Sadly no recording of this show has come my way, but there *is* an amazing story in connection with it.
Here's how I remember it:
At this point I was a regular at First Ave, thanks to their at-the-time EXTREMELY liberal policy on complimentary tickets, and this show by The Banshees was not to be missed. As related in the previous story, I had the pleasure of seeing the band nine years prior and still had fond memories of it. So I was excited about getting the chance to see them again, bonus points as I had heard that John Kline, formerly of one of my all time favorite bands, Specimen, was playing guitar.
As is usual with a really great show I have no recollection of the performance itself. Thanks to The Internets I was able to find the date and set list, and Getty Images has a photo allegedly taken from said show, but none of it lives in my memory. What I *do* remember is meeting the guitar player after the show, and being disappointed that it was not, in fact, John Kline formerly of Specimen, but a jobber who picked up the Banshees gig having just finished a tour with The Psychedelic Furs. Nice guy, just not who I was hoping it would be.
Show over and the concert goers thinning out, Leon and I retired to the small upstairs bar near the office and ordered a few drinks. There was one other guy slumped at the bar, head down, looking like he was passed out. All I remember thinking was that he had scraggly blonde hair and a bandanna tied to his head, and he was in his own world. Leon and I were talking and drinking, drinking and talking, and lamenting about how no current bands were willing to take risks with their music anymore, and how bold and innovative bands like The Banshees were compared to mainstream music. All of a sudden the other guy at the bar popped up and thumped Leon in the chest with the back of his hand and, in a thick British accent, said "We're a dying breed, mate. We're a dying breed!"
It took a second for both of us to realize that the bum passed out next to us at the bar was , in fact, Budgie, drummer for The Banshees! Utterly taken aback, it took another second to regain our composure. We then had a really good conversation with Budgie about music, and how different it was when he was just starting out. It was such a good time that, after about 45 minutes, Budgie said "hang on a minute, there's someone I want you guys to meet. Stay here for a minute", then he sprinted down the stairs. Ten minutes later he returned with a very intoxicated Siouxsie*** in tow and made introductions all around. Sioux held out a limp hand for us to shake as Budgie said "Hey Sioux, these are my new best mates!". She wasn't nearly as involved in the conversation as it resumed and excused herself back to the bus. Budgie hung out for about another hour, just shooting the shit with us like we were long lost friends catching up after years of not seeing each other. Eventually their tour manager wrangled Budgie back to the bus, Leon and I made our way to the parking ramp and went to our respective homes.
*** Siouxie is A LOT smaller than photos lead me to believe. In fact I was surprised; here I was thinking she was an Amazonian goddess, but in reality, with flat hair and boots, was about 5'6"
- (The Beatles cover)
