hours later. The venue is a converted Tudor barn which is used more these days for holding wedding functions hence the bar staff wearing tuxedos which is always a nice touch.

At Propaganda we are big fans of Tom Williams & The Boat and this was our first chance to see them live. Describing themselves as anti-folk their sound is bigger than that, the six piece comprise of guitars, violins, harmonica, piano and saxophone and Chris T-T played on piano on their last single 90mph. Their set was a very enjoyable 30 minutes; we recommend that you check them out:



http://www.myspace.com/WilliamsTommusic


Then we had to all vacate the building into another bar whilst the venue was shut for British Sea Power to create their unique stage set, in reality this was just so they could have a soundcheck. Because I don’t think it would have taken an hour to stick the few bits of foliage around the stage. The venue was re-opened before the soundcheck was finished and we had half an hour of the band finishing their soundcheck. There is nothing more boring than watching soundchecks I’ve seen to many over the years.

When they eventually started they delivered a storming set, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen them live and I’ve got into the band pretty late after not really liking the first album but live the early tracks seem almost primal and the later tracks like Waving Flags and No Lucifer sounded massive surely written with stadiums in mind. Even the snare drum falling apart couldn’t bring a halt to the gig which finished with an impressive climbing display.

On the way home we managed to just miss a badger on the road which seemed a very British Sea Power thing to see.

Setlist

Lights out
Apologies
Atom
Canvey island
Remember me
Favours
Come wander
No lucifer
How will I ever find my way home
7/4 (new)
Childhood memories
Carrion
Waving flags
Great skua----
Trip out
Spirit of st Louis
Badboy/rock in...