The Night I Thought I would Die
Does anyone else remember skirt-wearing Brit-Rock also-rans Cecil? I saw them play a few times in 1997/8, and one of these gigs was at the Hull Adelphi, where they were supporting never-achieved-much indie types Jocasta. The Adelphi was/ is a wonderful place - an end terrace, the ground floor of which had been gutted and turned into a small venue for up-and-coming bands: everyone who's anyone has played there, from Radiohead to, er, Atilla the Stockbroker.

Anyway: there was me and about 10 other people in that night, so I got a drink, grabbed a seat, and sat down. Cecil took to the stage. Now, anyone who's seen them live knows that they could be a bit enthusiastic. The first song wasn't over before the monitors had been kicked clear across the room. Into the second, the singer was standing in the middle of the empty floor screaming.

He wandered back to the stage to grab his pint before launching into song number three, again from the middle of the floor, again screaming. By now, he was also kicking furniture about.

And then he saw me. Our eyes met - and his fixed.

He came towards me, and he had a face like murder. The band was still playing, and I was convinced that their music would represent the last sound I ever heard. I backed off. The singer got closer.

Oh, fuck. I am going to be killed by a minor musician, I thought.

He was now well in punching-range. I'd tried to look innocuous, but it obviously hadn't worked. And what made it scarier was that he was still screaming lyrics into the microphone. He was going to kill me as carelessly as he might have killed a bluebottle.

Quickly, his hand thrust forward. I flinched as it made contact with my head and his open palm gripped the back of my skull, pulling my face towards his and... and he gently kissed me on the forehead, gave me his almost-complete pint of Guinness, and returned to the stage.

I pretended to like Guinness. I didn't want to push my luck.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 10:36, 6 replies)

I saw mention of Cecil
and clicked. They were fuckin ace!!! The singer did a similar thing with my mate when they supported the Levellers at the Apollo (96ish) but without the offerings of Guiness.

I was quite shocked at the difference between the albums and the live act as well.

*wanders of whistling 'Most Tiring Day'*
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 10:48, closed)

They were rather fabulous
Scary as hell, but fabulous. And the gulf between recorded and live was VAST - you're right.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 10:52, closed)

more than vast
in comparison it was 'larger than a mountain to the ant' :0)
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 10:54, closed)

I am going to be killed by a psychotic minor musician
That line made me laugh, cheers... Nice little band, they were...
( SpankyHanky, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 11:17, closed)

I think "psychotic" might be overdoing it, stylistically speaking...
*edits*
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 11:19, closed)

Cecil
You get a click for mentioning them. When I was 16, me and a mate used to go the Lomax in Liverpool every couple of weeks to see them play - we used to get in for free coz my mate's mum knew the owner.

I'm actually really surprised at the amount of people who know who they are...
(ScousersPet, Wed 15 Apr 2009, 12:09, closed)