The late, great Lou Reed once said "two guitars, bass, drums - that's all you need". That's precisely what you get with this legendary New York band who are playing their first UK shows for nine years. There's just a basic stage set up - three amplifiers and a drum kit, minimal lighting and the sound of bells tolling that marks the of start the show. Guitarist Tom Verlaine gives a sly smile as the band smoothly drop into a brand new untitled song with few words but scintillating guitar lines that opens the show in impressive style.
Over the next two hours the band deliver all of the classic 1977 album ‘Marquee Moon’ except ‘Torn Curtain’, and we are constantly reminded that Television are a band like no other and seem to posses an almost telepathic ability to fly through their complex song structures with merely nods and winks to each other. They rarely speak.
The first highlight comes early in the set with a blazing ‘1880, or So’ which is from their little known third album imaginatively titled – ‘Television’. Jimmy Ripp's hands are a blur as he blazes a trail through the song with Verlaine sticking to a solid chopping rhythm. The real high point though comes a little later with a staggering 10 minute plus version of their 1977 non-hit single, ‘Little Johnny Jewel’, an ode to the great Iggy Pop. The song rides out on bassist Fred Smith's big fat riff that powers the song through the strange chord changes as Verlaine and second guitarist Jimmy Ripp weave intricate and delicate lines of melody around each other while they trade jazzy licks in a stunning display of virtuosity.
Later still the band offer up another two excellent new songs that aren't introduced in anyway but will hopefully end up on a new Television album sometime soon. Next we get a slew of TV classics including ‘Venus’, ‘Guiding Light’, ‘Glory’ and a fabulous driving ‘Prove It’ but all too soon we are on the last number which is marked by the familiar weird reggae-esque chopping opening chords that announces the arrival of ‘Marquee Moon’ and the end of the main part of the show.
There's no doubt in my mind that this epic song takes its place alongside any so called "rock classic" that you care to mention as, once again, Verlaine and Jimmy Ripp lock together on the extended instrumental sections with fingers blazing on this nightmare journey of a song where we hear how "the darkness doubles" and "lightning strikes itself" and where "a Cadillac pulls out of the graveyard". The guitars flash and dazzle while Smith and drummer Billy Ficca provide a solid but flexible base for the two amazing guitarists to weave their magic. Stirring stuff!
The two song encore ends on a a high with a frantic romp through ‘Friction’ and Verlaine gives us a cheery wave as they leave the stage to loud cheers from the delirious crowd of forty year old blokes in checked shirts.
Let's hope we don't have to wait another ten years before a repeat performance from the magnificent Television. God bless 'em.
Words: Greg Johnson
Photo: Eddie Graham
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