Tues 30 Oct
★★★★☆
words JAMES W ROBERTS
With a Swiss bassist, a South African guitarist and a drummer from, er, Southampton, David Gedge’s Wedding Present v.2012 is a truly international affair here in Cardiff. Plenty of receding hairlines and middle-aged spread on display amid the pews at Cardiff’s splendid suburban church-cum-venue The Gate with a palpable excitement reserved for such legends as the Weddoes.
Gedge opens up the arsenal with the double drum fuzz pop of You’re Dead and the lovelorn Girl From The DDR off latest and typically emotive and evergreen latest album Valentina. This gathering at the Gate is a particular treat, as Gedge and co are playing the 90s classic, the Steve Albini-produced album Seamonsters – and it is with the opening swagger of ‘Dalliance’ it’s clear something special is on the cards.
In many ways, Seamonsters is the perfect marriage of Sonic Youthy freeform abandon and good old fashioned pop songs, and Gedge, for over two decades, has proved a master of this. With his black-clad four-piece, tonight is no exception. The full-tilt jump into Dare, in all its failed relationship paranoia, is bracing and thrilling. “Stay all night, I dare you,” croons Gedge over the fuzzy jangle; “Yes, alright I scare you,” not only exudes all his awkward lothario charm, but also reminds us that Seamonsters might be one of the best British albums…ever.
As Suck’s quiet-loud thrills take the bustling crowd back to days of unrequited fresher love at some ex-polytechnic in the early 90s, The Weddoes really hit their stride; The Gate’s wooden pews and intimate surrounds adding to the feeling tonight is a special treat. Closing the Seamonsters section with the grown-up emo of Octopussy, it’s short, bittersweet and fairly bloody loud. Refraining from any between-song chat during Seamonsters, it’s time again for endless requests and off-kilter chat: “I’ve always preferred Dannii anyway,” offers Gedge ruminating on his favourite antipodean pop sister; “you wouldn’t have to buy her dinner afterwards.”
He’s still got it, and finishing with fan-favourite Click Click off 1994’s Watusi album, the humble and always entertaining Gedge exits stage right, his sermon on perfect pop over.