Last ever Slowdive show in their hometown of Reading
¶ 1993-05-26 Reading, Trade Union Club (England)
¶ Line up
Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Simon Scott, Christian Savill, Nick Chaplin
¶ Setlist
Unknown
¶ Advert
¶ Reviews
Mark Sutherland, NME, 12 June 1993 - CRANES / SLOWDIVE / READING TRADE UNION CLUB
THIS WASN’T supposed to happen. Bands like Slowdive shouldn’t have the temerity even to exist, let alone release intoxicating second albums and enrapture large crowds like this. If the boy rock aristocracy had its way, we’d now be living under a brutal grunge hegemony (being middle class and having “nothing to say” is not a crime if you’re American, it would seem), but instead the slacker beast lies, if not slain, then at least concussed in a pool of its own ineptitude. The oft-scrutinised shoe is now firmly on the other foot.
Rachel Goswell dedicates Slowdive’s set to a seriously ill friend and the band’s obvious concern crackles beneath their dreamy sounds, flushing them with a desperate beauty so overwhelming it would make Arnold Schwarzenegger swoon in sympathy. ‘Souvlaki Space Station’ features a tidal wave of tremulous guitar, ‘Catch The Breeze’ remains a gold-winged lovers’ whisper (Cheers! – Ed) and ‘Alison’ is a divine shimmer, featuring the only vocals yet to actually deserve the description “ethereal”. Time to let some elegance back into your grim, grim lives – the shoe-gazing revival is upon us. Probably.
As Rachel triumphantly marches off stage, she mumbles “Enjoy the Cranes” – a statement that, if muttered six months ago, would have provoked hoots of derision. “Enjoyment” and “Cranes” in the same sentence? You’re taking the piss, love!
¶ Notes
- Supporting Cranes
¶ Related links
- Ticket source: Bill Ainsworth
- Advert source: Slowdive Instagram