{"product_id":"xtc-live-boots-live-at-emerald-city-1981-2cd","title":"XTC - Live Boots Live at Emerald City 1981  2CD Due 19th June","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor all of the narrowness of its early period “Punk Rock” was an accommodating, if disgruntled young soul, finding room for former pub rockers, R\u0026amp;B revivalists, end of era glam rock types and older (usually) American fellow travellers alongside its itchy’n’scratchy, DIY, frequently shambolic, monotone sleeved 7” releases. It also provided a door ajar for others to push through who may have been enamoured of punk’s fresh attitude but who, whisper it, could actually play live, like ‘real musicians’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA then drummer from an entertaining \u0026amp; commercially successful first wave punk band was overheard telling his bandmates, with great suspicion, that Andy Partridge – with whom the band was sharing a stage that night – knew more than three chords, something of a crime in Punk circles. Fortunately for him, this was before the arrival of Dave Gregory whose ability would have given the Punk purist a more complete meltdown. The truth remained that the self-imposed narrowness of many early Punk bands led to their demise as the record industry looked to “New Wave” \u0026amp; later, “Post Punk” amid other descriptions to find both a broader audience \u0026amp; some projected longevity – especially necessary for success in the USA. Put simply, the bands that played best stood the best chance of survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis suited XTC more than most. With a pair of - already accomplished - songwriters, a stable line-up of twin guitars\/bass\/drums since third album release “Drums and Wires”, material from 4 albums and 10 single releases from which to choose and hundreds of gigs to their name, the band established a hard-earned reputation as one of the most powerful ‘must see\/hear’ acts of the era, surely destined to join the elite live bands of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eListening to this electric performance from April 1981 – for all of its sonic imperfections seems to confirm that status, making it even harder to accept that, within a year, XTC would play its final gigs. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDave Gregory recalls this as “Gig 11 on a 19-date U.S. tour, planned to promote the living daylights out of our Black Sea album, this night was a return to a hot venue we’d previously visited in January 1980 as part of the gruelling Drums \u0026amp; Wires campaign…. XTC at that time was a performing machine capable of creating megawatts of excitement.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndy Partridge comments that “we were tighter than a firefly's fundament that night, even more astounding was the adrenaline-soaked speed we took every song at”.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf this is how the band performed night after night, it’s no wonder touring took a heavy toll, but for those many fans who never got the chance to see the band live, this recording is the opportunity to experience that high-octane energy like never before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCD 1\u003cbr\u003e1. Real by Reel\u003cbr\u003e2. Life Begins at the Hop\u003cbr\u003e3. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty\u003cbr\u003e4. Respectable Street\u003cbr\u003e5. Sgt. Rock is Going to Help Me\u003cbr\u003e6. No Language in Our Lungs\u003cbr\u003e7. Ball and Chain\u003cbr\u003e8. Paper and Iron\u003cbr\u003e9. Love at First Sight\u003cbr\u003e10.Roads Girdle the Globe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCD 2 \u003cbr\u003e1. Scissor Man\u003cbr\u003e2. Towers of London\u003cbr\u003e3. Burning With Optimism's Flames\u003cbr\u003e4. Making Plans for Nigel\u003cbr\u003e5. Living Through Another Cuba\u003cbr\u003e6. Generals and Majors\u003cbr\u003e7. This is Pop\u003cbr\u003e8. Helicopter\u003cbr\u003e9. Statue of Liberty\u003cbr\u003e10. Outside World\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"XTC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49928780546285,"sku":"APECDLV1","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0531\/5837\/9684\/files\/shop021670.jpg?v=1778054765","url":"https:\/\/orchardrecords.com\/products\/xtc-live-boots-live-at-emerald-city-1981-2cd","provider":"Orchard Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}