Face Of Cheam

My song-writing and bandmanship owe a lot to Carter USM. Sulphur have covered their ‘The Only Living Boy in New Cross’ and Carter cover The Inspiral Carpets ‘This Is How It Feels’ which was a staple of a Sulphur set. Also if I play solo then I do occasionally throw in Carters ‘Born On The 5th November’. Another parallel is that both bands often appear as a duo, though I must admit, now, it is unlikely that Sulphur will sell out the Brixton Academy upon a reformation gig.
Here, Carter appeared just how they started off many years ago, with just the two of them and a drum machine/keyboard backing tape. At times this reduced them to just karaoke, ‘England’, with just Jimbob singing alone on stage, being a prime example, which did not make stage viewing that great. However, with a good combination of videos and lighting, when both were on stage together with the atmosphere of the crowd, most of whom had not seen them for over a decade the performance was far from stale. A lot of this is due to the fact their songs are very very good. All bouncy with singalong chorus highlighted by ‘Do Re Me So Far So Good’ and ‘After The Watershed’ with the Ruby Tuesday chorus. ‘Bloodsport For All’ transcends into a Gary Glitter coda, written a few years before Oasis did the same trick and ‘Glam Rock Cops’ nods his head to The Sweeney and Professionals theme tunes. The set had enough singles to keep the casual fan happy together with the more obscure tracks such as ‘The Music That Nobody Likes’ and ‘Rent’ keeping the diehards happy. It was slightly disappointing that the set was a bit too nostalgic with nothing post 1995 being played but to celebrate 20 years of Jimbob and Fruitbat it pleased most people. It remains to be seen whether this and their Glasgow show a week before are one-offs or a lead up to something more permanent.
Interestingly, as I am not drinking at the moment, Fruitbat in the encore had his first alcohol for seven months, downing a can of lager, responding by saying ‘that’s nice!’. Least when I start again next week, my abstinence will probably be nearer seven days than months!
Set - Surfin USM / Everytime A Churchbell Rings / My Second To Last Will And Testament / Say It With Flowers / Rubbish / Billys Smart Circus / Taking Of Peckham 1-2-3 / Do Re Me So Far So Good / This Is How It Feels / Anytime Anyplace Anywhere / The Only Living Boy In New Cross / Prince In A Paupers Grave / Shoppers Paradise / After The Watershed / RSPCE / Glam Rock Cops / Lean On Me I Won’t Fall Over / The Impossible Dream / Bloodsport For All / The Music Nobody Likes / A Perfect Day To Drop The Bomb ////////
England / A Sheltered Life / Rent / Sheriff Fatman / GI Blues