The
Cosmic Psychos + M.U.L.
@ Le CAT Bordeaux, France
October 19, 2001
Australia came to us last night, and we had to be there to honour the only French gig for the Cosmic Psychos.
Le CAT seems to have became the new place to see Rock & Roll in Bordeaux since the Club Jimmy closed after “Ramon” passed away (R.I.P.)
Almost 50 guys and girls came, waiting in fear that the band would not arrive (the tour bus was supposed to arrive at 5pm but it was hours later when support band M.U.L. walked on stage.)
M.U.L. is a supergroup is with formers members of Agressive Agricultor, Wet Furs, Mush and Camera Silens (Ouf!!) The result is a combination of the sound of all these bands: kinda power rock like Mush, kinda speed garage like Wet Furs. The singer made me think of a “lighter” Leatherface singer, and they knew how to burn the stage before the Aussie band’s swirling sound arrives.
Just a minute to tune up and test the amps, and "Dr Knighty" presents us his characteristic bass sound.
“Crazy Woman” opens the show. In spite of their 21-hour trip from Hamburg, Germany (Ross reveals that bus ride was on top of a 21-hour trip by from Australia to Europe!), the three men who are the Cosmic Psychos are still on their feet, laying down the rhythm. Then came “Custom Credit”, and as I stood next to the bass-amp, I thought it’s a really powerful sound they have. What? Didn’t hear you... The guitar player used and abused his wah and fuzz for our complete pleasure.
It’s so bad to see that a band like this only pulled 50 people (although someone came from Paris to hear their songs). I understand why some bands never play in France, or ask for big guarantees. Regardless, those of us who did show up we were there to really appreciate the Psychos’ repetitive sounds and sonic waves, like on “Pub” or “She’s crackin’ up”.
And they never disappointed us.
It was so hot on stage that the sweat was dripping on Ross’s shoes, in a metronomic movement. Bill, who just started playing without any trousers, ended the show only wearing his underwear, he played as as a devil, and that reminds me some Melvins’ Dale Crover photo somewhere. A very fashionable underwear, for those who care about that. Punk rock can be good looking too...
Thanks god, they didn’t forget to play their “hit”, “She’s a lost cause”, a song L7 covered many many times. The link between these two bands is evident, and I remember having the same kind of feeling looking at L7 on stage last year for the “Slap Happy Tour”. "Simplicity, power and sincerity" they said to me, and I agree with them.
The French audience, a bit sleepy that night, receives a three track encore, starting with “Rip & Dig”. I’m not sure about how many songs they played during this gig, and they didn’t have a set list that would help me. So, no fight for the set list.
I’ve got the feeling that, even if it was a very special night for everyone of us, it was nothing compared to the next show they will play on the tour. Only a warm-up for the three-week tour they had planned all over Europe.
After having a nice dinner cooked by the TV Killers’ bass player Buzz, and a good Bordeaux wine bottle (Fronsac for those who care, again), history wanted me to be their driver for the rest of the night. They only wanted to take a shower. Ross, his wife and Bill shared what will remain as one of the most absurd trip of my life.
The police check, the gypsies, the fog, the Heineken hotel, Sid, our way through the town and the improvised visit of the historical monuments, (Bill has European culture affinities), the red light district, the memory game to remember a lost cellular phone number, (“Ross, remember the 09?”), for ending our trip in a friend’s flat, at 3am, to, at last, take this long awaited shower. And, you know what? All night long, they had this unforgetable sense of humour.
The way back to le CAT a couple of hours later was much quicker, and after a few handshakes and adresses exchanges, the tour bus got on the road, to reach next town: Bilbao, Basque Country, where they must have expecting to been play a 150 or 200 people gig.
I stood there, at 5AM, thinking I had probably met the most likable band on earth, and I was one of the 50 French people to see them play live in 2001...
Come back next year, friends, at least for the French wine and to visit St Emilion again.
- Laurent Van Bouvelen
