Public Servant Lifestyle

The lyrical alt. country style of David Berman’s Silver Jews finally make it to the stage for their first ever British gig, alongside Marble Valley .

The Silver Jews & Marble Valley – live at Club Academy, Manchester

There’s been a good share of one-of-a-kind gigs in Manchester over the last few months. First there was former Belle & Sebastian chanteuse Isobel Campbell touting her quietly stunning Mercury nominated collaboration with Mark Lanegan: Ballad of the Broken Seas at Night & Day. This, it turned out, was the first time the lass herself had played in the UK for years and saw the performance of a sweetly eclectic mix of folk standards, songs from the album, from the score of The Wicker Man and even a Vaseline’s cover – a treat for the audience no doubt inspired by the presence of former Vaseline Eugene Kelly in her band, standing in for Mark Lanegan – presumably too busy with his actual band (US rockers Queens of the Stone Age) to strut the boards on such a small UK venue tour on Valentines Day.

Then there came local three-piece I Am Kloot’s headlining open air freebie as part of the 2006 SWAP Festival, The Fall’s 30th birthday spectacular at New Century Hall and - perhaps the most historic of this crowd - Francis McKee and Eugene Kelly (again) doing a double header at The Roadhouse – the first time both former Vaseline’s members had played together – and played Vaseline’s numbers - since their support slot for Nirvana back in 1990.

Now – with the arrival onstage at Club Academy (a series of recently refurbished rooms underneath Manchester University Student’s Union) of The Silver Jews and Marble Valley - we can add another historic night to that group of gigs:

For the uninitiated Marble Valley – supporting the headliners – comprise of two former members of seminal 1990s US act Pavement: Steve West and Bob Nastanovich. These two indie rock veterans were aided on this occasion by a (scratch band? It was hard to tell really). This bunch of manic troubadours took to the stage and proceeded to make the whole audience grin with a madcap 40 minutes worth of comedy stage antics and some great songs from the bands two CDs.

Steve West

It goes without saying that most of the audience would have been unfamiliar with these tunes, but somehow on this occasion that didn’t seem to be a handicap. Playing tunes from last CD Sunset Sprinkler in as anarchic a style as they could the two ex-Pavement men (both on microphone duties – with Mr. Nastanovich also joining in on a small electronic organ with a few outer space noises, as appropriate) delivered a funny, live extravaganza, complete with a piggyback backing guitarist, ear biting and (in the form of Steve West) the best ginger beard in showbiz. First class stuff.

The Silver Jews – some of whom were in the audience during the support and were clearly enjoying the antics of their opposite numbers on the bill – followed this carnival-like support swiftly to a tremendous reception. This reception is perhaps unsurprising as the band (long-notorious as an act who simply didn’t ‘do’ live shows: for the last sixteen years the band has stuck steadfastly to the rules laid out on the 1993 EP Dime Map of the Reef - that of being “The only band that doesn’t play live”.) were making their UK debut. This night was the first of four dates in a very short UK visit (taking in one show in London and two in Cardiff – the second the Greenman Festival in Powys) the band were fresh from dates in Israel and seemingly raring to go.

Writing

A heavily bearded David Berman – the front man and writing core of the band - went on to perform a set drawn from across the band’s back catalogue albeit in a beefier incarnation than on record and CD.

The much heavier version of the traditionally quite ‘Jews sound they proceeded to play fitted in neatly with the style of (the last) Tanglewood Numbers album’s rockier sound, so the mood was also somewhat ‘rocky’. That albums’ Animal Shapes made an early appearance in the set – as did I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You. Both went down extremely well – as did former single and clear crowd favourite Random Rules. Opening with an early classic ‘Jews track in the form of Black & Brown Blues they went on to play most – if not all - of the new album, coming back for an encore which had the folk at the front banging their fists on the stage for more.

Though ‘rockier’ than the earlier albums Tanglewood Numbers (which features former Pavement members Stephen Malkmus as well as Nostanovitch, members of Lambchop and Will Oldham – quite a crew!) certainly suited this live setting perhaps more than any previous Jews’ album. The clearly delighted audience in Manchester lapped up every note – and the band looked pleased – and perhaps a little overwhelmed. Berman reportedly wrote himself a list of things he wanted to do before he was 40 – with ‘playing live’ being close to the top – hence this tour. His pre-birthday celebrations gave a singular gift to the sold-out audience at this particular venue.

Overloaded

The only down side to the show was that the band’s sound was perhaps a little overloaded – making this listener at least have to rely more on memory for the words - or miss out on a lot of Berman’s best couplets. For such a wordy outfit, being able to hear (or not, as the case was here) as much of the lyrical content as possible (especially after having waited so long for this performance) could easily make or break your evening’s enjoyment. On this occasion though – happily - the audience was clearly in the mood to forgive the Silver Jews anything – simply for the thrill factor of a band that many thought they’d never see on a stage being right there in front of them.

Perhaps it’s time for a full-length live recording from the ‘Jews in the same vein as last year’s Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billie live album. Judging from the packed Club Academy and the prices being bid on eBay for the live 7” from 1993 there’s certainly a market for the band’s live appearances. Here’s hoping there won’t be a sixteen year wait for the band’s next batch of British gigs. And if you’ve yet to introduce yourself to the charm, erudition and all-round lyrical alt. country brilliance of The Silver Jews, why not give them a spin? You might just end up loving them to the max as well...

The Silver Jews –A Discography

Tanglewood Numbers - CD and LP from Drag City (2005)
Bright Flight – CD and LP from Drag City (USA) and Domino (UK) (2001)
Tennessee – CD and 12” from Drag City (2001)
Hot as Hell: Live 1993 – vinyl 7" and CD on Seanote (1999)
American Water – CD and LP from Drag City (USA) and Domino (UK) (1998)
Send In The Clouds – vinyl 7” and CD and 7" from Domino (1998)
The Natural Bridge - CD and LP from Drag City (USA) and Domino (UK) (1996)
Starlite Walker - CD and LP from Drag City (USA) and Domino (UK) (1994)
The Arizona Record - CD and LP from Drag City (USA) (1993)
Dime Map of the Reef – vinyl 7" only EP, on Drag City (1993)

Marble Valley’s 1997 CD only release Sauckiehall Street (on the Echo Static label) is available still – though hard to find. You might have better luck with their more recent long-players: Sunset Sprinkler and Wild Yams. All three are well worth hunting down

Follow this link to read a first-class interview with David Berman by Peter Wild for 3am Magazine on the night of the above show.

For more information on the promoters behind this gig visit: www.myspace.com/reverence76. For Silver Jews info. visit the band’s official website or join them on myspace. For a more complete discography, check out the excellent Wee Black Self website.

Tanglewood Numbers, the current album from The Silver Jews – is available in fine retail establishments the length and breadth of these islands, on the Drag City label. The bands earlier albums (except for The Arizona Record) are all available in the UK from Domino.

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