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Having heard nothing but praise from friends and read nothing but glorious reviews about them, I am very much looking forward to my first Asteroid #4 gig.
Tonight they play The Labour Club in Northampton, which really is nothing more than a pub!
And that’s the beauty of it, being able to catch a band in a small intimate space. So fond am I of this kind of venue that I drove all the way from London when in fact the A#4 were playing the capital the night before and the night after!
It’s around 10:30 pm and the Philadelphian sextet take to their instruments on a carpeted corner of the room barely big enough to fit everyone.
I was looking for “intimate” and I am getting more than I bargained for as even the dark lighting may suggest that this is all happening in my own sitting room. |
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Asteroid #4
Northampton, 26.05.07
Exclusive Video
© Andy Skank
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Once Adam Weaver has squeeeeezed himself behind his drum kit and everyone else has got hold of their guitars and bass, the show begins.
To my surprise and showing a lot of confidence the first number is a cover of The Carter Family’s “Were You There” quickly followed by an extract from their latest album, ‘Amazing Dream’, we get to enjoy “Ask Me About Pittsburgh”. But this will not be the only foray into their superb fourth Lp which the A#4 are in England to promote after all. They will play “Take Me Down”, “Here We Go”, “The Outside” and “Into The Meadow”, all magical slices of psychedelia heaven written with passion, heart, integrity and abundant talent.
Reminding us that they have been around a long time they revisit their very first Lp, 1998 ‘Introducing The Asteroid #4’ with “Golden Girl Of Spain” and “What A Sorry Way To Go” and personal favourite, “Apple Street” from ‘King Richard’s Collectibles’ released in 2000.
More psychedelic delights come courtesy of “Still In Love With You”, [Hank Williams], “I Look Around”, [Rain Parade] and “Draft Morning” [The Byrds] getting the A#4 treatment, proving that these guys are more than happy to display their influences and pay homage to someone else’s brilliant song writing.
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Very much in the same vein we have the privilege to discover an ‘as yet to be recorded’ song, “Going Down”, a good enough sample that will make waiting for the next record a painfully slow affair.
Throughout the night and despite a small technical problem meaning that it will be necessary to borrow a guitar, Ryan Van Kriedt, Eric Harms, Scott Vitt and Aislinn Van Krietd’s guitars, when Aislinn is not on tambourine duties or singing, are producing sounds capable of swirling around the room and penetrating our skull in the best possible fashion to the indispensable sound of Jamie Mahon’s bass and relentless beat of Adam’s drumming.
The grooviness of it all assures that there isn’t a still body in the house.
Everyone is moving along to the music, feet taping, at time transported to a nostalgic place most of us, including the band, are too young to have experienced first time around.
We all feel gently and warmly wrapped up in the peace and the love emanating from that small corner.
Front man and band founder Scott, thanks us for being here tonight.
What a fool!
No Scott, WE are thanking you and your wonderful tribe for a truly cosmic evening.
Unfortunately time has passed and the course of this shooting star needs to be intercepted as we are abruptly brought back to 2007 and the fact that rules are to respected!
The band doesn’t want to stop and we agree that we need more of that aural nectar but no can do!
No more running barefoot in that beautiful field, flowers behind my ears, hair floating around my face, it’s almost midnight and I must drive back to London.... in the rain....
Words: Florence ACHERY
Pictures: Martyn Fenwick
Asteroid #4 at The Cavern, Liverpool
www.asteroid4.com
www.myspace.com/asteroid4
Editor’s last words: The Asteroid #4 will be back in the UK at the end of August!!!! |
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