An Audience With TMPE
"We are your fuckin Gods", the Mighty Penis Enforcers once declared, and perhaps they had a point. As today's intimate gig showed, those crazy mofos known to the rest of us as Braddy, Foy, and the Dant, are back with a vengeance - and a whole load of new material which will undoubtedly reassert the band as best live act of Wazza/Wizza/Liverpool/And Beyond. This special acoustic set was welcomed by excitable fans disappointed at the band's November gig, which had been cancelled in true Darkness stylee. Hosting an audience over twice the size of the band itself, St Christopher's vicarage hall (Norris Green) was filled nearly to capacity with the aforementioned excitable fans, all of whom showed their appreciation through applause, mexican waves, ball games and spasmodic phone calls to Cribble. There could be no stopping MPE.
In spite of a distinct lack of old favourites such as 'Let's Play Soccer' and 'SDC', the three guitar/tambourine maestros thrilled crowds with a delicately beautiful rendition of 'The End Is Near', although regrettably Phil Browne could not be present. Coupled with the sorrowful classic that is 'Politicians H8 Me' it can be safely assumed that the hardk00r enthusiasts were satisfied with this vintage part of the set. However the gig was primarily an opportunity for the band to showcase their latest offerings, and they did this with the sort of understated cool which gives NME reporters cause for heart attacks and red-hot headlines proclaiming "THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD EVA!". On the whole, everyone seemed pleased by the new direction which has been taken in the second album, though whether it features as many hot shit chords and "cute Foy laughs" as the first remains to be seen. One song, 'Mrs Collin', containing the lines "You've got shit hair/I'm glad you're not my mother" was widely thought to be "promising", while 'Transform Us' provoked universal acclaim, and was even quoted in the Vedge's MSN username later that evening.
The gig climaxed with a triumphant Braddy throwing his signature elasticated red MPE tie out into the audience. This was followed by the band's setlist and bright blue lyric book (sitting on my desk as I type this), and also the Dant, who took great delight in a sprawling stage dive which resulted in an insane posse of fans rushing forwards to touch him. One especially dedicated fan, Jack Howarth, contemplated removing the superstar's clothing, but decided against it due to an eager Lis in the audience who spent the rest of the day pleading with various boys to get off with one another.
Even as Braddy and Foy darted to the exits, there was yet more to come as Dante entertained autograph-seekers with an improvised solo in which strains of 'Disco Lady' and The Strokes '12:51' could be heard. Many commented on the smouldering young guitarist's potential to become an icon of the modern age; with his flamboyant hat he was undeniably a star in the making.
As a member of the McSean Press, I was entitled along with the rest of the audience to accompany the band back to their hotel, where the Dant's mother had lovingly prepared a feast of cheese rolls, sausages, juice and ketchup. Schmoozing with the stars has never been so much fun. Afterwards Foy and Braddy ventured into Liverpool, accompanied by a few more of us. We learnt of their previous wild exploits in Wazza and also their current musical preferences (The Rapture, as it happens). The day drew to a close when I bought a Mars bar from Lime Street Station which was the colour of chalk and presumably toxic. |
