Nottingham Mardi Gras 1987

[andy]

It was a Friday night.  Straight from work with barely time to change, my brother and I were first through the doors at about 7pm.  The band were still soundchecking and we had the immense privilege of hearing stuff like Bury Me Deep In Love all to ourselves - very soulful Al Green I seem to remember.  Rob McComb had his leg in plaster.  The venue was a weird choice, nobody really played there in Nottingham, it used to be the Bierkeller at one time, close to the railway station.  By the time the band came on it was packed and sweaty and the Triffids were outstanding, the crowd reaction really enthusiastic rather than the studied cool prevalent at the time.  The next night the band were at the Leadmill in Sheffield.  I had spent all of Saturday raving on to my wife about the gig the night before and at about 7.30pm we concluded that it would be criminal not to go so we jumped into the car and drove the 50 or so miles up to Sheffield.  This may not seem exceptional but I should say that the car was somewhat temperamental, didn't like things like hills and almost gave up several times on the way but it held out and we somehow got there in time for the start of another blistering set.  I particularly remember a fantastic, elongated cover of Ring Of Fire.  What a band, what songs, truly touched by the hand of God!

[Adam]

Hi Andy. 

I think there were a few people round here at that one, Pherron has some photos from it here - brace yourself:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.herron/triffids_photos.htm

I think the Mardi Gras went through a run of being used around then, late 80s, before being pulled down(?). I saw Robyn Hitchcock there around this time.

[pherron]

Indeed I was there! I only saw the Triffids a very few times, which I regret now, but I was young, broke and lived in a town with no music scene. Nottingham was an hours drive but well worth it. It was a great gig, though I must admit it's a faded and battered memory. I only re-discovered those photos last year. I don't even remember taking a camera to any gigs in the 80's, so I was very pleased to find them. There are 5 more pics I didn't scan as they were not quite so good. Nice to know someone else who was there is still a big fan.

[pparker]

I was there too. First time I had seen the Trifs. Supported by another great band - The Jack Rubies - who I later saw at Rock City. Great memories - Loved the club and the photos brought the whole thing back.
Cheers
Phill

[jimjamtwo]

Pherron has some photos from it here - brace yourself:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.herron/triffids_photos.htm

Great photos. Who's the dude behind Graham in the first photo? Surely not Dave?

[pherron]

It is indeed Dave, though not the most flattering photo to be sure!