Survey finding: 7 out of 8 wives prefer not to accompany their partner to a The The gig.
4:4:1 in the Junction.
balding men: ageing men with grey hair: post-menopausal women
Add a bald man on the mic.
The music: old favourites, old stories, some new stuff.
A dreamy reworking of Slow Emotion Replay and other pieces from Dusk.
A couple of psychedelic pieces. A guitar played with a violin bow.
DC Collard’s showstopping – piano solo – with feet stomping and arms flailing – on Uncertain Smile – which I believe was written and originally performed by Jools Holland.
Collard also played the harmonica – beautiful addition to the band’s sound – used alot by Johnny Marr when he did a stint with the band.
Assembled fans didn’t move much – didn’t dance – didn’t even clap to the beat – just absorbed everything intensely. – Head and eyes straining forward.
In awe and reverie.
The The are back! Unbelievable. Matt Johnson is still alive!
I wanted to clap – but inhibited by everyone else’s inhibitions – did so like a Methodist minister.
Last song was a bit of a sea change – one of the old songs it seems – bit of a football crowd chant – all ‘heh’s’ and ‘yeah’s.
The The played Cambridge Junction, 22nd August 2024
Photograph by Prudence Upton