A PERFECT CIRCLE: THIRTEENTH STEP 2003-2004
LONDON, UK [ASTORIA]
10.2.03
(2 Reviews)
A PERFECT ASTORIA
By Gemma Stratford
Wow what can i say. APC were just brilliant
They started off with Lullaby as the band walked on and went straight into Pet. Twiggy was soo naughty, he jumped and stomped around on stage, posed and stole the limelight.
He asked the audience what they thought of the other band members, and everyone paused before clapping for Josh. Then Maynard said something like "Do you like/love Twiggy?" and everyone wild.
They played a song that sounded like Blur or Oasis and a song by Iron Maiden.
At the end Maynard, walked off and Twiggy took James' guitar! They all swapped instruments apart from Maynard, who didnt come back on. They had a jamming session on stage! You could tell it was natural, spur of the moment. Jeordie took Billys guitar and Billy went behind the drums when the others wandered off and they played "The Beautiful People"!!!
Then it was just Twiggy left on stage and he didn't want to come off stage!He was singing and playing, we were all cheering. The roadies were taking everything down and then they took the microphone away from him but he carried on playing and they had to unplug him.
He got James back onstage and they were dancing together to the background music. Some guy actually had to push Twiggs offstage because he just wouldn't go. As he was 'escorted' off he was blowing kisses!!! He was really enjoying himself and it was a totally amazing night.
By Matthew Flynn
Having been a fan of a perfect circle since their conception there was very little that this band could do to dissapoint me. However, having seen them at Manchester two weeks previously, i felt kinda downtrodden. When i was in Manchester i was mesmerised by the fact that i was astually being able to see the band play. This time around though it was for nothing but pure enjoyment. AND THEY ROCKED. They were SO much more vibrant and enthusiastic in london, which kinda made me sad for when i saw them in Manchester.
I don't know wether it was the venue (the astoria is quite possibly the best venue in Britain), the atmosphere, or the bands mood at the time, but what i thought was an amazing show before, turned into the almightiest show ever, in London.
Twiggy stomped around the stage and encouraged the crowd, billy played his guitar to breaking point and even Josh gave a more visual performance on the drums. Maynard got out of his normal tracksuit bottoms and vest, and put on some hippy kinda trousers and showed us his awesome tattoo (which for some reason i feel was quite a big effort on his behalf). And James Iha could hardly keep the grin off his face. They played their music the fullest, and expanded on some pieces i.e The Nurse Who Loved Me, which they took to an extremely heavy status. I've never seen a band so musically together, and that sounded so perfect.
Twiggy's solo set at the end was hilarious to say the least, playing oasis, master of puppets, 7 nation army etc etc. And finally dancing off stage with James whilst "if you like pina colada" by ruport homles was playing in the background.
I got the feeling the band were finally being able to really enjoy themselves with their music. I'll definately be going to see them at least one more time when they come back early next year.