The Wedding Present

Positively brilliant. Great evening. One of the best bands around.

Saw them play all of "Seamonsters" at Brighton Music Hall. Brilliant.

The Wedding Present gathered at Middle East in Cambridge on Monday April 12th, in celebration of their Bizarro lp's 20th anniversary. The set was very tight, and saw the band play three new numbers, a few old faves, and then the Bizarro lp in order. I may have preferred the Bizarro selections mixed throughout, but band leader David Gedge did it his way, not mine. The two "regulars", Gedge and bassist Terri De Castro, appear to work off of each other wonderfully, she quiet and concentrating, while Gedge is all over the place, playing or chatting with the crowd. He asked the Boston locals if the band Boston were actually from Boston. While noting that Japan were not from Japan, and that Texas were from Glasgow. Have seen TWP many times, and while this may not have been their most outstanding show, it sure was nice to hear some of the Bizarro tracks they played.

The opening act, Girl in a Coma, was OUSTANDING. The three-girl band played a tight set that was far too short. Lead singer/guitar Nina Diaz has a powerful and very unique voice and gives you every last bit of energy she has. Check out her expressions when she sings. You can tell she's working on raw emotion. Too many hihglights to mention, but I thought "Static Mind" and the band's cover of The Beatles "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" stood out in a dynamic set. I bought the band's second album, Trio B.C. after the set and have listened to it twice already. Can't say I enjoyed The Wedding Present. Their music lacked energy or emotion and sounded rather routine. But they kept the lines at the bar short, which was a good thing.

The show was great and the sound amazing. The wedding Present are teh best live band in the world.

brilliant gig in the fabulous bowery ballroom new york

the wedding present played with usual rhythm and speed at a packed bowery crowd last night. they started off with a few new songs, but quickly launched in to the reason they were in town, to play the late 1980's album "bizarro" in its entirety. the band now consists of only one of its three founding members. so david gedge the lead guitarist, songwriter, and singer was on the stage with a young band. the second rhythm guitarist might have been a bit sluggish compared to the wedding present's origin 1989 lineup but it is hard to keep up with the wry and witty gedge, especially when he is zooming through the bands superfast songs.