Effacers and the Modest Many,

Malcolm Middleton organised a small tour in support of this latest single release, We’re All Going to Die; the one that the media have decided to make a humourous “And finally…”-type story (usually, we’d settle for something about a dog or a man being locked in a toilet for 4 days). Malcolm appeared at the Liquid Room, Embra on Thursday, the 6th of December.

I was rather keen to see both support bands, The Phantom Band and Make Model, but I timed it all wrong because they were rushed on and off before my arrival. Both bands deserve some attention and I promise to make amends.

Although I own the two most recent albums by Mr Middleton, I didn’t know what to expect in a live set. I wasn’t sure if he would recreate all the electronically synthesised parts that exist on those albums or if he would strum an acoustic guitar in a low-key affair. What happened was actually a combination of the two; he had a 4-strong backing band, including Jenny Reeve, to ensure that all the crucial keyboard and violin parts from the albums were with us on the night; whilst Malcolm played his two guitars (he used the acoustic guitar most often).

Malcolm Middleton has a reputation for being miserable. I think he is hilarious. From my own experience, I know that that persona can be used spectacularly well for comic purposes. The laughter usually results from unexpected moves within the character. It’s easy to be miserable, it takes less effort quiet, dour and glum and it can be rewarding because any breaches – comments or even growled quips – can carry more gravitas.

There was little to complain about in the performance. I did think at one point that I should really make an effort to see a really poppy act in the furture but I soon dismissed that thought and remembered that I belonged amongst those miserable duffers more than amongst a crowd that might attempt to dance or sing along. Malcolm did all the songs that I’d expect, including my own favourite, No Modest Bear and the show ender Fight Like the Night. In an ideal world, he’d maybe have performed his song from the Ballads of the Book compilation, Rebel on his own Tonight, but the world isn’t perfect, I paid £12 because Malcolm acknowledges that.