gigography 2006

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Please note: almost all of the reviews posted on the message board (aka the Fall Online Forum) were lost in a server crash in 2006, so clicking those links on this page may not help.

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Wednesday, 18 January 2006 Club Nirvana, Wigan

Youwanner / Pacifying Joint / Ride Away / Clasp Hands / What About Us / Assume / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Touch Sensitive / Midnight Aspen / Mountain Energei / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mr. Pharmacist // Blindness // Boxoctosis // F-'Oldin' Money > White Lightning > F-'Oldin' Money (instrumental)

- "And pedal (...) extremist of your... the vocals are right. Come on then! Get a (...). Hit me! Hit me!" (before "Clasp Hands")
- "Come on! (...)! One, two, three, four!" (during "What About Us", prompting a restart)
- "Who wrote the car advert? Was it 1, (...) or 2, was it B Pritchard? Or was it Neville Wilding? Who will ever know?" (amended lyrics to "Touch Sensitive")
- "I thought it was one of my uncles from (...)." (amended lyrics to "Mountain Energei")
- "Can you manage this one, Steve? One, one! Yes, yes." (before "I Can Hear the Grass Grow")

Thanks to Smudger for the ticket. Reviews on the forum.

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Thursday, 26 January 2006 Petrol, Antwerp, Belgium

The Boss / Pacifying Joint / Clasp Hands / Higgle-dy Piggle-dy / What About Us / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Touch Sensitive / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Assume / Green-Eyed Loco Man / Protein Protection / Blindness

- "Good evening, we are The Fall, from the long, long days of your parallel land. Reflect. Reflect. Reflect. And our next number is 'Pacifying Joint' when they get round to it." (during "The Boss")

Part of De Nachten 2006 festival's "Punk and Poetry" night. Reviews on the message board, and photos by Ini Soyer on Martin's site. Thanks to Martin for the flyer and Kurt and Holger for the setlist fragment.

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Friday, 10 March 2006 Gagarin, Athens, Greece

Thanks to Damian for the ticket and Dimitris for the rough poster (before all the sponsor logos got plastered on; see Mylos poster below).

The Boss / Bo Doodak / Clasp Hands / Theme from Sparta FC / What About Us / Pacifying Joint / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mountain Energei / Midnight in Aspen / Systematic Abuse / Touch Sensitive // Touch Sensitive (again) / Blindness

Reviews on the message board.

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Saturday, 11 March 2006 Mylos, Thessaloniki, Greece

The Boss / Clasp Hands / Theme from Sparta FC / What About Us / Pacifying Joint / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mountain Energei / Midnight in Aspen / Systematic / White Line Fever / Touch Sensitive / Blindness // encore of two songs, one of which might have been Touch Sensitive again?

White Line Fever is a Merle Haggard cover. Reviews on the message board. Thanks to Pit for the poster.

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Thanks to Mark Jamieson for his Alan Wise voucher for the four Cartoon gigs.

Sunday, 12 March 2006 Cartoon Club, Croydon, London

Youwanner / The Boss (instr.) / Clasp Hands / Theme from Sparta FC / What About Us / What About Us (again) / Pacifying Joint / Blindness

- "Good evening, we are The Fall. Whup! Over 400 million years, over 10 billion tears." (during "Youwanner")
- "This next song is dedicated to all Gatwick staff. (...). One, two, three, four. Got a revolution on my hands here, by the way. What's different?" (before "The Boss")

Gig cut short at ca. 30 minutes. Reviews on the message board. Steven Chandler sent in some excellent photos.

The Official Site says: "There were a number of technical difficulties on stage during this performance, coupled with the fact the group had a terrible journey back from Greece on Sunday, with delayed planes and annoying jobsworth officials at the airport. Couple this with some of the group's equipment being stalled at the airport, a very short time span to soundcheck and set up, and maybe folks would care to be a bit more forgiving. Short, very sweet and certainly achieved what it set out to - keep you wanting more. In retrospect, it clearly paid off, as each subsequent performance was a stunner."

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Monday, 13 March 2006 Cartoon Club, Croydon, London

The Boss / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / What About Us / Mountain Energei

- "That's a (...)! Three microphones! Splashing out at the Cartoon Club!" (before "Wrong Place, Right Time")

Another short (41min), aborted set. The planned setlist continued with Midnight in Aspen / Touch Sensitive / Assume / Clasp Hands / Systematic Abuse / Blindness. Reviews and photos on the message board. Thanks to Mark for the setlist and for the terrific photos posted on the board.

Tim Cumming's review in the Independent (15 March).

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Tuesday, 14 March 2006 Cartoon Club, Croydon, London

Dr. Buck's Letter / Touch Sensitive / Systematic Abuse / Assume / Clasp Hands / Bo Doodak / Boxoctosis / White Line Fever / Pacifying Joint / Youwanner / Midnight in Aspen (aborted) / Blindness

- "Who wrote the car advert? Was it Neville? Was it Julia? Or who was it...?" (amended lyrics to "Touch Sensitive")
- "I've always loved that group Wire. And Gang Of Four. What great groups they were. How could I ever forget them?" (before "Bo Doodak")
- "We're there for Babyshambles. How brilliant they are! What a great group they are!" (during "Bo Doodak")

Reviews and photos on the message board, and thanks again to Mark for the setlist and photos.

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Wednesday, 15 March 2006 Cartoon Club, Croydon, London

new song * / Touch Sensitive / Bo Doodak / Clasp Hands / What About Us / Mountain Enegei / Theme from Sparta FC / Blindness

* instrumental with one line/ad lib before the GEWATF greeting: "(...) over 400 years in Athens"
- "Who wrote the song to the car advert? (Vox on). Was it 1, J Nagle, 2, Neville, 3, Tom Head? Or was it..." (amended lyrics to "Touch Sensitive")

Reviews and photos on the message board. Once again, thanks to Mark for the setlist (although the gig didn't have much to do with it) and photos.

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Thursday, 16 March 2006 Civic Hall, Stratford-Upon-Avon

The Boss / Pacifying Joint / Mountain Energei / Theme from Sparta FC / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / What About Us / White Line Fever / Systematic Abuse / Touch Sensitive / Blindness

- "Sound of waves." (during the introduction to "I Can Hear the Grass Grow")
- Elena: "Monitor." (before "White Line Fever")
- "Who wrote the car advert for Vauxhall cars? Was it 1, J Nagle, 2, Neville Southall, 3, Adam Helal?" (amended lyrics to "Touch Sensitive")
- "I was from outside the steel enclosure. I was outside the steel walls of London." (amended lyrics to "Blindness")

Reviews on the message board. Thanks to Ocelot for the ticket and James for these photos (low resolution).

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Monday, 20 March 2006 Carling Academy, Bristol

Thanks to Jamie for the setlist and Splart for the ticket. Actual set played:

The Boss (instrumental) / Pacifying Joint / Assume / Mountain Energei / Theme from Sparta FC / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / What About Us / Touch Sensitive / Systematic Abuse / Blindness

Reviews on the message board.

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Wednesday, 22 March 2006 Lemon Grove, Exeter

The Boss / Pacifying Joint / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear The Grass Grow / What about Us / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Clasp Hands / White Line Fever / Touch Sensitive / Systematic Abuse / Bo Demmick / Blindness

Setlist may not be 100% accurate. Reviews on the message board. Thanks to Splart for the ticket.

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Thursday, 23 March 2006 Fez Club, Reading

The set may well have followed the above. Reviews on the message board, and once again thanks to Mark for the setlist. Paul has posted a multi-sequence photo pack on his site. Review from local press, thanks to Vince Naughton.

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Friday, 24 March 2006 Charlotte, Leicester

The Boss / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / What About Us / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Higgle-dy Piggle-dy / Midnight in Aspen / Touch Sensitive / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Systematic Abuse // Blindness

Reviews on the message board.

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Friday, 31 March 2006 Les Docks, Lausanne, Switzerland

Bo Doodak / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Pacifying Joint / What Bout Us / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Higgle-dy Piggle-dy / Touch Sensitive / Clasp Hands / Systemmatic Abuse / Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness / Big New Prinz / White Lightning

Reviews on the forum. Thanks to Herve for the images and Beppe and Marco for these photos. Luz was responsible for the wonderful "The Joke" comic, mentioned in the Fall news a few years ago (scroll halfway down).

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Friday, 21 April 2006 Maria am Ostbahnhof, Berlin, Germany

Youwanner / new one = Over! Over! / Theme from Sparta F.C. / What About Us / Ride Away / The Boss / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mountain Energei / Pacifying Joint / Wrong Place, Right Time / Systematic Abuse / Blindness / White Line Fever / Touch Sensitive / Bo Demmick

- "One, one! Now, with thy new ear, on the right. I've got my new (...) on. Prophecy (...)." (before "Theme from Sparta F.C.")
- "When I try and get a channel from the group, it is the same." (amended lyrics to "Systematic Abuse")
- "The group decides (...) their Easter holiday. Which suits them for..." (before "White Line Fever")
- "Who wrote the car advert? Was it 1, (...), 2, Neville Southall, 3, (...)?" (amended lyrics to "Touch Sensitive")
- "Who wrote the GM Vauxhall advertisement? (...) heart go wild." (more amended lyrics to "Touch Sensitive")

"Over! Over!" is lifted from "Coming Down" by the United States of America. Reviews and photos on the message board. More photos by Sebastian Cording (of Margrave of the Marshes fame). Thanks to Mark for the setlist.

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USA : 2 May - 2 June

Tuesday, 2 May 2006 Stubb's Small Room, Austin, TX

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Assume / Midnight in Aspen / Ride Away / What About Us / Youwanner / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Systematic Abuse (instr.)

- "No longer the widows of Windsor, our sons and daughters." (amended lyrics to "Pacifying Joint")
- "And the group is back to their roots. (...) as they go upward and upward to (bad luck) Cheshire in England. Every drum roll will cost them five English pounds. They've got their (luck in) this night because the tyres are flat on some fucking goddamn aeroplane in mid-Atlantic. No tomato juice for them today. They were (...) so they go higher and higher. In two weeks, midnight in Aspen. What can they do? Like the suntanned idiots they are." (amended lyrics to "Midnight in Aspen")

Planned set was to continue with The Boss and Blindness. Dougie James on vocals for Bo Demmick. Photos by Patita. Reviews on the message board.

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Thursday, 4 May 2006 Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas, TX

Youwanner / Over! Over! / Pacifying Joint / What About Us / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Ride Away / Wrong Place, Right Time > I Can Hear The Grass Grow / new song / Systematic Abuse / Mountain Energei / The Boss // Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness (aborted after a couple of seconds)

The above may not be 100% accurate. Reviews on the message board.

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Saturday, 6 May 2006 Club Congress, Tucson, AZ

Over! Over! / What About Us / Ride Away / The Boss / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mountain Energei / Pacifying Joint / Blindness / Clasp Hands // Boxoctosis / Bo Demmick / Mr. Pharmacist

plus Touch Sensitive somewhere in the main set.

Tedski reviewed the gig for the Tucson Scene and thanks to him and Andy Peters, soundman, for The Fall's stage setup. Reviews on the message board.

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Sunday, 7 May 2006 Brickhouse Theater, Phoenix, AZ

Over! Over! / What About Us / The Boss / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mountain Energei / Pacifying Joint / Systematic Abuse (instr.)

- "Very sorry about that. Do you know what the song is now?" (before "I Can Hear the Grass Grow")
- Elena: "I'm sorry, guys. We're really glad you're here but we can't play here as we've not been respected on stage and people have been violent to us and we don't know what's going to happen." [To audience member] "You were. You were cruel. You all were cruel. He doesn't want to come back on and sort these things." (at end of gig)

In the middle of What About Us, Justin Williams, the lead singer of tour support The Talk, jumped on stage and threw a banana peel at Mark, hitting him on the side of the face. Mark finished the line he was singing, took off and folded his jacket, and followed the culprit into the parking lot. The set continued but Mark cut it short after a few more songs.

It appears that this was the final straw for Ben, Spencer and Steve, who abaondoned the tour and headed back to Manchester. The US tour manager quit the same night. Narnack quickly recruited Tim Presley and Rob Barbato (of Darker My Love) on guitar and bass, and the wonderfully named Orpheo McCord (of On the Hill) on drums. Amazingly, the new lineup performed a couple of nights later in San Diego.

After the aborted Phoenix set Eleni came out to apologize to the small crowd of 50 or 60. With thanks to BCB and Chris, here's a recording of it.

Reviews and reactions on the message board. Pitchfork has an eye witness account.

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9 May - 11 August 2006 : lineup # 54 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Tim Presley (guitar), Rob Barbato (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums).

Tuesday, 9 May 2006 House of Blues, San Diego, CA

Bo Demmick / Midnight in Aspen + Pacifying Joint (played simultaneously) / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us // I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mr. Pharmacist

- "Good evening, we are The Fall. From the long, long days of your nightmare over the Cheshire Cheese and the lost tale of Harry Potter." (during "Bo Demmick")
- "Or somewhere where people in beige shorts could meet. A bit like round here." (amended lyrics to "Pacifying Joint")
- "And the next number is called, 'Where can I get some beige shorts from?'." [laughs] "In the mall." [laughs] "Yeah, right, right, right. Right. I'm going up to... what you listening for? One, two, three, four!" (before "Mountain Energei")

Reviews on the message board.

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Thursday, 11 May 2006 Glass House, Pomona, CA

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Midnight in Aspen / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us // I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Blindness // Mr. Pharmacist

- "There is a selfish, smiling fool and a Southern frowning fool. And one day they will be caught, wise." (amended lyrics to "Bo Demmick")
- "As recommended by Mojo magazine. And everything was..." (before "I Can Hear the Grass Grow")

Cole's photos. Reviews and more photos on the message board.

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Saturday, 13 May 2006 Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Midnight in Aspen / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us // I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Blindness // Mr. Pharmacist

- "From the long, long days of the laptop dog and his coffee." (during "Bo Demmick")
- [sings] "Wonderful (...) at the dawn of the day." (before "Wrong Place, Right Time")
- [sings] "Wonderful (...) at the dawn of the day." (also before "I Can Hear the Grass Grow")

Reviews on the message board. Brian Damage's review and photos here.

Cole's photos and his review in the Los Angeles City Beat (18-24 May edition).

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Sunday, 14 May 2006 Independent, San Francisco, CA

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / What About Us / Assume / Blindness

- "Love the way The Talk aren't here tonight. It's a crying..." [laughs] "A crying shame." (before "Theme from Sparta F.C.", a
reference to the support band who were kicked off the tour)

Reviews and photos on the message board. Livedaily.com's report by Tjames Madison.

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Monday, 15 May 2006 Independent, San Francisco, CA

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow // Systematic Abuse / Mr. Pharmacist

- "Good evening, we are The Fall, in San Francisco." (during "Bo Demmick")
- "This one is dedicated to all people going to work tomorrow." (before "Theme from Sparta F.C.")
- "I'm not being funny, but these microphone stands are fucking dangerous." (before "Wrong Place, Right Time")

Reviews on the message board.

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22 May : "Permanent Years" compilation released

Tuesday, 23 May 2006 Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA

Formation FD (became Reformation) / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Wrong Place, Right Time / Systematic Abuse / Mountain Energei / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow // Blindness

- compere: "Hello, hello! Are you guys ready for something very, very special? Does anybody remember the first time they heard a Fall song? It's like watching the Challenger shuttle disaster; it's kind of beautiful and terrifying and gorgeous and it's gonna change your life. I'm Thomas Culowicz on KCRW. You're about to see something you'll never see again and hopefully you'll see again in the next six months in a different form but this is special. It's The Fall!" (before "Reformation")
- "Good evening, I am Mark E Smith. Thank you for the great introduction from the M.C. from nowhere and the long Cheshire hills." (during "Reformation")
- "When the group forget my lyrics, they are the same. When I watch the TV, it is the same. When they forget everything they know, it is the same." (amended lyrics to "Systematic Abuse") - "Short song." (after a 10-minute "Systematic Abuse")

Reviews on the message board. The mighty Frank has some photos here.

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Thursday, 25 May 2006 The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT

The planned setlist (not sure what was actually played):

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us / Midnight in Aspen / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Assume / Mr. Pharmacist / Systematic Abuse / Blindness

There are a couple of reviews at the tail end of this thread on the message board. Thanks to Ajay for the poster and Baseball Hatted for the setlist.

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Friday, 26 May 2006 Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO

Scenario / Assume / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Pacifying Joint / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Blindness / Bo Demmick // Mr. Pharmacist

There's some "Over! Over!" lyrics in "Scenario"
- "I never saw a cactus like this before." (during "Scenario")
- "Anyway, at the top of the street, the poster said, 'We have camps for people like you.' It was a poster of a blind man. Maybe they'll take you out to upper Lancashire or Colorado or somewhere like that." (amended lyrics to "Blindness")
- "Ninety-nine percent of technicians in San Francisco outnumber the amount of people in the audience." (more amended lyrics to "Blindness")
- "Moderninity. What is it? Apart from a load of old wires and shit on the stage. Perfectly good made-up words." (amended lyrics to "Bo Demmick")
- "Hey, speccy!" (more amended lyrics to "Bo Demmick")
- "It's almost time now before we completely (shit) my voice up. So hear me now... hey! Mister Pharmacist!" (before "Mr. Pharmacist")

Reviews and a couple of photos on the message board.

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Saturday, 27 May 2006 Record Bar, Kansas City, MO

Scenario / Assume / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Bo Demmick / Blindness / Mr. Pharmacist // Midnight in Aspen / Systematic Abuse

- "Take that whiskey out of the cardboard." (amended lyrics to "Pacifying Joint")
- "He gets his biggest, bestest rifle out and aims it at the stars. Orion. It bounces back over the Hyena's head. Midnight in Oldham." (amended lyrics to "Midnight in Aspen")

Reviews on the message board. Thanks to Bryan for ticket and poster.

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Monday, 29 May 2006 Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN

Scenario / Pacifying Joint / Assume / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / Reformation / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow // Bo Demmick / Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness // Midnight in Aspen / Systematic Abuse

Reviews on the message board. Thanks to Bryan for the setlist.

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Tuesday, 30 May 2006 Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago, IL

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / Systematic Abuse / I Can Hear The Grass Grow / Reformation / Blindness / Mr Pharmacist / What About Us

- "And from the lotus came the sound God that mutated into The Fall and co." (during "Bo Demmick")
- "When I get a potato out, it gloats at me in the mirror with a pint of Cheddar." (amended lyrics to "Systematic Abuse")
- "It's up to you now. Here's the L.A. (...)." (before "Reformation")
- "Manchester, 1981. The Stone Roses hotel." (amended lyrics to "Reformation")
- "One, one! Do 'Pharmacist'. One, two, three four!" (before "Mr Pharmacist")

Reviews on the message board.

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Thursday, 1 June 2006 Knitting Factory, New York, NY

Many thanks to Anthony for the setlist. Actual set played:

Scenario / Pacifying Joint / Assume / Theme from Sparta FC / Reformation / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Bo Demmick / Midnight in Aspen / Blindness / Mr. Pharmacist / Systematic Abuse // Youwanner

Reviews on the message board.

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Friday, 2 June 2006 Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY

Bo Demmick / Assume / Theme from Sparta FC / Pacifying Joint / Mountain Energei / Reformation / Wrong Place, Right Time / White Line Fever / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow // Blindness / Mr. Pharmacist

Reviews on the message board. Many thanks to Orpheo for the setlist. The last time I got to see The Fall :(

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Saturday, 10 June 2006 New Century Hall, Manchester

Scenario / Assume / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Reformation / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Wrong Place, Right Time / Bo Demmick / White Line Fever / Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness // Midnight in Aspen / Systematic Abuse

"Secession Man" lyrics in "Blindness"
- "Dear Terry, I don't remember you from the Hacienda or even now." (amended lyrics to "Reformation")
- "It was as mistifying as the P.A. from the tireless (...) of the New Century Hall." (amended lyrics to "Bo Demmick")
- "How can I tell you where (...) go? The (...) place is at the Academy where you will be transported to a nice camp in Oldham on the West (...) bus. " (amended lyrics to "Blindness")
- "The day before, he had descended into the mall. He'd not been there for twenty years and now he realised the anniversary, it was 2009, of The Fall." (amended lyrics to "Midnight in Aspen")

A 30th anniversary gig (the 30th anniversary of Smith, Friel, Bramah and Baines going to see the Sex Pistols in June 1976 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, perhaps; the Fall didn't play any gigs or record any material until the next year). Reviews on the Fall News and message board. Thanks to Rutger for the ticket.

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Friday, 11 August 2006 Oya Festival, Oslo, Norway

Bo Demmick / What About Us / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Pacifying Joint / Mountain Energei / Wrong Place, Right Time / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness

Reviews on the message board.

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26 - 27 August 2006 : lineup # 55 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Pete Greenway (guitar), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums).

Saturday, 26 August 2006 Reading Festival

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / Theme From Sparta F.C. / Pacifying Joint / What About Us? / Mountain Energei / Reformation / Blindness

Scant reviews on the message board. Tim and Rob had Darker My Love gigs booked in California and missed the Reading and Leeds festivals. Dave "The Eagle" Spurr, formerly of En-tito and currently in motherjohn, filled in on bass; Pete Greenway from Das Fringe (formerly Pubic Fringe) on guitar.

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Sunday, 27 August 2006 Leeds Festival

Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme From Sparta F.C. / What About Us? / Reformation / Mountain Energei /Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness / My Door Is Never

The final (new) song was an instrumental as Mark walked off stage because he couldn't remember the words, according to the teletext report. Mixed reviews on the message board.

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2 - 12 September 2006 : lineup # 56 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Tim Presley (guitar), Rob Barbato (bass), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums).

Saturday, 2 September 2006 Indian Summer festival, Victoria Park, Glasgow

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta F.C. / What About Us / Reformation / Mr. Pharmacist / Mountain Energei / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Assume / Blindness

- "So, you nineteen to thirty-five year old degenerates!" (during "My Door Is Never")
- "Egypt was founded by Mr James Fennings from Prestwick and Prestwich." (during "Blindness")

Reviews and links to flickr photostreams on the message board.

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Friday, 8 September 2006 Bestival, Robin Hill, Isle of Wight

My Door Is Never / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / What About Us / Fall Sound (?) / Reformation / Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness

Reviews on the message board.

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Sunday, 10 September 2006 Opera House, Boscombe, Bournemouth

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / What About Us / Fall Sound / Reformation / Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness // Systematic Abuse / Mountain Energei

- "It's so nice to be in the Isle Of Wight and the Indian Summer festival." (during "My Door Is Never")
- "And the microphone you hold in your hand..." (amended lyrics to "Bo Demmick")
- "Dry, boy, dry." [sings] "What happened to the mountain? The mountain... the mountain is open." (before "Blindness")
- "And the poster of the blind man said, 'You're going to Carlisle.'" (amended lyrics to "Blindness")

Once again, many thanks to setlist runner Mark Howard, and to Mick Cunningham for these great photos. There're loads more photos on flickr courtesy Caacrinolaas. Reviews on the message board.

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Monday, 11 September 2006 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, London

Thanks to Mark for the poster

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / What About Us / Fall Sound / Theme from Sparta FC / Reformation / Pacifying Joint / Mountain Energei / Mr. Pharmacist // Blindness // Coach and Horses / Systematic Abuse

Lots of reviews and photos on the message board, and there's a clip of Fall Sound (complete with MES telephone imitation) with tiny bits of Blindness and Systematic Abuse tacked onto the end of it on youtube.com. Mark's posted a longer segment of Blindness:

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Tuesday, 12 September 2006 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, London

Scenario / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Fall Sound / Reformation / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Blindness // My Door Is Never / Mr. Pharmacist / Systematic Abuse

Some "Secession Man" lyrics in "My Door Is Never"
- "No more wanking on your laptop with Fall Sound." (amended lyrics to "Fall Sound")
- "Who could tell? Who could tell? (You tell), for the mixer works for Billy Bragg and Morrissey. Right!" (before "Blindness")
- "And all the rehearsals for the next record are taking place in East (...)." (amended lyrics to "My Door Is Never")
- "Right, say goodbye to the group." [laughs] "They've got to go." (before "Mr. Pharmacist")
- "We're very late, (...), for London. It's half-past eleven. Yarrite?" [laughs] "One, two, three, four!" (before "Systematic Abuse")

Reviews on the message board. Thanks again to Mark for the setlist and videos (Blindness is from 2006, not 2007, despite title).

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14 September 2006 : lineup # 57 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Pete Greenway (guitar), Rob Barbato (bass), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums).

Thursday, 14 September 2006 Galtymore, Cricklewood, London

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Wrong Place, Right Time / Mountain Energei / Fall Sound / Reformation / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / What About Us / Theme from Sparta FC / Scenario / Blindness // The Wright Stuff / Mr. Pharmacist

Some "Sucession Man" lyrics in "What About Us"
- "There was a TLC. (It was) through California dropping off like flies with two (...). Hit it!" (amended lyrics to "My Door Is Never")
- "Load of black morass of the Indian Summer. I love you. I love it. I'm alive, out of the Isle of fucking Wight!" (more amended lyrics to "My Door Is Never")
- "(...) was here. He was here." (before "What About Us")
- "Thanks for the great beers on tonight. They are beyond description in the wild world." (before "Scenario")
- "I said, 'Group! Wakey wakey!'" (amended lyrics to "Blindness")

Tim returned to L.A. to attend Darker My Love's drummer's wedding. Rob remained to play Thursday but would miss Friday's gig at the Galtymore. Pete Greenway back on guitar. Reviews and photos on the message board. Thanks to Mark for the setlist.

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15 September 2006 : lineup # 55 (redux) : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Pete Greenway (guitar), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums).

Friday, 15 September 2006 Galtymore, Cricklewood, London

Scenario / My Door Is Never / Pacifying Joint / Bo Demmick / Theme from Sparta FC / What About Us / Mountain Energei / Fall Sound / Reformation / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Wright Stuff // Mr. Pharmacist / Blindness

- "Now I've just woke up and my name is James Fennings." (amended lyrics to "Fall Sound")
- "Do 'Wright Stuff'." (before "The Wright Stuff")
- "We'd like to finish up with an old standard and one reveals my backstage experience, 'Blindness'. But first: Hey! Mister Pharmacist!" (before "Mr. Pharmacist")
- "Words can not express the sluggishness of the (days)." (amended lyrics to "Mr. Pharmacist")
- "There was a poster a blind man. It has been (...) up by the citizens of Cornwall." (amended lyrics to "Blindness")

Reviews and stellar photos on the message board. Many thanks to Pike1957 and (you guessed it) Mark for the setlists. The first was Orpheo's.

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?? October : "Higgle-Dy Piggle-Dy" single released

7 October 2006 : lineup # 58 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Pete Greenway (guitar), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Keiron Melling (drums).

Saturday, 7 October 2006 Heineken Green Synergy Festival, The Village, Dublin

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / I Can Hear The Grass Grow / Reformation / Theme From Sparta F.C. / Mountain Energei / What About Us? / Fall Sound / Mr Pharmacist / Blindness // Systematic Abuse

Reviews and some photos on the message board. More photos by Mark Harris on flickr. And another set on flickr. The new drummer was Keiron Melling from Motherjohn. A review by the Dublin Opinion.

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13 October - 6 November 2006 : lineup # 56 (redux): Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Tim Presley (guitar), Rob Barbato (bass), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums).

Friday, 13 October 2006 The Canteen, Barrow in Furness

My Door Is Never / Pacifying Joint /Theme From Sparta F.C. / Hungry Freaks, Daddy (Mothers of Invention) / Wrong Place, Right Time / Mountain Energei / What About Us? / Reformation / Fall Sound / I Can Hear The Grass Grow / Blindness // Wright Stuff / Mr Pharmacist

Reviews and some photos on the message board. Thanks to altfish for the setlist, which wasn't completely followed.

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Saturday, 14 October 2006 Boardwalk, Sheffield

My Door Is Never / Pacifying Joint / Theme From Sparta F.C. / Hungry Freaks, Daddy / Wrong Place, Right Time / Mountain Energei / Reformation / What About Us? // I Can Hear The Grass Grow / Blindness / Systematic Abuse

Reviews and photos on the message board. Thanks to David for the ticket and Mark and Toby for the setlist.

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Sunday, 15 October 2006 Custard Factory, Birmingham

My Door Is Never / Pacifying Joint / Theme From Sparta F.C. / Hungry Freaks, Daddy / Mountain Energei / I Can Hear The Grass Grow / What About Us? / Wrong Place, Right Time // Blindness / Systematic Abuse / Midnight In Aspen / Mr Pharmacist

- "What could they do in Colorado? They were shit-scared." (amended lyrics to "Midnight In Aspen")

Reviews and photos on the message board. Thanks to Mark for the setlist and footage.

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Saturday, 4 November Hiro Ballroom, Maritime Hotel, New York City

My Door Is Never / Scenario / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Hungry Freaks, Daddy / Mountain Energei / I Can Hear the Grass Grow

Set was to continue after Mountain with Reformation / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Fall Sound / Blindness but MES cut it short, complaining about the sound and equipment problems. Lots of photos here.

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Monday, 6 November Studio B, Brooklyn, New York

My Door Is Never / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Fall Sound / Mountain Energei / Hungry Freaks, Daddy / Scenario / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Reformation // Blindness

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12 November 2006 : lineup # 59 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Elenor Poulou (keyboards), Pete Greenway (guitar), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums), Keiron Melling (drums).

Sunday, 12 November Old (Boddington's) Brewery, Strangeways, Manchester

My Door Is Never / Bo Demmick / Pacifying Joint / Theme from Sparta FC / Mountain Energei / Hungry Freaks, Daddy / Fall Sound / What About Us / I Can Hear the Grass Grow / Reformation // Blindness

Thanks to Altfish for the setlist and the Manchester District Music Archive for the poster.