Band: The Wedding Present

[diego]

Definitely not crap!!!!

Seamonsters is one of my all time favourite album ever. "Dalliance" is one of the most beautiful and intense song ever written...

They played in my city a month ago, I felt like I was 15 again and it was a great gig.
Years ago, I remember reading an interview of Steve Albini (Big Black just split up) and the journalist asked Steve about recording Seamonsters. Steve said that those guys from The Wedding Present were so nice that you would even let them go out with your young sister. I always loved that answer....

[tallchris]

I only own the first three records, but hot damn what an amazing band. I can't believe I didn't get into this band back in the mid-90's, since (especially on "Seamonsters") they're a perfect mix of the American indie rock and fey Brit pop I was into at the time.

I just saw them a few nights ago in Vancouver, and while I wish they'd had a different selection of songs, they played pretty fucking well. Any band that has three Rat pedals on stage is not bullshit.

[johnnyshape]

I went to see the Wedding Present tonight at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

There was a surprising number of ladies present. Every time I've ever seen them previously it's been blokey bloke bloke to the back.

They have a newish drummer (whom I know slightly) called Simon Pearson. In the modern parlance, he 'brings it'. Much more so than all previous drummers.

They were filming it for a live DVD. Many of the old ones were performed, though not 'Dalliance', which was a shame for me because I enjoy that one.

They also did a cover of 'Falling' off the Twin Peaks soundtrack, illuminated solely by a mirrorball. For why?

They did ones off Tommy and George Best.

It was good.

[BadComrade]

You didn't see the Wedding Present, you saw Cinerama renamed "The Wedding Present" to sell records.


All early incarnations of the Wedding Present: Not Crap

Using that name to sell records with your newer, boring band: Crap!

Cinerama sounded like a bunch of bad music from 60's French films in the same way that Portished sounds like a bunch of bad outakes of songs used in 60's James Bond films...

[Rimbaud III]

I've never really been able to 'get' this band, but a few weeks back I was at a party where somebody threw on the Ukranian sessions, and lawdy lawd it inspired some stupid dancing! The rest of their stuff, somebody needs to sit me down and explain the fanatical appeal.

[spoon]

You didn't see the Wedding Present, you saw Cinerama renamed "The Wedding Present" to sell records.

All early incarnations of the Wedding Present: Not Crap

Using that name to sell records with your newer, boring band: Crap!

Not true...He and his girl split (she was in Cinerama) and so did that band.
He got his mate back on guitar (Simon) and reformed the Wedos.

Regards,
spoon

[Christopher_Dragon]

Them doing a cover of the Cheers theme popped up in my Archers of Loaf radio on Pandora

[tommydski]

NOT CRAP.

only three good things have ever come from Leeds in West Yorkshire -

1) Gang Of Four
2) The Wedding Present
3) me.

when in new york i often tell people that i come from the same place as gang of four so they have a reference. guess those guys like gang of four enough that almost every band that comes from there sounds like them...

burn!

[RSMurphy]

Not Crap.

Is anyone familiar with Cha Cha Cohen? A little over a year ago I picked up a seven inch: "Sparky's Note" b/w "Snares of Urgoil Urma." Again, Not Crap. It's a Simon Smith side project, though I might be mistaken.

[placeholder]

Is anyone familiar with Cha Cha Cohen? A little over a year ago I picked up a seven inch: "Sparky's Note" b/w "Snares of Urgoil Urma." Again, Not Crap. It's a Simon Smith side project, though I might be mistaken.

I'm not familiar, but they're on my (long) list of bands to listen to, based on the Wedding Present connection.

[RSMurphy]

It's good. "Sparky's Note" sounds like the Wedding Present while "Snares of Urgoil Urma" takes liberties with pacing and dynamics. It was a neat little find.

[mattw]

I'm only familiar with Seamonsters and Bizarro, but for my money (which isn't a lot), those are two of the best poppin' rock records I've heard. Wish I'd caught them live this time around. Hearing them play 'Dare' last year was incredible.

[RSMurphy]

Cinerama sounded like a bunch of bad music from 60's French films in the same way that Portished sounds like a bunch of bad outakes of songs used in 60's James Bond films...

Fussbudget! Fussbudget!!

This forum consistently astonishes me. Does music need to be so unceasingly cerebral, brooding, and complex with nary a hint of melody? My goodness. Is it a sin to sit back and enjoy a song for its direct and immediate qualities? AND JUST WHO THE FUCK VOTES "CRAP" ON SANDALS AND/OR SHORTS??? Hey, I like Table as well, but I can also appreciate a wonderful song like Cinerama's "Barefoot in the Park." That melody! Those lyrics! If someone put that song on a mixtape for me I would gladly tongue-bathe their genitals as a token of adoration.

In closing I would like to state that Steely Dan is not crap.

[Barry Shostakovitch]

I am currently listening to 'George Best'. It's making me rather nostalgic and somewhat sad. I loved this band when I was aged 14-16. They meant everything to me. Just thought I'd share that.

[dimpfelmoser]

Yeah, earlier this year I went to see the wedding present with my cousin, who wasn't even born went I saw them the first time (that was when they were still doing encores), mind you the same is true of their current drummer.
Probably not an important or brilliant band but I love them all the same and George Best has aged really well in my view.
One of my all time favourites.

[elmofreech]

I've only heard the second Peel sessions disc (92-95, I think) and I've had a hard time putting it down. Chances are I'll pick up Seamonsters and/or Bizarro soon.

Though maybe I'll just wait for Sanctuary to release the Complete Peel sessions box in a few weeks.

[kerble]

I've only heard the second Peel sessions disc (92-95, I think) and I've had a hard time putting it down. Chances are I'll pick up Seamonsters and/or Bizarro soon.

Though maybe I'll just wait for Sanctuary to release the Complete Peel sessions box in a few weeks.

the BBC sessions ( from '88 ) are totally great, too. I have it on cassette somewhere. The rhythm guitar in "felicity" is ridiculously fast.

I don't think I've ever really Listened to Seamonsters or Bizarro.
Is odd.

[Brett Eugene Ralph]

The only thing I've ever heard by The Wedding Present was their version of "She's My Best Friend," which I liked a lot. As I recall, the singer took an understated, almost whispered approach to the vocal, much like Stone Temple Pilots did on their cover of "Dancing Days."

[boilermaker]

I just picked up the newish Wedding Present Peel Sessions box. I've only played the first disk so far but if the standard remains as good as that it will be great collection. Aesthetically, it's very similar to The Fall Peel box and is welcome because it keeps the price down and is great value for six disks.

[daniel robert chapman]

NOT CRAP.

only three good things have ever come from Leeds in West Yorkshire -

1) Gang Of Four
2) The Wedding Present
3) me.

when in new york i often tell people that i come from the same place as gang of four so they have a reference. guess those guys like gang of four enough that almost every band that comes from there sounds like them...

burn!

A-HEM!! Better make that four good things now I'm on the board, Tommy...

Anyway I was reading through this from the start and was going to write this before I got to your post anyway - being in Leeds (and one of them, I forget which, used to live - *throws stone* - there) in the middle of a strange time of chest-puffing and self-congratulation amongst 'the music scene' (ie The Kaiser Chiefs are a success, and A&R men are in town), I almost never, ever hear anyone mention the Wedding Present. Oh, they're talking about Leeds' 'rich musical heritage' alright - Gang of Four, The Mekons and the Sisters of Mercy - but everyone has either forgotten about the Wedding Present, or doesn't think that a top forty single every month for a year constitutes 'success', or they're not fashionable enough -

- or, more likely knowing this town, everyone knows them for 'George Best' and thinks they're from Manchester.

Anyway, most of what I have ever had by the Wedding Present appears to have slipped from my fingers, and this thread (and some hearty dancing to a tape in the winter) has inspired me to do something about that. Not crap.