This concert crystalizes a moment in time, representing a changing of the guards in the alternative music world, when The Beat—or The English Beat as they were called on this side of the pond—come to Alumni Hall in London, Ontario with a new, unknown American band called R.E.M. in tow as the opening act.
The show took place as The Beat were in the last throes of their career but also peaking in popularity in North America. Meanwhile, R.E.M. released their classic debut LP, “Murmur,” during the week of this concert.
Retrospectively, it marks the sundown of one era and the sunrise of the next.
Returning Special Guest Phil Robinson has a lot of great memories from the night which he shares.
Tune in next time for stage invasions, a cultural shift, and wondering what the hell I was thinking.
We also discuss R.E.M. at Glastonbury and in Ottawa, why the Buzzcocks were the nicest guys in punk rock, hanging out with INXS, standing next to Jerry Dammers at the Blackheath festival, and seeing Pauline Black at Manchester Mardi Gras.
See the original blog entry on mylifeinconcert.com here
Next on Stage: Tune in next time for what was quite an, er, interesting evening, when San Francisco’s sludge rock contrarian refuseniks Flipper come to town to decimate Fryfogle’s and its audience, about 6 weeks after the Beat/R.E.M. show.
An evening of debauchery and indulgence ensues for myself and crew of people on that night, one that involves missing persons, dangerous fire escapes, and a foggily-remembered aftershow party comprised of massed stimulant consumption and much silliness, with Flipper — both as persons and performers — interweaving with us at various points of our night (and lining up to see Return of the Jedi, too).