12/23/2024
Lincoln Fong's Cocteau Twins Advent Calendar Day 23
Lorelei - Baltimore Painter's Mill Star Theatre 1st April 1991
Video: London Royal Festival Hall 29th May 1994
https://youtu.be/eWufz0h3SCQ?si=Akn4ujT1J5vBr8RJ
Lincoln: After the 1991 tour I started doing a variety of other things that meant when the 1994 tour came along I wasn't the live sound guy anymore. I had always considered myself a studio guy who fell into doing the live sound thing when asked by the band (in 1985) and was lucky to get the live gig and see the world. People who work for PA companies will tell you in no uncertain terms that studio engineering and live sound are very different. That said it was disappointing not being asked to do those things but they needed a more professional approach than I could provide and the whole feel of things had begun to have a greater pressure with the expanded stage lineup. Possibly it all felt less like the gang of friends it once was.
So I used to catch them in London when they came through and was able to watch like a fan. In May 1994 they did the RFH, a big prestigious seated London venue with several tiers. I was with my best pal, Hamish, another massive fan who I had worked with in the 80s when Robin produced some of his tracks in Acton and I would continue to on both his and my albums. Elizabeth even sang on one of his Fuel songs, Butterfly Knife. After 28 minutes the band was going down well but the nature of the venue meant the aisles had to be kept clear and everyone stay seated. Does anybody like watching guitar bands while seated? Frankly it was wrong. I said to Hamish, 'when they do Lorelei will you come and dance down the front?' He agreed and I believed him. So that's what you see here albeit with an overlaid soundtrack from a 1991 Baltimore show. (Apologies for poor sync- my video skills aren't great). Hamish instantly disappeared off to the side exit and left me dancing in front of Elizabeth having put my beer down. By the end of Lorelei the atmosphere had changed. I turned around at one point in the song to see the aisles fill and tiers of people stand up like some Mexican wave. It was mad. I wish the person who filmed it had turned the camera on the whole of the audience but they deserve major credit anyway and I wish I could thank them for capturing my finest moment.
In case you're wondering, I've never had a single day of professional dance tuition...
If the person who shot the video wants a mention please get in touch.
