Band:
Goldfinger Venue:
The Garage, Highbury, London, UK Date:
13 May 2002
I have to start off with an admission; I am a fan of Goldfinger and have
been this sorry way for about 3 years, I saw them at the Astoria last year
and have even got drummer Darrin Michael Pfieffer's cover album "Darrins
Coconut Ass". I'd tell you this doesn't make me biased but, well I'd be
lying.
As their new album is out on the 29th of this month I was expecting this
gig to be a practice session, an 'is this sh*t? Will they like it?'
session.
But it turned out to be a nostalgia fest. Talking to lead singer John
Feldman after the show, (lovely, cuddly man) he admitted they don't
actually know all their new songs, the two they played being the only ones
really ready for anyone to hear live.
The songs were quite distinct from their older albums. As the years have
gone on they've become progressively harsher, veering away from the SKA
and reggae influence and more towards their punk roots.
The songs were well met by the crowd and the band let loose a little with
some high jumps and acrobatic lunacy. This is pretty sensational if you
consider the size of The Garage, which boasts more space per square for
the toilets than the stage.
It seems their entire London fan club are here. Everybody knows all the
words, everyone's shouting out requests for their favourite song. To be
honest its a bit of a Goldfinger love-in.
They can do no wrong. At one point a sweaty excited John Feldman, after
having introduced the band periodically throughout the set, introduces his
Coke can.
To this blatantly affectionate crowd. How they mock and tease!!! They
don't seem to have forgotten their old tricks either, promising any
audience member a backstage hang-out-and-meet- the-band-you-fanboy pass,
if they ate a banana out of Feldman's ass. Nice!
Not being particularly known for its special advantage as I have already
mentioned, meant the crowd surfers were a bit much.
I'm a small girl, it's only the years of moshing that has hardened my
muscles to the point where I can throw the little buggers off the back of
my neck. But the band loved it.
For pretty much the only time they actually talked to the crowd they used
it to tell us how glad they were to be here. How they loved being where
someone knew who they were.
They played a tight set; no faffing intros, no playful banter with the
crowd. Old favourites and audience participation abound. And for me, I've
got to say that is just fine.
