Love Was a Trucker's Hand

[commonpeople1]

The Magnetic Fields @ Barbican Hall, London, 22nd March 2010
Originally uploaded by fabiolug

The Magnetic Fields played a mellow and folksy gig last night at the Barbican, very much in spirit with their latest album "Realism". The place was drowned in a sea of bookish gay men and girls looking for tattooed boys from Birkenhead. Everyone wanted to really really open their eyes. There was also a four-month old baby that curiously stared at proceedings until the second half, when it was past its bed time; and there was a teenager who arrived with his parents then watched the show by himself. He didn't look like your typical Magnetic Fields fan.

There were some unusual choices from their back catalogue, some from the new album, one from the Gothic Archies and two from The 6ths. Lovely surprise of the night came in the form of Amelia Fletcher from 80s indie band Heavenly joining them on stage to sing "Looking for Love (In the Hall of Mirrors)" from The 6ths first album. It's about gay bars, apparently - where Stephen Merritt can admittedly be found when seeking inspiration.

Earlier, I popped inside the Curve gallery to see Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's exhibition. There are zebra finches loose in the desert-like space... and musical instruments. I won't tell you more because you need to see it for yourself. Let's just say that it's beautiful, hypnotic, free and will leave you with a smile on your face.

Comments

[nisaba.livejournal.com]

I saw that same exhibition in the Pommery fizz caves in Reims a couple of years ago. It was really, really cool. The finches had built little nests and everything!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

They were building them on the guitars when I saw them. I wonder if the nests will be complete by the end of the exhibition's run?