Hector is on what has become an annual solo pilgrimage to Bury to see IQ at The Met. The elements did their best today to add stress where none was necessary. How can the 11.40 Avanti train to Euston be cancelled then moments later reinstated to – delayed? For those who chose the TransPennine Express service, even more distress and delay. For TPE passengers, cancelled means cancelled, except when their trains callously start/end at Carlisle. Scotland, a country too far, even for IQ.
There was a surplus of precipitation today, flooding between Carstairs and Lockerbie caused delays and cancellations. Do Railtrack not employ hydrologists? Instead of arriving in Manchester in time for check-in, I was over an hour late which limited the pre-gig festivities, the rain was incessant.
Chappati Corner (150-152 Cheetham Hill Rd., Manchester, England M8 8PZ), visited in January last year for the first time, was this afternoon’s #1 priority. Their Lamb Karahi as part of their Rice & Three was the standout, a plateful of this was required. Alas, at 17.45 they were closed despite Google Maps suggesting they were open until much later. Why does this happen?
Chappati Corner, why do they spell it that way, is part of a cluster of Curry Cafes at the lower end of Cheetham Hill Road. Lahori Badsha (140 Cheetham Hill Rd, Manchester, England M8 8PZ) a few doors down was the fallback. It was good to see Zak behind the counter again, he was indisposed on my previous visit.
I have only been to Lahori Badsha at lunchtimes previously, impressive as the Curry has been, I have concluded that better could be available if one were to arrive later. Today I was later, I asked for Lamb Karahi. Zak showed me the Menu, it was £24.00 a kilo for the full Desi Karahi experience. I couldn’t eat a kilo to myself at one sitting, believe me. And I was not going back to the Travelodge until after the IQ gig and some Manchester Ales. Taking leftovers away was not an option. I settled for the now customary Lamb Curry (Lamb on the Bone) (£7.50). I decided Rice should accompany.
As I waited, a Salad and Raita were brought to the table by another chap who apologised for their tardiness. A jug of Tap Water was also provided, with ice, refreshing after the journey south. I pondered over the price of a kilo of Lahori Fish Karahi (£15.00). Most UK Curry Houses charge more for Fish than Meat, so how can Lahori Badsha be so disparate? Further investigation is required here. In the meantime, I have put out an invitation for a Curry Buddy to join me when – The Company – are down in Manchester for the Beer Festival in a couple of weeks.
Yet a different chap brought the Curry and Rice, two substantial platefuls. What was I meant to do with the spare plate?
Two could easily have shared the Rice which had been given – the treatment. The Rice proved to have an earthy flavour in its own right. A good choice, Hector.
Lamb Curry (Lamb on the Bone)
Topped with a representation of – The Foliage – that is the Manchester norm, I did not bother to count the Meat as I arranged it on top of the Rice, there was loads. Quite a portion when one appreciates the price. The Meat was all very Tender, minimal chewing was required, decent Lamb. Sadly, the Lamb was not giving much to the Curry, there was no sense of Spice emanating from it. How long had it been in the company of the Masala?
The Masala was sufficient, only the slightest residue of Oil was collecting on the periphery of the plate which was markedly different from my first visit last January. The Rice would absorb some of what little there was, adding even more to the moment. Cloves, they like their Cloves here in Manchester, fortunately these were not overdone. The distinctive Flavours of a Manchester Curry were here, but all in the Masala. Whole large Green Chillies had been cooked in which were complemented by their sliced fresh counterparts in – The Foliage – hence a – kick – was registered, but not the Seasoning. This Curry perhaps had no chance of overwhelming after the perfection which was the lunchtime Curry at The Village (Glasgow) yesterday.
Only one Bone was encountered, some would say that was a bonus, it did accentuate the quantity of Meat on the plate.
Zak was in and out of the premises during my time of eating. I gave the thumbs up as he asked the customary question. As much as I enjoyed the Curry, it did not make the same impact as previously when I have had Bread as an accompaniment. Rice does change the nature of a Curry, it can take the edge away.
Next time the kilo, I need an odd number of fellow diners.
The Bill
£10.50 I eventually realised the Menu was different from last time, a kilo of Lamb Karahi then was £22.00, still good value presently. I assumed I had to pay for the Salad and Raita to be charged this, else I had been given a larger portion than the norm.
The Aftermath
Back out into the rain. Having paid for a tram ticket to get me to Bury, transport was restricted, no buses. I was thoroughly wet by the time I reached Cloudwater to complete the pre-gig Manchester Ritual. Checking my coat in at The Met, the cloakroom Doris remarked on the weight.
It’s heavy.
It’s wet.
It was. I took my spot mid room at 19.58, cutting it fine, but then 20.20 was when I expected IQ on stage. Less time wasted standing, I might survive this gig without fear of falling over a la Bietigheim-Bissingen.
IQ at The Met (Bury) 2020
I have not attempted a review of every IQ gig I have attended in the years of Curry-Heute. The passing of Jaki Liebezeit (CAN) took priority a couple of years back. With the death of so many Canadians in recent days, yesterday marked the passing of one of their most famous citizens, Neil Peart of Rush whom I saw perform twice in the 1980s, their golden era.
With twelve studio albums dating back to 1983, one always speculates as to how the set-list can please those new to IQ and those of us who bought the first album – Tales from the Lush Attic – which was individually hand numbered. Where is my copy now? Then there’s the – Menel era – which I will come back to later. With – Resistance – the latest double CD released last year a lot of material to promote this evening. Having attended the first two (and final) performances of Subterranea in its entirety at this very venue back in 1997/8, I didn’t think they would play the lot, and/or in sequence. The first three or four tracks on Resistance would make fine and suitably – proggy – start to the set lengthwise, or perhaps begin with the epic – The Great Spirit Way – which kicks off the second CD, then play the group of four mid-set. One thing I have to admit, I have only listened to Resistance in its entirety about half a dozen times, it is a lot to take in. I expected to be familiar with the majority of the tracks this evening, but as for naming them… Fortunately, on the tram back to Manchester after the gig, I picked up the set-list from Stanley Mooney. My thanks go to him and his better knowledge of the songs played tonight.
With the recorded intro at full blast, IQ took to the stage and kicked off with Alampandria (Resistance, 2019), the third song on the first CD. Hector’s theories were blown out of the water. I was happy with recognising that this was from the new album but then became confused when I realised I knew the music better than I had imagined I could. Ah, the band had segued Alampandria into Sacred Sound (Dark Matter, 2004).
Shallow Bay (Resistance, 2019) followed on. The somewhat poignant piano intro took me back to Subterranea, this song could easily have been seamlessly inserted into that album. I have written before that I still find two hours plus of Pete Nicholls’ vocals to be a test of endurance. As much as his vocals are an integral part of the IQ sound, it does feel like the same half dozen notes being rearranged from one song to the next.
From the Outside In (Road of Bones, 2013) would be one of only two* songs from the album which is my personal favourite post Subterranea. So no epic – Without Walls – which would have been too much to expect.
The three projection screen accompaniment to Stay Down (Resistance, 2019) was particularly memorable, Bela Lugosi excepted. The two analogue clock hands winding their way rapidly around the clock face, but in opposite directions, could give a Hector nightmares in the days to come. I again knew this was from the new album and one day will edit this to note as to which part of the guitar break was pinched from somewhere in Nonzamo (1987), I think.
Some songs were performed without introduction, some introductions did not identify what followed. The Last Human Gateway (Tales from the Lush Attic, 1983) was a complete surprise. I may have seen truncated versions of the song performed, this was the full bhuna. This song was probably my introduction to IQ, courtesy of Mike Bentley with Pallas, at an afternoon Dial Inn gig (Glasgow). He had a tape prior to its vinyl release. I cannot imagine an IQ gig without The Wake (The Wake, 1988), usually Pete manages to squeeze in more from what I have always regarded as being his own favourite IQ album … so why did he leave after its release?
By this time I was in my comfort zone and started taking some photos. Not being in my preferred spot in front of the bass player, I could only zoom into faces, Tim Esau may have been relieved. It did mean that I couldn’t answer the question about lead instrumentation on some tracks on the new album. I heard a lot of synth, but was it Neil Durrant playing it, or Mike Holmes using guitar-midi? From my viewpoint I rarely saw Mike below shoulder height.
For Another Lifetime (Resistance, 2019) another song from CD#1 and at over fifteen minutes, meant that my predicted twenty minutes of The Great Spirit Way, CD#2 was not going to happen. A somewhat spooky song, with synth sounds which would not have been out of place in Ed Wood’s – Plan 9 from Outer Space. I took note at how well the audience were listening. OK, the two chaps in front of me, and two behind did have thankfully brief conversations during quieter intros, but as a whole, there was no needless shouting out, no distractions, this was a great crowd showing full appreciation of the music. The mix tonight may have been the best I can recall at an IQ show. Perhaps this may have been helped by standing in the centre of the room and not close to the stage left PA. Pete Nicholls has apologised for having a cold in more than one show at The Met in previous years, tonight his singing was as good as I have ever heard it.
When – The Road of Bones (Road of Bones, 2013) was performed, I was once again glad I had made the journey south, I had already heard more favourites than I bargained for.
A Missile (Resistance, 2019), played last January as a taster for the then forthcoming album, was the final track from Resistance. Nothing from – Ever (1993) had been a recurring thought throughout the show. My patience was rewarded by – Further Away – bringing the main set to a close. After many years, I have accepted this as being my favourite track from the Pete Nicholls’ return album. The keyboard climax is on the path towards CAN’s – Halleluhwah (Tago Mago,1971).
Having come to terms with IQ’s – Abba – covers in their encores I was puzzled by what was played on their return to the stage. Was this a cover? Of what? Having mentally noted some of the lyrics, I do not listen to lyrics, I looked them up using the Huawei on the tram. Ten Million Demons (Road of Bones*, 2013), I have rarely listened to the second CD the first one being perfection. The tempo and near electronica surprised me. The album version has a – Chicory Tip – outro, I shall have to listen to – Road of Bones CD#2 – some more.
Subterranea (Subterranea, 1997), how does one play a summary of this, again a double CD? It was a pleasure to see/hear the title track once again, sadly this means the rest of the magnum opus may be lost in the – attic.
The audience were thanked for coming, another sold-out gig. Pete assured us that if we keep coming, so shall they. He mentioned IQ-40 next year, all being well they shall return. Can Hector be permitted to once again outline a model for the evening, and give Pete a rest mid show? The two albums featuring Paul Menel have been – in the attic – for too long. I attended the only Scottish IQ gig that I know of when they supported Mike Rutherford and his merry band at Edinburgh Playhouse, and have no memory of what was played that night. Surely for the fortieth anniversary tour, Mr. Menel should be invited to have his slot and let us hear: War Heroes, Wurensch and especially – Common Ground?
I collected my coat, the Cloakroom Doris remembered it – the heavy one. It was even heavier by the time I had completed the Manchester Ritual.
Bury 2021 – Heaven is waiting, but waiting is Hell.