01 Jun, 2009 PULSATING !
In a week that sees Simple Minds make a return to the Top Ten in various album charts for the first time in the longest while, far from popping champagne corks and slapping each other on the backs, we find ourselves not only obviously happy with the response but also very content to be arguing vehemently among ourselves.
Arguing? Arguing over what you might ask? And why in particular now of all times would we be arguing? The answer to that is fairly easy to explain.
The bones of contention are all to do with the next step and the on-going future of Simple Minds, and I am delighted that far from being exhausted at this stage of the game, we on the contrary seem as passionate as ever when it comes to determining what we should be doing to make sure that the wheels keep turning at a pace and that the creative machine keeps going in the best of directions. Being so we argue because we in the band and everyone who assists us absolutely care about what we do next and how we go about doing it.
That apart, the work we did on our album was completed many months ago and these recent results that have us all more than pleased, are more to do with our supporters who over the last days have actually bought the copies in volume while continuing to find ways of promoting Simple Minds in whatever way that they can. That is so appreciated.
And in any case lets not forget that it is not only the album charts that Simple Minds returned to this week as it also saw us return to performing after all!
It was a beautiful Saturday evening in Sweden with temperatures more akin to what one would associate with the Mediterranean countries. The situation was a smallish festival with a young crowd in attendance. It was taking place for the first time in a dreamlike lakeside town called Vaxjo – easy to spell but sadly impossible for any of us to pronounce correctly.
We went on stage around 10.30 pm in the kind of broad daylight that is the hallmark of the early stages of Scandinavian summers, and all in all conditions were pretty much perfect in a very relaxed way. We had managed to get some rehearsal in the day before thanks to the local promoter who had arranged for us to use the local drama theatre – the cutest of small venue’s with plush red seats and a tiny balcony that sat proudly like a crown above it all.
After a quick run through of some of the classics we then set out on learning a few of the songs from Graffiti Soul. It was the first time that we had ever played them as the finished articles that they now are, and straight off the bat if was easy to sense that these songs will work so well live.
My God, it has been a long time since the shivers have run through me at a band rehearsal, but I swear they did during the rendition of “This Is It.” It sounded frighteningly good. I later discovered that even some of our crew experienced the exact same shivers and that is saying something when considering how hardened a bunch that they are.
As for the gig itself, it was fun and rather brief, and obviously we experienced a little sense of history as songs like Rockets, This Is It, Keep On Rocking In The Free World – got belted out for the first time. The audience really seemed to be enjoying the evening and as always we saw a few familiar faces that had made the trip to be with us on what was both a low key but pretty much perfect way to get our unique live hearts pulsating once again.
And so from today we are in Brussels where it is time over the next week to get on with some serious rehearsals for the shows lined up to take place in summer months ahead!
Jim Kerr