XTC Erics Liverpool 3rd June 1978

 

Now here's a band who are almost impossible to pin down musically. I think too that their influence was only really understood after their demise. Coming from a musical collaboration that started in 1972, the band that became XTC predated punk by a significant number of years. Whilst with the arrival of punk, XTC certainly would have benefitted from the availability of gigs etc, they never conformed to punk. Early XTC was I suppose some kind of artrock outfit, angular guitars and off the wall keyboards. It was the energy of their live performances that gained the respect and appreciation of the new punk audience.

As good as the early material it is, I think XTC really made their mark with later 1980's material that conveyed a quintisential Englishness. Their songs contained a gentle humour within their excellently crafted songs (in a similar vein to say Squeeze). They are one band that so many people would like to see produce something for the 2020s. Fans have been teased with the short lived TC&I (Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers) as well as EXTC (Terry Chambers), the latter coming to a concert hall near you soon in support of Hugh Cornwell, but a full blown reunion remains highly unlikely.

Thanks to the original uploader.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-u3RnjnpHn5

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-yBOC0XDrBp

EXTC Islington Assembly Hall 25th January 2024

 

So old Hugh was in town and billed to appear with Coventry's The Primatives. However on the night it transpired that as a result of illness in The Primatives' camp, support duties would be proffered by EXTC. This was fine for me as I know far more XTC songs than I do The Primatives, and to be honest I have a real soft spot for the most quintessentially English of English bands. Only TC on the kit remains these days, but it was a great set and the closest that I am ever gonna get now to seeing XTC as was.

Thanks to Chatts for the share, appreciated as always.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-QE6yJxf31M

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-S5LGsF70B0

XTC John Peel Session 20th June 1977

 

XTC became throughout the '80's a quintessential British band, in much the same way that Squeeze did in a similar period. There is something about the style and quality of the writing that sets the two bands apart. However, it was not always thus for XTC. When I hear their '77 material I am more minded of Devo than anything home grown. This is the first session that they recorded for the late, great John Peel.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-yWnMfmDH8V

01. She's So Square

02. Crosswires

03. Radios In Motion

04. Science Friction