I have no idea how or when Michael Shannon and friends were bitten by the REM bug, given that he was still in single figures when tonight’s tribute (for that is what this is) was released in 1985. So I’ll go with the what I know:
This is the second act (there could yet be a ‘Reakoning’ for skipping the sophomore LP) in a tribute to the albums of REM by tonight’s band. It follows a direct chronological path from ‘Mummer’ and (if it reaches its logical finish) will ‘Collapse into Now’ at some future point.
‘Fables of the Reconstruction’ (alludes to the dozen years following the end of the US civil war, culminating in the disputed election of 1876 and compromise of 1877…..nothing is new) may not mean much to us, but for four southern lads it’s gotta be sayin something.
On its release “Fables…” confirmed REM as US Indie heavyweights, although exactly how, isn’t clear (none of the singles ‘Driver 8’, Can’t get there from Here’ or ‘Wendell Gee’, hit). It nevertheless set a course which saw them conquer the world from Athens Georgia, to the other Athens and all points between. They gained a huge audience and, in the process, lost their religion, drummer and indie cred.
So how did tonight’s mid-life tribute act fare?
The answer is ……that messrs Shannon, Narducy & Guests are supremely talented and capable of giving the other Michael S and crew a run, any day. The obvious impediment of being a tribute meant that the songs have got to be played ‘a la’ the original release (although he did afford regular updates of where we were in relation to the album; last track side 1, etc). Eleven tracks, including ‘Wendell Gee’ signalled time for a quick recess.
Seemingly unburdened as they launched into V.U.s ‘Femme Fatale’ and then an extended run through some of the better known (early) REM album tracks Shannon again drew on his stagecraft and went full Stipe on us. This second half (or if you like Bonus Disc) allowed a lot more chat from the stage and we discovered that this was the seventh and final outing for the ‘Fables’ show in the UK & Dublin.
The next planned raid on REMs back catalogue will be ‘Life’s Rich Pageant’ and the crowd of 40 or 50 something-year-old clerical workers seemed delighted when presented with the possibility of seeing this at some future, unspecified, date… and why wouldn’t they. There seems little chance of REM reforming and I suspect that the comfort of Shannon and co. faithfully retreading the tunes they have grown into middle age with, somehow trumps the possibilities of a stadium tour by the real thing as some sort of unnecessary retirement plan and the harrowing threat of New Material.
You know, In the right hands this tribute thing may have legs.
Micheal Shannon & Jason Narducy and friends photos & set-list:
Set-list:
1st Set (Fables of the Reconstruction)
Feeling Gravity’s Pull
Maps and Legends
Driver 8
Life and How to Live It
Old Man Kensey
Can’t Get There From Here
Green Grow the Rushes
Kohoutek
Auctioneer – Another Engine
Good Advices
Wendell Gee
Femme Fatale (The Velvet Underground cover)
2nd Set
1,000,000
Strange (Wire cover)
New Test Leper
Bandwagon
Gardening at Night
Romance
World Leader Pretend
Moral Kiosk
Daysleeper
Sitting Still
Cuyahoga
So. Central Rain (with Red Rain snippet)
_____________________________________
Crazy (Pylon cover)
Pretty Persuasion
Let Me In
Radio Free Europe
Photos – David McEneaney @experimentzero
Words – Gerry McCrave