Music 365
August 14, 2000
Peter In The Pub
Mr. Buck Plays With Mr. Hitchcock
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck joined Robyn Hitchcock and the original members of The Soft Boys onstage in a London pub on Sunday (August 13) for an impromtu gig in front of just 40 people.
The band's equipment setup was basic, to say the least. Buck and Hitchcock played acoustic guitars, with Morris Windsor on stand-up snare, shakers, and one cymbal; and Kimberley Rew on "electric" guitar plugged into a car speaker.
The band played two sets at a pub in the East London district of Clerkenwell. The sets featured various Soft Boys and Egyptians songs such as "Chinese Bones", "Madonna Of The Wasps", "Queen Of Eyes", and "Airscape"; plus a couple of old classics like "Blue Suede Shoes" and The Byrds' "The Bells Of Rhymney".
The pub's landlord introduced the band by saying, "There'll be some music tonight. You are about to be entertained. If you want a drink, get it now, as I won't be serving while there's music."
News of the gig was only confirmed at 7 p.m., and the acoustic guitars were tuned and ready to be strummed by 9 p.m..
Peter, in his Hawaiian shirt, was en route to Dublin to work on the next R.E.M. album. Asked why he took time out to play this London gig, he replied: "Hey, it's The Soft Boys -- who'd pass up this opportunity?"
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