It’s taken some of the shine off Friday’s Coachella lineup. The first North American show in 18 years by Public Image Ltd. was to have been at the big festival in the desert, but I guess there was money to be made – PiL plays tonight at downtown’s Club Nokia. I do like John Lydon because he’s the same age as I and manages to have cooler hair, but I will rely on you, dear reader, to tell me how it goes tonight. … Elsewhere, Retribution Gospel Choir – the project of Alan Sparhawk of Low – headlines Spaceland, where Funeral Club (formerly the Grizzly Owls, and not to be confused with L.A. post-punk band Funeral Party) celebrates the release of its debut album “The Year of the Bloody Sevens.” The Stevenson Ranch Davidians also support. … Also: White Buffalo and Maxim Ludwig at the Mint: Links at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach; Serena Ryder at the Troubadour; Foster the People at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa; the Constellations at Cinespace; Truth & Salvage Co. and Tony Lucca at the Hotel Café; the Sister Ruby Band at Room 5; Straight Jackitt at the Viper Room; Toy Robot at the Silverlake Lounge; Wounded Lion at Echo Curio; and Costa Nova at 14 Below in Santa Monica.
PiL amd John Lydon, have matured in a way that is befitting to their stature and the show tonight was one of the best I’ve seen in a very, very, long time. I was there for the last US tour in an equally intimate venue 18 years ago and I can say that Lydon in particular is in better form now than then. It may seem strange to use the word endearing when speaking of “Johnny Rotten” but Lydon is indeed just that. He genuinely wants to connect to the audience and for those of us that are genuinely connected to him and his legacy he does just that. There were many “tourists” in attendance tonight but I think even they walked away with something more than bragging rights at work tomorrow. It would be too hard not to realize you were in the presence of someone who has finally grown into his legend and the band as a whole is integral to that. Were it not for PiL Lydon would only be half the legend that he is and PiL is certainly a unit, not just Lydons back-up band, and it shows in their stage presence.
PiL is, however, Lydon’s band and he clearly takes responsibility “handling” the audience. If the audience at Coachella shows Lydon and the boys the love they will be greatly rewarded and, make no mistake, Lydon will be expecting as much from you as you do from him. Don’t disappoint him and you will not be disappointed.
“May the road rise to meet you and the wind be always at your back.”
PiL amd John Lydon, have matured in a way that is befitting to their stature and the show tonight was one of the best I’ve seen in a very, very, long time. I was there for the last US tour in an equally intimate venue 18 years ago and I can say that Lydon in particular is in better form now than then. It may seem strange to use the word endearing when speaking of “Johnny Rotten” but Lydon is indeed just that. He genuinely wants to connect to the audience and for those of us that are genuinely connected to him and his legacy he does just that. There were many “tourists” in attendance tonight but I think even they walked away with something more than bragging rights at work tomorrow. It would be too hard not to realize you were in the presence of someone who has finally grown into his legend and the band as a whole is integral to that. Were it not for PiL Lydon would only be half the legend that he is and PiL is certainly a unit, not just Lydons back-up band, and it shows in their stage presence.
PiL is, however, Lydon’s band and he clearly takes responsibility “handling” the audience. If the audience at Coachella shows Lydon and the boys the love they will be greatly rewarded and, make no mistake, Lydon will be expecting as much from you as you do from him. Don’t disappoint him and you will not be disappointed.
“May the road rise to meet you and the wind be always at your back.”