Photograph
The Apollo
28th June 2008

My Bloody Valentine with support from Sonic Boom...

You know sometimes something happens and you realise that you WERE born in the right era after-all. This was one of those moments.

i've seen MBV a couple of times before (Boardwalk and Ritz) and didn't really think i'd get to see them again. but my tickets were bought as a birthday present and WOW! this really was an amazing night.

we went to that bit of the apollo that is always much quieter than the rest of the floor - front right of the sound desk and as usual for the apollo the view was great, the sound superb.

MBV played a pretty extraordinary set climaxing with the now infamous 20 minutes of pure deep rumbling white noise during 'you made me realise' -like being strapped to a jet engine over 120db (i said it first!). it made your knees and belly rumble and we ended up in some sort of shamanic trance. but it wasn't noise for noise sake - it really did move. incredible.

the much talked about free earplugs (pictured) were totally useless, for me anyway. i had to ram them in 'til it hurt and even then it was pretty pointless. gonna keep them incase my hamster gets some sort of stomach bug though and then can use them as a bung.

i was a bit miffed i missed most of Sonic Boom's very early set - it was Spacemen 3 heavy and what i heard was ace. i hope he plays some solo shows here soon...

and check out the setlist... the best i've seen.

what a night!

(photos by me except the rather splendid second one down © Carrie Williams)