Goodbye Mr MacKenzie
Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
twenty first October 2022
As Goodbye Mr MacKenzie stopped by on the Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, Harry Mulligan was there to report again.
On the penultimate date of their postponed pandemic tour dates, the homecoming present for Edinburgh’s personal Goodbye Mr MacKenzie began out effervescent and effervescent sufficient. By the point it neared the tip effectively over an hour later, Martin Metcalfe was submerged within the photographers pit, and had delivered a masterclass in working the usually reserved Edinburgh viewers right into a frenzy. It was up shut and private nearly taking his life into his personal arms.
The sound desk at Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms has the status of being the most effective reside desk in Scotland. Once I requested Shona Marshall, The Rezillos’ common sound-engineer afterwards what she considered it: ‘too many buttons…’ she mentioned, with that infectious cheeky wee grin of hers…
The gang have been warmed up by essentially the most wonderful and Banshees-like SALT.
Then it was time for Goodbye Mr MacKenzie and the stage was nearly crowded with no fewer than seven musicians at their posts when the introduction fanfare began. Derek Kelly, drums, Finley Wilson, bass, Huge John Duncan, lead guitar, Jim Brady, shredding guitars Rona Scobie, keys, and Martin Metcalfe on lead vocals. As well as, rising starlet Tara-Rose, from Edinburgh newbies Revanica, in solely her third reside present in her life, present backing vocals to Martin. It ostensibly echoed the omen-like actuality that Shirley Manson was catapulted to fame from the unique Goodbye Mr MacKenzie, earlier than changing into the entrance lady for American super-group Rubbish. Watch this area for positive readers.
All of the crowd-pleasers have been included on the night time, and fairly a number of extra obscure numbers, however they needed to wait what felt like an eon, and with exception of the writer’s favorite, Port Of Amsterdam.
Through the second half of their set, issues have been taken up a notch, going right into a gallup with Blacker Than Black, and Derek Kelly nailing it on drums.
We Are Married appeared to actually encourage viewers participation and the hometown crowd have been in good voice. It was famous that Tara’s BV was delivered in unison with Martin Metcalfe, and once I later commented to him about this he talked about Johnny Thunders And The Heartbreakers making this punky fashion fairly trendy.
The Rattler evoked synchronised vocals from the group: ‘He’s a rattling boy…’ whereas Rona Scobie laid down that particular eighties phrasing on keyboard.
For an encore, Goodwill Metropolis reached footballing crowd proportions. It’s a track that explores Edinburgh’s response to the HIV/AIDS legacy. Nonetheless, it’s about North Sea Oil, and by this level Martin Metcalfe had ventured off the stage and into the photographers pit. That is no imply feat as Martin is towering ominous presence to behold typically, however by this level I used to be immersed in a way of glee harking back to the good Australian frontman, Doc Neeson of the Angels.
Once I mentioned to him later, that it was at this level that I half anticipated him to go crowd-surfing, he chuckled saying that will have been unfair on the poor crowd and would positively damage somebody.
The night was energetically topped with Goodbye Mr McKenzie, and the place was bouncing.
Setlist
Beneficiant Factor / Open Your Arms / His Masters Voice / Onerous / Sickboy / Shoofly / Love-child / Niagra / Blacker Than Black / We’re Married / Rattler
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Goodwill Metropolis / Goodbye Mr MacKenzie
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All phrases by Harry Mulligan, you could find his writer’s archive right here
Images by Graham Macindoe
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