The View: Live @ Nottingham Bodega Social, 24th October 2008
A frankly shambolic night for Dundee rockers The View begins as Kyle Falconer stumbles out onto the stage five minutes early while the roadies are still sound checking, and refuses to leave. Instead he picks up a guitar, strums a tune to the crowd before bashing the cymbals on the drum kit and promptly falling over.
Its a meltdown like no one in Nottinghams Bodega Social can remember. Falconer is so drunk he literally cannot stand, and its just embarrassing. As his bandmates join him on stage you can tell immediately Falconers heart really isnt in the show tonight.
Grabs bass, collapses to the floor
The View are less than two tracks in when he simply drops his guitar, glares at bassist Kieren Webster and storms off the stage. After five minutes he returns, grabs Websters bass, and collapses to the floor, where he sits as Webster is forced to take the frontmans position.
Debut single Wasted Little DJs gets the crowd who by now are beginning to realise that something is well and truly up back into the mood for a gig, and as it concludes, the familiar chant of The View, The View, The View are on fire! can be heard from them all. But then it all changes again. Falconer tries to resume his duties as lead vocalist but with the state hes in, every line of every verse is simply doo-be-doo. At least its almost in tune, but thats all that can be said for it.
Utter disaster of a gig
Moments later hes walks off again this time not to return although there is still 25 minutes left of their gig and Kieren and the rest of the band try and pick up the pieces. It wouldnt have been fair if the crowd left the show they tried their best to make it a great show for us and it really is only Falconer who is to blame for the utter disaster that was this gig.
Everyone will get a full refund promises Webster, and we will come back, and we will play a proper show for you! This reporter feels almost guilty to ask for their money back. Its true that there was ultimately no show, but asking for a refund would be like a stab in the back to the three members of The View who were not only pulling their weight, but ultimately playing their hearts out. One thing is for certain - The View were far from on fire tonight!
Review: James Gordon (NG-MAGAZINE.COM)
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