Should you go and see reformed bands?

Well a couple of years back (already six, apparently) Television played Edinburgh and they were fantastic. A couple of years later they played the Arches in Glasgow and were still pretty damn good. In fact that year, I also saw The Dead Kennedys, Blondie, The Pixies and Morrissey (twice, in the case of the last act). I never saw Echo and the Bunnymen in their heyday, but I have seen them three times since they reformed and they were still amazing, as far as I was concerned.

Television – ‘Marquee Moon.’ mp3 (the full ten minutes version)

And The Police have also reformed. Given the ticket prices, I wasn’t even going to bother, but whilst it’s easy to slag off most of Sting’s solo career (and Dune, a David Lynch film I find very hard to watch, in fact I find it easier to watch Eraserhead) they did have some redeeming features. Like this debut single: ‘Fall Out’/’Landlord.’

The Police -‘Fall Out.’ mp3

The Police -‘Landlord.’ mp3

As to which band I’d most like to see reform and play live dates, in Scotland? Oh Lord. Heresy as it might be, The Smiths (yeah, well, I didn’t see them the first time round, did I?) Kate Bush, if she’d like to play live again. And while I’m having my final rant of the day, given that Ash are playing their debut LP 1977 in London and Echo and the Bunnymen are playing their Ocean Rain LP in New York. Which is great -but what about the rest of us?

And yeah, of course I want to see new up and coming bands -but the two are not mutually exclusive to regular gig goers. Sigh…

Anyway the three tracks above are a birthday present to two friends of mine. You know how you are!